Seven GGers met Rose at Caxton House to shelter from the rain.

The display board and front desk were sanded smooth; the board given a fresh coat of 'Caxton Green' paint and the front desk given a fresh brown varnish.

Matt and Alison worked on the front desk while Caitlin, Vaughan, Biana, Emily, and Sally tackled the big display board.

Well done everyone on another good task helping Springfield Park!

Me, George and Caitlin met outside Brunswick Bakehouse for a nice social run through parks and along the river Lea to the task. There we met up with the rest of the team, welcome new Goodgymer Paula !

We grabbed the tools from the depot and made our way to the work in progress Wildflower Strip next to the tennis courts in Spring Hill.

We surveyed the area and focused on patch which we were able to complete in the allocated time. We raked/ hoed the grass, whilst dodging tennis balls! We then spread sand over the area to help with reducing the grass burden, and dropping the fertility of the ground which will help to establish a healthy wildflower strip that will be more likely to survive long term. Wildflower strips are a great source of food for pollinators, and great for bigger mammals like hedgehogs who will hunt in them.

Before we knew it we created our own little Beach / Dry Garden in Hackney.

Great job everyone, see you at the next one!

Area Activator Simon was joined by Goodgym runners Luke and Emily for a really pleasant jaunt from the Arsenal Community Hub to Thornhill Square Gardens. Together, we embraced the 1.4 mile run up to Caledonian Road, and the swift downhill towards Barnsbury.

Upon our arrival, we spotted the powerful headlamp light of Matt, directing our team over to resident gardening volunteer expert, Anna. Wheelbarrows, spades and forks had been set out specially for our arrival.

Our task for the evening involved clearing out some really hardy and quick growing grass from a collection of flowerbeds across the park. Forks and shovels were required to dig out the stubborn roots remaining in the ground before removing these very tall shoots. Alongside this job, we also helped with weeding a memorial garden on the south side of Thornhill Square, ready for fresh manure and compost to be added before the new year. I expect we will be planting some new bulbs here soon!

We were thrilled to hear that Thornhill Square Gardens had won the Gold Award for Best Park for the Islington Together awards last month. Well deserved considering the care and attention offered by this active community group! Congratulations!

https://thornhillsquare.wordpress.com/

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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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! 

14th November- Emirates Stadium

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-39f89ecd-c162-4aa1-b93b-0a3e00b1a888

21st November- Paddington Rec Track

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3e4fe18b-1587-425c-ac3e-97039179ae8d

28th November- Stratford Olympic Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-c64a89b2-bcb4-4e15-a809-e9f2b1fa47d3

5th December- Paddington Rec Track

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-868bea0c-359b-48f4-8866-1f5f62244e6f

12th December- Emirates Stadium

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-3db3d302-0f0b-49dc-be28-359a0e87147e

19th December- Paddington Rec Track (and Post Run Xmas Party- The Carlton Tavern)

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3cce383e-03ac-42d0-bc57-34a23589082b

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Green Guardians Weekly Workdays

Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am - 12 midday, Wednesdays, Fridays and occasional Saturdays

Community garden volunteer drop in sessions organised by a collection of specialists and tutors across the borough. Always day time, with occasional weekend meetings throughout Autumn.

The next sessions are as follows:

Wednesday 13th November, 10am - 12 midday, Newington Green

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-green-guardians-volunteer-morning-b1837d45-57fe-46f5-aeea-7648ebcdaa4b

Friday 15th November, 12 - 2pm midday, Market Road Gardens

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-friday-volunteer-morning-2e7d520a-028c-43b1-8feb-929e3b668c75

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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!

Tuesday 12th November, 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!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-lunchtime-sweep-up-task-58dc6754-c986-4e5b-8e40-257d4f4f1ce7

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The People's Army- Food Parcel Deliveries

Friday 15th November, 2pm - 4pm, Cressida Road, Archway

The team at The People's Army food bank and community hub are seeking more volunteers for their busy service.

Every Friday, care parcels are prepared for isolated individuals and families in the Archway and Islington boroughs, and delivered by amazing volunteers.

Any assistance for deliveries on foot or by bicycle would be hugely appreciated.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-people-s-army-food-parcel-deliveries-895a4ead-9cee-4832-9c3f-c3e1c4377f40

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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (November)

Saturday 16th November, 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/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-november-51415f7c-08d0-49be-9f36-3f2414efab4c

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Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day

Sunday 17th November, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways

Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-november-2024

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Penn Road Gardens - November Volunteer Day

Sunday 24th November, 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/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-october-fe972325-861b-4af3-a4e4-82b61a524be2

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JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (November)

Thursday 5th December, 7 - 7.30am, ON Running Spitalfields

Every 1st Thursday morning of the month, ON Running Spitalfields and JENKI Matcha Café on Brushfield Street will be hosting a 5km social paced group run through East London and by St Katherine's Dock.

Meeting at ON Running Spitalfields store at 7am (Bag drop, community shoe try ones, run register, chat and catch up!)

Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/jenki-matcha-with-on-running-spitalfields-group-november

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 14th December, 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-december-581b9c1f-de11-4fa4-a529-ab3d0cc5dd65

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Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team

Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025

Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)

Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!

Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!

Fixtures

30th November Uxbridge https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-uxbridge

11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park

8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park