A huge pat on the back everyone: we made it through the winter! The clocks change this weekend and it'll be return of light evenings from next week.

Ovada are a non-profit gallery space with limited funding and a small staff team. Car park hire is a key source of income that enables them to run events, exhibitions of socially engaged work, and an education programme where they offer a number of subsidised and bursary places.

With only a small staff team it is hard to keep on top of maintenance, so they called in our GoodGym flash mob to get their car park area ship shape.

Bundled up against the spring showers we litter-picked, shifted rubbish out for collection, weeded, and pulled up nettles (achieving the first nettle stings of the year).

In the hour before the light faded we got the area looking a lot better and less nettley. Now we just need some dry weather for the mud situation to improve!

Last night we went WEST out of our normal East Oxford/Marston stamping ground. We know there are some litter hot spots on and around the Botley Road, and the challenge is to time our litter picks there when the undergrowth is not too dense but the river isn't in flood.

Our clean up crew divided into 2 teams with one heading towards the grot spots along the river, and the other heading to Oatlands Recreation Ground. Some exceptional litter finds were uncovered, from items of clothing to car registration plates, a fire extinguisher, cuddly emoji star, an Unidentified Netty Object (is it a hammock? Is it a fishing net?), but no papier maché spear this time.

Snacks were had to celebrate Bethan's 21st-and-a-bit birthday, and then we scattered into the night feeling just a little bit smug and virtuous for our clean up efforts.

Lovely to have a GG tourist join us from Southampton tonight. Good to meet you Ellie!

THANK GOODNESS FOR AN INSIDE TASK!!

This evening we gathered at Oxfordshire County Hall to box up trainers that we've been collection through the week and make bunting for the Children's Book Project.

Armed with tape, templates, string, worn out books and discarded trainers we set to work. The end result was six VERY jolly strings of bunting, 48 pairs of trainers boxed up to be sent to JogOn, and plans to repeat the activities in February.

A group of hardy Goodgymers then donned all their layers and ran a chilly 5k whilst everyone else (with any sense) scuttled on home to the warm.

Great work everyone!!

Last night we started 2024 strong with a spot of litter pick bingo. Litter was cleared, strange items found (a tap, cutlery), and we only got a tiny bit competitive about our litter bingo cards.

A flying start to the January challenge.

Volunteering (marshalling + cheering) at the Christmas edition of Uni parks parkrun 🎄 Surprisingly busy, with more than 400 runners running (the secret extra verse to the 12 days of Christmas?) and lots of festive outfits. A very rewarding start to my Christmas day!