It was a massive turnout today morning, as we all headed down to Leazes Park to help out Urban Green. Today's task was to clear the top of the bushes at the edges of the park boundary. Some of the bushes and ivy was encroaching on the adjacent pavement and we needed to clear it out. Mike was there with his hedge trimmer. With so many of us there, we got so much done! It was definitely an eventful morning!

It was urbangreen's 100th task and we all showed up to Hodgkin park pretty excited and prepared with some surprises. Mike was there on a purely volunteer role but he shared lovely stories about the park as usual. Today's job was to take down the Ivy that had covered a massive section of the wall. It looked pretty satisfying at first. Taking down entire sections of Ivy. But we had to drag it uphill, so it was out of the way and we were all sweaty and out of breath in no time! Our tea/coffee break was extra special as Mike had brought in a chocolate cake and Lucy's mum baked us some lovely cupcakes to celebrate the occasion. We managed to clear off quite a lot of Ivy. All in all a very exciting task and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

On a very windy and rather chilly, but very pleasantly sunny morning, two goodgymers helped two urban greeners in Kenton Park.

The first task was to cut down some self seeded saplings, that wouldn't be able to compete with the parent trees, and could potentially create areas that encourage anti-social behaviour.

Set them free at the break of dawn 'til one by one, they were gone

It was very satisfying to see the area clear away. And we had the added entertainment of watching a group of people bounce around as they played bubble football.

Before we started the next task, we needed to change tools, from loppers and saws, to spades and shovels. And of course a quick Urban Green biscuit break. Unfortunately the kettle wasn't feeling the best, so no dunking could be done, but still gobbled down enthusiastically.

And all that energy was needed as we extended the width of a section of pathway. Isaac at Urban Green was very excited when we discovered a wooden border that we could work with. Once we had finished digging, all that was left to do was tidy up the mud, moss and grass, so it didn't slide back down onto the path.

Sadly, as it was Damu's first time leading a mission in a while, he completely forgot to take any pictures!

As Ninety nine urban green tasks go by Ninety nine urban green tasks go by

And we have another mission with Urban Green tomorrow, which is our 100th time helping each other. Would be great to see you there :-)

Two GoodGymers helped Urban Green in Exhibition Park on a spring Sunday morning. I had volenteered at Mowbray junior parkrun before hand and Lucy had also volunteered at Town Moor junior parkrun.

Along with rangers Mike and Rhian we were weeding, turning over and mulching a flower bed full of ornamental grasses outside Wylam Brewery. This was important to get rid of the weeds, try to suppress the weeds growing back to give the grasses more of a chance to thrive and make the flower bed look tidy and more appealing.

We had a tea break half way though and discussed the romantic life of the local swans and even saw some mating behavior so look out for cygnets in the future. A St Patrick's Day run ran past us and Mike tried to collar the organisers for charging people to use the park setting off glitter canons without permission. The organiser was uncontactable so it will need to be chased up later, but it was some sight to have all these runners running around the lake towards us to with music, green smoke and green glitter bombs.

After the break we continued on with the flower bed. It was large so we only got the first third done, but we made a big difference - cheak out the before and after pictures!

If you want to help out with Urban Green Newcastle we are back next week with Kenton Park on Saturday and Hodgkin Park on Sunday which is our 100th session with Urban Green!

Three GoodGymers helped Urban Green in Hogdkin Park. When task owner Mike explained the huge task cut down two big beds, right next to a gate we pervious painted, it seemed impossible in just two hours. But along with two Urban - Green staff and a couple of Urban Green volunteers we managed to finish the job.

With the task looking so massive we got stuck right into lopping and sawing all the bushes in the two beds down to waist height. This allowed a clear view over the wall and opened up lines of sight from the smaller north part of the park to the south part of the park to make the park feel safer. It was important to get is done before spring comes and birds start nesting. We dragged out all the chopped branches and made a huge pile which urban green are going to but through the chipper and then put the wood chips back in the same beds to provide nutriment and suppress weeds.

We had a well needed tea and coffee break halfway through, where we ended up discussing best pervious GoodGym tasks all of favourites involving animals and I hopefully sold GoodGym to the he urban green volunteers. Mike also pointed out where daffodils in the park spell out Hodgkin and are sarting to bloom!

Afterwards we finished up the cutting and moving of the branches and then litter picked the newly exposed litter under the bushes, including finding a bike, which will be donated to Recyke Y Bike, and a lost football.

The pile of branches was enormous and he difference we had made was impresseive - heck out the before and after pictures! We will be back with Urban Green in three weeks time if you fancy getting involved.

We’re going on a treasure hunt… and we’re not scared.

After a fantastic discussion on paragliding in car park of the community run pool and Gym, we headed to the top of the park. I’ll not be surprised if we see Anna flying off the side of a big hill! Our mission started with a litter pick to clear up the area ready for cutting back. The first hour flew by as we filled bag after bag of rubbish. The shrubbery hiding many surprises. Bank cards, gift cards, crystals, car parts, shelving unit, road signs all we were missing was the cuddly toy! As areas were cleared Debs and I started cutting back the bushes.

By coffee break we were surprised by the sheer number of bags we filled. With Tom and Sam’s up coming wedding conversation turned to the topic of stag and hen dos. Home leg and away leg? Party buses or flights? How many pints does a parkrun earn you?

We finished off the morning turning over a flower bed and cleaning up the path around the top entrance to the park.

Apologies that I forgot to take a group photograph.