Tonight's session was due to be taking place at Ashton Park but we got so much completed in the rain during our last visit that there would be nothing left for us to do. So Kristina from the council rearranged it for us to head to West Bank Park for our wintery staple of leaf clearing.

But before all that there was some serious cheering to do with Steve returning for his first group run since completing the Kielder Marathon, Stef having done his first race of the year at the Hadrian's Wall Half, and the Marvellous Mitch completing his 500th(!) good deed. Give them all a big cheer 🎉

Nikki led a walking group out to the task whilst the rest of the gang warmed up by naming the things that help with our wellbeing in honour of last Thursday's World Mental Health Day. We had some great suggestions including crafting, being silly with friends, spending time in nature and of course, GoodGym! We then set off to the task with Ed leading the way and Laura backmarking.

At the task, Kristina showed us the ropes and set some of the group off with dippers for planting bulbs in the fenced off area. The rest of the group grabbed brooms, shovels and blowers and got to work on shifting as many leaves as possible from the paved areas, before they become too wet and slippery later into the winter.

It's not unusual for our tasks to pique the interest of local youths and tonight was no different. However it's not often we can say that Nikki blowing them seemed to keep them happy. With the leaf blower, of course

The planting gang soon completed their task and so joined up with the leaf gatherers and made great progress both inside and outside of the park. Vicky had also arranged for Kristina to complete some litter picker training with us, so as the task was nearing completion smaller groups would go and receive some training as well as getting their very own litter picker. Who says GoodGym doesn't give you anything!

Then it was time for Vicky's fitness session which involved an exhausting volume of exercises to be completed on the minute every minute, ranging from star jumps through to burpees.

Once we were all suitably shattered it was time to head back and complete some stretches before heading off to the pub to celebrate Mitch's epic 500 🥳

On possibly one of the wettest group runs we've had at GG York, a dedicated and hardy bunch of GG Yorkies showed up for a rapid tree guard and hedge trimming session at Ashton Park. Tonight we welcomed Vicfrom GG Lewisham who was doing a spot of tourism and also welcomed back Emma who was making her return to GoodGym after a lengthy spell out. Give them both a big cheer 🎉

Vicky led out the party pace group whilst the rest of us were numbering off by naming the things that we find unforgivable, including leaving beer in the bottom of a glass, pineapple on pizza and being late to GoodGym!

The two groups arrived at Ashton Park within a minute of each other and were greeted by Kristina from City of York Council who gave us the lowdown on tonight's task and had also very kindly agreed to continue with the session despite the horrendous weather (you're a star, Kristina!)

Two thirds of the group picked up where we left off last time we were at Ashton Park by using a variety of tools to remove the remaining tree guards, whilst the other third armed themselves with sheers and got to work on an overgrown bush.

We'd agreed to shorten tonight's task to 30mins so it was a race against the clock to make sure we finished on time. Each section of the guard that was removed was greeted with a loud cheer and as the stumps also came out we were able to add to our collection of 'GGers with logs' photographs.

Meanwhile the bush trimmers made excellent progress and soon came over to help remove the final bits of tree guard and gather in all of the tools. But by this time we were all very much looking like drowned rats and the prospect of an early finish and some warm, dry clothes was too tempting. So after a quick dash back base we said our Goodbyes headed for home

As a side note, well done to Pete and all those who donated clothes for Ukraine👏

On a lovely summer's evening 19 GG Yorkies braved the heat and got stuck into shifting a load of bark chip at Hull Road Park. Before setting off we celebrated remarkable Richard who had recently completed his 200th Good Deed 💪 Give him a big cheer! We then numbered off by revealing pur childhood nicknames. I won't reveal any on here but there were certainly some interesting ones!

Laura set off with a steady group, whilst Ed and the rest of the crew followed shortly after and arrived at the wrong end of the park, so needed a further dash to get to right location. Fortunately Laura's group had already got to work and were showing the rest of the gang what needed doing. The task was straightforward enough; move bags of bark chip from one location to another, then cut them open and spread. Simple!

Whilst most GGers used the classic 'bag on shoulder' method, Max took the initiative and loaded up a wheelbarrow full of bags, working smarter, not harder! We were also accompanied by some very enthusiastic kids who were keen to help shift the bags, before soon losing interest and realising it was more fun to steal them instead.

It wasn't long before all of the bark chip was moved and given a good raking by Martin and Amy. So task owner Kristina was quick to dish out spades, hoes and leafblowers and set us off to work on some edging and general park maintenance. Unfortunately GG were so enthusiastic with their edging that they revealed a bit too much and had to put some grass back to hide the pot holes!

Before long it was time for a team photo and a spot of fitness. This week the team would alternate between being plankers and (downward)doggers, and then having to make a quick dash to a nearby tree, woth varying degrees of enthusiasm. Then it was back to CVS for some quick stretches and some rhubarb courtesy of the Griffs

Tonight we were celebrating Amy Woolard being crowned GoodGymer of the month and John Bourton reaching an outstanding 500 good deeds! Well done both of you.

