Sunnyside Community Garden
108 GoodGymers have supported Sunnyside Community Garden with 21 tasks.
Top supporters
Upcoming sessions
Monday 27th July 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Previous sessions
The Key Master and the sievs
Monday 13th July
Written by StephDucat
Lovely Monday evening and the crew was back at Sunnyside for some composting action. The key master Eslam was here with his bunch of keys. First task was opening the container to get the tools out. Then the Fantastic 5 started moving compost from one area to another in order to air it. First pile moved, then it was time to overturn and move the massive dry pile to the other side of the wooden edge...dry pile so the Key Master had to use his magic keys to allow Hermione run the tap and spray some water on her fellow goodgymers and the compost. At this stage, the Key Master 🔑 had another trick with his other keys and went to show the GG Crew the other garden just across the road which was a direct impact of their Good deeds at Sunny Side. Then came the Thief's...sorry the siev came in action as Eslam demonstrated to curious children how to sepaarate the soil from the twigs etc. Future goodgymers ?
Wheelbarrowing frenzy
Monday 22nd June
Written by Louis Benham (He/him)
A very active task to start the week. Half the group wheelbarrowed woodchip while the rest of us emptied some compost bins. Algae removed from the pool too. We all came together towards the end to finish building the compost heap. Thanks for having us Eslam.
Turning it over to the worms
Monday 2nd March
Written by Hermione Taylor
We were back at Sunnyside Community Gardens to finish off last week's compost turning. Taking inspiration from the recent Winter Olympics, we applied avalanche rescue snow-removal techniques to moving compost: using a "V" formation with three rows of diggers passing dirt back to the next, forming a nice efficient chain effect.
Great team effort - we were able to complete the compost bay that had totally defeated us last week.
Now it's over to the worms to do work their magic...
Turning Leaves & Compost at Sunny(Rainy)Side Gardens
Monday 23rd February
Written by Hermione Taylor
Solid effort turning compost at Sunnyside (more like Rainyside) Community Gardens. One bin turned to completion - the other barely scratched the surface, but failure isn't a word in Eslam's vocabulary, so we'll call it a win. All the more for next week, right?!
Masters of Mulch
Monday 13th October 2025
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On a wonderfully moody Autumnal evening, Area Activator Simon met with Da Marcus, Deirdre and first timer Camila (welcome!) at the Arsenal Community Hub for a pleasant1.5 mile run up to Elthorne Park, Archway. Hidden around the corner is the fascinating Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground project, set up by local residents and gardening enthusiasts on a former basketball court. The court fell into disrepair, and was forceably shut by Haringey Council due to anti-social behaviour complaints, but a collaboration with volunteers have allowed the court to be transformed into a growing space.
Top volunteer coordinator Eslam was on hand to allow us to access the gardens, and offered us all shovels, spades and forks for our task. The objective this evening was to un-earth two beds of nicely rotted down organic soil (cultivated by our team months ago with coffee chaffs, woodchip and green waste), and turn the material to allow for aeration. Very satisfying to see the results from our hard work paying off!
As an extra task (just in case we had time!), we were requested to unload a whole compost bin of fresh green waste into the beds, and combine the materials as effectively as possible. The six of us made short work of the mulch turning, leaving two compost bins for the gardening team to allocate for future projects.
Great work everyone! Next week, we will be at the Light of the World Church in Stroud Green!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN OCTOBER
Community Mission - Light of the World Church Gardening and Painting, 7.15pm, Evershot Road, Monday 20th October
Group Run - Timbuktu Adventure Playground 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th October
Community Mission - Sunnyside Community Gardens, 7.15pm, Monday 3rd November
Group Run - Rose Bowl Youth Club Green Graft! 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 10th November
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-rose-bowl-youth-club-green-graft
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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
OCTOBER
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 16th October
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 23rd October
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 30th October
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 6th November
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Track and Towpath - Bartlett Park Belters
Thursday 16th October, 7.50am, Poplar Union E14
Come and join Area Activator and UK Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon for a fun mixed pace training session
Our plan is to meet up outside Poplar Union cafe at 7.50am, before enjoying an easy jog and dynamic warm up in Bartlett Park by 8am.
All paces and abilities welcome!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/track-and-towpath-bartlett-park-belters
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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions
Tuesdays (and a single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday
Market Road Gardens, London N7 9GT
Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Market Road Gardens looking beautiful! All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.
Winter Dates
September 16th, 23rd, 30th
October 7th, 14th, 21st (not 28th!)
November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
December 2nd, 9th and 16th
Next session
Tuesday 14th October: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-e5ac8437-8a18-4679-bf4e-ab725a730cda
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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions
Wednesdays (and one single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday
TGC Hut, Newington Green Park Building, 2 Newington Green, London, N1 4RF
Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Newington Green tidy and lovely!
All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.
Winter Dates
September - 17th, 24th, and Saturday 27th
October- 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd
November- 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
December- 3rd, 10th and 17th
Next Session
Wednesday 15th October
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Green Guardians- Whittington Park Sessions
Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions, Whittington Park, Archway
We have six really interesting gardening session happening at Whittington Park. We'll be planting native wild flowers, hedging and bulbs, creating a stumper and planting fruit trees.
These are relaxed friendly sessions where the emphasis is on spending time outside in nature, whilst learning and sharing skills and meeting new people.
The sessions are free and open to all, though under 16's must be with a responsible adult. No experience is needed. We provide tools, gloves, guidance and refreshments.
