We welcome in December and Winter (depending on whether you're meteorological or astronomical), it was certainly a cold evening, but a nice jog around the City will soon warm us up. 3 met for the active travel from our start location to the Church, with another 2 people meeting us there and then joining us for a walk back.

The task tonight was helping the church to spruce up the grounds, removing the fallen leaves of Autumn, before they become a slushy mushy mess, we also had enough time to go outside and tidy up around the railings, making it much safer for the local residents when walking past. One such resident even came over to thank us for our hard work.

Thank you

We had all the tools tonight for cleaning up leaves, including a fancy scooping device which made light work of the piles of leaves that the sweepers created. Finally on the task was a little bit of weed killing, but this was not going to be done with chemicals - no ruining our land, instead it was done with a nice simple burning tool.

We were soon done and on our merry way back to the glassworks for a quick social and natter, join us next week for our last activity of the year, it's a new charity too. We are also going for food afterwards so if you are coming then please sign up to that.

A good turn out for our Tuesday task, but the numbers don't matter to the weather. But first, we welcome two new people to our group tonight for their first task.

WELCOME

Our task organiser messaged to say that they thought the rain would hinder our original task, and so a last minute change was required.....

PLAN B

We ran to a different location, a shorter route than planned but with plenty of jobs to keep us occupied. We had a LOT of weeds to remove, front and back of the building, a very LARGE T.V stand to put together for the biggest TV that I have ever seen.

We split into three groups, front group got to work weeding around the edge of the lot to tidy up and just make the Church look that little bit better, and then removed the grass from the front 'garden' to make room for more planting later on. The second group were inside, busy putting together the heavy duty stand, lots of head scratching and plan reading going on there.......The final group went straight to the back to tidy up there, it occasionally gets rented as a car park when there are large events in Cardiff, a nice way for them to make some extra funds.

Next week looks to be an amazing task, get signed up if you're not already -------> HERE

A nice turn out for our last group activity for the January Challenge....

We had them all tonight, runners, walkers and cyclists. Oh, how active we've been in Cardiff, well done team. Meeting at our usual place, we split into our groups and made our way to the task. We all made good time, meaning we could get to volunteering faster. Our task, to tidy up all of the leaves, and there were a lot that had also been there all Winter - pungent is probably the word to use.

Gloves all around tonight, very necessary - separating the trash into recycling bags and then the leaves into red bags, we got to work. Martin went over to sweep a different area with the help of Ben and Lucy collecting, Llion tidying up around a parked car whilst the rest of the group tackled the mound of leaves by the back door.

The odd worm or two were found enjoying themselves in the heap, doing what they do.

Learning TIME

• There are 31 species of earthworm known to occur in natural environments within the British Isles, though only 29 species are known to occur in Great Britain.
• Earthworms have been called ‘ecosystem engineers’.
• Earthworms play an important role in breaking down dead organic matter in a process known as decomposition. Decomposition releases nutrients locked up in dead plants and animals and makes them available for use by living plants.
• Earthworms are also responsible for mixing soil layers and incorporating organic matter into the soil.

A great turn out tonight, as 17 goodgymers took to the streets to get active a do some good.

Our last visit to this Church, at least for this year, so it was lovely to see so many of us there. A somewhat awkward start as our organiser was stuck in traffic but that just gave us time to get social and have a chat.

Lets not forget some welcomes......

CROESO

Chloe on their first goodgym visit, great meeting you and see you back again soon. Jake back for their second task.

There was plenty to chat about as we have the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday, expect some goodgym cheers out on the course.

Michael received a call from the organiser, and just like that we could get started - after being told where to get the tools from. It wasn't much longer until they arrived, and we were early to the task anyway!

• Task 1 - Cut down the hebe some more, trip back the plants growing over the curb and a general weeding of the front.
• Task 2 - Clean inside one of the community spaces and help to put up dado rail type thing.
• Task 3 - Clean out the back of the Church.

Everyone got to work to get as much done as possible, the front of the building looked beautiful and tidy, the rail was up in the hall and a good chunk of the back was weed free.

Thanks to all for coming tonight.

Get signed up for next week when you can.

We ran and walked to help with one of our local groups, they needed some help pruning the large bushes and the get to work with the pressure washer at the front of the building. We arrived a little earlier than planned, but still waiting on some of the group. Will everyone make it? Is it going to be a day of tardy marks???

First, we got the larger group to work on the Hebe, a fantastic plant easy to maintain and great for wildlife - why not get yourself one?

Learning Time

• There are 25 popular types of hebes which can be grown in the UK.
• These neat and colourful evergreen shrubs are ideal for a sunny border, providing summer flowers and year-round foliage.
• Compact types work well in containers or as border edgings.
• Larger types can be grown as hedging.
• The flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Most of the group were tasked with cutting the mammoth bush right back, this would help to promote new growth and give it back the full bush look. Bin after bin after bin were filled by the group, as the plant started to shrink in size.

Meanwhile........Emily had taken the task of pressure washing, oh the fun. Michael went over to see how they were getting on but wait....that's not much of as jet! They were testing the pressure, and this certainly wasn't 'Goodgym and the Jets'.

Nozzle after nozzle after nozzle removed and a different replaced, how many nozzles does a machine need?

Finally, the correct combination found, and the pressure washer was at its best, blasting the grime off the floor and walls. As the floor was cleaned and the 'muck' was aimed at the drain we discovered that it wasn't emptying quite right, and so Julian to the rescue, as he put his arm in a dragged out the gloop. Somewhat reminiscent of a vet....

Join us next week for more fun making a the Diff-erence.

The weather was on the side of goodgym Cardiff tonight, still sunny with a nice light breeze. It was all a bit special too, the exact date that we started 6 years ago - it's our anniversary / birthday - whatever you want to call it, it's SPECIAL

To mark the occasion, we had a new start location with a great Welsh name - Daffodil.

Learning Time

The Romans are known to have planted narcissus in memory of loved ones or comrades fallen in battle. It’s likely they brought daffodils to Britain from the Iberian Peninsula, predominantly Spain and Portugal, where the largest variety of daffodil species are found.

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Not just a simple task tonight, but instead we were splitting into two groups to help two separate places at the same time.

Back to help clear at St. Dyfrig & St. Samson Church, weeding like machines were Michael, Karolina, Natasha, Dylan and Dylan. Karolina rode on her bike as Michael ran - like something out of Rocky.

Task number two was helping at Lansdowne Primary School, a slightly longer run led by Darren. Fiona and Marie cleared bushes and weeds and tidied up the garden area. Some of the trees were blocking the entrance. Darren and Emily painted the walls around the mud kitchen.

Andrew, Imy and Adam painted a playhouse in the playground. Llion and Martin moved storage units around and painted.

Once we were all finished, it was time to head back to continue the celebrations into the evening and look back fondly on the six years,

7133 good deeds by 504 runners, walkers & cyclists,

237 missions to help older people,

690 visits to an older person.

It may be hard sometimes to juggle work and life, but this makes it all worthwhile in my eyes - each and every one of you that has taken part are so VERY SPECIAL and deserve all the praise.

DIOLCH YN FAWR