What’s more exciting than writing your first report? Doing your first task at a new site!

We started by having the running group meet us at the entrance of Princes Park. We were joined by Jess (congratulations on completing the half marathon with a PB 9 minutes faster!), Aatefa, Liam, Tom (who has rejoined us after a hiatus to become a father — congrats!), Bekah, Clara, Tsitsi, and Laura (and me – Leo). The public lighting of the park, or rather the lack thereof, served as a good mood setter once we entered. The total darkness created a sense of wonder and thrill, but it also made our torches and floodlights essential. It felt a bit like a Scooby-Doo episode where you’re going on an adventure that requires everyone to partner up.

Once we found our way to the storage container, we were greeted by Lis and Katy, who guided us through the task of the day. They were delighted to have us and were very keen to distribute jobs, with even more plans in store in case we finished early.

The task was straightforward in theory, but hard work in practice. We had to clear up the entrance to the section where the parkrun starts. We were informed that it was covered in mud and could potentially be a hazard for runners. The trees were also noticeably outgrowing the fences, creating edges that weren’t dangerous but were certainly annoying and could knock your head if you were careless (see pictures for reference).

Not only was this a new site for us, but it’s also the same place where we do our fabulous, amazing, and completely unproblematic (nobody mention stickergate!) social run with parkrun, so this task was particularly close to the GoodGym Liverpool heart.

The task owners gave us the tools to succeed, and we quickly identified the shovelers, the sweepers, the trimmers, and the litter pickers. The shovelers shovelled (shocking, I know) the mud and general grit around the entrance. The sweepers used brushes to direct the mud, and any fallen branches, towards the shovelers. The trimmers took care of the overgrown branches by developing a new technique (yet to be named by Jess and Bekah) where one person would reach a high branch with the loppers and pull the whole thing down while the other did the chopping.

Poor Tom was given the opportunity to try unclogging the drain as a welcome-back gift. Alas, the darkness worked against us and we had to leave that job for another time. Regardless, this didn’t put a damper on our spirits as we continued making a significant contribution to improving the starting area of the track.

Eventually, the hour flew by and we had to gather all the tools and head back to the storage container for a quick group photo, announcements, and some surprise cake! (Thanks, Bekah.)

And because GoodGym Liverpool made the grave mistake of allowing me to write the report, here’s a genuine attempt at a poem:

New day, new people, new task

Grab your running shoes and your water flask

Trim those bushes, shovel that patch

Just don’t use the mud as a face mask

The dust has settled, all is done

In the end, we just hope you had some fun

Get some rest, you did your best

Know that to GoodGym Liverpool, you are number one

On a drizzly Saturday morn, 8 Goodgymers helped out Friends of Princes Park https://www.friendsofprincesparkl8.org.uk/ for 67 minutes with litter picking and protecting the trees. We more than doubled the number of volunteers for this day recognising 67 years of Nelson Mandela’s struggle for civil rights.

It was great to have Laura join us and help on clearing the tree bases. The youngest Goodgym recruit Isobel made a special appearance along with Becky and curiously surveyed the work. From clearing considerable amounts of strewn rubbish to clearing the grass and laying mulch down around trees, a solid shift was put in with only a brief pause of wonderment at the steam rising from the mulch! A warm welcome back to Chris Armitage!

Becky, Yan and Becky filled more than 5 bags with litter and after handing back our hi viz vests, we parted ways having made a good difference. Well done everyone

Another Saturday, and another chance to help the Friends of Princes Park (FOPP!) with some winter tasks. We started out by lopping some previously marked saplings to thin out the plantation and ensure that the remaining trees had room to grow strongly. With some pretty fearsome-looking bandsaws as well as loppers, we set to work with the regular members of FOPP and had soon amassed an impressive pile of felled saplings. This rather puzzled a little girl who was walking in the park with her mum, and who asked us why we were allowed to cut down trees in the park when it was such a bad thing to happen in the Amazon rainforest. Robert from FOPP gave her a quick talk about the basics of responsible woodland management and she was very happy with the explanation. A future GoodGym recruit in ten years or so, perhaps!

We also had time to clear some self-seeded Turkey Oak saplings which were similarly overcrowded, and to do a quick litter pick of the area that we'd cleared. A big well done to all, especially those who already volunteered at parkrun and/or who are going on the Group Run later on today. What a #SuperSaturday!

Eight GoodGym Liverpool members helped out our old pals the Friends of Princes Park with their regular monthly litter pick. Clearing pathways, bushes and the lakeside, we soon filled several bags with assorted rubbish, recyclables and some more unusual finds (an old Armani hoodie and Nike trainers!) We had no training but just picked it up as we went along (groan!)

If you like the sound of this we have another litter pick in Sefton Park (Princes' big sister) on Sundays every week at 11 a.m. this month!

On a watery day in Princes Park, 5 Goodgym runners came together to help Friends of Princes Park (F. O. P. P if you want to be trendy) with tree planting.

After some cold rain initially, Liz and Robert of F. O. P. P set us to work setting up the mesh, timber posts, loppers etc.

We found our rhythm and began working in teams, digging the hole, blending the mulch, planting the tree, driving two posts and fitting the mesh. This protection will give the trees a better chance of growing strong. Another win for cleaner air!!

In total we planted 5 trees and set up their protection. 5 for 5 Goodgym runners! The trees were Price of India and Witch Hazel.

Thanks to our photographer Yan and kudos to each of you for helping F. O. P. P and the environment. Cosy warmth is well earned!!

Three Good Gymers, Beckie, Pauline and Matthew turned up to help the Friend's of Prince's Park do some weeding to stop fledgling trees from being over-run as well as doing some litter picking. Both of these tasks are out bread and butter and we managed to do lots of both in the two hours we were there. It is such a shame that we seem to litter everywhere we go and the worst offenders seem to be wet-wipes. We collected lots of litter and at least for today the park looked lovely bathed in sunshine (with no litter in sight). And as a treat the lovely FoPP ladies treated us to some soft drinks, crisps and strawberries. We are sure to return and help them in the future.