Session Dates
Thursday 16th Oct 2025, 10am to 12pm ; planting native wildflower
Thursday 13th Nov 2026,10am to 12pm ; planting native bulbs
Tuesday 6th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Orchard tree planting with the Orchard Project (with optional free volunteers lunch at 1pm)
Tuesday 13th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Wildlife hedge planting
Tuesday 20th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
Tuesday 27th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
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Next session
Thursday 16th October, 10am - 12 midday: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/green-guardians-whittington-park-community-gardening
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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day
Saturday 18th October, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington
Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning Saturday 18th October, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month. Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-islington-friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning
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Penn Road Gardens - Volunteer Day
Sunday 26th October, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 8th November, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
Moving Muscles
Monday 12th May 2025
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On Monday evening (after an incredible thunderstorm, breaking some of the humidity lingering), Area Activator Simon met with Alice at the Arsenal Community Hub, ready for a social run towards the Islington / Harringey border. A nice 1.5 mile run up Sussex Way, and over to the idyllic Sunnyside Community Gardens near Elthorne Park. Upon our arrival, we met with the rest of our Goodgym Islington team (including first timer Georgina- welcome!) and main task volunteer Eslam who led us to the main compost cultivation site.
Our tasks for the evening were split between two main locations - Sunnyside Community Gardens and Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground.
Project 1 involved digging and shoveling some freshly processed compost from one bin, and moving to another location, mixing the material with additional matter as we go. Leaf mulch, old soil and donated cockles and muscles (!) were combined together for effective rotting before being expertly lifted into another bin, ready for more composting.
Project 2 required shovels, wheelbarrows and builder merchants bags. We took the opportunity to fill the sacks with woodchip and compost, before wheeling each sack up to Hornsey Rise Kickabout Gardens- an incredible community allotment and green space in progress. A minimum of 15 full sacks were moved and shifted between us over the course of the evening - well done everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN MAY
Community Mission- Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 7.15pm, Highbury Quadrant Estate, Monday 19th May
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-highbury-quadrant-gardening
Group Run- Camden Estate Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 26th May
Community Mission- Camden Estate Gardens 7.15pm, Camden Estate Gardens, Rowstock Gardens Monday 2nd June
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-camden-estate-community-food-gardens
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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 15th May https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-47950339-2d63-4a65-8ca5-95eec0655f99
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 22nd May https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-addfc9c2-e2a4-4d39-ac0d-e580031471d8
Green Park Thursday 29th May https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-0bb69e86-9c77-49b7-b0b6-1fedcb6cd097
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 5th June https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-a3ff6c7a-86fd-49cc-bf89-8bf08addadab
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Track and Towpath Social Running Sessions
Every Wednesday (fortnightly), 7.30am, Mile End Athletics Track
If you are looking for accessible training sessions that can be included in your schedule, then come and join Area Activator Simon for his fortnightly runs.
Track training is always more fun with others, and these are designed to be sociable and open to all!
Structured training sessions, followed by refreshments at The Yurt Café, Limehouse!
Wednesday 14th May
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-10
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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 13th May, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
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Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Wednesday 14th May
Wednesday 21st May
Next session:
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Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 13th May
Tuesday 20th May
Next Session:
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Kit Swap and Runner's Jumble at The Horatia
Tuesday 13th May, 7.30-9pm, The Horatia Pub
Do you have sports kit that doesn't get used as much as it could?
Or would you prefer to keep your lovely nice running shoes ready for race day, and have a spare pair for Goodgym tasks?
Simon from Goodgym Islington will be hosting an evening for swapping or donating your used running kit for those who need it.
All items can be swapped with participants and sign ups, and anything left over can be taken home or offered to Preloved Sports, an organisation dedicated to keeping sports kit out of landfill.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/kit-swap-and-runner-s-jumble-at-the-horatia
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Hackney Half Aid Station and Marshal Volunteering
Sunday 18th May, 7am onwards, Marion Place, Pritchard's Road (TBC)
The team at Motiv Sport have asked if our Goodgym team would be interested assisting with the 2024 Hackney Half Marathon on one of the 6 water and aid stations.
All volunteers that help in 2025 are offered a free place in any of our running events in 2026 (Hackney Half, London 10K, Oxford Half).
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/hackney-half-aid-station-and-marshal-volunteering
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (May)
Saturday 17th May, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
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Mack on Track 02: marshals and pacers wanted!
Thursday 22nd May, 6.30pm, London Marathon Community Track, Stratford
Mack on Track is a super inclusive 5000m track running event, with a twist. The objective is to help as many runner as possible get (or come close to) their personal beats for 5km by providing trusted pacers to do so.
The team are looking for helps to assist with registration of participants, alerting runners about when each pace group starts and cheering on the athletes!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/mack-on-track-03-marshals-and-pacers-wanted
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Penn Road Gardens - April Volunteer Day
Sunday 27th May, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road. https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/wwf-x-goodgym-islington-penn-road-gardens-open-morning-may
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London 10km with Saucony- Water Station Volunteers!
Sunday 13th July, 7.30am onwards, Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH
An incredible event that offers runners to opportunity to race through traffic free streets in the Capital!
Motiv Sports (who also operate the Hackney Half and Oxford Half marathons) have requested Goodgym assistance to help at their 2nd aid station on the day.
Food and water provided, and a free entry for any 2026 event on the Motiv Sports roster will be offered to all volunteers!
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