10 Goodgymers headed back to Global Gardens on a lovely sunny evening. We were here two weeks ago clearing the weeds on the fences but tonight we were preparing a space for a new planter.

Welcome Wendy to the house!

Welcome to Wendy who attended her first GG task tonight, hopefully it will be the first of many! Also, welcome back to Aaron who joined for the first time last week. Always great to have new members, spread the word good(gym) people!

Barrow, is it me you are looking for?!?

Whether it be running, walking or cycling we arrived at 7pm and got straight on with the task at hand. We had to clear a space of the rubbish, weeds and brambles thats going to be used as a new planter bed. We got the tools and the numerous wheelbarrows ready and everyone got going……..well nearly everyone as Dylan has gone to the wrong allotment! Oops!

The team had a good system going and soon there was two bags of rubbish collected. The barrows were ferrying back and forth to clear the twigs and weeds away and by then time we had to leave there was a large area of soil on display! Jake has now patented his double decker wheel barrow - see pic!

Waste not want not

We also found some rogue vegetables in the pile, so Lucy popped them in her bag to replant at home.

Some folks headed home and the rest to the pub to watch an epic Champions league match, followed by some Crazy Taxi and Karaoke. What a great Tuesday!

7 Goodgym folks ran to Global Gardens for the first of two visits there in April. For todays task we took to the lane to cut back the bushes and weeds that were spilling out from the allotment.

We all got to work with our secateurs, snipping away at the stingy nettles and overhanging bushes. It was therapeutic and rewarding work and we were making good progress.

Pants People (TOTP reference for you young folks!)

Jonny worked tirelessly trying to rescue an old pair of pants from the top of the bushes. Y? Coz he was briefs undie a spell!

We had taken two wheel barrows to transport the cuttings back into Global Gardens, but soon the lane was awash with greenery that the barrows could not cope with! I think it was Martin who realized the pile we needed to transport the offcuts to was just over the fence!.... Cut to...... all 7 of us trying to lob the piles of leaves, branches and nettles over the fence! ;o) Michael went around and kindly climbed aboard the bramble pile and stomped it into submission!

Stick Stick Stick Sticky Stick Stick

Once we had finished Ben fashioned a stick to help clear up the smaller leaves and twigs left in the absence of a broom. It was no Penny Lane, but it was a tidier lane!

We ran back in the drizzle for a well earned drink and chat in the pub.

A call to arms from our Global Garden friends, they needed an area clearing ready for their forest school starting up again in just over a week. So a quick change of task and four goodgymers took the challenge on.

Quick and simple tonight, Michael let the group into the communtiy growing space and gave a quick briefing. Then, over to the tool shed to pick out what we needed and we were to work. A flurry of activity and chat, we had to move ladders and the old wood that had been used to create the last teepee. Once this was cleared it was time to cut back all of the green, creating a horseshoe shape.

A group would be coming in next week to spread a thick layer of woodchip, and then the forest school would be getting to work on the Saturday.

After a wet few days we welcomed our goodgym group task back, and it welcomed us with beaming sunshine.

We also welcomed our new GoodGymer Hosam.

CROESO

Tonight's task was up at Global Gardens, we recently had our 8th anniversary there.

Plenty to do there, so once Michael had let us in and got out the tools it was straight to work.

There were some Hazel trees needing some care and attention, taking out the brambles and opening them up to more light.

We chatted about our experiences being in nature, and took plenty of photos of each other. It was great getting to know each other more and enjoying the task.

time to go

We made our way back to the City Centre, said our farewell (until next week) and made our ways home. Tired from a good walk and task workout.

See you all next week.

What a celebration, goodgym CYMRU, we hit our EIGHT anniversary. Starting back on May 23rd, 2017, running to a community garden space, and here we after 8 years running to one of our regular community growing spaces Global Gardens.

We are very proud of how many community green spaces we have helped over those 8 years, and hope to continue the fight to keep Cardiff as green as possible.

Our groups tonight had cyclists, walkers and runners all making their way to Global Gardens. It was a great run through the park, a great way to spend our celebration run before the weather changes. Michael had both his goodgym and global gardens hat on tonight, as he got everyone into the site and ready to volunteer. Although the weather was due to change, there was still plenty of watering to do. The polytunnel needed a good soaking, as did plenty of potted new plants that were dotted around. We also had a second group tooled up and ready to get back to the removal of brambles and bindweed, people on wheelbarrow duty to run the weeds back and forth to the designated compost pile.

We had some returns tonight as we welcomed back Benjamin and Lucy, with the lovely baby Eliza and goodgym bunny. (is this a new mascot?)

After 30 minutes of volunteering (and baby holding), we were done and it was time for our group photos. We made our plans for afterwards to continue the celebrations with a few drinks and some food, and a catch up with each other.

Tonight saw us return to Global Gardens, you can tell the weather is better when we start the community growing spaces again. 5 goodgymers, and a Ben made their way up, Michael and Neda walked from the meeting point, met halfway by a running Nathan. Llion met us at the task, eager to get started, and Su and Ben made their way from a little closer and walked up....apparently seeing a tornado as they went.

Look out Toto

Michael let the group into the allotments only to find a concerned Su pointing to bellows of smoke in the distance, so we quickly got everyone set up before running to see what was happening.

• Su, Ben and Llion were given the watering duty - is there's a veg bed then water it!
• Nathan and Neda were taken up to the sensory space, where the hazel saplings needed help to breather and grow. Time to cut those brambles back.

Whilst everyone got to work, a concerned Michael ran over to the second set of allotments, where his very own plot was. Unfortunately, one of the holders had been burning some waste (naughty) and it had gotten out of hand and caught on the trees.

After a brief chat with some fellow plot holders, and witnessing the arrival of Police, and fire engines, Michael quickly made their way back to the group with an update.

Joining in with the team, Michael got onto some strimming duty, tidying up the entrance to the sensory garden - but not going over board, it is "No Mow May" after all.

A longer Tuesday than usual, but that was to be expected with all of the commotion.

We will be returning to Global Gardens in two weeks, May 20th to celebrate as goodgym Cardiff turns 8. Get signed up now --> here