Great to be back at Nightingale Estate for this special session for the launch of our Workout for the Future Campaign. We were joined by Deputy Mayor Mete Coban, who visited to see the impact of GoodGym's work in the local community. And welcome to new runners Gemma and Suzi

It started with Denzel , Dan, Louise, Katie, Robert and Ivo running 2k from Usual Objections, a running shop that provides top quality running clothes. Definitely check them out if you are in the area, you can even see the clothes being made in front of you.

After a catch up and a warm up we ran to Nightingale Estate. Cheered on by the local school kids and a nice sunny run through the Hackney streets and Hackney Downs Park.

We arrived to join our fellow GoodGymers and got introduced to the Nightingale Parklet which is an important green space for local residents on the estate. After a briefing by task owners Nicky and Alice we set off to clear weeds, tidy up the green space and some of us helped a resident clear their front garden of weeds and a metal wired fence which is a bit of an eye sore.

Deputy Mayor Mete Coban joined the team to help with trimming foliage and lifting garden waste. Good job everyone!

We ended the session hearing from residents about why these green spaces matter so much to the estate. It was a great way to kick off our new campaign.

Great job all, see you next time.

Matt and Anne were on hand to help tidy up the front garden, which had be one overgrown with grass, brambles and an assortment of other vegetation which was to be removed.

Task Owner, Alice, had already made a start in the week and was glad of the extra help to get the job finished.

As ever, the biggest challenge was what lay beneath the surface, to ensure roots were lifted along with the rest of the plant. And then after extracting the whole plant, shaking the soil off the roots so there was still something to plant fresh flowers and shrubs in. A few interesting 'historical finds' were also made, prompting the questions, how long does it take for a crisp packet to rot?, and when was scaffolding invented? Neither of which anyone could answer, although probably in the case of both, the answer is 'longer than you might think'.

The trio were given encouragement and thanks from the neighbours, as well as the offer of fresh espresso, which although declined, prompted a further question - how much quicker would the task get done if we were fueled by caffeine?

A scientific experiment for another day, perhaps.

We spent the morning removing soil and the gravel beneath it away from some planters on Nightingale Road, in preparation for the council to come and install a sunken rain garden on the street.

Before too long, we have completely emptied one planter and were then able to lift the wooden base down the road where it can be used again! A great morning's work.

Great to be back helping the residents of Nightingale Estate and well done everyone for braving the cold to join us!

We split in two groups this morning, one group helping to dig up, clear and cut back a communal garden patch which had been neglected. In no time the area was clear and ready for planting 🙌

The second group headed to the Estate's parklet to clear leaves and seperate it from the litter. When I caught up with them they were dragging an industrial size bag full leaves! Smashing it 🔥

Welcome Jess who was on her second good deed of her first goodgym day 👏

And great to meet Goodgymers from different boroughs joining us for this Funday Sunday Task.

As Storm Darragh wreaked havoc across Britain, with parks closed and parkruns cancelled, there was some doubt initially whether this gardening task would go ahead. But of course, this is GoodGym, and once it was determined that the task site posed no risks and the Nightingale Estate volunteers were willing to brave the rain if we were (which was also confirmed to be the case), it was all systems go.

Having never actually seen Star Wars (🙊🤷🏻‍♀️), I don’t know if those fictional Storm Troopers are goodies or baddies. What I do know is that GoodGym Storm Troopers and our Nightingale friends are real and heroes for sure!

Rob and Anne got stuck into removing ivy from the sheds with resident Dawn while Matt worked with TaskOwner Alice at the back of the garden to remove more ivy and litter from the large flower bed.

There was lots of squelching through mud and several grunts and yelps when ivy proved more determined than expected to stay where it was. But the challenges made the results all the more rewarding, and within an hour considerable progress was made.

By the end, two brown wheelie bins had been filled and 3 additional piles of branches, foliage and other organic matter created. A large sack and plastic crate had been filled with rubbish. Two sheds were also liberated and a stack of chairs unearthed, although these were in such a state they had to go straight to the bin pile and the future of the sheds is as shaky as the sheds themselves.

Another session is planned to complete the clearance of the flowerbed, hopefully is slightly kinder conditions!

Goodgym teamed up with the residents of Nightingale Estate to help tidy up the communal garden for older and isolated residents. This is the first time Goodgym have helped out Oakfield Lodge and there was a massive pile of branches left in the garden which the residents had no luck getting rid of. The call was made to Goodgym and we swooped in to help alongside the resident volunteers.

Branches were sorted into piles depending on size and put in the brown bins or big bags ready for collection by the council. After an hour we managed to clear the whole space and it made a huge difference. Well done all!

We will be back in the future to add to this garden's transformation.