We trusted the weather forecast to be wrong and wrong it was - a break in the light rain made for optimum weather to clear moss from the paths though not the grass from the beds.

it was lovely to be joined by Joannafor her first GoodGym task - lovely to meet you and have your help and company.

Joanna joined the walkers whilst the runners disappeared out of sight, skilfully led by Richard Band back marked by Caroline whilst Vaguely Northern Darren did a bit of walk leading but started to deviate into the longer running route instead of the direct walking route so back-marked instead. Jason was resting his legs before his first half-marathon event on Sunday - good luck with the Bath Half, locally known as Running the Bath. And Edhas a volunteering place at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow so we're already speculating in the kit hell be getting - presumably waterproof as its a UK games...

The runners were already deep into the flower bed when the walkers arrived, grateful that David had volunteered to carry a couple of our work lights on his last GoodGym session before travelling on a yoga skills exchange for a fee months - what an adventure!

After a hit of grass re-laying on the tracks left by a vehicle, we moved to the far path for some very satisfying mass-moss clearance with Richard G, Roddy and Caroline filling each others' blue rubble bags at speed with Becky making everything look super tidy before we headed back to Workout for tea and cake. And then it started raining [insert smug face here]

Good weather and a great team of GoodGymmers and local volunteers meant oodles of progress in the outside green space, clearing ivy, looping and copping trees and shrubs and unearthing a LOT of litter and recycling, including a bowl to add to the growing "found crockery" collection.

Fabulous to have Sasha join us for her first session, hopefully the first of many!

Delicious soup for the volunteers finished off the session with the aches setting in after sitting down for lunch. Spring is definitely here.

Lots to get on with on a day that was almost spring like. There was litter picking to be done around the viaduct and in the Moon Temple, and removal of pesky jagged brambles that are everyone’s nemesis. One team of de-bramblers took the top of the viaduct and the other scampered up the hill to help give the wildflowers a chance.

Welcome today to Andrea for their first task 🙂

At the end we all gathered for the customary tea/coffee and biscuits and chat.

Until next time…

We have made so much difference to the winter view of the Burial Ground - lots of the previously-hidden gravestones can now be seen as soon as you enter the green space as the bramble forest has been cut to just a few inches - now to see what happens in Spring...

We were joined by Jen for the first time, a recruit from Greville Smyth junior parkrun volunteering, who quickly joined in the chopping mission to find the ground as well as the gravestones. Operation Find The Wall is now underway, having successfully cleared all the way to the far path.

Soundtrack for the evening was mostly experiences of volunteering at Glastonbury (trying to stop festival-goers contaminating the watercourses by encouraging them to use the provided loos) to childhood experiences of being blamed for things which a sibling had done, including sibling's graffiti-ing walls or windowsills in a less-than-sophisticated way. But also times the GoodGymmer had been the sibling causing the mischief...

Lots of chat and lots of chopping, Richard B as ever getting as much done in their Solo spot as the rest of us put together. The Whirling Dervish of Bristol GoodGym.

Time to pack up and move out, Vaguely Northern Darren went back to look for Melanie's missing non-gardening glove which was mysteriously found under the now quite soggy lights in her bag - if only there was a light on whilst putting the lights in the bag...

The rain and chill had lessened considerably for the journey back and we were lulled into a fall sense of dryness and warmth at Workout as we enjoyed our post-run/walk tea, hot chocolate, chai or pint. Until we were putting soggy hats, gloves and jackets back on. Roll on the bramble-growth of Spring but also warmer rain!

Fantastic start to Friday... 6 GoodGymers met on a slightly damp and cold morning and cleared leaves from the pavement and kerbside outside Windmill Hill City Farm. It was amazing how much was cleared in just 40 minutes, making access to farm safer. Great job all!

Helen - thanks for sharing some of your pics, love the golden leaves!