It was another glorious evening to spend in Tower Hamlets, catching up with one another and enjoying some serious hedge pruning.

Our task tonight...

This evening, Janet and Eileen from the Cranbrook Community Centre had been in touch to see if we could spare an hour or so helping to get the plants trimmed back from the fencing around the Centre.

This busy community centre runs bundles of events for local residents, in-and-around the Roman Road area.

Events are advertised on the fences outside, so when the area is overgrown, it obscures the signs. (Long branches also end up extending over adjacent pavements, which can prove a safety hazard for anyone using the surrounding paths and pavements - particularly when located at eye level).

A can-do attitude

The GoodGymers, having met earlier to run through a short workout in front of the garden, proceeded to grab tools and bin liners, heading to all three areas of the garden with their usual can-do attitude.

Armed with secateurs and loppers, the team strategically positioned themselves around both inside and outside of the garden cutting back bushes, trees, shrubs and weeds to make pavements accessible and fences visible. There was a lot of upper body work involved, and for those tending to the borders, a good amount of squatting too.

Not so fast...

We were about to start the clear-up effort when Janet said, “Great work, let’s make a start on this side now.” And so the whole team headed to the inside area, blitzing dead branches, overhanging hazelnuts – and collecting litter as they went.

The pace quickened and the job completed, with a splendid finale thanks to Emma appearing with an electric fan enquiring (with a totally straight face) what she should do with “…this electric fan I found hanging in a tree?”. Right.

We collected kit, disposed of the last stem and branch, and as usual the team posed patiently for one final pic.

Amazing work!

The shout-outs

As always, shout-outs to the whole team tonight (especially for not leaving until the job was done).

...And a great big GoodGym welcome to Hari, who joined us for a tremendous GoodGym debut! (Great work, Hari - hope to see you again soon).

Next week...

...we’re back to St Leonard’s Priory Park, for some more big gardening activity, complete with pre-task workout.

Until then.

A small group gathered on the steps of the Town Hall Hotel tonight before our task on the pretty Parkview Estate.

It was a gorgeous evening to sit and have a quick chat, soaking up the sun and discussing what we'd be doing that evening.

Setting out along Old Ford Road, we headed up leafy Approach Road, turning into Sewardstone Road, only to be greeted by task owner Catherine and young Liam, who were just heading out to meet us in the Community Garden.

Joined by fellow resident Seb, we were briefed on tonight's task: watering rather thirsty young fruit trees in-and-around the estate.

The estate gardens are large, and enjoyed by many residents, particularly those without their own gardens.

Adding fruit trees to the estate has meant residents also get to enjoy some edible produce (we were approached by several young residents this evening, keen to let Catherine know they'd tried some of the raspberries grown on the estate!).

With three teams tackling the whole of the estate, a lot was accomplished in a short space of time.

Danya, Esme and Seb headed off first to the areas of the Estate near Old Ford Road; Rosie, Catherine, Liam and I headed off to the fruit trees behind Sewardstone Road, while Heather and Martin remained in the community garden, watering each and every tree and plant!

We switched teams and trees every so often on meeting back in the garden to fill cans, bucket and barrows with water, pleasantly surprised at what a good little workout this task was proving to be.

We finished on Sewardstone Road, gathered around what appeared to be an exceedingly thirsty silver birch, before making our way back to the garden, stacking watering cans and buckets, and posing one final picture.

We said our cheerios, promising to return soon.

A really good start to the week.

Next week, we head around the corner to the Cranbrook Community Garden, to help Janet and Eileen with another grand gardening task.

Until then.

We returned to one of our favourite venues, Cranbrook Community Centre, to assist Janet and her team once again. We knew the garden edges needed tidying - there was a lot of green clutter - but what to remove and what to leave? The wisdom of the crowd won through, with a little help from Janet.

Once again we didn't take a "before" picture, but we all remembered how messy it was before we arrived, and noted how smart it looked at the end, after a vigorous, energetic hour by our fabulous fifteen.

A special welcome to Danya, veteran of GoodGym Richmond who's moved to East London and was keen to carry on the good work at Tower Hamlets.

Thanks Emma for the heading, and for taking some of the pictures (and Janet for the group picture). Also Chris for leading the pre-task run.

We all missed Laura, but she'll be back next week!