You won't bulb-ieve what we saw!

37 Goodgymers helped their local community in York
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York

Monday 4th November 2019

Report written by York runner

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An amazing 37 turned out to help with three tasks in the Groves

We welcomed along three brand new runners; the McAvoy clan of Nichola, Susan and Richard, one new-to-York and ex Norwich GoodGymer, [Rowena] who had met a bunch of the GoodGym crew whilst volunteering at junior parkrun and last but not least, an Adi who we all know from junior parkrun fame and had decided to come along and see what this GoodGym business was all about. Big cheers for all five of them!

Massive kudos to CENTURION CARL who did his 100th good deed tonight and shall run in the Centurion Cape next week.

Sadly our main bulb planting task had been scuppered as the bulbs hadn't arrived but there wasplenty to do and once we arrived at a central location, we split into three groups.

Group ONE headed to the Secret Garden with Jane

It's not that secret, I can see it from the street - Stef

Most of the team busied themselves planting crocus and daffodil bulbs in various flowerbeds whilst others dug up turf to make way for some new raised beds. Ed did the extremely vital role of leaning on a spade and initiating some debate about the plural of 'crocus'.

Group TWO weeded and extended the borders with Sara in the YUMI/Flower Power corner plot, cleared leaves and dug out borders around the trees.

Neatest border EVER (Izzy and Charlotte both LOVE a straight line)

Group THREE ran across the road to meet Vicky and Groundsman Gary in Park Grove Academy where they were tasked with cutting down a lot of willow which will be used by the kids to weave a giant wigwam.

Our walk leader and resident lumberjack Ellie was in her element, clambering amongst the willow and cutting down the biggest branches she could reach. Whilst half the team were sawing and generating a huge pile of willow, the other half dug up saplings and cleared the urban buzz garden so the wild flowers can thrive again next year.

Teams one and two finished a massive ten minutes ahead of schedule and were rewarded with a mini circuit of:

  • hurdles
  • press-ups
  • tricep dips
  • squats

...before running across the school field to help move the giant pile of willow. Anyone that stood still for too long ran back for a second circuit whilst the very last willow branch was being cut down. Tim was in charge of the circuit-zone and had added can-can kicks to the regime whilst Leanne added lunges for good measure.

That's the first time I've EVER done a lunge - Adi

We had one last run across the school field and attempted a group photo on the climbing wall before giving up and doing a normal one.

If that isn't enough good for you, there are community missions a-plenty this week so come and get involved!.


Session Leader
This task supported
Flower Power York
We grow flowers/herbs and use them to help improve people's wellbeing through workshops and social activities, tackling loneliness and social isolation.

We are mindful about what we grow to provide a sensory experience for our beneficiary groups which include people living with dementia, those who have lost their sight and the homeless. We provide our beneficiaries the opportunity to work with locally grown flowers in social activities which help invoke nostalgic memories, connect people with nature and wildlife and help create friendships, helping reduce loneliness and isolation.

See more
Attendees
Carl Wain
Leanne
Becky Moylett
Ed Woollard
Stefan Durkin
Tim Mckenzie
Rowena
Christine Cockett
Paul Kelly
Tristan Featherby
Craig
Bethany Bridge
Emily Collins
Jenny Pummell
Steve Rice
Amy Woollard
Laura Barrett
Richard Parkinson
Nichola McAvoy
Richard McAvoy
Adrian Gunn
Susan McAvoy
Nick Griffin
Nicola Gover
Debs Sharpe
Vicky Hearson
Michael Leadbetter
Charlotte Jones
Removed User
Ellie Dove
Join us on our next session

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Helping at Tang Hall School allotment
🗓Monday 6th May 6:15pm

Make the area usable for the children

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Laura BarrettNeil BushellAbigail DartonMartin CalvertLyndsey Hay
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Discuss this report
Debs Sharpe

Tue 5th Nov 2019 at 12:17am

It looks like I decimated the willow with nothing more than a saw and a Katie...

York runner

Tue 5th Nov 2019 at 8:23am

A Katie is a surprisingly versatile and useful addition to any toolkit.