Woodbank Parkrun event #788 was joined by 258 park runners and walkers and 20 volunteers (Hazel being one of them as car park marshal for the 1st time!). The task was responsible for the traffic flow prioritizing the safety of the runners aside from the side job of cheering up/motivating them.👏 It was a success despite the windy and almost rainy situation. Yey! 🙌

If there’s one thing you can rely on, it’s that GoodGym Stockport’s litter picking sessions come with a full theatrical weather performance… and this Tuesday was no exception. Enter stage left: thunder rumbling, wind howling, and rain making a very loud point. 🌧️⚡

But fear not—our dynamic duo, the H&M tandem (Hazel & Mandy), had clearly read the script ahead of time. This time, they arrived fully prepared… perhaps even over-prepared 👀🧥🧤 (there’s no such thing as bad weather, only too many layers… right?).

Setting off along Hempshaw Lane, they headed towards the Lidl hotspot—otherwise known as the treasure trove of litter. And true to form, no rogue crisp packet or sneaky bottle cap stood a chance. 🥤🚯

But it wasn’t all about the rubbish! Between the gusts and drizzle, nature tried to steal the spotlight too 🌼. A broken bird egg added a touch of wild intrigue, while patches of brave wildflowers put on their own colourful show. Special mention to Mandy, whose eagle eyes never miss these little gems—nature commentary included free of charge! 🐣🌸

With time still on the clock (and weather finally calming down—about time! 😅), the duo extended their route along the A6, passing the college. Because why stop when you’re on a roll and the atmosphere has decided to behave? Passers-by were also appreciative 😊

By the end of the mission, a proud stack of 5 refuse bags stood neatly by a bin, ready for council collection—proof that even the most dramatic of evenings can end in tidy triumph. 🎉🖐️🗑️ All in all, not a bad way to spend a Tuesday evening:

Storms? ✔️ Steps? ✔️ Surprising nature moments? ✔️ Litter defeated? BIG ✔️

Until next time, when the weather will undoubtedly try to upstage us again… and fail 😉🌈

With temperatures reaching 30°C over the past couple of days, we opted not to run tonight and instead just walked to deliver the second set of leaflets advertising Together Trust's festival on Saturday 4th July.

Thanks to those that joined, next sessions for Together Trust leaflets are Tuesday 16th and Tuesday 23rd June 🙌

A lovely group run session delivering leaflets on behalf of the Together Trust - thanks guys! Same again next week 🙌

Today’s Hazel's workout: 60 minutes/3km walk pacing, and ~150 copies of the Stockport Post 📰🏋️ (May issue) delivered across the neighbourhood 🏡. Dogs kept things civil 🐕👍; the weather did not 🌬️😅, hence the extra layers 🧥. The second half will happen… eventually ⏳😉

Five GoodGymers—Hazel, Laura, Mandy, Molly, and Ben—joined forces with the ever-friendly locals of Edgeley to support What If’s Tuesday Night Club, kicking off the mission to transform a humble parking area into a thriving green food park in just six months!

This session was full-on graft mode. The team tackled all sorts of maintenance jobs: sweeping, filling the compost pit, watering, picking up twigs and logs, assembling the raised bed, weeding, and even adding chalk spray markings to the tarmac (because every great garden needs a good road map).

But it wasn’t just about getting our hands dirty—brains were engaged too. Jade, the gardening expert brought in by What If to lead the six-month transformation, treated everyone to a mini masterclass on Hugelkultur. The word may sound like a spell from Harry Potter, but it’s actually German for “mound culture”—a permaculture technique that involves building raised beds filled with rotting wood, logs, and organic matter. Translation: a low-cost, low-watering, high-impact way to grow good food. Clever stuff.

Everyone put in a huge effort, with special shout-out to Ben, who showed up and grafted on despite not feeling great. Proof that sometimes the biggest wins aren’t about being perfect—they’re about turning up, doing what you can, and collecting strength through small, meaningful actions. Compost piles were filled, knowledge was shared, and commitment was well and truly planted. 🌱💪