Today we have come for the final go at eradicating the ubiquitous ground elder from the path designated for a pollinator friendly meadow. This invasive weed spreads via rhizomes, which can regenerate from just a tiny fragment left in the ground. Known for their attention to detail expert Goodgymers started fine combing the path to gather few half full bulk bags of the plant roots, which have been dragged to the nearby composting bins. Kristina wasn't worried about the ground elder infestation of the composting bins, so we have achieved a win win here with the ground elder finding a new home and weed free space ready for wildflower planting. Assortment of other roots, stones and sticks uncovered during the dig has been carefully deposited in the nearby bushes, creating enriched habitat for insects, invertebrates and the like. One hour later we were ready to raise our mattocks in a gesture of victory.

Report title credit to Leanne

Monday saw 28 GoodGym Yorkies descending onto streets of York (and Reading) to spread the positive energy.

Aim: to go walking, or running either by yourself, with members of your household, or one other GoodGymer and be out as much, or as little as you like.

Motivator: knowing that other GG Yorkies are out running and walking at the same time.

We visited places like the Knavesmire, Hob Moor, riverside walk, Germany Beck to name just a few.

Run/walk distances ranged from 2k to 12k.

Everyone did their own stuff, but we all had two things in common, that was exercising outdoors and sharing the positive energy with others.

Paul did a 6k run as a substitute to his gym class, Jenna ran a loop along the river, Mitchell took his friend for a 7k jog around Fulford, Helen and Amy did a 6,5k run around the city centre, Michael ran over 8k around Hob Moor, but somehow missed Paul and Leanne who were doing their 5k close by. Carl did a 5k loop around South Bank, Michal took his dog for a run along the river, Katie ran 5k with Vicky around the York Racecourse, Nicola did 2k around the block as her post-circuits cool down while her other half Richard went orienteering in Heworth to cover 9,5k.

I tried to bring the energy today. I walk the Knavesmire track daily and today was stopped by 2 dogs and an elderly man. He said he was extremely lonely and would be completely broken if he didn't have his dogs.'' - amazing Katie cheered a lonely person while on her walk. It's what GoodGym is about!

First run I've done in months... Thanks for being the inspiration I needed''- outstanding Louise ran 3k in Reading.

Wasn't going to run but fresh air helped to clear the work fug. Thanks for the motivation!''- general Debs ran over 2k around her neighbourhood.

Looking at our Facebook and WhatsApp feed you could feel a real sense of community and togetherness. We will be repeating that next week.

It was a beautiful and majestic sight to see 23 Goodgymers gallop ( /cycle) across the green (and welcome back a few familiar faces) to where Jenny from the council awaited with many maaaaany plant plugs and bulbs. For today was no ordinary day, today we were going to do what many Goodgymers had tried before, to plant them all!

We quickly divvied up the tools and got to work digging in socially distanced teams in between the trees. We had various young plant plugs (which had to be extracted with screw drivers!?!) and handfuls of bulbs which included bluebells, crocuses, wild tulips and twiglets (or the roots of wood anenomes that looked like twiglets).

With valiant efforts not to eat the bulbs which were getting confused with garlic, potatoes, onions and twiglets we managed to plant everything in only an hour! Other highlights included Nikki unearthing a plug of a different variety, passing visits from GG legends Egg, Digby, Huw & baby Noah and by no means least the copious amount of baked goods that seemed to have mater that materialised as incentives to join the task (Big shout out to Babs, Vicky H and Nikki G!)

We then slowly dispersed and wound our ways to other Saturday activities.