A new week and new weather, so we found a task to make the most of the rain.

5 goodgymers took on the hill to help out at Northlands, young person homeless hostel.

The staff have been stripping some of the land surrounding the hostel, taking it back to soil. As always though, a few plants pop up where you don't want them, and so the call to goodgym.

Michael, always happy to help, led the team to remove those unwanted plants and rake over the soil.

Lew, Jonathan and Emily went straight to the Loppers to take on the plants.

And suddenly we had Flo joining us, as the first part of cutting was completed, it was time for the rakes.

The team did a great job of sharing the jobs, from cutting to raking and clearing the greens into the waste bag.

Michael and Emily had already worked those guns, carrying a half full waste bag up from the bin shed.

Now as the evening continued, that bag was topped to full. So Lew dragged it out of the way.

A slight break in the task as we all debated the yellow capped pipe.... And what it could possibly be.

A bomb? Gas? Part of a yellow submarine???

If you want to know, you'll have to join us at a task sometime....

As we got to the end, all hot and sweaty from a good workout, light rain started and the seeds were shared out....

It was a mix of UK-native wildflower seeds, everything you need and more to form a perfect patch of wildflowers to attract birds, bees, butterflies and insects.

The mix supports bees and butterflies, as well as other insects attractive to wild birds through the summer. The addition of a variety of grain-bearing plants such as linseed, sunflower and quinoa provide an important food source for wild birds through the winter.

Once everything had been spread, it was time to get our group photo and head back to the City Centre.

We will keep an eye on the patch and update on the growing show.....

On a run-derful Tuesday evening, 8 Goodgymers ran, walked and cycled to Global Gardens to work in the kids area of the allotment.

Chloe joined for her first Goodgym group task - welcome! Hopefully we will see you again soon at a task and/or social. There was also a welcome return to Lew who has vowed to come back to more group runs, I think mainly for the pub mind! ;o)

We split into to groups for the task to make the most of the space. Darren, Chloe, Flo and Su spent time clearing the seating area and climbing frame of any weeds and overgrowth. We got to hear all about Flo's amazing effort completing the VOGUM ultra in testing conditions on the weekend. Well done again Flo.

Rewind the years

Lew, Dylan, and Dylan dug out a cordoned off patch to be ready for planting. If you look through the pictures they managed to dig deep and find some interesting items from the earth:

• A full bottle of Stella Artois!
• A cassette tape by Youssou N'Dour - this only took 7 seconds to find! ;o)
• A handwash bottle
• A big old stubborn root

The before and after pictures show what a big difference was made in just 40 minutes!

After disposing all the weeds into the compost pile we headed off - some headed home and some headed to the open mic night at the pub.

Unsure about the weather only the brave few willing to take the risk.

In the words of the lighthouse family,

I wouldn't say I'm mad about the rain
But we'll get through it anyway
We'll get back to the start again

Tonight's slightly longer task up the hill to help the Salvation Army hostel with their rewilding project.

In order to get sowing the new seed mixes, for wildlife as well as looking beautiful, we had the task of removing the brambles.

Darren, David and Lucy got straight to the raised areas facing the roads and pavement to attack those brambles.

Whilst Emma and Fiona were given the shears to give a good ol' Chelsea chop to the greenery towards the back of the building.

There will be additional volunteers next week to clear the grass ready for the wild flower sowing.

One last task for the group before heading back, Michael had put down a weed suppression fabric several weeks earlier and now it was time to remove it. It should have been a simple folding task, but us goodgymers love a bit of fun. It soon became a rendition of the parachute game, and then a ball was added for extra fun.

Time to run back, that unwanted vegetation has been lifted, lifted, lifted We could be lifted from the shadows, lifted.