Another beautifully sunny evening for our Group walk/run, this time to a new-to-us green space in Bedminster that was losing the battle with brambles.

Some had heeded the warnings of thorniness and were in long sleeves and trousers, some (especially Ed) decided a vest and shorts were up to the task. Brave.

It wasn't a first good deed for anyone but Faduma was back for her second and Ramani, in her new red t-shirt, was back for number three.

We had short tools, long tools and in-between tools, depending on how close to the brambles and nettles people were prepared to go. The runners with Tim and Freya had already made good progress to remove the first pile of brambles by the time the walkers arrived and Harsheh specialised in tarpaulin filling, dragging and emptying, somehow managing to rake bramble stems - sounds like a good workout plan!

We made sure there were no birds nesting where we were chopping and it was lovely to see one of the neighbours who'd previously tried to keep the area under control.

With the main runner group having finished the initial clearing of the middle patch (including a pesky sycamore sapling and a final push on the second patch revealing a dumped rucksack that had become home to many, many woodlice, it was time to draw stumps and head back.

We finished the journey back with a beautiful sunset - happy days!

It was still daylight, with a beautiful sunset to appreciate as the runners and walkers left the cobbles outside Workout to head for St Werburgh's Community Centre for Caroline's 500th good deed - mild congratulations, Caroline, who doesn't think it's worthy of a cheer as it's just turning up, but this week she'd not only turned up, she'd brought vegan chocolate brownies - hooray!

We were helping the centre prepare for their Green Feast event on Saturday - emergency counting of spoons and forks (the easy bit) and detangling two whole boxes of bunting - some cotton, some cardboard and LOADS of thin, fraying fabric ones that were knottier than a knotty thing. I can't think of a knotty thing - answers in the comments section, please.

With a time-lapse video showing how productive we were, it did take the whole time we were there and we left the bunting so tidy that each individual section was lovingly rolled up and tied with string and it all fitted into the Hamper of Bunting - maybe we'll be asked back to pack it away again instead of de-tangling it before the next event?!

Back to Workout, except there was speed dating on, so a diversion to the very warm Bar + Block upstairs seating area (who knew?) for aforementioned brownies, cups of tea and other tipples. Much happiness all round.

I like to move it, move it, do you like to move it?

Well, that was one of the tasks this evening at the Library of Things as some units needed moving with great dexterity and poise.

The other task was to assemble some shelving units. One team decided to freestyle it building the larger shelving unit whilst the other studiously (not really) decided to follow the instruction to the letter to build some smaller units. Some judicious use of the mallet (not a hammer!) and not at all imprisoning some people in the units (ahem) meant that the job was done quickly and efficiently. Not convinced each shelf can take 250kg and we sensibly decided not to test this. Another job well done!

Until next time…

It was great to welcome Faduma to her very first Bristol task and even better that she already knew Dame Emily Park, this evening's destination, as a lovely place in our city.

With litterpickers in hand and bags stuffed somewhere, the running group set off, led by Vaguely Northern Darren and the walkers sort of led by Melanie until we realised we were walking to ASDA instead of the park so had taken a slightly longer route - but all because we were chatting away and having "fun" on the walk (and it did mean I completed one more street for my City Strides account in Bristol).

We met up with Ursula and family in the park, having already collected a few pieces of litter on the paths and then set about finding as much as we could, recycling separated from rubbish, plus a dog bowl that apparently is left out for visiting four-legged friends. The skate park was surprisingly good for recycling but not nearly so much other litter.

We've been helping out at the park for a few years now and it was lovely to see snowdrops and crocus flower springing (see what I did there?) from the ground, it was the first time Harsheh had seen crocuses (crocii?), he's going to LOVE Spring. He arrived for the start of the academic year so hasn't yet experienced a full years of seasons here and GoodGym is such a good way to see nature.

Lots of chat and 5 bags of goodies for Bristol Waste to collect, we headed up to the community garden for Ursula's lovely blackcurrant tea and homemade rye flour and goat butter cookies (or ginger nuts and rich tea when the homemade ones had run out. On the way, we spotted a TV antenna that had been brought to the park (why?!) and added that to our other finds for Bristol Waste to collect from behind the sunflower tile - always a good way to make sure they can't miss it!

Back at Workout, pots of tea, hot chocolate and other favoured drinks in hand, even more chat continued, weather was discussed, football was on the TV and a lovely time was had by all - same time, same place for another task next week?