A new week and new weather, so we found a task to make the most of the rain.

5 goodgymers took on the hill to help out at Northlands, young person homeless hostel.

The staff have been stripping some of the land surrounding the hostel, taking it back to soil. As always though, a few plants pop up where you don't want them, and so the call to goodgym.

Michael, always happy to help, led the team to remove those unwanted plants and rake over the soil.

Lew, Jonathan and Emily went straight to the Loppers to take on the plants.

And suddenly we had Flo joining us, as the first part of cutting was completed, it was time for the rakes.

The team did a great job of sharing the jobs, from cutting to raking and clearing the greens into the waste bag.

Michael and Emily had already worked those guns, carrying a half full waste bag up from the bin shed.

Now as the evening continued, that bag was topped to full. So Lew dragged it out of the way.

A slight break in the task as we all debated the yellow capped pipe.... And what it could possibly be.

A bomb? Gas? Part of a yellow submarine???

If you want to know, you'll have to join us at a task sometime....

As we got to the end, all hot and sweaty from a good workout, light rain started and the seeds were shared out....

It was a mix of UK-native wildflower seeds, everything you need and more to form a perfect patch of wildflowers to attract birds, bees, butterflies and insects.

The mix supports bees and butterflies, as well as other insects attractive to wild birds through the summer. The addition of a variety of grain-bearing plants such as linseed, sunflower and quinoa provide an important food source for wild birds through the winter.

Once everything had been spread, it was time to get our group photo and head back to the City Centre.

We will keep an eye on the patch and update on the growing show.....

On a run-derful Tuesday evening, 8 Goodgymers ran, walked and cycled to Global Gardens to work in the kids area of the allotment.

Chloe joined for her first Goodgym group task - welcome! Hopefully we will see you again soon at a task and/or social. There was also a welcome return to Lew who has vowed to come back to more group runs, I think mainly for the pub mind! ;o)

We split into to groups for the task to make the most of the space. Darren, Chloe, Flo and Su spent time clearing the seating area and climbing frame of any weeds and overgrowth. We got to hear all about Flo's amazing effort completing the VOGUM ultra in testing conditions on the weekend. Well done again Flo.

Rewind the years

Lew, Dylan, and Dylan dug out a cordoned off patch to be ready for planting. If you look through the pictures they managed to dig deep and find some interesting items from the earth:

• A full bottle of Stella Artois!
• A cassette tape by Youssou N'Dour - this only took 7 seconds to find! ;o)
• A handwash bottle
• A big old stubborn root

The before and after pictures show what a big difference was made in just 40 minutes!

After disposing all the weeds into the compost pile we headed off - some headed home and some headed to the open mic night at the pub.

Unsure about the weather only the brave few willing to take the risk.

In the words of the lighthouse family,

I wouldn't say I'm mad about the rain
But we'll get through it anyway
We'll get back to the start again

Tonight's slightly longer task up the hill to help the Salvation Army hostel with their rewilding project.

In order to get sowing the new seed mixes, for wildlife as well as looking beautiful, we had the task of removing the brambles.

Darren, David and Lucy got straight to the raised areas facing the roads and pavement to attack those brambles.

Whilst Emma and Fiona were given the shears to give a good ol' Chelsea chop to the greenery towards the back of the building.

There will be additional volunteers next week to clear the grass ready for the wild flower sowing.

One last task for the group before heading back, Michael had put down a weed suppression fabric several weeks earlier and now it was time to remove it. It should have been a simple folding task, but us goodgymers love a bit of fun. It soon became a rendition of the parachute game, and then a ball was added for extra fun.

Time to run back, that unwanted vegetation has been lifted, lifted, lifted We could be lifted from the shadows, lifted.

Strim strim fully
Strim strim fully
We strim for me
No matter the weather
We’ll help you, you see

Strim strim fully
Strim strim fully
We strim for you
And once we have met
We shall come back it’s true.

Right, that's enough of that...

