Another month, another Manchester Post delivery. This time, we were collecting the newspapers from the local library in Fallowfield, at The Place on Platt Lane, to deliver to nearby streets.

Likely due to lots being picked up from the library by locals, we only had around 100 newspapers 📰 this time between the three GoodGymers.

Sanjeev played the supporting role while Julia was on first name terms with any passers-by or locals who were curious about what we were doing. Very thankful for an ice lolly on a warm day too!

A quick jog home in the evening sun rounded off the task for Ben and Sanjeev, while Julia made her way home with a Manchester Post in hand.

Julia (and Wojciech) helped out the gang at Shakespearean Gardens for their annual open day.

Initially, they were involved with the set-up, putting up the gazebos around the site for the various activities through the day. Julia hung on to help out on the homemade cake stall, with lots of delicious cake on sale to raise money for charity on a wonderfully sunny day.

Thanks Stefanie for the photos! Super effort from Julia on a long but enjoyable day.

Welcome to Lucy for your first GoodGym session!

This evening, we were back at Eden Gardens Orchard in Philips Park to finish where we left off with a greenhouse needing to be built in place. Some of the frame from two weeks ago needed a bit of re-jigging and lots of the screws needed tightening, but bit by bit, we made some progress in the right direction.

While some screws snapped with some over-keen tightening (🙋‍♂️ guilty) we managed to get the back and 2 sides in place to screw together, with Jodie nimbly able to attach the clips connecting the frame to the base. Just in time, the front frame was ready to attach after some swapping of pieces, with a team effort needed to hold parts together while others screwed the bolts in.

As we tightened the screws, added more of the roof, and cross pieces were added for some extra strength, the structure became much more sturdy, shapely, and almost looked like a greenhouse (just without the glass).

Dennis from the gardens seemed very pleased, bringing out a northern staple of vimto, plums freshly plucked from the trees, and Julia supplementing with biscuits to keep us sustained. We had a potter around the orchard, seeing how sweetcorn is fertilised in lines, with a bit of weeding of the rocky path. Thank you to Peter for the Oregano!

Cracking effort from all involved. Next week we'll be helping weed and maintain the fruit trees 🌳 growing in Philips Park, including those grown with magic walnuts.

Fun evening at the Plastic Shed soft launch!

Lots of items made from recycled plastic lids on show using moulds made from aluminium, including:

• buttons
• (lab) coat pegs
• rulers
• clips
• bowls
• coasters
• spin tops
• combs
• lid connectors for building models from lids

We had the opportunity to drill some lids into the new mural inside too. Plus we got to see the new machines, new painted walls and spaces, and the new shop front!

Great to see how much progress Caitlin and Jamie have made!