This week's group run was a long one heading out to a raking task by the river a good 5km away from our start point in town.

We had to throw in a small diversion to pick up the rakes and a drag mat from a locked up allotment nearby and then head over to the riverside where a long lone of brambles had been cut down and our task was to rake up the cuttings and drag them over the bridge to a spot where they can be collected by van.

David, Omar and Martin did their best and collected an impressive pile in the short time on site. A few more people would have been lovely as it was definitely hard work!

We left definitely feeling like we'd had a workout and wishing we'd eaten before instead of after the task!

Today’s mission at Fallowfield was a fantastic effort to help keep Luton’s green spaces thriving! The team worked hard clearing overgrown areas, picking , and making the park more welcoming for both people and wildlife. It was great to see everyone come together, full of energy and enthusiasm, despite the chilly morning.

One of the highlights was uncovering a hidden patch of wildflowers beneath the weeds—we gave them a new chance to bloom! We also had some great conversations along the way, proving that conservation is not just about nature but about building a stronger community too.

A job well done, and I can’t wait for the next

The four of us were just a little bit late to the task today as we had a bit of trouble locating the rest of the group. But after a few scenic and sunny detours we eventually saw smoke and the sound of saws in the distance and knew we had made it!

We got straight to work armed with loppers and saws, we tackled dense overhanging branches, and overgrowth helping let in more light and keeping the area in good condition.

Our regular turn helping the monthly People's Park litterpick had a very special visitor as the lovely Louise ,GoodGym legend and inspiring individual, joined in after a spot of Parkrun tourism to complete her 878th good deed!

We had a small Goodgym team on the task with Lizzy and David completing a trio, but luckily there were plenty of other litterpickers from the neighbourhood. Collectively we gathered twelve bags of rubbish and recycling from around the park. Random items of the month included a plastic Christmas tree, a drumstick and another lost toy drone!

We had a big bunch of people out for the last Group Run of January, an excellent boost to our January total!

It was a special evening as we were to be joined by ITV news, filming us for an upcoming piece on the 6o'clock news! 🎥

First we had to get to the task, so Gill set off early with the walking group to make their way up the hill to the Luton General Cemetery.

Meanwhile the rest of us welcomed Joe to the team 👋 as he joined his first session, got ourselves warmed up and ran in pursuit of the walkers.

Our task at the cemetery was to sow yellow rattle seeds into the grassy banks, which involved roughing up the grass with rakes to expose some soil and scattering the seeds in. But of course with the camera rolling things didn't proceed quite as usual!

We did a good bit of shuttle running up and down to get nice footage and were filmed hard at work with rakes and brooms in the gloom and torchlight. While a few went off to be interviewed under a streetlight the rest of us got the job done by scattering the seeds, trampling them in and finishing up the sweeping job on the path.

Task and interviews all done the last job was being filmed running out from the cemetery gates as we made our way back down the hill into

8 if Luton Goodgyms finest came out to support the Friends of Leagrave Park along with Kevin from ABCD-IN-LUTON for the first litterpickof 2025. The members from the local community made the numbers up to 14 attendees and as ever we found an eclectic mix of rubbish 🗑 in the hour and a half we were there. A bread basket, a tyre and the rear windscreen of a car to go with the 24 bags of rubbish we all collected, but for me the most interesting find was a bollard from a local car park. it was heavy but I managed to move it to a place it can be collected by the council and returned to its rightful place. Shockingly Omar found a knife which Kevin from ABCD-IN-LUTON has dealt with in the appropriate manner. Great effort as ever team. Well done 👏