👋 An incredible 35 people arrived for our group run tonight. There was a lot to celebrate, including two people attending their first task - both called Nick! Welcome to both of you. We also had Pete winning our prestigious GoodGymmer of the month for some excellent good-deeding and helpfulness in September. Well done Pete! We also had a duathlon, 15k PB and marathon PB to celebrate - well done everyone.

🏃‍♀️ 🚴 We warmed up all together then split into two groups for our tasks, with running and cycling groups. 10 people headed to Rowntree Park to help set up the Make Space for Girls art installation. Here's what Lucy had to say about it:

🛏️ Following a preliminary trip to prepare the ground in August, we returned to Rowntree Park to support an art installation as part of the Make Space for Girls project. Based on the concept of creating a safe space - the bedroom - outdoors, it involved carefully positioning (and half-burying) a table, bedside cabinet and headboard in the ground. The earth was still fairly hard after the recent dry spell, but the team set to work with a will, using all the tools available (spade, fork, hoe, sharpened stake...) to "bed" everything in as securely as possible. The artwork looks fantastic and it was great to be able to support this great initiative for girls.

🪏 Meanwhile, the rest of us headed to Park Grove School to help maintain the forest school area. There was plenty to dig up and cut back so we all got stuck in, with a huge range of tool sizes, from the small children's hand forks to the full-sized versions.

🐝 Unfortunately, a wasp/bee nest was found and a couple of people got stung. Not very fair karma for the good they were doing. But Vicky acted quickly and we avoided that area for the rest of the task.

🙌 Luckily, there was plenty of space to be able to avoid that area and we managed to make good progress clearing the space.

💪 After that, it was time for a group photo and then a proper fitness session! Still fun though, especially attempting to traverse a child-sized climbing wall!

🍰 Soon, it was time to head back to base/the pub to enjoy some delicious lemon drizzle cake, courtesy of Babs. Thank you! We also enjoyed some fairly in-depth chat about campanology (although apparently bell ringers prefer the term bell ringer...) 🔔

👍 Thanks everyone, and see you soon!

Remember, remember! The 4th of November, it's the Monday night Group Run slot!

Tonight we headed off to the Groves to help shift a load of bricks, as well as dig out some weeds and re-plant a few bushes. It was a smaller gathering than usual at the Priory Street Centre as a fair few GGers were getting a pre-task good deed in already, but we still had a decent crowd and welcomed back Anne who was returning for her 2nd group run. Give her a big cheer 🎉

Before setting off to the task we warmed up by celebrating the 24th anniversary of the premier of the film 'Dances with Wolves' and naming which animal we would like to dance with and why. There were some very interesting choices including a zebra, a platypus and Siegfried and Roy's white tiger (rather you than me, Graham!). Then it was off to the task ably backmarked by Abigail and Laura.

The other group had already made a good start and helped get the test of us up to speed on what needed doing. So we split off into those shifting bricks and those clearing weeds. Taskowner Tracy also got Ed on hand with a spade to dig out a few bushes that needed to either be shifted elsewhere or just removed entirely. This meant that I'm bot entirely sure what all the various groups were getting up to but excellent progress was obviously made as we managed to complete the task early, meaning we had more time for fitness (aren't we lucky!)

Vicky had created tonight's fireworks-ish themed sesh with people getting into pairs and completing exercises written on a down on a ticket (fit-tix?). The team with the most tickets at the end of the sesh would be declared the winner and tonight's prize went to Mitch and Charlotte who had completed a remarkable 32 tickets! Although anyone who has previously witnessed the speed of Charlotte's burpees won't be surprised in the slightest.

We then made our way back to base and said our goodbyes

Tonight we had a bumper turnout to help at the Kings wildflower meadow path.

A select group set off at party pace followed by the main group after naming and numbering off. We were also joined by a few cyclists and some folk joined us at the task.

We had a few unexpected late sign ups so we needed to split into two groups with one taking on the litter pick challenge and the other tackling dock leaves.

The litter pickers had a list of treasure to find in pairs with the tie breaker being a selfie. Mitch and Lyndsay were the only team to collect everything even though they had to climb over the fence to the beck!

Group dock leaves were introduced to a new tool - the lazy fox - which was used to slice dock leaves at their base.

Time quickly passed and we were back off to base via a few hill reps on little Hob Moor.

All our good work was rewarded with Rich's brownies, which were still warm!

Despite the earlier rain we were treated to some very pleasant sunshine for tonight's group run.

We welcomed newcomers Chris and Polly to the group and named off stating our favourite vegetable in honour of national vegetable day. Counting at the same time proved too complex so Vicky did a headcount instead!

Laura led out the group with Barbara and Vicky backmarking.

When we arrived we collected tools and got to work clearing a forest as part of the schools new forest area. We chopped, sawed, lopped and tugged away and we soon filled the green bins, made a pile yo be chipped and made a stack of den building logs.

To finish we did a tough tabata session - 20 seconds hard with 10 seconds rest. Everyone gave it some good effort and we were quickly through two rounds, got a group photo and on our way back.

Great turnout and effort tonight - good work everyone. Hope to see you soon. Next week its another school, another forest school at Tang Hall Primary.

5 GoodGymers were tasked with sanding and varnishing a few slightly sorry looking noticeboards so they could have a new lease of life . These will be put back on to the popular York - Selby cycleway so we needed to make sure the boards looked nice and fresh for everyone to see.

Luckily between the 5 humans and 1 dog, we quickly managed to get the boards sanded and glossed so they look brand-spanking new!