For the latest GoodGym Bristol run we had probably our shortest run to the task ever, just around the corner from Welshback to the Quakers’ Burial Ground in Redcliffe.

After meeting at Vivo Healtclub and a quick intro from Chris we ran straight to this week’s task. Once we got there we split into two groups, with Kim taking a group of people on a longer run and leaving everyone else to get stuck into the task with Sara from Incredible Edible.

The park is being transformed into an edible park, with the first step to remove all the overgrown vegetation and rubbish. Armed with forks spades and a mattock(!) the first group got stuck in, ready to swap with the second group when they came back from their runs.

After the second group got back from the run we headed back to Welshback, stopping in Queens’ Square on the way to stretch and warm down.

We got loads done, and this is a long term project and so we’ll be back for more!

For next week’s run we’re heading to Windmill Hill City Farm

25 hardy runners met up at a stand in location (Sustrans' head office) on a slightly damp Tuesday evening to run over to Windmill Hill City Farm.

It wasn't raining as it's not actually permitted to rain for GoodGym in Bristol (I'm not kidding - it's been about a year since we got properly wet out on a run), but it was very humid and a fine mist of drizzle kept us cool as we ran to the Windmill Hill farm.

A small sub-group ran over to St Pauls to help a chap called Boris with some gardening on a side mission too!

Once down at the farm, we quickly set to our tasks - cleaning the volunteers building and also seriously cutting back some trees; the city farm is planning to turn their car park in to a park and change the entrance way to the farm, so this was to help prepare for this.

The cleaners were swift and a few crept off to have a little look at the animals before regrouping and heading over to help the choppers and their mighty pruning - there was also some litter picking going in and some curious items were found (see the photos for more info!).

Time ran away with us as always but a lot of people wanted to go and see the piglets and ducklings, so we quickly headed in to the pig sty for a little look - they were mighty cute and I did wonder if I could fit a duckling in to my rucksack!

A short run back to Sustrans later, we met up with the people who had gone on their side mission, had a good stretch, and we were done!

Thanks everyone!

35 (yes, 35) runners came to the Folk House on Tuesday for a double task run. Task one was the advertised run to a food bank to help sort cans, packets, bottles and jars for people in need of food aid in the local area. Task two was a last minute addition from the BBC (oooh, fancy!) to help them in their garden. By the way, if you just want to look at all the pictures, please do!

After warming up and introducing ourselves, we split in to two groups. Group one had a long flat run ahead of them. Group two had a short but very steep run up Park Street ahead of them.

Group one ran to the Safestore warehouse in Lawrence Hill and got stuck into what looked like preparations for a zombie apocalypse but was in fact a food bank. The team worked hard to sort, shift, weigh and stack loads of donated food, working really hard right up to the buzzer. One of the best tasks ever!

Group two headed off and shortly but out of breath-ly got to the top of Park Street, then ran past evening shoppers on the Triangle. In no time at all they were in front of the mighty BBC Broadcasting House.

We met up with Jules - a Keith Floyd type bursting with energy and only lacking a glass of fruity red- and were told about the plans between the BBC and the Avon Wildlife Trust to increase places for wildlife to live - a little green oasis in the concrete desert. They hope to make a garden suitable not only for wildlife but also for groups of school children to come and learn more about the natural world - fitting as the BBC Natural History Unit is based in Bristol!

Jules was very organised and quickly split the group in to several teams - waterers, hole diggers, woodchip spreaders, soil turners, topsoil movers, and the gang set to it, but first after trying to find adult sized gloves in a box of teeny tiny child sized mittens. We had to do the following:

Plant a row of beech trees Shift a ton of topsoil Empty as many large bags of chippings as possible out of some large bags and scatter them across new plantings Turn soil over to prepare a bed for planting Water EVERTYTHING!

Did we do it? Of course we did! Whilst there were still a few big white bags of chippings left, the amazing GoodGym runners got stuck right in (literally for the hole diggers who got a bit muddy!) and the garden gradually developed. There's still more to do but in such a short space of time a massive amount was achieved.

