Never mind the Bank Holiday, GoodGym Tower Hamlets were out in good numbers for another visit to Margaret and Ash’s community garden. We met two new Good-Deeders – and 50% of them even managed to find the notoriously tucked-away Rocky Park in time! Good to meet you Ellie and Elena, hope to see you again soon. We also welcomed back Priscila, who was already heading for another GoodGym session the following night. And we congratulated Kitty and Michael on their recent Marathon efforts.

Our main task was to dig three large holes into which to insert olive trees which had outgrown their plant pots. We set to work so quickly that we’d soon excavated three deep, wide pits, into which the trees were carefully re-housed with the addition of some compost, and now have plenty of room to expand and thrive.

Additionally, we were tasked with weeding the neighbouring area, having eventually reached a consensus on the vital question “what is a weed?”. We also picked a few bits of litter which were blighting the area – including an unfortunate rat which had met its end midway across the grass.

Next Monday night we’ll be helping at Ocean Youth Connexions in Limehouse. See https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-big-monday-night-task-may-visit-to-ocean-youth-connexions.

And don’t forget you can join one of our quiz teams at the Coburn, near Mile End and Bow Road stations, next Sunday. Sign up at https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/quiz-time-at-the-coburn.

A small but mighty team of five Tower Hamlets GoodGymers joined forces with the charity Missing People to bring some serious cheer to the London Marathon yesterday in our very own borough!

Stationed just after mile 16 on the Isle of Dogs on what was a scorcher of a day - and a tough part of the course where runners really start to dig deep – we brought the noise with plenty of sun, smiles, and shouted names. There were loads of GoodGym shoutouts too, with lots of runners lighting up when they spotted our red shirts!

It was a brilliant way to spend the day: supporting an amazing charity, cheering on some incredible efforts, and soaking up the brilliant atmosphere of marathon day.

Huge thanks to everyone who came along!

13 GoodGymers gathered this evening (after a slow start, thanks to my inaccurate address on the listing) to lend a hand to the estate’s dedicated gardening group.

The Columbia TRA gardening team is made up of residents who enjoy getting involved in and around the estate’s gardens, and our visit tonight was all about supporting their ongoing efforts.

With the recent dry weather taking its toll on the estate’s many garden areas (not that we’re complaining after the rainiest start to the year in history), it was great to be joining Ed, Ed and Maddie to give the plants a much-needed drink and support ongoing preparations for new growing areas.

After a little coordination, the group split into teams: one group tackled the orchard watering, where the challenge of the night was figuring out how to coax the hosepipe into action (way to go, Chris).

With the water flowing, the team proceeded to fill buckets and watering cans on the first floor, giving the young fruit trees and surrounding plants a good soak under the watchful eye of Ed and Maddie.

Meanwhile, another team got to work moving piles of rubble across the estate (and didn't let up for a second). This was part of groundwork being done for a future garden project—an exciting addition that the gardening group has been planning to bring more life to a different corner of the estate.

Big thanks to the residents who welcomed us in and to everyone who kept the wheelbarrows rolling and the buckets flowing. An extra big shout-out to Lara who joined us tonight for our first task - amazing tough work on your first GoodGym activity, Lara! Hope to see you again soon.

And a whopping cheer for our brilliant Task Force, for helping manage and wrap-up tonight's task.

Next week, we're Limehouse-bound to see Kamal to finish the preparation of the yard...

Until then.

A team of at least a dozen goodgymers (I lost count) came to help out the lovely Janet and Eileen at Cranbook Community Food Garden. Thanks to the clocks going forward we were treated to some actual daylight for the first time in ages. Shout-out to John for reminding me to take some photos to prove that we weren't slacking off in Laura's absence.

We split off into mini groups, each with a dedicated task. Some performed quality control checks on folding tables, keeping the good ones and retiring the rest. Others sorted out sheds at the back, clearing out any rubbish. Litter and leaves (oh the leaves) were were picked/raked/bagged up. Special mention goes to the new rake sourced by Janet which was red and white - a homage to our Goodgym colours perhaps? Or most probably, just a rake.

By the end of the task, the impact of a hard-working group of Goodgymers was clear with Eileen showing her appreciation by bestowing a bar of chocolate on us (thanks Eileen!)

We parted ways (without a stretch this time) having all enjoyed an evening in fine company.

Shout outs to:

• Vidur and Jason on their first Goodgym task. A very warm welcome to you both!
• Ilana on her 50th task. Congratulations!

Until next time...