On an overcast Saturday afternoon high up on the hill at Fort Royal Park it was eerily still. We dragged the heavy, long, black bags out onto the grass. As big as a body and nearly as heavy. The contents clunked as we dropped them down. A bag of bones? Carefully the zip was pulled back and we braced ourselves for what might lie within. There was a glimpse of something sickeningly grey and the flash of shiny metal. Kirsty recoiled in horror and Al tried to cover his face but none of us could take our eyes off the bag. Marcus spilled the contents out on to the cold ground and everyone gasped. It couldn't be, could it? But we could all see that the horror was all too real and now there was no running away. We had to be brave and face the task ahead as a team and with full commitment. If not for us then for the sake of the innocent children. These gazebos had to be erected even though some of the poles had become detached!

We survived the ordeal and left the park with shelters, games, decorations, cakes and a broom stick driving course. Spooktacular work by the GoodGym team and a great effort from first timer Al. Thanks for joining us and we hope to see you again soon, provided you managed to fly home safely.

"Thanks for doing what you're doing". "You're doing a great job lads!". "Thank you for making the place a bit tidier" and "Would you like some sweets?". Just a few of the comments that Rob and I received as we worked our way from the Hive to Tolladine Road, collecting litter as we went. It's lovely to get some appreciation but the offer of some sweets was unexpected!

The target location was Tolladine but we'd already collected a full bag each by the time we got there. With all the takeaway outlets around Foregate Street and Lowesmoor there was inevitably a lot of food and drink containers to pick up. Cans were extracted from high bushes and from behind railings using the litter pickers with surgical precision.
We'd been told by Kirsty that the bottom of Tolladine was particularily bad but we weren't quite prepared for what we found. The verge was ankle deep in cans, bottles, packets and wrappers. Rob and I set to work to gather as much as we could but this is a job that is going to take another visit. By the end of the evening we had four stuffed bags between us, some tidier streets and plenty of appreciative pedestrians. It was a Good job well done. Well done Rob for taking part in your first GoodGym session and we hope to see you again soon.