It was another hot one in Paradise City (aka York), but that didn't deter us - a whopping 31 GGers ran, walked and biked to West Office Gardens, fuelled by our Appetite for (vegetative) Destruction. Jake and Ruth joined us for their second time - nice to see you both again - and it was Una's numero uno run out with us - welcome!

Having been given our brief on which plants should Live and which we should Let Die we got to it, clearing the area of overgrown vegetation to make space for a new planting scheme. We made quick work of the weeds, but the buddleia and other large shrubs gave us a run for our money: we Slashed them with saws, Duffed them up with spades, but it took heavy metal mattocks and Raw Power to really shift them. Martin twisted the roots, Jake heaved at them, and Kit tried pogoing on his spade, just for funsies. Vicky, Jamie, David and James showed great Patience cleaning up everyone else's mess, running around after us all with brooms and wheelbarrows. We were also tasked with trimming an oversized bush: Laura, Jenna, Scarlett and Jane tamed its frizzy locks, turning them from an out of control mullet to a tidy crewcut.

What had seemed at the outset an insurmountable task was actually completed very quickly - It's So Easy when there's a lot of you. Skip filled to the brim, we downed tools and laid out cones in preparation for fun and games. Ed led us in a round of competitive Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes - featuring an unseemly amount of squatting - culminating in a tiebreaker showdown between Jamie and George. The day went to Jamie, but he sportingly joined George in his second place burpees - Nice, Boys.

A ridiculously large turnout from GoodGym at the clothes swap this month with Pete making his first visit and Antonia making a welcome return. Good to see Issy back again as well.

The clothes swap volunteers were also there in force which meant we could enjoy a more relaxed morning than last month's chaos 😁

Lots of fun was had and Pete, Claire and me all walked away with outfits for upcoming festivities.

After a cooler wetter weekend the sun came out for the gardening session at Holgate Community Garden. Jane planted the bean and courgette plant she had grown at home and redirected the honeysuckle. Carys and Becca weeded around the sweet peas and vegetables and cleared around some of the smaller trees to give them more chance. They then all weeded around the train. David helped to weed the beds and prune the large jerusalem artichokes. Laura cut back brambles and did some weeding on the long bed. At the end some of us enjoyed free juices from local resident Suzy who was doing a test run for her new juicing business in the garden.

We are becoming regulars here and its always a nice task at the bowls club. always assured of a friendly welcome and thanks galore. With 5 of us hot footing from the clothes swap we were joined by Ben and Ellie. With Pete on barrow duties the other 6 took up the shovels and soon made short work down the side of the access rd. No cake but the home made tea loaf was delicious....

Another fun Friday night setting up the clothes swap. Good to have three first timers for this task including Nada who got stuck in and will hopefully join us again soon.

Tonight was our first balsam bashing of the season and there was plenty for everyone! 🌱

Before setting off all the way to Fulford Ings we celebrated May's goodgymer of the month Hannah Hannah has become a Monday night regular as well as giving up time on many a Friday. To top it off she's upped her running and is training for a marathon! What a legend!🤩

Matt also completed his 250th parkrun so we cheered him too!

Finally we welcomed Scarletto her first group run. Not sure how she heard about goodgym!

After all the kudos we headed off with Ed leading the run and Vicky with a cycling group.

At the ings we were net by Nicola who had been bashing all day but assured us there was plenty left! We avoided midges, nettles and thistles best we could and after 45 mins had accumulated piles to be proud of.

We then headed home with a pit stop on the bridge of pain for some mexican wave fun fitness and then finished off with birthday squats for Peteand Scarlet 🥳

Finally, we wished Ali a bon voyage as he heads back to France. Thanks for joining us and hope to see you again one day!🇫🇷