We were back at Sandown Allotments today, supporting Big Local with their community space.

Many hands made light work of the giant pile of mulch as we spread it out, rakes, spades, barrows and chat.

Having bested the summit of Mount Mulch in record time, Coretta put us to work on the planters to get them ready for the not-quite-entirely-wild-flower garden they are going to create.

Jobs done, the team took a victory lap around the coffee table and had a chat with Chris and Christine who are Saturday morning regulars.

Great day, brilliant place and was fab to have a new face amongst the bunch with Harvey joining us before he heads off to see Sam Fender!

On a mildly moist Monday evening Aimee and Richard set off from Stepney Bank Stables, armed with several hundred leaflets to promote the Ouseburn Festival on July 5th and 6th.

The destination was Heaton and its array of terraced streets. The plan was that this would hopefully prove a quick way to dispatch all of the leaflets through letterboxes, and so it proved. So much so that the task was completed quicker than anyone expected.

Local resident Keith was very keen to say hello and was told all about the Ouseburn Festival and GoodGym's work in the local area. Keith was the only one to receive two leaflets tonight, being given a GoodGym flyer too. As promised, you got a mention in the report Keith, so I hope you looked us up and are reading this!

We'll be back at Stepney Bank Stables next Monday to attempt to deliver the rest of the Ouseburn Festival flyers. Please come and join us!

Me and Louise helped move a bed to allow room for a new bed for some one coming out of hospital.

The friend who let us in was shocked that it was was 'two young lasses' and didn't think we would be strong enough to move the bed down the stairs. Louise was a bit concerned just how big and heavy this bed was but I knew we could do it!

We did do it whilst she was on the phone arranging for the bed to collected by bulky waste removal at a later date. It was pretty straight forward bending the mattress round the stairs, taking out the draws and spliting the bed base in half.

Bonus was getting to see two of her cats, unfortunately not pictured.

An impressive turnout of 19 GG Yorkies (and 1 GG Geordie) braved the less than impressive bank holiday weather to help St Nicks look after the green spaces on down by the river on New Walk. Before setting off we welcomed Issy along to her first GoodGym outing and Christine to her first task although she has been a regular at socials for some time. Give them both a massive cheer 🎉

We also had the honour of being joined by Aimee from GG Newcastle who came bearing the Golden Trowel, which is awarded to the most good GoodGym area during the January Challenge. So after a quick warm up featuring our favourite seasonings/sauces we posed for some photos with the trowel before heading on our way to the task 🏆

Tristan led a longer run, whilst Vicky led the more direct route with Ed and Rich making up the walking group. Upon arriving at New Walk were met by task owner Maeve who set the group to work armed with scythes, rakes and shovels in order to remove dock plants and cut back some of the nettles. GGer Martin also met us at the task and soon got to work digging up some of the bigger plants.

The team of GGers weren't the only ones foolish enough to be out in the rain by the river and we soon attracted the attention of lots of small bitey insects. Fortunately David was on hand with some bug spray to keep us all from getting too badly bitten.

Sheets of tarpaulin and sacks were soon getting full of weeds and getting shuttled back and forth to the dumping area which was a hood few hundred metres further down the path. Perfect for getting some more distance in those legs!

With time running out Maeve spotted a few larger docks which needed particular attention from our own Dock King, Martin who tackled them with ease before Michael and Hannah dragged the last tarp away. Whilst waiting for them to return we had plenty of time to celebrate Leanne's Birthday with some happy birthday squats, as is tradition. We may have also added an extra syllable to Leanne's name just to sneak a bonus squat in.

Happy birthday dear Le-a-anne

Then it was off to Vicky's fitness sesh which involved various exercises located at intervals on the slightly hilly Blue Bridge Lane. Poor Aimee had never come across a spotty dog before, and I'm still not entirely sure she knows what it is after being shown by GG's least rhythmic member, Tristan!

We then posed for a photo on Blue Bridge before all running back together, followed by walkers Ed and Rich