Getting the Grusome Out of Newsome

Sometimes GoodGym, as with many things in life doesn't always go entirely to plan. So when last night's task owner messaged me yesterday to say the planned job was no longer required, some quick improvisation was necessary to ensure that the eager team of Huddersfield GoodGymmers would have a task this week.

Whilst it is arguably not the most attractive of tasks, litter picking picking is always needed and of course has an immediate and very visible benefit for the local community. So last night the Huddersfield GoodGymmers donned their gloves and grabbed a supply of bin bags for some roving rubbish removal in the Newsome area.

A steady 2K run got us to the first of our clean-up spots, Newsome Road Playing Fields. Some recent thinning of the trees and other vegetation surrounding the field by the Kirklees Council had revealed many years worth of littering. GoodGym Huddersfield were soon on with the task, hoovering up cans, bottles and other detritus into our purple refuse sacks. Twenty five minutes later and it was job done, team GoodGym had filled 7 sacks, were fully warmed up and ready to move onto our next target spot.

Down Newsome Road a little way and a well used footpath between Malvern Road and Damside Road was next on our hit list. Again vegetation had recently been removed here and there was much clearing to be done. However this time it wasn't just litter, we added an old tyre and even a water cooler bottle to our tally of 5 bags from this site.

Running back past the student accommodation on Commercial Street we couldn't resist a final litter blitz. The resident students were certainly living up to the stereotype of being big drinkers,and we swiftly filled a bag with bottles and cans removed from a large planter outside the halls of residence. From there it was a nice flat run back along the canal, stopping briefly to admire the new, and very attractive public mural in the tunnel beneath Wakefield Road.

So thirteen bags of rubbish removed from our local area, that is certainly another GoodGym job done and a wonderful way to spend an evening with some great people. Thanks to last night's GoodGymmers, the ever present Ben Godfrey, the queen of volunteering Louise Galvin, litter picker extraordinaire Kati Law (incidently sporting her new GoodGym t-shirt) and the super committed Heather Wilshaw Jones, keen to come along and take part in the task despite injury issues. I salute you all....thank you!

Nearly forgot.....thank also to Louise for coming up with this week's title.