Seven GoodGym runners met up at our usual meeting place at Anglia Ruskin University for our regular Wednesday Group Run. It’s almost like pre-pandemic times! After a brief introduction speech we did some Olympic theme poses for a photo opportunity. Warm up completed, Adam led us along the river as Andy backmarked to Interact to clear more of the weeds from their paths.

As we got to Interact, Susie was just leaving and mentioned she had left some drinks and biscuits in the greenhouse along with the tools for the job. Kirk couldn’t think of anything else for the next half an hour but that didn’t stop him getting the job done. The only thing stopping people was my inability to open the greenhouse. Thankfully Anna pointed out it has sliding doors rather than push/pull doors… Doh!

As we have done this task a couple of times before everyone knew what to do. Anna started clearing the furthest bit of path. Andy and James went to the middle bit. Caroline got stuck into the cracks in the paving and Adam and Kirk made sure they were as near to the biscuits as could be.

After about half an hour it was time to pack away and enjoy some juice and a biscuit as our reward for our hard work and make our way back to the University. We were a bit short on time so did some lamppost sprints on the way back as our fitness session, and might have made it back a minute or two late… Sorry!

Stretching done it was time to say goodbye. Thanks for coming everyone, see you all again soon!

It was an exciting week down the at the Sanctus allotment. After weeks of clearing the weeds it was time to get planting and getting some beds ready to grow some food it was time to get planting.

After adding a top layer of compost, Kirk and Rich made use of one of the vacant beds to sow 3 lines of Spring Onion, Cabbage and Pea seeds. Whilst they were doing that Lucy and Caroline planted Potatoes in one of the vacant beds and Tomato plants where our first, now ravaged Cabbages were planted. Thanks to Lucy for the pun, our little tribute to the England football team making it to the final of Euro 2020!

This allotment has come on leaps and bounds from where it was a few weeks ago and looks like a proper allotment now. Hopefully in the not too distant future we should have some food to give to Sanctus for their café!

Next week we’ll be back to sow seeds in the last bed and cover the beds and plants with netting to stop the birds getting to them. The white currants 'should' also be ready to harvest. Exciting times!!

On what was Global Running Day, 9 GoodGym members met up to continue work on the Sanctus Allotment that we started on last week (which you can read about here). Those of us who did run to the site were more than jealous of Andy and Toby who had decided, on the hottest day of the year so far, to cycle. Whilst the rest of us were drenched in sweat and struggling to cool down they looked rather relaxed having had a nice breeze in their face for their journeys. I get a feeling there may be more cyclists than runners next week.

Still, on the task!! There was more digging up and chopping down weeds trying to get control of the overgrown jungle that is the Sanctus allotment. Whilst digging we disturbed two ants nests, dug up yet more potatoes and discovered raspberry, blackcurrant and rhubarb plants already in place which with a bit of care and shielding from birds should be able to bear some fruit… Hopefully.

Over the two weeks we have made fantastic progress with clearing the plot and thoughts are now turning to the next stage and how we can eventually start growing some produce for the Sanctus Café. Toby had a little discussion with our allotment neighbour who shared some advice on low maintenance crops which might be good start off with, as we looked on in envy at his immaculate plot, and I learned that apparently I need to watch more Gardeners World.

The hour flew by yet again. Tools back in the shed, we said hello to the local chickens whilst discussing our potential 5th Birthday social, which all going well with restrictions being eased should happen on 16th July, and involve pizza and drinks!!

Well done for all your hard work everyone, on what was a very, very hot day! (Thanks Andy for the pun) See you all again soon!

Sanctus are a local charity based on Broomfield Road that provide a variety of valuable services and support to homeless and vulnerable people in Chelmsford. Hopefully, with a bit of our hard work, their allotment will grow some fresh seasonal produce to make nutritional meals which they provide for free to their service users in their café.

Our meeting point was at the car park at the end of Arun Close. Before all of us had even arrived the early birds Myself, Russell D, Laurie and Toby were tasked with helping a local dog walker to find her lost keys. We all got busy having a look around and after a few minutes Russell D found them dropped behind a car. One good deed down we waited for the other GoodGym runners to arrive before making our way down to the allotment plot.

Caroline came well prepared with her own gloves, fork and most importantly… Wellies!! I think it’s fair to say no one quite expected the overgrown jungle that awaited us and those wellies came in handy to stop the barrage of the stinging nettles. Oh how I wish I had some. There was a bit of trepidation as to where to even make a start, but forks in hand we spread out and began digging, trying to remove as many weeds as we could along the way.

Anna who joined us on her first Chelmsford task arrived a little bit later than the rest of us, but showed her horticultural knowledge which will prove more than useful over the next few months and along with Lucy, Toby and Sarah managed to dig up quite a few potatoes and a lone parsnip.

The hour flew by, sure the site still needs a lot of work but we made a great start and already have made a massive difference to the plot.

We took the scenic route out of the allotment to say hello to the local chickens before saying our goodbyes and heading off back to our respective homes. Thanks for coming along everyone, we will be back soon to continue what we started.