🏅 A gaggle of excellent GoodGymmers gathered for our weekly group run. First of all, we heard about some incredible running over the weekend. David Barrett won a race and not just any race, a (very) extended bleep test! Much kudos to David! Meanwhile, Matt won a parkrun (not a race, apparently...) And Ed did a Hardmoors half (but sadly got injured partway round, and still completed it, somehow!)

🦸 Next, it was time to celebrate 3 more heroes, of the 50 good deed variety. Huge well done to Jen, Matt and Jamie, who got to split the 50 cape between them!

🪏 After a quick warm-up, it was time to start running/cycling to Greenfields Garden for some (slightly) guerrilla gardening. We were helping the no-dig crew tonight, digging up grass to put on layers of cardboard to mulch down onto the bed below. There were a few tool options available to assist, including spades and loppers, or some of us used our hands...

🦗 A few grasshoppers/crickets were spotted (hence the pun), leading to a discussion about how to tell one from the other. It turned out no one was quite sure how to tell them apart but the internet tells me that crickets have longer antennae and are nocturnal. So we probably saw grasshoppers...

🍎 Anyway, it was hard work digging up grass so when we given the option to search the orchard for windfalls, many of us took it with open arms.

💪 Soon, it was time to down tools and start fitness with Nick. He claimed to find a way to make squats and planks fun and was almost right, though our moving tunnels of planks ended up in some particularly itchy grass!

🍪 Time to head back to base for a cool-down stretch and birthday biscuit-beer combo at the pub (thanks Nick!) We heard about lots of fun things coming up this week so plenty to get involved with. Thanks everyone!

A great GoodGym team met at the Tiny Forest on a glorious☀️ day. Amy🏃‍♀️. The tasks were many and varied but quickly conquered. Water was lugged up the hill to replenish the pond. Pond plants were checked & identified. Wood chip was transported to repair the path and to the picnic area. Huge weeds were banished by hand, strimmer, secateur, spade & shears freeing the edge of the path and the Christmas 🎄 copse. The roof of the compost bin was reinforced. The compost was checked, added to & watered. Amazingly, from a barren grassy patch the Tiny Forest is now thriving (mostly surviving these heatwaves) and providing homes for a multitude of life. Todays spots included a rare clouded yellow butterfly, a toad & a mouse both living in the compost bin & grasshopper. Strangely, there was a dead bunny in the bug hotel, our detective instincts led us to believe the owl had been successfully hunting. Before we knew it, it was time to sit down under the parasol for a cuppa & Lucy's freshly baked cakes and chat. Luckily Ben spotted Becca's 🚲 flat tyre, which Alastair pumped up and🤞 her journey home must have been speedier & comfier. Thankyou all - many hands really do make light work.

Chief Herder James managed to get a pair of unruly runners across the Millennium Bridge and to Fulford in plenty of time for some much needed hydration at Elle's, before the Germany Beck litter-pick. The litter is really staying in check between these litter-pick sessions, so although a few bags were filled, areas that have been litter-picked in th past are looking a lot better. The GoodGym contingent then went on to the pub with some local neighbours to celebrate!

James, Soph and Elle got together on a Saturday afternoon to do some gardening at Southbanks' community raised beds. However, we lost James to a ladybug towards the end of the task, but he was back on form to wrap-up the hose and lead the team on a run to the next task in Fulford.

What better way to spend an evening than swapping trowels for bowls and heading to the bowling green for an evening of competitive fun!

There were some impressive deliveries, a few questionable ones and plenty of good sportsmanship — all washed down with a few beers! 🎳🍺

Once everyone had worked up an appetite, it was time for a buffet, which was very kindly laid on by Lynne at the club, followed by an all-important selection of cakes. Because no GoodGym social is complete without cake!

Then came the Yorkshire quiz, testing our knowledge of everything from Yorkshire traditions to local legends. We now all know how big our Yorkshire Puddings should be!

A brilliant evening of bowls, beer, buffet, cake and Yorkshire trivia — GoodGym definitely knows how to roll out a summer social! 💚

Saturday evening sunshine meant there was no better place to be than getting stuck into some GoodGym gardening!

Tonight’s mission was weeding and removing black plastic — a satisfying combination of pulling, clearing and uncovering what had been hiding underneath. The weeds didn’t stand a chance as we worked our way through the area, while the stubborn plastic put up a bit more of a fight!

With plenty of sunshine, teamwork and fresh air, we soon had the area looking much tidier. Who needs Saturday night fever when you’ve got Saturday night weeding fever? 🌱💪