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.

Tonight saw us return to Global Gardens, you can tell the weather is better when we start the community growing spaces again. 5 goodgymers, and a Ben made their way up, Michael and Neda walked from the meeting point, met halfway by a running Nathan. Llion met us at the task, eager to get started, and Su and Ben made their way from a little closer and walked up....apparently seeing a tornado as they went.

Look out Toto

Michael let the group into the allotments only to find a concerned Su pointing to bellows of smoke in the distance, so we quickly got everyone set up before running to see what was happening.

• Su, Ben and Llion were given the watering duty - is there's a veg bed then water it!
• Nathan and Neda were taken up to the sensory space, where the hazel saplings needed help to breather and grow. Time to cut those brambles back.

Whilst everyone got to work, a concerned Michael ran over to the second set of allotments, where his very own plot was. Unfortunately, one of the holders had been burning some waste (naughty) and it had gotten out of hand and caught on the trees.

After a brief chat with some fellow plot holders, and witnessing the arrival of Police, and fire engines, Michael quickly made their way back to the group with an update.

Joining in with the team, Michael got onto some strimming duty, tidying up the entrance to the sensory garden - but not going over board, it is "No Mow May" after all.

A longer Tuesday than usual, but that was to be expected with all of the commotion.

We will be returning to Global Gardens in two weeks, May 20th to celebrate as goodgym Cardiff turns 8. Get signed up now --> here

Yes..... There is something about Imy, she has wings.....

congratulations on your 100th deed

Of course the celebration called for the finding of the old fairy wings, which Imy wore with 'pride'

We made our way to our task tonight, painting the never ending railings. Perfect weather for painting though, and a new beautiful jogging route along the river, much better than the Winter option.

We did a bit of extra time tonight, doing 40 minutes volunteering, whilst chatting about the upcoming birthday celebrations of goodgym, Llion and the Welsh language songs from our resident Eisteddfod favourites, Imy and Andrew.

Join us next month as we celebrate community gardens and on the 20th May we have our 8thbirthday

Get your wings...