There was much to celebrate on a dark Monday evening as 16 Goodgymmers headed back to the Greenhouse Project. We were wrapping Christmas presents for the centre’s children ahead the big day on the 25th… on our 25th session at the Greenhouse Project!

The centre takes donations to ensure all their children receive a present this Christmas, and the large team quickly got to work ensuring they were all wrapped and labeled. With so many pairs of hands making quick work of the task, attention quickly turned to the buffet table, where everyone had brought mince pies, chocolates and snacks to share to celebrate the festive season and the fact we’re well and truly a part of the fabric at the fantastic Greenhouse Project, having helped out regularly since 2018.

With some quick calculations, it was confirmed those present had a combined total of a whopping 1097 tasks! Ranging right across the scale from a new goodgymmers very first task (welcome Rebecca!) all the way up to veteran Jo phenomenal 178th task! Plus we were delighted to celebrate Emma 100th task – well done you!

Our fabulous area activator Ema was, for once, lost for words when presented with a Christmas gift from the Liverpool Goodgym team, who were adamant she deserved a treat to thank her for all her tireless hard work over the year. Thank you Ema and Happy Christmas!

All in all it was a fabulously festive evening and shows just how much we can achieve when we work together. So whether it’s your first task or your 100th, everyone is welcome at Goodgym and each person really does make a difference to their local community.

On a beautiful, balmy Monday evening a great group of GoodGymers gathered at The Greenhouse Project...for a spot of get- fit gardening. Having walked, run or cycled, we were all ready for an upper body workout...and we weren't disappointed. Our good friend, and Forest School Leader, Chris, was on hand to direct operations: Having uncovered a pear tree on our previous visit, we were to finish clearing brambles from around it, and spreading mulch in the fire circle area. Armed with shovels, loppers, shears and determination, we filled the wheelbarrows with heaps of brambles and mulch, until both areas were transformed. Aditya and I worked up a healthy glow, shovelling the last of the mulch, with help from Sallyann, with transporting and spreading. My 'Hacker Harrison' status was challenged by Steph, as she took to the brambles with gusto...and a pair of loppers that made short work of the thickest stems. Heetu (taskforce!!!) and Liam ('not taskforce, just normal' 😉) covered quite a distance, running back and to along the path, with armsful of brambles. It was lovely to see Farnaz, who kept herself very busy and was keen to try out the hardware by chopping down some hardy undergrowth. As more ground was cleared, and the area revealed, Ema began to gather together a collection of footballs that had been hidden in the undergrowth...by the end of the hour there were 5! Chris was delighted with the results of our labours, and we were happy to have completed our 24th task for this very worthy cause. Watch this space for our next Greenhose Project report, and one of our very favourite tasks, which will mark 25 visits!

It was dark, it was rainy and it was Monday .... and 12 Goodgymers knew just what would chase away any blues because contrary to what the song says rainy days and Mondays never get us down. With our hoods up torches out and gloves on we met with Chris who showed us round. Chris explained with little time fir maintenance and the weather we have had the brambles and undergrowth have taken over some of the space. As we walked round this gorgeous space Chris pointed out the tasks that were needed to be completed. Pauline who has been a member of Goodgym Liverpool since it started remembered planting the trees several years ago on one of the early tasks with The Greenhouse Project.

The team soon got to work with Chris ( clearing, chopping down, mulching paths) our portable lights came in handy as its so secluded in some areas and Julie ended up doing a fantastic upper body workout as she kept the lights high enough and focused so the mulchers -could see what thet were doing. There was space and enough tasks that everyone was busy - for a real feel of the night watch our facebook live.

In an hour we mulched the path from the beautiful glade to the entrance, uncovered two raised beds from the undergrowth and where once there was a big mass of brambles now stood a beautiful pear tree with the most huge pears I have ever seen.

We left feeling happy, fulfiiled ( and in some case filled with delicious fresh pear) and with that warm glow that being part of something that makes a wet dark Monday evening feel bright and beautiful and worth getting a bit wet for. Thanks to Chris for giving us this opportunity.

Big shout outs this week to Jake for 25 good deeds all done in shorts and Aditya for 10 good deeds who started by meeting us at the task and now runs there every week and warm welcome back to Bekah who we have missed seeing her due to other commitments.

This week, we were back at The Greenhouse Project (for the 22nd time!?). After a quick run up from Hope Street, we were tasked with mulching the raised beds.

We've done this a few times before but in order to keep on top of the weeds, it needs to be done fairly regularly - a tall order for the small team at the greenhouse project. Thankfully, we had plenty of hands, including newbie Amina. Welcome aboard, it was great to meet you!

After a quick weeding session to get rid of the main culprits, we transferred the mulch to the beds by any means possible (wheelbarrows, wheelie bins, even a shopping trolley!). Then the challenge was to spread it evenly. As they say, many hands make light work and I think its fair to say, mission accomplished everyone! Well done!

After four seasons in as many days Monday night arrived with a generous helping of rain. But was it mulch too wet? Never! Not for goodgym! Some of us met at 'the suitcases' and ran up to the task - it was striking that on the mile and a half run we passed areas we have litter picked, a place we have helped to create wild seed beds, and an area we have helped to weed and clear up. No two tasks are the same - it is never much of a mulchness where Monday nights are concerned.

When we arrived at the Greenhouse Project we were met by Sandra who completed her first task tonight (yayyy welcome Sandra) Heetu and Ema.

We immediately set to work filling bags and wheelbarrows of (you guessed it) mulch and transporting it to the flower beds. The mulch was spread around the established plants to discourage unwanted weed growth. Due to the continual rain the mulch felt heavier so we all got a good work out - to keep warm some people took to running laps of the area in between tasks, running with the wheelbarrow and doing some spontaneous star jumps.

Despite the rain spirits were high and there was still a lot of chat whilst we worked. Nobody sang, that I could hear,although one suggestion for a song may have been ...Mulch is all around me (and we're wet wet wet!)

We have been to the Greenhouse Project a number of times and always receive a warm welcome and are happy that there's mulch to do at the Greenhouse Project and so we get asked back.

In true Goodgym style many hands make light work and in super quick time we had finished the task and we were ready to pose soggily for our group selfie ( apologies to Pauline who had to rush off to her drumming practice so wasn't in the group picture)

Speedy gone mulchly - our work is done.

Shout outs to Heetu for her 50th task (which included a double mission this weekend) and Sian for her 10th task. Credits for photos to Pauline and for puns to Bekah and Ema. Kudos to the team tonight for working up a storm in a downpour

This week we were once again at The Greenhouse Project. In fact, it was the 20th task we've done there! Not only that, but it was Jake's 10th task with us - excellent work!

4 runners met on Hope Street and ran the 2km up to Lodge lane to meet the others. Special shout out to Steph and Laura who had run all the way from Lark Lane (and back!) You're doing an amazing job of getting the miles in!

We were greeted by Jess and Pat who informed us that the task was to help get the back yard ready for a big launch event on Thursday. On going outside we realised what a transformation the space had already undergone, with new hedges and a fence, which we were tasked with painting!

We started by weeding around the bottom to ensure we could access the fence and then set to work with tiny brushes and a huge tub of paint.

It was a bit if a race against time, but we managed it! As they say, many hands make light work and with 10 of us we were able to get a job done that would have taken them hours! Well done everybody, it may have been difficult to see our achievements in the dark, but I've heard it looks fantastic in the daylight!