Goodgym Islington regulars Rain and Annikki met Area Activators Simon and Sam outside the Arsenal Community Hub on Benwell Road on a warm Monday evening, ready for our group run to the lovely ARC community centre in Angel. We all engaged in a dynamic warm up using the Emirates Stadium slopes, and then set off on our 1.8 mile run across the Islington borough (passing task locations like Canonbury Square Gardens and Compton Square Gardens on route).

We met up with the rest of our team outside the ARC Centre upon our arrival, and met with Damien (and a beautiful black 18 month old pointer dog called Rollo) for an introduction to our evening of gardening. Our plan was to visit the Packington Playground and Canalside gardens opposite the ARC centre, two of the main locations for some of the 4000 donated plants, bushes and trees from the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show, and to water as much of the greenery as possible before the upcoming heatwave.

New starter Halle (welcome!), Caitlin, Alison, Charlotte and Helen took the lead with watering the flower beds surrounding the local parks by filling up watering cans and butts and making sure that all of the terrain was as soaked as possible. Rain and Sam took control of a sprinkler system and a long hosepipe to drench the ground as best we could over the course of the hour. Meanwhile, Nurjehan, Annikki, Rachel and Alice engaged in some litter picking between the two parks, as loads of rubbish had found itself strewn across the two community projects. The team had filled multiple bags of refuse in such a short amount of time- great stuff!

We regrouped after approx 45 minutes of much appreciated help, and we all set off in our own separate ways after a group photo. Smashing task everyone, well done!

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Goodgym Summer Social Rounders Tournament- North vs South!

Our summer rounders session (set up by Area Activator Sam from Southwark- check out their Wednesday night group runs if you are ever in Peckham!) will be hosted in Victoria Park on Saturday 16th July (4pm onwards). Friendly park and picnic fun, open for Goodgymmers and non-Goodgymmers alike.

Click the following link for more info:

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/summer-social-rounders-victoria-park-away-game-north-vs-south-of-the-river