Warming up, we numbered off giving our favourite thing about Canada in honour of it being Canada national day (full disclosure, I may have got the date wrong for this). Still, always good to big up Avril Lavigne. Then we split into two groups, some heading to Millennium Fields for raking up where the meadow had been given a trim, and some to Planet Southbank.

Vicky reports from Planet Southbank that the crack team was helping with some tasks in their community garden. One group cleared the fence so the railing could be painted, another helped to sort out the big pile of twigs and leaves and a third edged and dug over some beds. They also did a bit of litter picking. At the end they were rewarded with cake made by one of the neighbours and offered various bits of produce. They were very happy with our help and the little plot looked much neater afterwards.

Meanwhile at Millennium Fields we got stuck into the raking and dragging the cut grass over to the allotment compost bins where for reasons that escape me it was mixed with mud. For entirely predictable reasons Mitch jumped up on down on the top. Also, Abigail was spotted having a little nap on the soft pile. Many blackberries were also foraged. Mostly by me if I'm honest.

Both teams met up at Scarcroft Green for an olympic triathlon themed relay race (lacking a pool and bikes we made do with running, hopping, and skipping). Then it was back to the Priory Centre to warm down and off to the pub for beer and John's cake or legging it home to catch Kelly Hodgekinson bringing home the gold.

A small but perfectly formed group of GG Yorkies met for this weeks Monday night group run. Whilst numbers might have been low, spirits were high as we celebrated the weekends achievements with a round of applause for those who taken part in the Normanby Hall 10k on Sunday, including a couple of PBs. We then named and numbered off by celebrating the birth of Dutch painter, Rembrandt whilst naming our favourite TV show theme tunes (there is a link there, promise!)

Then it was off to task with Ed leading the group and Abigail backmarking with Vicky riding along side us as we headed to Hull Road Park for an evening of soil shifting. We were met at the task by Kristina from City of York council's environment team, who set us up with shovels and wheelbarrows and directed us towards 5 big sacks of soil which all required shifting into the play area were the removal of some old play equipment had left a rather large hole that needed filling.

Vicky took on the chief raker role and was joined throughout the task by Abigail and Jackie, whilst the rest of the gang got to work with the shovels and barrows.

One by one the sacks were emptied to the point of being dragable and the hole quickly filled up. But with time running down and Ed setting up the cones ready for another fitness sesh, it was touch and go whether all 5 sacks would be emptied in time. With literally seconds to spare the last sack was dragged across ready for stamping down with the whole team jumping up and down on top of it, apart from Mitch who was desperate to start a mosh pit with anyone he could.

After a quick team photo it was then time for a fitness sesh involving burpees, star jumps ,sit ups and a sprint finish. And it was Team Holgate who came up trumps with some rapid working out

Great session everyone

On our first warm summer's evening in what feels like forever, a stonking 25 GGers turned out for this week's Group Run to Hull Road Park. Before heading off we awarded the GoodGymer of the month gong for June to the amazing Abigail who not only regularly volunteers her services for back-marking duties but also recently completed her Taskforce training. Give her a big cheer (even if she wasn't on brand) 👏

Vicky then set off with the steady pace crew whilst the rest of the gang celebrated Mark Cavendish's achievements at the Tour de France, numbering off by naming the field in which they could set a record in. Turns out a GG York like food, a lot! Then it was off to the task 💪

At Hull Road Park we were greeted by Kristina from the City of York Council Environment Team who split the group into 3 teams:

Team 1 would be removing Verbena seedlings from the flower beds so they could be replanted elsewhere

Team 2 were getting edgy on the paths, removing overgrown grass and weeds

Team 3 were on bush trimming duties, removing unwanted plants from the hedgerows around the basketball courts

My face is in bush and I'm covered in hairy balls - Michael

Team 3 soon realised the perils of getting stuck into bush task as they came out covered in sticky, hairy ball type things. I'm sure they have a name but we were being too childish to look it up

Team 1 did such a good job removing the verbena seedlings that they soon ran out of plant pots. That didn't deter Sarah though who resorted to keeping the seedlings in the pocket of her leggings (possibly to take home to plant herself 🤫)

Meanwhile team 2 did a superb job on the path edging. Despite starting in the wrong place, they did a great job and uncovered loads of pathway that was previously lost the overgrown grass.

With the task coming to an end, some of the crew made a start on the bark chipping that is set to feature in next week's task. After a quick team photo Vicky led the steady group back to base whilst Ed set up this week's fitness sesh.

is this like the human centipede - Lyndsey

With the cones dumped in the middle of a circle of GGers, there was only one thing for it - a game of human Hungry Hungry Hippos. With people split into pairs and adopting the wheelbarrow position, the aim was to collect as many cones as possible. Turns out then some serious core strength is required, especially when reversing! Martin and Michael were the victors and their prize was to gather in the rest of the cones. Well done guys!