Welcome to Uzondu for his first GoodGym Manchester outing this evening! 👏

Today we were tasked with brushing and scraping down the metal fence and gate at Ladybarn Community Hub. Charly, Uzondu, and Ben walked or ran to help them out.

With metal brushes, cloth, and wearing eye protection (safety first), we made steady work with Dr Coull, one of the trustees, to remove the top layer and flaking paint from the fence. Charly made the first step in getting paint onto the fence, a fetching black colour, closely followed by the others 🎨🖌

With people each side, and others filling in as we went, the fence was quickly covered in a fresh black shine, managing to completely cover the fence and gate, leaving out the musical note 🎵 on the gate.

Once a hastily written Wet Paint sign had been attached, we cleared up a bit, washed hands, and made our way home.

Really active local community group with lots of sessions and initiatives for local people, and a well kept garden and pond. We hope to be back again, perhaps to paint more of the fence or with other tasks.

Ben, Gosia, and Juno went to help out at Fletcher Moss parkrun event number 261. 408 runners and walkers completed the 5 km course on a PRIDE themed morning, with Manchester Pride taking place over bank holiday weekend.

Ben and Juno did the course check, set up, and marshalled at the Mersey point #2, while Gosia marshalled at both point #1 and #7. Lots of happy faces and colourful rainbow 🌈 outfits on a nice August morning.

Thank you to the 21 volunteers in total making parkrun accessible for ALL!

Ben was Run Director at event number 260 at Fletcher Moss parkrun. 455 runners and walkers completed the 5 km course.

Managed to get enough volunteers, 20 in total, so thank you to all of you, especially those who filled in for new roles or with barcode scanning after the run.

Some incidents with misbehaving dog owners (short, hand held, non-extendable leads only please) and impatient overtaking. Incidents reported.

Results took some processing with the tokens in an odd order, but managed in the end. Thank you to those handing out the tokens who noticed so knew how to alter things.

Onto the Pride event next weekend. Hope to see more GoodGym support there!

Gaynor went along to help Smithfield Garden Club this evening with lots of weeding and clearing of a garden area near The Wheatsheaf pub in NQ.

Really friendly group I've heard and looking much tidier now.

Peter and Ben both decided to combine a foodbank run with another ivy clearing and planting session at Gorse Hill Studios. We joined Katie, Duncan, Cathy, and Rebecca.

We dug, hacked, chopped, cut, pulled, sawed, and pickaxed our way through the never-ending ivy growing around bushes and fences.

We burned some of the vegetation and piled it ever higher. We found lots of spiders 🕷 and saw the plans and prep for the pond. The cup of tea 🍵 and a kitkat also helped on a warm and sweaty evening ☀️ There was also some planting of other plants 🪴 in between the hedge trees 🌳 we had planted a few weeks ago.

Following the session, Ben took a collection of tins 🥫 milk 🥛 crackers, strawberry 🍓 and raspberry jam, rice pudding, tinned fruit and veg, and some spaghetti 🍝 hoops to a nearby drop off for Manchester South-Central foodbank.

Juno and I did the course check and marshalled at Fletcher Moss parkrun event number 259. 449 runners and walkers completed the 5 km course.

Warm and sunny day with a bit of wind. First placed finisher had a dog. Last RD for Stephen as he is moving away. Ran 20 km in the process getting there, and then to work.