When Bush Comes to Shove

There was certainly plenty of tree tugging and bush whacking to be done on last night’s task. Following November’s successful visit to Christ Church Moldgreen to cut back some shrubs, this time GoodGym were commissioned by the Reverend Charlotte Cheshire to tackle the world’s biggest bush.

The bush, which must have been 30 feet in length, 10 feet wide and at least the same high had gone a bit wild during a period when the church garden wasn’t getting much attention. However recently members of the congregation have been battling back, and last night GoodGym Huddersfield were able and very willing to assist in the fight.

But there was a run to be done first, at just 2K it was simply a warm up for the main contest of the night, GoodGym versus the Jolly Big Bush. In the red corner looking very much up for the fight were GoodGym regulars Louise Galvin, Chris Green, Ben Godfrey and Kati Law, joined by parishioner Nick Haigh and his dog Piper. Piper didn’t look like she was up for much bush whacking to be fair, and seemed very content to remain quietly in the church whilst the rest of us got on with the task. In the blue corner, obscuring the rectory with its huge mass was the undefeated champion of Christ Church Churchyard, the Jolly Big Bush.

Slightly daunted at first the GoodGymmers made a tentative start, jabbing and poking with saws and secateurs look for a weakness the the Bush’s impressive armoury. The dense foliage seemed to repel any attack and it was difficult to get a start. A twin pronged attack was called for, with Louise and Ben working at one end whilst Chris and Kati tackled the other.

The GoodGymmers got stuck in with typical enthusiasm and were soon, cutting, hacking, tugging and dragging, to beat the bush into submission. But the bush wasn’t giving up easily, it had been around for many years and had grown strong and thick as a result. Ben and Louise seemed to be making real progress at their end, cutting as much as they could then forcefully pulling the woody branches out of the tangled mass of the bush. Chris and Katie on the other hand were filling wheelbarrows with cuttings quicker than I could empty them.

As is usual there was plenty of chat whilst we worked, and despite it being a tough task the GoodGym Guys were enjoying the challenge. So much in fact that they collectively decided to continue with the task a bit longer rather than take part in the planned hill reps session....very strange!

Anyway after and hour or so, with the GoodGym crew needing to run back to the Stadium, the final bell rang. Whilst the jolly big bush was not beaten, it was definitely less bushy and about 25% less big than it had been at the start of the night, and judges calling the contest a draw. So not an outright victory for the GoodGymmers but a good start had been made, and the foundations laid for a rematch in the coming weeks.

Thanks to all last night’s GoodGymmers, once again we got stuck in and we did what we could with characteristic energy and enthusiasm. We will not be beaten, we will return to Christ Church in the next few weeks to do battle once again with the Jolly Big Bush.