Gaynor and Ben went along to help at Parakeet Pathway in Hulme, a site overseen by the Gaskell Garden Project.

As part of their regular Sunday volunteering session, Ben helped construct 2 picnic benches, making sure it was level, with parallel uprights, and secured the wooden planks for the seating and top. We also secured it to the ground (so it didn't go walkies...) using concrete screws and fastened with double bolts. Just needs treating but certainly ready to use for locals and passers by.

We both then took to weeding and clearing some of the beds, with lots of grass and weeds taking over. We used this as mulch for the fruit trees nearby.

There was some brief physical respite when planting lots of garlic, using straw to cover any loose soil.

Busy but productive session. Will post when they have another session soon.

Gaynor and Ben went along to help Ardwick Climate Action for their regular Saturday volunteering slot.

This time, we were in St Saviour's graveyard, soon to be the Lydia Becker space as part of the existing green routes overseen by Ardwick Climate Action 🌳

Initially we picked up any litter in the area, culminating in 4 bags plus some larger items 🚮

Most of the task involved clearing a corner of the graveyard 🪦 of young trees 🌳 that had taken root between the grave stones. Armed with loppers, secateurs, and saws, plus a bouncy Juno, we made good progress and filled 3 big rubble sacks of branches and trunks to be reused at a garden or green refuse centre (no waste here!)

Once cleared, the tools were collected, litter reported to keep Manchester tidy, and we said our goodbyes 👋

Gaynor went along to help Smithfield Garden Club this evening with lots of weeding and clearing of a garden area near The Wheatsheaf pub in NQ.

Really friendly group I've heard and looking much tidier now.

On a balmy June Monday evening, 5 GoodGymers collected 10ish bags of discarded litter and waste.

Stefanie, Sam, Pavel, and Ben strolled from St Peter's Square via the Bridgewater Hall canal path to Hulme Park, collecting all sorts on the way:

• bottles, cans, drinks cartons 🥫
• vapes, air pods 📢
• cardboard packaging 📦
• takeaway waste 🗑

With 4 full sacks collected, and some litter hotspots identified, we met Gaynor in Hulme park, sporting her GoodGym t-shirt for the 1st time 😀

We made a loop around Hulme park, having a go on the swing and impressed with the relative lack of litter given the warm picnic-friendly weather. We did find a suitcase, some more clothing and empty money bags in the park, plus other litter, while keeping to the shade given the heat 🥵.

Litter bags were collated, location saved, and will be reported (some again) to Keep MCR Tidy for collection.

Good stroll and litter pick in the sun 🌞