We were thrilled to be returning to the Samye Foundation, and even during yet another heat wave, nothing could stop us from getting back to one of our original charities that we have been helping since the very start of goodgym Cardiff.

Our very first run to Samye was back on Tuesday 26th September 2017 and the transformation that we have seen is amazing. This was our return after a break, and the garden project looked fantastic, the pond we helped to dig was now in full working order and sounding tranquil.

Our task tonight were ready as usual, set up on the flipchart at the front of the building. (I love a flipchart!)

Runners were the first to arrive, and quickly sat down under cover to rehydrate after the hot run. Walkers were next to arrive, and Michael quickly pointed them towards the water and squash - hydration was very important today, before any tasks started.

Our list of task for the evening were as follows;

• Move the 2 seater sofa from level 2 in building 252 to the front room in building 250.
• Cable tie the dogrose to the front railings.
• Cable tie the fruit trees in the back garden.
• Bring the spiky plants from the back garden to the front.
• Cut out and compost the red orach.
• Re-pot baby plants from 250 porch into new pots.
• Move the metal table from outside the cafe window to under the gazeebo .
• Display the plants for plant sale on the tables under the gazeebo.

There was a good list of tasks, and 8 willing volunteers to crack on with them. We split into 3 groups, moved to our relevant areas, and got started - wasting no time, eager to get as much completed as possible.

Aimee and Emma went into the back garden and tied up the fruit trees, then removed the red orach and cut it down for composting.

Jonathan, Dylan and Jessica took to the task of moving the sofa, the spiky plants and the re-potting some baby plants.

PIVOT, PIVOT

Emma and Flo moved the metal table, plants and tied the dogrose at the front of the building.

All groups gave an outstanding effort tonight, especially with the temperatures that we had to endure. We got so much done, and Lorraine from Samye Foundation was so happy with our effort. We finished up for the evening, and then sat under the gazeebo for some delicious parsnip soup. Then we all walked back, far too hot for anymore running.

The gazeebo was looking lovely now surrounded by all of the plants, they are opening this is every Wednesday for plant sales in case your interested.

See you all next week - sign up here

Learning Time

Atriplex hortensis var. rubra Red orach, also known as red mountain spinach is a species of plant in the amaranth family used as a leaf vegetable that was common before spinach; it is still grown as a warm-weather alternative to spinach.

10 goodgymers tonight, taking to the glorious rain after another heatwave...

oh hello

We were returning to our friends at Cwtch Together, where the stingy plants had shot up. This is not what you want at a play group, so gloves on and elbow grease at the ready, we were off. A group went out into the play fields next to Cwtch Together, as this is where a lot of the nettled were coming from and poking through the metal fence.

Another group were up by the sign, clearing those green meanies away. We had the path cleaners, getting to hard work (one of the last groups to finish working - hardcore).

It was plenty of team work to make a dream work tonight, and we loved it.

Tonight was an evening of celebration.

We welcomed our newest member to the group Jessica

CROESO JESS

Another goodgym baby on the way, we can't wait to meet them Sophie.

And finally, introducing the new Lucy, now with wings....

Happy 100th Deed

Our walkers set off first, a direct route to the task, whilst Michael took the joggers on a slightly lengthened route to the task.

A nice evening for a run, with a good breeze. Once we arrived it was straight to work, the gloves out and the tasks explained.

It has been a while since we were last here, and the genes had certainly bounced back since their last trim. This was the first job for Lucy, to contain the growth and stop it encroaching onto the pathways.

Everybody else, over to the fence, it is time for a fence painting frenzy.

There was no stopping us, even a slight bit of rain fixing halt us. Thankfully the rain passed by quite quickly, so the painting continued along with the conversation of the task.

Have you got your own dabber?

Bingo, well that's the next social sorted then...

Lucy had moved on to dead heading roses and the painting crew had nearly finished the second large fence. No leaving until this parts complete. It was a quick run back, so we stayed on a little longer than usual in order to finish the fence.

Quick group photo, then off we popped.

Next week we head over to global gardens , join us for some active fun.

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.

You gotta roll with it - You get take your time - You gotta say what you say - Don't let cricketers get in your way.

10 wonderful goodgymers got together to help our lovely community orchard. You can see their facebook page here, originally set up as a response to park vandalism this project will hopefully be one for future generations to come.

As we are still going through one of the driest Springs for decades, goodgym made the plan to help the orchard trees survive, some planted only last year and some more recently this year. Michael went to speak with the wonderful Mel in her Cafe - The Secret Garden about the task and pick up some aqua rolls.

To increase the challenge, we asked runners to try part of the run with the aqua rolls - Darren was nearly rolling in the deep, as Emily rolled straight past him. Jonathan was certainly ready to let the good times roll.

Each aqua roll holds 40 litres of water, and as the tap for the orchard use was 350m away from the orchard, these would make the task at hand a lot easier. With nearly 50 trees to water this would take a spectacular 500 litres of water to get enough down into the scorched soil. Thankfully the trees are all mulched so the water won't evaporate easily.

We split into teams of water runners and water givers, two aqua rolls, watering can and a lot of energy. With 5 trips back and forth, three people each time, we covered a total of 5km alone on the task and over 500 litres of water. Each runner had a break whilst the team got to watering the trees, and importantly remembering which trees had been done.

After a lot of strange looks from the cricket teams playing in the field, and some questions from them as we left, the task was complete and we were making our way for a catch up in the local.