Monday evening brought another brilliant GoodGym Liverpool session, this time on the Mount at the beautiful St James’ Gardens by the Anglican Cathedral. As always, the evening started with movement and good company, with part of the group meeting near famous Suitcases for a run before heading down to the task location together. After a warm-up and an easy run through the city, we arrived ready to get stuck in.

The gardens were waiting for a bit of love and it didn’t take long before everyone found a job to tackle. Armed with tools, gloves and plenty of energy, we spread out across the space to help tidy and refresh the area. Some of us focused on clearing overgrown sections, cutting back vegetation to help reopen parts of the pathways and make the gardens easier to enjoy. Others got busy cleaning, litter picking and generally sprucing things up to bring a bit of order back to the space.

Bit by bit, the area started to transform. Paths became clearer, corners looked brighter and the gardens felt more open and cared for. After plenty of teamwork, laughs and muddy hands, we wrapped up the session feeling accomplished before heading back, knowing we’d made a real difference to a much-loved local space.

There’s something great about doing something on a Friday night after work, it extends the weekend and there’s something extra special about running to the Hilbre Islands off West Kirby in the River Dee estuary. Until about 3pm this particular Friday it had been overcast and drizzly but miraculously the sun came out for us for this run (and walk). April is lovely because you’ve shaken off the winter and those dark nights and you get your evenings back. There was a great group of Goodgymmers for this special run. Heetu and Liam drove joined by Steph, Ellie, Priyanka and her friend Aisha, Vikki, Miriam, Jess and her partner Jono. While the runners warmed up on the shore at West Kirby, Miriam and Ellie got a head start walking and made it past the little island before the runners set off. When the walkers reached the middle island, the runners caught up. The sunset was so beautiful. The runners ran all the way out to the old lifeboat post at the end of Hilbre Island. The walkers made it to Hilbre island and had a good nosy at the Nordic style properties, even waving at some residents through the window (probably unwelcome ha ha! Pesky visitors!) We all made our way back to the mainland at our own pace in the gorgeous last rays of the sun. Liam had been prepared and bought a towel for wet feet, others stewed in soggy socks until they could get home and showered. A lovely group run that cleared out the cobwebs and started the weekend right.