January may be over but that doesn't stop goodgym York from coming out in force to keep doing good!

We started by celebrating the folk who ran Dewsbury 10k and especially Amy's sub 50min PB! We also adorned John with the cape of good deeds for reaching a phenomenal 600 tasks, and congratulated Becca for getting to 50.

We were then off to Holgate Allotments where Helen already had the bonfire going. Tasks included emptying the shed, cutting back brambles, digging over the soil and keeping the fire going. it was a chilly night and we were grateful for the warmth, even if a few people got a bit singed!

i didn't need my leg hair anyway - michael

We enjoyed the fire so much it was too difficult to tear people away for fitness so we did some exercises whilst enjoying the heat. There was a bit of a stand off between Ed and Alex on the arm circles, and despite Alex's pleading we had to call a draw!

We have been asked if we'd like yo return to take the shed down. Now that sounds like the perfect follow up and right up our street!

GoodGym: Your mission if you choose to accept it is to create a team of volunteers for the inaugral York Community Woodland parkun without letting everyone know that there is such a thing as the York Community Woodland parkun and definitely not letting anyone know when it is!

By means of a diversionary task for the York Knavesmire parkrun (a deception so good that Lucy actually did volunteer for the Knavesmire) and a WhatsApp group that started out life as the Secret Seven before becoming the Furtive Fourteen we gathered a band of the Trusted.

Despite keeping everything hush hush until 8pm on Friday nearly 350 folk turned up and the car park was soon full.

Team GG course checked, marshalled, car parked, funnel managed and barcode scanned and made sure the event was a cracker - a beautiful way to start the last day of the January challenge!

Ten terrific goodgymers turned up to Woodthorpe forest school on a dark Friday evening. We made our across the field and split into two groups. A team of 4 headed over to shift some woodchip and the rest of us tackled some flowerbeds.

The flowerbeds were soon looking more brown than green, with only a few wormy casualties. The woodchip team finished off and helped finish weeding some flowerbeds that had been hiding from us. We just about had time to dig some holes to re-home a couple of trees. Some of us headed to the pub, and others thought that home and a blanket sounded a much better idea.

Edwin Hood of Holgate left the Forest of Sherwood to help the sylvan Shangri-La of Stinky Foot Ryer (AKA York Tiny Forest). Our local legend Becca Maude Marion was awarded the black cape of 50 good deeds - a double award ceremony that deserved chocolate. Friar Tuck and Aidan arrived and the foraging of mulch from Holgate Allotment began. Soon Tristan-a-Dale's trusty truck was filled with bags of wood chip, 2 wheelbarrows and 4 strong GoodGymers as Alastair joined us. Sadly there was no room for Aidan's bike, so he swiftly cycled across town, very nearly beating the wood chip. Once at the Forest we met Hollie who was warmly welcomed and introduced to the fun that is GoodGym. She quickly locked up her bike, donned gloves and headtorch, grabbed a wheelbarrow and got stuck in. Swiftly the heavy bags of chippings were taken from the truck, carried across the wobbly road, loaded into barrows to be pushed through the swamp and up the steep muddy hill to the dark forest. We had a quick look around and were pleased to see tree buds, catkins and signs of life in the oxygenating plants in Lucy's pond. Looking forward to going back very soon to spread the mulch, plant some of the donated dormant trees and enjoy a picnic in good company.