Typical British weather on our weekly guided run at Hyde park. The rain stopped and it was quite a pleasant evening for running. Good turnout once again. Today we were welcomed by loads of squirrels : wanting our snacks? Unfortunately we didnt have any for them but maybe next time.

Classic Eslam Monday task. Plenty of heavy lifting and wheelbarrowing. Started a plot off by loading it with seashells and then dumping wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of compost. A monumental team effort to start the week off well. Welcome Lizzy and see you at future tasks!

On a very beautiful morning, the Bermondsey Street Runners and me met outside Chapter 72. After some friendly conversation, we headed off. We cut through central London and passed through a couple of Arsenal supporters who were up bright and early for the parade.

Once we reached the Arc Community, we were welcomed by the lovely Amy who showed us around the green spaces the Arc Community manages. We were handled equipment then lead to a specific green space near a canal to get rid of any dead roots, clear path ways and remove any unwanted plants that were taking nutrients away from the flowers growing.

Once done, we ran past a sea of Arsenal supporters to get out of Islington and make our way back to Bermondsey. From there we got some coffee and sweet treats, had some lovely conversations, then parted ways. A great way to spend a Sunday morning.

To celebrate international running day @achillesinternationaluk entered 4 teams of 3 into @runthroughuk relay 5k race. 4 teams of 3 runners plus guides for the runners needing one. Each leg was 5km each. Charlotte guided Janice and Steph Ducat guided Charles on their 5km leg.

A team of three had been summoned to tackle Ms E's garden which she had not been able to tend to since moving into the flat over 5 years ago. However, it turned out that finding the location of this mission was the biggest challenge of the evening.

Once on site, the team were pleasantly surprised to find that the anticipated jungle was a perfectly respectable garden that simply needed a little sprucing up. And so the sweeping, raking and pruning commenced and within an hour, four bags of leaves and cuttings were ready for collection. Extra effort (and entertainment) points go to Fuad and Ewa for their volleying skills, to get the bagged up waste over the 8ft fence and over to the collection point!

Monday night brought out a magnificent twelve GoodGymers to ARC, with six running with Steph Ducat from Arsenal stadium, and all 12 rolling up their sleeves to get the towpath garden ready for planting out.

While some of us were still buzzing from Sunday's Arsenal Parade, others were visibly relieved that football had packed up for the season - and that this wasn't a week for litter picking!

Amy from ARC marshaled this particular Red Army into action across three fronts: one crew tackled the prickly job of cutting up and bagging thorny hawthorn branches; another set to work building raised beds along the garden border; and new member Devika and I got our hands well and truly dirty turning the compost heap.

The transformation of this little patch - small in size but brilliantly situated - since our last visit is genuinely impressive. A good night's work, a fresh set of raised beds, and all last night's rain should combine to even more progress and growth by our next visit. Bring it on.