This week's group run marks 5 years of GoodGym Liverpool (!?) and what better way to celebrate than a bit of weeding and planting with the Urban Green Up Project?

As usual we met on Hope street and walked/ran through the rain to the park lane site where we were met by Elaine. To say the site has undergone a transformation since our last visit would be an understatement! (See the report from last time here) what was once overgrown was now neatly planted with woodchips to stop the weeds coming through.

Our task was to clear the remaining weeds ready for the rest of the woodchip to go down, as well as transplant some plants from across the way onto this site! It really does look impressive - we can't wait to see it in a couple of months when everything is is full bloom! Well done everyone, it definitely wasn't easy in the dark and wet!

After the task we headed off to the Baltic Arts bar, for a well deserved drink and cake. A lovely evening was had by all! Thanks for all the birthday goodies Ema

This week we were once again at The Greenhouse Project. In fact, it was the 20th task we've done there! Not only that, but it was Jake's 10th task with us - excellent work!

4 runners met on Hope Street and ran the 2km up to Lodge lane to meet the others. Special shout out to Steph and Laura who had run all the way from Lark Lane (and back!) You're doing an amazing job of getting the miles in!

We were greeted by Jess and Pat who informed us that the task was to help get the back yard ready for a big launch event on Thursday. On going outside we realised what a transformation the space had already undergone, with new hedges and a fence, which we were tasked with painting!

We started by weeding around the bottom to ensure we could access the fence and then set to work with tiny brushes and a huge tub of paint.

It was a bit if a race against time, but we managed it! As they say, many hands make light work and with 10 of us we were able to get a job done that would have taken them hours! Well done everybody, it may have been difficult to see our achievements in the dark, but I've heard it looks fantastic in the daylight!

This weeks session was based in a beautiful Georgian square which has been witness to many film shoots tonight was no exception as part of the session was used for Sallyann to complete video sessions for her run leader assessment.

It was heartwarming on such a cold night to see everyone turn out and be such obliging students (guinea pigs) so she could get this last bit of her course complete to gain her certificate as a run leader.

Filming over and we picked up litter pickers to do a litter pick – we were all so pleased to see how little litter there was in comparison to other nights – however we still managed to fill six bags and Steph still found what seems to be her standard find, an item of clothing .

As we weaved our way through the streets a couple of residents came to thank us for our work. Pat was thanked by a resident who gave her a fresh scone – its gestures like this that are just like a warm blanket on a cold night.

We ended the night by going into the famous Philharmonic Pub to have a social chat in the warmth of an historic pub. It was the first of our monthly socials and we all welcomed the warmth and a chance to catch up with each others news.

And talking of news 4 of tonight’s crew are training for the Manchester relay and used it to put in the miles for their long run and have made it to the half way mark 5k down 5k to go ( we are trying to persuade others to join us… watch this space)

Sian and Lucien ran to and from the task and Ema, as always, totted up the most miles walking to and from the task – 5 miles round trip.

What a productive evening we all had.

This week 8 'seasoned' goodgymmers were joined on Hope street by three new members Harriet, Eileen and Pat Fabulous to have you all on board!

We ran/walked to meet Elaine from the Urban Green Up Project at one of their experimental planting sites. Once there, the task was to clear the ground of leaves and weeds growing around the plants. Elaine explained to us that the planting system was designed to attract pollinators yet would grow well in poor quality soil, but the leaves were adding nutrients to the soil and allowing the weeds to flourish!

We cleared bag after bag of leaves and grasses and I'm sure the impact would have been astounding (although it's not always easy to tell in the dark!) Excellent work everyone!

A few of us are training for the Manchester marathon relay and were determined to get the miles in - even extending the run back to Hope Street past the suitcases! Another brilliant session from all involved!