4 GoodGymers walked on an extremely hot day, 32.9 degrees...

Thankfully the task was a bit more in shade, as we tackled the garden space at Cwtch Together. The usual "lords and ladies" were appearing, they can be toxic so we had to get them dug up and binned.

We also went on tidy up duty, as we strimmed and mowed so that the garden could be used by the young people during half term.

Hot work, and a welcome cold drink before photos and the hot walk back.

Tonight was the celebration of 9 years of goodgym in Cardiff, and what those years have given us.

We have helped 70 charities, community groups, schools and religious institutions on our group tasks alone. (Missions not included). Totaling a whopping 5596 volunteer slots and an impressive 2798 volunteering hours.

Plenty of more stats to come, but before then let’s get to the task. It seemed logical to help out the Samye Foundation, as they top the number 1 spot with 67 group tasks. Once Lorraine had confirmed our task Michael got to work planning a picnic under their beautiful gazebos.

But before we Celebrate we have to get those deeds in.

GoodGym started in Cardiff back in 2016, May 23rd. I remember it well, being on that first task and run. As a solo runner it was quite daunting, but now nine years on I look back on all the things we’ve done with smiles and laughter, and with a great group of new friends.

So to the task, we had a good long list of things to do tonight, a great way to work up an appetite.

Weeding

• Front entrance gate
• Side gate
• The three doorways
• 3 vegetable barrels in the garden area
• Any other pavement area (if time)

Plus * Empty old plant pots of dead matter * Move the (heavy) umbrella stand from the back garden to the gazebos out front. * Empty the greenhouse, organise and place back. * Sweep – everything.

No time to wait, there’s a lot to do. Everyone grabbed their tools (ooh er), and picked there task from the list. We had a healthy number of volunteers tonight helping out, so we should manage most of the list.

Martin was wisterical with his sweeping brush, as he tidied up those gazebo floors.

Ellen, Dylan, Emily and Lucy the compost crew, got to work out back emptying pots, weeding barrels and all in the name of new life from composting.

Jake went rogue.... And after initially wedding the path decided there was a bush that needed pruning back. He’s certainly had the practise on some of our tasks this year.

Llion the organiser, straight to the greenhouse duties.

Darren and Dave were paving the way as they got in-between the cracks to clean up.

Dylan multi-task Tuesday, carried that beast of an umbrella stand and then got to work weeding the doorways.

Adam the gate master, couldn’t wait to get behind that huge gate and get those weeds and leaves gone. All helped with the perfume of the surrounding roses.

Aaron, another sweeping delight, getting those doorways swept before joining the weeding teams.

But then... Began bucket wars... Our resident bin jumper (Martin) had already found his new slogan - "If there’s a bucket or a bin I’m gonna get in". But newcomer Aaron seemed to be looking for that title......

Who wore that bin better?

Wendy joined us slightly later, but worked those guns carrying the ?tub? of weeds to the compost Corner. Michael and Lorraine were busy, photos galore and getting the food together. Michael had got some bits and bobs so was busy popping them in the picnic area. Lorraine was adding some bits from Samye, a great collaboration of food preparation. Everyone sat down, ate and enjoyed. A few group photos tonight, including the goodgym flag. Then it was time to run back, Michael Dylan and Ellen stayed to help Lorraine tidy up as extra thanks for allowing us the space to celebrate. Once everyone was back at the Glassworks, we had a few additional goodgymers join us for the late night celebrations.

Time for CAKE

Michael got the cakes from the kitchen, thanks to the Glassworks for storing them for us. And special thanks go the Mel at the Secret Garden Cafe in Bute Park for making them for us, she is also the star that got the Community Orchard up and running.

Great time had, thanks to each and every GoodGymer, past and present. Without you we would not exist.

Our top 10 are as below....

But over the last year our top 10 look a little different....

Here’s to the next year.

Lydia and Lucy (and Fern!) helped with the setting up and running of Nature Club at Railway Gardens. This week the children made a bug hotel, coloured in Swifts and planted beans.