The rain started during the afternoon, so it wasn't unreasonable to think it might have fizzled out by 7.

No such luck.

But a great-sized group of GoodGymers nonetheless donned waterproofs and head torches and headed out to Rocky Park, in the heart of the Hollybush Estate, to join Margaret and Ash in the big garden makeover.

Why were we here?

• Margaret and Ash are are part of the Teesdale and Hollybush TRA, an active, productive Tenants and Residents Association working across the two estates. Since 2008, the TRA have transformed 13 disused sites, with the help of volunteers, 'creating a mini Eden where local nature can thrive.'

• There's a big project underway at the moment: the redevelopment of the planters in the communal garden areas, park and allotments. Over the last few months, GG TH Task Force and Margaret and Ash have worked hard to redistribute a whopping 96 tonnes of soil!

• Tonight we were carrying on that tough task - emptying old planters of soil, redistributing the soil, and demolishing the planters (as fun as it sounds).

The teams were divided into four initially, which then became five, spread out all over Rocky Park emptying planter after planter with the rain not taking a break. The bags were filled, to be moved another day ("That's something to worry about another time.") and a lot was achieved in a mere 45 minutes.

With just a small corner of a planter remaining at 7:45, we called it a day, making our way back to the centre to grab bags and leave gloves to dry.

Posing for that all-important final pic, we said our cheerios to Margaret and Ash, tentatively making a plan for a December visit.

The shout-outs

A big shout-out to the whole team tonight, who showed up ready for a big physical task, despite the wet night. And a huge shout-out to Vanessa, who joined for her first ever GoodGym! Amazing work, and we hope to see you again soon.

Next week we're Limehouse-bound, ready to crack on with the painting and leaf-clearing with Kamal down at Ocean Youth HQ.

Until then.

A fantastically mild October evening saw 12 GoodGymers huddled together in the productive, much-loved Globe Community Food Garden tucked away in the heart of Bethnal Green.

With task owners Lubna and Hannah well prepared, the first group was soon assigned to the mammoth task of turning the large vats of compost. Out it all came, with the containers being emptied and the heavy mound of compost turned. This was a workout-and-a-half.

With three other teams dispatched to other areas of the garden, reshaping a bay tree and pruning the roses, this was a busy time.

Secateurs were shared, ladders balanced and gloves donned.

At 7:45 we looked wide-eyed at the mound of compost that still needed to be returned to the huge cone composters, before the obligatory "all hands on deck" shout-out. And in just over 10 minutes, the team had accomplished the task. With small containers helping to form a large chain of compost-passing, the team blitzed the final big pile.

The pruning squad dragged in the last of the thorny rose cuttings, and we were soon standing in front of where the compost mound had stood, posing for our all-important final picture.

"A huge thanks to everyone for helping out - having the compost turned and all of the bushes trimmed is such a huge help, and it's not easy work."

Well done to everyone for a great night.

Particularly big shout-outs tonight to:

• Lucinda for a great pun!

• Nick for some great photos.

• ...And our Emma, who reached her 50th good deed tonight, and who is such a big part of GoodGym Tower Hamlets.

Until next time.

A fab-sized team gathered in Newell Street this evening for our task with Ocean Youth Connexions and Tower Hamlets Community Transport Hub.

Meeting outside King’s Wharf Park before 7, we caught up on the news from the weekend and discussed the night’s task.

Kamal, from Ocean Youth, came down to greet us as our group size was growing and we slowly made our way into the garage area to be briefed on tonight’s task.

Ocean Youth Connexions offer a range of youth provision across the borough, during term time and the school holidays.

The organisation has recently relocated its offices to Limehouse, to join the Tower Hamlets Community Transport team, a small charity ‘set up to provide transport to voluntary and community groups in Tower Hamlets’.

Gathering in the garage area, surrounded by equipment for tonight’s task, Kamal proceeded to run through the list of tonight’s activities, which included another big leaf-clearing in the outdoor area; a thorough cleaning of all the upstairs windows, and a sugar-soaping of the toilet walls, in preparation for next month’s big painting activity.

The GoodGymers worked fast, moving onto new tasks including radiator-cleaning and jasmine-pruning.

It was now well and truly dark, complete with an Autumn wind, but thankfully, the outside area at the Hub is beautifully (flood)lit.

As always, the time flew and just before 8, Emma, John and Lucinda were heading up the task wrap-up effort, finishing slickly and precisely at 8.

Another great night with Ocean Youth - we return on the 28th October... Save The Date!