On a glorious day in the sunshine, goodgymers got together for the long overdue task of Orchard watering..

The community orchard in Bute park was in need of a good slosh o' water. After heatwave after heatwave, those trees were rattling the fences for us to come in.

Due to all of the events in the parks recently.... The orchard had to be fenced off for its own safety. This had meant a cancelled water session last time, but no more. Finally as the people of Cardiff get their parks back, goodgym can get to the orchard.

We met at Glassworks as usual, and welcomed our first timer Darcey..

CROESO

We set off on our run, a light jog due to the heat.. A slight detour due to the get out for the events crew as they disassembled the monstrosity of the stage and walls, but we made it to the orchard gates. Our organiser, Mel messaged to say she was running a little late so we got comfortable in the shade relaxing after our run.

David decided to try to break the code for the gate lock, but with no success.

As Mel arrived, on her bike with 2 water browsers and a watering can (Michael had run with 2 from his allotment), it was time to get into the orchard to get volunteering.

There are over 60 trees in the orchard, so our task was a big one tonight, the plan of action was simple....

• fill up the 2 browsers (60 litres each)
• decant water to the cans
• give each tree 1 FULL can of water

We rotated, giving everyone time for a different workout. Running back and forth to fill up the browsers, they were quite a workout on their own once full, but fun to roll. Lifting and pouring the water into the watering cans, a great upper body workout. And last, but by no means least, running to water the trees.

We were even lucky enough to see a green spotted woodpecker, but not in time for Jonathan to get it on the merlin app.... Maybe next time...

Speaking of which, we will return in 2 weeks for another watering session as we head into a big ol heatwave....

Join us won't you.....

Sign up here

Sunday at Love Trails Festival 2026 saw Goodgym lead a run to beach clean at Broughton Bay. ​ 3 goodgym run leaders led 16 runners (who had never done a Goodgym task before) on a 7.5km trail run along the coastal path, avoiding the tick infested forest and diverting onto a hillier road route, and across some sand dunes to the beach. ​ On arrival one runner commented "but this beach is clean? what are we going to collect?"

How wrong they were! the beach on the Gower Peninsula looked clean, but once people started looking we collected 15 bags of rubbish, another broken crab cage, a toy spade (which will be recycled as a gift to one runleaders children) and a heavy duty crate.

After 30 minutes of collecting, we regrouped, and ran 7.5km to the festival site.

Friday at Love Trails Festival 2026 saw Goodgym lead a run to beach clean at Whiteford Sands.

3 goodgym run leaders led 12 runners (who had never done a Goodgym task before) on a 7km trail run along the coastal path, through a tick infested forest (only GG run leaders found ticks on them and they hadnt yet dug in) to the beach.

The vast beach on the Gower Peninsula looked clean, but once people started looking we collected bags of rope and netting that would cause harm to birds and fish, a fridge door, a traffic cone, a broken crab cage, wading suit and a huge gas cannister.

After 30 minutes of collecting, we regrouped, committed to heading back through the tick forest, and ran 7km back to the festival site.

Second mission in Cardiff as I am here for the week end. I ran to Mr N flat. He had issues using the new intercom that was installed but was able to get in. When he opened the door, he said welcome back and said I look like a person who came to help a while back. Do I have a twin or a double in Cardiff? If the case he is slacking with his number of GG missions 🤣🤣. I was here to collect rubbish bags and bring them behind the flats to the communal bins. I did 3 trips as roughly 14 bags. A few normal size bin bags, but then Mr N had these unusual massive bins bags : you could fit 2 of me in them or my twin and me. Mr N himself said he could fit in them as much bigger than me. 3 trips and all the bags had disappeared from the flat.

As I am away on Cardiff this weekend, why not do some Goodgym here. GG tourist and 1st mission in Cardiff which also means my 22nd GG area visited. I arrived at Mrs H on a hot Friday afternoon and what better task to have. Defrosting a chest freezer. It was empty and ready for me to break the ice. Mrs H offered me some gloves to avoid frostbite, but I had mine. In no time I got rid of the icebergs that were at the top of the freezer and blocking the baskets. I had my bucket for the ice...what's on your bucket list? Mrs H was happy to have an ice free freezer ...for the moment as switched it back on once I cleaned it.

Quite an evening for our task, unfortunately everything changed at the last minute. We had to cancel our Orchard watering due to the event in Blackweir, for the first time.

It was a busy evening in Cardiff tonight, as we had Katy Perry in the castle and Lewis Capaldi in Blackweir Fields (just up the path)

Even with all of this activity, and last minute changes, we still met up and got out for some good. Our change had us running up to The Salvation Army Hostel for young people, with an option to work inside or out.... The weather was looking changeable...

Once we were all there, Michael took the crew inside to help carry out the items to build.

Our tasks, to build.....

• 3 Planters
• 1 Round garden picnic bench
• 5 large boxes to carry in total.

Let's go go go

We were split into 4 teams of two, 6 on the raised planters. The final 2 were to do as much as possible with the bench, but this wasn't going to be finished in one 30 minute session.

He weather stayed dry, so we stayed outside enjoying the evening air.

5.....4....3...2..1

Time's up, let's get the photo and head back. It was a great jog back, as thousands were descending on Cardiff for the night. We had cheers from the crowds as if we were part of a race.

Some of our weirder discussions on the way back, as acid reflux came up. The fact that there are 60 Sphincter muscles in the human body, and they control a lot more than you think.....

Thanks to everyone of you for coming out, see you again soon.