Five GoodGymers joined us for our bonus group run with the Ouseburn Trust on cold but sunny January day. Newcastle members Tanya , Debbie , Angela and I were joined by parkrun and GoodGym tourist Jason who had come up to Newcastle from GoodGym Leeds to get his parkrun alphabet J at Jesmond Dene and decided to make a day of it by including GoodGym.

We had a short walk from the stables over to the Ouseburn Trust container were we met task owner Dave and were equipped with gardening glove and loppers or secateurs then we send off up the steps by the Northumberland Arms and set to work, along side with Ouseburn Trust volunteers, on cutting back the branches and brambles which were growing into the path and pushing any cuttings back into the bush.

The area was covered in litter and we found a bank cascading with hundred of (mostly bud light) cans. I have so many questions. How was there so many? Surely these can't all be from one siting? A random person to who drinks a crate a day on his lunch break? Why bud light? Tanya requested litter pickers and bin bags and Dave retrieved from the container the biggest bin bags and I have ever seen! We got stuck in litter picking for the last 20 mintues and managed to make a big dent in the budlight mountain. I could barely pull myself away ('just one more handful!') but we were running out of time, the huge bag was getting full and getting out was a bit of a scramble! Angela was also struggling to stop continuing to littering pick all the way back to put the equipment away.

We decided not to do a fitness session as we collectively decided parkrun and the never ending stairs near the Northumberland arms were enough for today.

Well done everyone and a special thanks Jason for joining us you are welcome back anytime you are in Newcastle!

This morning I took part in Walker Wasters weekly litter pick at Walker Park. A small group of volunteers, with Urban Green in attendance, collected a bike, gas canister and 8 bags of mixed litter, not forgetting the weekly green poop bags that seem to be placed in position. A lovely crisp, fresh morning and a good start to the day.

Many muddy hands made light(er) work at this tree-licious task with Chloe, Michael and Rhian from Urban Green Newcastle at Harbottle Park in Byker.

Six GoodGymmers made their way to find a forest on a frosty morning, including a new face (to some!) with Adrian joining us for his first good deed!

There was mulch to do as we cleared the overgrown grass from around the flourishing forest and gave them a little donut of mulch to be getting on with. Barrows-a-plenty amongst muddy knees and hidden trees.

Harbottle Park is a fantastic area and it’s great to see space used in this way, creating some biodiversity for nature to nurture.

There was tea, coffee, mince pies and good vibes as the gang had a well-earned break, before one last go at helping this forest to grow.

Honoured that this was my first task as TaskForce leader! I couldn’t help but recognise the gang’s efforts with a little cash in hand - strictly edible, of course.

Can’t wait for the next one and hope you’ll all join me!

A beatiuful morning to run, walk and cycle our way around Gateshead and Newcastle quayside, finishing with coffee at the Cycle Hub where we watched some kayakers litter picking in the Tyne.

Huge welcome to James for his first session with us.

We were happy to be returning to Byker Lodge adult resource centre tonight, after some of us made a start tidying up the garden last week.

Having joined in with the task last week, Angela was well aware of what was in store for us this week, so she met us there, armed with a whole set of gardening tools, which proved essential. Max, Adam and I met at Stepney Bank Stables. We stood for a few minutes watching the rain and debating the pros (few, if any) and cons (lots) of wallpaper! By the time we finished and gave Max some tips on how to remove it, the rain had almost stopped so we ventured out on the one mile mostly uphill run to Byker Lodge. Angela and her tools had beaten us to it so we got straight to work!

Angela and Max did a great job of clearing the overgrown grass from the edge of a bed - the brick edging had been completely covered and it looked amazing when they were finished. What a transformation!

Meanwhile, Adam limbered up, leaped into action and lopped a load of looping ivy to make the paths and seating area more accessible. Great job!

I spent another GoodGym session on my knees weeding, also clearing edges, this time along the wall beside the path. I sense another few days of post-GoodGym back ache coming - but well worth it!

We spent the last few minutes sweeping and tidying up (it turns out that shiny ivy leaves don't like being swept away!) I think it's fair to say we were satisfied with our efforts - we hope that the staff and residents at Byker Lodge are happy with their newly revealed edges too!