Five goodgymers returned to Hockley Port to continue the field clearance work today.

I arrived early at the task, just in time to find Fiona, who was having some trouble finding the location. She wasn’t alone as our first timer, Edgar, also had to take a tour of the local cul-de-sacs before finding us.

We met Hussein on the site, who explained what we could help with today, as they had used the space for Eid celebrations on Thursday. So there was a lot to clear on the field. He also pointed out the Japanese Knotweed in the corner that we cleared the first time we joined in, which had already regrown to around six foot tall. A sign that there really is a lot to do to get this site at its best.

Ryan began by raking the ground where we had previously cleared the huge brambles, while Francesca picked litter from around the site and I cleared the space of bricks, loading them in a trolley to pile them in the corners. With the field itself looking a lot clearer, we all picked up rakes and began to move the remaining brambles towards the fence separating the site from an industrial estate. We piled them high in front of it to give a bit more privacy before they work on something more permanent and attractive.

As we began to feel a few spots of rain after two hours of work, we decided that we had achieved enough. So we decided to take a selfie and go our separate ways. In good time too as it soon began to pour down, getting me a little soaked by the end of my run home.

It was great to have a new member of the group today. We hope you enjoyed the task Edgar and we can see you again soon.

Lizzie started our GoodGym Birmingham task landmarks with a bang, taking a picture on her run of a landmark closer to home. It wasn’t just a photo shared, she arrived armed with facts:

Here's somewhat of a local landmark.. this is the great central railway. It's the world's only working double track heritage railway in the world and runs for around 8 miles 🛤️ Although there haven't been any steam trains recently!

Morwenna then captured Birmingham City Centre on the horizon, before Ryan chose the famous clock tower at Birmingham University and a remarkably peaceful stream while out running to help an isolated friend. Morwenna then got out again to photograph the Jewellery Quarter to take in some of our task locations. I took a run to Winson Green to see if the Alpacas were at our school wildlife garden, but it seems like they are shielding at the community house.

Raull was working at the Nightingale Hospital in London again so was able to find London City Airport and a statue of the England World Cup winning players. Liam went past our base of the 1000 trades bar to find it is now 1000 Takeaways!

Then we had Nurjehan's entry sharing locations from GoodGym Haringey on a 10k run before a Community Mission:

Mulberry Junction is where GGymers have packed food parcels for those without a permanent address. Community Mission on Tuesday mornings. 'The Well' is directly opposite Mulberry Junction and although disused, it used to be a hub of activity when Tottenham was a village.

Finally, David caught a very eerie Birmingham City Centre, again completely deserted. Well done everyone for staying fit and motivated.

When I set up the fitness session, as usual I left the brief broad and creative. As usual, I wasn’t let down. Wildlife photography is a difficult art form at the best of times but close to impossible when combined with running, often in urban areas. So, there’s a good mix of the real thing, being very elusive, and artistic interpretations of the natural world in here.

Rahul kicked off our wildlife spree with a bit of bird spotting near the Nightingale Hospital. Following up quickly was Tousif, who found the magnificent Sun Guardian bear, designed by artist and DJ Goosesensei, on a run in Handsworth Park, before he found the first of the geese. I then set off and took in the Heronry in Sandwell Valley before Morwenna found a neighbourhood cat to start her plentiful collection.

Miriam brightened our day with horses and Fiona found a wild bear on the loose, although it was more of the fluffy variety this time. Morwenna then came back with a game of Duck Duck Goose while Liam found geese in their most menacing environment, threatening to push runners into the canal. Finally, Morwenna found a beautiful swan resting by the Lifford Reservoir and Ben passed by cows and horses on his run.

Then just beating the press, we had a final entry from Vic at GoodGym Coventry, who found sheep and a magnificent wooden parrot to end our wildlife quest on a high.

Well done everyone for keeping your fitness going. It really is getting tough now so there will be another motivational fitness session soon.

Francesca did 12 drops at 10 addresses today! It certainly was a rainy one, so there was not much time to stand and stare. It was very much drop and run...back to the car.

Francesca had an epic journey today, delivering 19 bags to 12 addresses around the city! All of these food parcels went to people who are shielding, self isolating, experiencing hardship financially or a combination of these.

Among the parcels, she was given a cool box, which was fun! It contained sandwich meats, yoghurts, orange juice, pierogi (a new one for me, an Eastern European dumpling) and pâtés in it! It really is a different day every day at the Ladywood food hub, as they gather as much food as possible, meaning that the range of food can be as different as the people they arrange to get them from.

There’s more to come this week, well done Francesca for keeping the deliveries going.