Caitlin and Jamie have both been very busy moving and mural making for a variety of projects across Stockport and beyond.

To help them out, we came to do some therapeutic lid sorting, sifting the dirty ones, to be washed, from the clean ones that are ready to use.

We had lots of blue, red, and black lids with more colours waiting in the wings. We piled the boxes high, with ~80-90% thankfully looking clean.

We had a mix of 90s bangers and chit chat about how early is too early for lebkuchen and Christmas themed chocolate.

Once our designated boxes were sorted, and 100 minutes had flown by, we washed our hands and said our goodbyes. We'll be back in 2 weeks for actual artsy mural making so sign up soon!

With no new sign ups and others who couldn't make it, Ben combined a foodbank run to Hulme with a physical gardening session at Gorse Hill Green Rooms project.

Lots of tins of meats, fish, fruit, spaghetti, and beans plus oats, jam plus much more with extra plastic bags were dropped off at the donation point in Hulme Asda.

After that, it was a run to Gorse Hill to construct an archway, dig up some big ivy roots, and clear up a bit before their event on 25th October.

Long day volunteering at the Manchester Half for Hannah, Gaynor, Uzondu, Hazel, and Ben.

It was early start and after arriving, we individually signed in, picked up our hi vis and lunch, and made our way to the start line to help out where we could.

Hazel got a box seat for the start, while Gaynor and Hannah were on duty to collect discarded jumpers and coats, some quite expensive by the sounds of it, to be donated to Cancer Research UK shops. There were so many bags! Several vans-worth. Uzondu and Ben, meanwhile, were in the "toilet run" ensuring people queued off the road, enabling the waves to congregate and pass through without issue. All of us seemed to be on hand to signpost where runners should go in addition to answering questions from spectators.

Come 11am, once the runners had gone and the sacks of clothes moved, we merged to board the Broom Wagon! With another group, we were to tail at the back, encouraging runners who were struggling near the back. With only a few runners struggling close to the cut off time until about mile 10 it was quite smooth, with some of us jumping out to walk/run alongside while encouraging the participants onwards. We were a little bit taken aback by the volume of plastic bottles and gel packets on the floor visible from the bus, and no surprise the council had their large roadsweepers out in force.

I think for the last section of the race, we were all out jogging or walking, helping where we could so participants could reach the goal of the finish line. It was really heartening to see them reach the line in what was often an emotional point for them.

Certainly earned the free packed lunch after that day.

Went along to Trafford for another mission for Mrs L to clear a lot of ivy, overhanging branches, lots of moss, and clearing a bed 🌿🌱

With nifty secateurs, a sturdy broom, and a humble hoe, I made a serious dent in the ivy growth around the front gate and removed a lot of the overhanging branches that might encroach on passers-by or neighbours.

The moss came up quite easily but by that point, the garden waste bin was full to the brim so this was scattered on the cleared bed to break down.

Tough task after a busy morning. Will likely be asked back for a bigger tree to trim that will certainly need 2 GoodGymers next time 🌳

Ben made the mad dash from Sackville Gardensto Withington Methodist Church to join Withington Civic Society with their bimonthly litter pick.

After signing in and collecting my bags and trusty litter grabber, I set to work picking up all sorts of bottles, takeaway waste, clothing, tins, coffee cups, and even a toothbrush 🪥

In all, we collected over 20 sacks of waste to be collected through Keep Manchester Tidy and plenty of camaraderie to go round.

Even better was the cake and cup of tea in the church afterwards where we chatted, swapped contact details, and there will likely be more tasks coming up in Withington soon...