👋33 GoodGymmers gathered for tonight's group run. We were thrilled to welcome Kirsty to her first group run and hope to see her for many more!

🎉 Following that, what began as a distinct lack of things to celebrate turned into a diverse celebration, of new parkruns, birthdays and theatre appearances. We also need to acknowledge the brilliant Claire who got GoodGymmer of the month, not only for her incredible contribution to our very own Tiny Forest (which is absolutely thriving) but also her prize-winning running at her first ever race!

✌After some disgruntlement from Stef about the boring nature of the proposed naming and numbering off, we were invited to state our favourite thing about Stef. These compliments varied from the somewhat superficial (though still justified - Stef's shorts were very nice!) to the positively heartwarming. Allowances were (very justifiably) made for people who perhaps hadn't met Stef before. No such allowances for Steve Rice though, who mistakenly heard that we were chatting about our favourite fingerbowls (so had to say that as well as his favourite thing about Stef!)

🌱 After all that jollity, it was time to run to tonight's task. Ed led the run while Claire backmarked and in no time, we got to Acomb Primary. We were split into Team Courtyard and Team Forest School. Team Courtyard's task was to tidy up the courtyard (other than the floor, which some of the school children will be tackling shortly). Meanwhile, Team Forest School were making space by clearing anything low-hanging, in the way or likely to grow and block the space. Some people had saws, which they used very enthusiastically. Some people used their hands to (try) and pull up newly growing things. Some people tested out the hammocks (making sure they're safe for the children, obviously...) There was also the mission to identify sticks that could be used for den-building, which involved some of us trying to strip small branches off larger branches. It helped make us feel productive anyway...

🌿 About 5 minutes before our finish time, a new pile of sticks was identified, for taking to the rubbish pile. All hands were on deck and determined to finish as much of this task as possible, leading to some selective hearing on some parts...

📷 Time for a team photo and some playing cards-based fitness. Amy's team won, despite cries of foul play and burpees-based bias.

👏 Next, it was time to run back to base, stretch and head homewards/pubwards. We also heard about Jamie's incredible Leeds-Liverpool canal running adventure. More info to follow - we can't wait to hear how he gets on running over 120 miles! Thanks everyone, until next time!

I reported to HQ to receive my ID badge and T shirt. I was instructed to marshal from Acomb Green. My task was to point people to the different events and art works being created around Acomb. The places was buzzing and everyone was wowed by the UK street artists. I was given some maps and gave all of them out to enquiring folk. Everyone was stunned by the artistry of the murals and intrigued by the layering process building up before them. After 90 minutes, my shift was done and I rewarded myself with lunch and a mooch to puppets in a windmill, an exhibition, a pianist, a trapeze and more stunning murals. Well done Art of Protest!

We came at this task from opposite ends of Acomb over a mile apart. Vicky and her crew headed West from The Fox and the Griffs headed East from The Crooked Tap. We all met up on Front Street in the heart of Acomb to find we had all gathered some litter, but not as much as we had expected. Clearly Acomb Festival goers are a tidy bunch! So with time to spare all nine of us headed back to The Crooked Tap for a drink where the end-of-festival party was due to start later. AcombFest was organised by Art of Protest and has been an amazing success.

Another glorious morning at the Tiny Forest. Alastair strimmed the edge path. Becca & Claire pulled blanket weed from the pond. Charlotte & Becca refreshed it with 58 pints of the finest Holgate tap water. The entire pile of woodchip was moved & the edge & entrance paths were completed. Plenty of damselflies and many varieties of butterfly (including painted ladies, small tortoiseshell & meadow brown) flying amongst the wildflowers kept us company. Thankyou all for a very beneficial but lovely relaxing morning. The Tiny Forest is not so little now and is looking very verdant.

👕 7 lovely GoodGymmers came to help at the clothes swap this month. Some of us came straight from parkrun, for our second volunteering stint of the day. Some came out of purely altruistic ambitions, answering the pleas that the clothes swap were short of their volunteers today. (Some may have had an additional alterior motive for some this month, in looking for an outfit suitable for a wedding (parkrun), lurking around the sparkly rail.) Success was had in both senses - we did lots of helping and outfits were found.

🍰 Vicky had both her work and GoodGym hats on today, selling some (delicious) cake to raise money for York Carers Trust.

⏰ The hour passed quickly and it was soon time to head off, safe in the knowledge that we've hopefully saved some clothes from landfill.

👏 Thank you everyone!

We make very quick work setting up the clothes swap then spent equally as long discussing dating apps and serial killers.

We'll be back in the morning to help with the hoards if folk looking for their saturday morning swap shop