If there’s one thing you can rely on, it’s that GoodGym Stockport’s litter picking sessions come with a full theatrical weather performance… and this Tuesday was no exception. Enter stage left: thunder rumbling, wind howling, and rain making a very loud point. 🌧️⚡

But fear not—our dynamic duo, the H&M tandem (Hazel & Mandy), had clearly read the script ahead of time. This time, they arrived fully prepared… perhaps even over-prepared 👀🧥🧤 (there’s no such thing as bad weather, only too many layers… right?).

Setting off along Hempshaw Lane, they headed towards the Lidl hotspot—otherwise known as the treasure trove of litter. And true to form, no rogue crisp packet or sneaky bottle cap stood a chance. 🥤🚯

But it wasn’t all about the rubbish! Between the gusts and drizzle, nature tried to steal the spotlight too 🌼. A broken bird egg added a touch of wild intrigue, while patches of brave wildflowers put on their own colourful show. Special mention to Mandy, whose eagle eyes never miss these little gems—nature commentary included free of charge! 🐣🌸

With time still on the clock (and weather finally calming down—about time! 😅), the duo extended their route along the A6, passing the college. Because why stop when you’re on a roll and the atmosphere has decided to behave? Passers-by were also appreciative 😊

By the end of the mission, a proud stack of 5 refuse bags stood neatly by a bin, ready for council collection—proof that even the most dramatic of evenings can end in tidy triumph. 🎉🖐️🗑️ All in all, not a bad way to spend a Tuesday evening:

Storms? ✔️ Steps? ✔️ Surprising nature moments? ✔️ Litter defeated? BIG ✔️

Until next time, when the weather will undoubtedly try to upstage us again… and fail 😉🌈

With temperatures reaching 30°C over the past couple of days, we opted not to run tonight and instead just walked to deliver the second set of leaflets advertising Together Trust's festival on Saturday 4th July.

Thanks to those that joined, next sessions for Together Trust leaflets are Tuesday 16th and Tuesday 23rd June 🙌

A lovely group run session delivering leaflets on behalf of the Together Trust - thanks guys! Same again next week 🙌

Today’s Hazel's workout: 60 minutes/3km walk pacing, and ~150 copies of the Stockport Post 📰🏋️ (May issue) delivered across the neighbourhood 🏡. Dogs kept things civil 🐕👍; the weather did not 🌬️😅, hence the extra layers 🧥. The second half will happen… eventually ⏳😉

Five GoodGymers—Hazel, Laura, Mandy, Molly, and Ben—joined forces with the ever-friendly locals of Edgeley to support What If’s Tuesday Night Club, kicking off the mission to transform a humble parking area into a thriving green food park in just six months!

This session was full-on graft mode. The team tackled all sorts of maintenance jobs: sweeping, filling the compost pit, watering, picking up twigs and logs, assembling the raised bed, weeding, and even adding chalk spray markings to the tarmac (because every great garden needs a good road map).

But it wasn’t just about getting our hands dirty—brains were engaged too. Jade, the gardening expert brought in by What If to lead the six-month transformation, treated everyone to a mini masterclass on Hugelkultur. The word may sound like a spell from Harry Potter, but it’s actually German for “mound culture”—a permaculture technique that involves building raised beds filled with rotting wood, logs, and organic matter. Translation: a low-cost, low-watering, high-impact way to grow good food. Clever stuff.

Everyone put in a huge effort, with special shout-out to Ben, who showed up and grafted on despite not feeling great. Proof that sometimes the biggest wins aren’t about being perfect—they’re about turning up, doing what you can, and collecting strength through small, meaningful actions. Compost piles were filled, knowledge was shared, and commitment was well and truly planted. 🌱💪

It was another one of those “bestest weather ever” kind of days 🌞, so the Codling father‑and‑son dream team, Lee and Luca, were back in action for Luca’s Duke of Edinburgh mission 🥾🏅! Our mighty powerhouses Luke and Noah arrived in fashion, joined by mum Kirsty, all kitted out in perfectly coordinated summery outfits 👕🧢 and armed with litter‑picking gear like seasoned pros 🧤🗑️. And a huge round of applause for Kevwe 👏, who bravely joined her very first GoodGym session despite the pre‑run jitters 😬➡️💪. We’ve all been there — and turning up anyway is a badge of honour ⭐. Welcome to the crew, Kevwe! 🎉

The original plan was to spruce up the main commercial road 🛣️, but when the local organisers didn’t appear… plot twist! 😅 So they did what GoodGym does best: adapt, improvise, and crack on 🚀. Tools at the ready and enthusiasm fully charged 🔋, they headed straight for the litter‑pickers’ equivalent of hidden treasure 💎 — the alleys and bramble‑filled nooks lurking behind grocery shops 🌿🛒. Kevwe, the local‑area expert 🧭, led them confidently to the hotspots, while Lee and Luca took charge of the neighbouring inner roads 🛤️.

Our mighty little pickers showed absolutely no fear 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️, boldly conquering dense brambles that had been hoarding their littery secrets for far too long 🌱😬. The haul? Roughly 50% alcoholic bottles 🍾, 25% soft drink cans 🥤, and 25% assorted plastic bits and bobs 🧴 — a perfectly balanced (and entirely unwanted) litter diet 🤢😂. Around eight bags were filled in total 🛍️🛍️🛍️, proving once again that teamwork really does make the dream work 🙌

Best of luck to Luca with your Duke of Edinburgh 🏅 — choosing to spend a glorious sunny Sunday helping the community is dedication at its finest 🌟. And massive kudos to Luke and Noah too 🎉🎉; for now, we’re officially awarding you both the prestigious Duke of Stockport honours 👑🏆. Titles well earned all round! 💚

See you all again at the next GoodGym Stockport session — same energy, same smiles! 😊💪