On a lovely warm night 33 runners met at the Folk House for another spot of running and doing good!

Our tasks were threefold (or so we thought!) - 1) put up a chair swing for an older person. 2) Weed a bit of Bristol. 3) Weed another part of Bristol. Our numbers were many and our feet were fleet, so we sped off south to do our bit for our fair city.

At a suitable spot we split up in to groups and went our separate ways. Group 1 revisited an older person who had previously needed some help moving some pots. Now she needed help putting up a chair swing. Gary, Nick and Kate did a fantastic job, even though there was a screw missing - just look at the photos to see how great that swing is. Nice work.

Group 2 headed off to return to help the Patchwork Project with a bit of land we've been to several times now. Sadly weeds have reclaimed it so a lot of us set to and started to pull them up with abandon, however there were another 2 tasks for us here - this run suddenly became a 5 task feast! So task 2a was to go and do some flyering, and 2b was to go to yet another patch of Bristol (not far away!) and do some digging.

Group 2a headed off to pass out flyers about a forthcoming garden event, and Group 2b trotted off with trowels and gloves but in not time returned - a drunkard was apparently occupying the space they intended to dig and didn't want to give it up! It was a good job in a way as the weeds were at times taller than our tallest tall person, and we needed all hands on deck to make an impact.

Group 3 was let by Kim who guided them expertly over to close to Victoria Park. She was going to write some stuff and pop it in here but it's not turned up!

With such a large group, it was a good job that we had 4 1/2 different tasks to do - it really shows that many hands do make light work, and when spread over different tasks we can help not just one part of the community but several. A big thank you as always to everyone who came to the run. Keep coming, bring your friends, bring your enemies and become friends whilst digging over an unloved allotment, or just bring yourself and all awesomeness that makes you a member of GoodGym!

This Tuesday, 26 bright and beaming runners gathered at the folk house to embark on another classic GoodGym midweek run, recovered and raring to go after their 10k weekend efforts. The rain had been pouring during the day, but in typical GoodGym fashion, the sun was out when everyone gathered together. After a brief introduction from (Northern) Chris and Gary, who were leading the run, the group set off. This week there were not one, but two missions. The first, to the Scrapstore, a great local organisation who provide children with play art and craft materials through recycling, and another special mission, helping an elderly Bristol resident in need to some gardening help.

The runners set off together, through the streets, under the Bearpit and onto Wilder Street where four adventurous souls led by Gary split off from the main pack to embark on the secret mission. A lovely local lady called Ruth was in need of our help. After the recent rain it had become apparent that her garden was not draining properly and in order to get the problem fixed most of her well tended potted plants needed to be relocated. The problem was that Ruth had just had her hip replaced and could not manage the job on her own. As ever Team GoodGym were happy to answer the call and set about with the lifting and shifting. In no time at all the job was done. So like a hurricane of helpfulness the four of us left with a happy Ruth and a clear garden in our wake and headed to rejoin the masses at the Scrapstore for more tornado tidying!

When the group arrived at the Scrapstore, buzzing to get stuck in, we were briefed on all of the activities that we could help with. These ranged from cutting nets into hammocks, to taking the cables off keyboards, cutting fabrics and stripping tubes, plenty for everyone! Not forgetting that GoodGym Scrapstore staple, de-boxing business phones (which after many Scrapstore tasks we are nearly at the end of, wow!). Very soon the air was full of the sounds of busy cutting, snipping, tearing and chatting. After some frantic work (and impressive highland games caber-esque tube balancing by Richard W.), we all gathered outside for a group shot, the first at the Scrapstore in the sun.

During a fairly pacey run back, the route back was altered slightly, to include a rapid dash up Christmas Steps, before returning to the folk house for some stretches to bring ourselves back to earth after all the Scrapstore excitement.

A big thanks to all that came along! A special cheers to all those who took part the 10k at the weekend and came along tonight, and also to Kim who completed the Edinburgh marathon this weekend, and also Nick, who recently completed a staggering 40 mile run event, wow what a talented bunch!