It takes boulder people to move these rocks - not to quarry, Goodgym are here!
5 Goodgymers helped their local community in Warwick & Leamington Spa
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Wednesday 16th February 2022
Report written by Katherine (she/her)
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5 Goodgymers dodged the downpours of storm Dudley to complete part 2 of rock moving at Guys Cliffe House in Warwick.
Knowing the task that was in store for us, we decided to complete a slightly shorter run from St Nick's Park to get to Guys Cliffe, saving our energy for the big event.
After a quick welcome from the lovely volunteers at Bring Back Guys Cliffe it was straight to work filling the wheelbarrows with stones. We had to ensure we didn't overfill the wheelbarrows in our enthusiasm so that we would still be able to get them down the long, winding slope to the bottom of the cliff where they will be used to form a new rockery.
After the heavy rain earlier in the day there were new challenges to overcome, with stone sliding that the GB curling team would be proud of. We've also invented a completely new sport for the winter olympics - wheelbarrow sledging!
Everyone made it to the bottom of the cliff whilst staying on their feet (which was an achievement in itself)! We emptied out the wheelbarrows at the bottom and then returned back to the top of the slope to do the same thing all over again - twice more!
By the third trip we all had biceps that Arnie would be jealous of and had managed to move all the stones that were physically small enough to be lifted without mechanical machinery. It was then a run (slightly slower on weary legs) back to St Nick's hearing about everyone's plans for the half term week. A great all body work out and another job well done.
Just as we got home and were settling in with a post run cup of tea we could hear the heavens open again - perfect timing!
Session Leader
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When legends fade... Long, long ago when the world moved at a gentler pace the land and greenwoods harboured special places, evocative retreats where certain delights of nature stirred the soul... Guy’s Cliffe is one such place and it blossomed from such humble beginnings to have an Oratory founded here in the 5th Century and thereon it afforded shelter to the legendary 10th Century Guy of Warwick, resident chantry priests also made their home here in the middle ages amongst whom was the noted 15th Century antiquarian John Rous whose history the site is now mostly lost. Latterly the famous Georgian actress Sarah Siddons stayed here often in the welcoming bosom of the Greatheed family, who along with the succeeding Percy family did further embellish the location to see it become a country manor of some worth and intrigue... Ultimately and sadly though it ended up somewhat slighted for it suffered greatly at the hands of negligence and fire, but all was not lost... Its present owners rescued the 15th Century Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene and ancillary rooms in the 1970’s armed with limited resources but bountiful determination. Now the outer grounds need that same commitment and attention and indeed the determination is there but our resources are few... We really need your help!
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