Our driest day this month, so let's get helping outside. Tonight we were back at Cwtch Together for some well needed help in the garden.

10 of the goodgym crew were eager to help, with 6 running from the meet point, another 3 running from homes and 1 walker.

Once we arrived it was time to chat with our organiser, Sarah. She took Michael on a walk showing what needed to be done so that he could split up the group as required.

Tasks for the evening:

• Reattach and paint the bottom of the gate.
• Remove some wooden posts attached to the wire fence.
• Remove ivy from the back wall.
• Cut back the overgrown brambles, ivy and everything else on the side of the building, up to the roof.

The play group had discovered one of their young people had become accustomed to using the overgrowth as climbing apparatus. Our job, to remove every opportunity for this, and make it safe.

We split into groups,

Su and Rosie were at the gate. Rosie a machine with the cable ties, securing the wooden bottom back to the gate. Su getting involved with the painting.

Darren ripped those posts out, on a rampage for freedom.

Lucy, Martin and Jake were the Ivy league when it came to weed removal from the garden wall.

Michael, Llion and Dylan were squashed in the corner. Llion leading the way with Loppers, Michael scaling the walls to attack from up high. Dylan cleaning up as brambles and ivy fell from every angle. It was all hands to work for the final part of the wall as ivy was ripped away to reveal a corner that hadn't been seen for some time.

Dylan joined a little later but still got cracking with the gatekeeper.

This was a good evening of tasks, with some clear work on show. The usual ending group photo, and we headed back to the city centre for a catch up.

Pancake pans paused on a quiet night, four willing hands chose sheers over light.

Michael took aim at the bramble with gusto and grin, he wrestled the root till the stubborn stump gave in.

Dylan and Rosie picked ivy off stone and wall, they stripped every tendril, they answered the call.

Jake ferried the load in a trusty barrow, back and forth he went, quick as an arrow.

At the venue on North Road the task was complete, Northlands Hostel in Maindy: beds of clean earth, with walls neat and sweet.

The stump called “middle finger” met a final goodbye, and leaves made their exit beneath a dull sky.

Tools were returned and the wheelbarrow sighed, we left with lighter steps and more space outside.

Pancakes later kept spirits bright, join us in March if you fancy a night.

Teamwork, laughter, and sweat in the cold, another small victory, another story told.