12 runners ran 2km to shift woodchip, move logs and water plots at Grove Park Allotments

Southwark News

• There are PLENTY of coaches waiting for pairing in the area. If you think you could spare 20 mins every week for a social visit to an isolated older person in Southwark, now is the time! If you've had a DBS check and you haven't heard anything for a while send me an email. It may have got stuck in the system... Let's get this show on the road!

• A big huge whoop to Nikki who joined us for her first ever group run last night! Click through and give her a big cheer!

• Over the weekend 80 odd GoodGymers descended upon Stratford-Upon-Avon for the Shindig. It was spectacular. We brought Red Thunder to parkrun, workshopped ideas about GoodGym's future and impact and much much more... and of course there was a quiz too! It was amazing to see runners from all over the country come together to discuss this thing we're all so passionate about. Read the report here and get excited about coming to join next year!

• Next week we're helping clear out the hall at Cossall Estate - they had a big flood and the council are funding its renovation so they need us to pull up the old flooring ready for the new flooring! There will be plenty of other jobs to get done too - sign up here.

• It's our very own Emma's birthday today. Joyeux Anniversaire Emma! She's always a delightfully smiley face to see each week so give her a cheer by clicking here.

Grove Park Allotments always gives us a sense of be-logging

Last night 12 of us gathered in the UNBELIEVABLE HEAT to run a leisurely 1km to our friends at Grove Park Allotment to do three big jobs:

• Moving a big pile of woodchip to spread in the new bee area, on the paths around the shed and wherever else it was needed!

• Moving chairs, tables and tarpaulin so the woodchip could be spread.

• Moving big logs inside the gate and arranging them in an area for children to enjoy - big cheer to Mikhail who got this done single handedly.

• Watering plots for some allotment users who are less able to do it themselves.

Un-bee-lievable scenes in the bee area...

We moved almost the entire pile of woodchip - this will be so useful everywhere in the allotment, it keeps the weeds down and when the rain comes (it will, I promise) it turns to mulch which is awesome for using on plants to retain water and keep them warm. We're always learning at GoodGym! The bee area is transformed - it used to be brambles and weeds and now it's a cleared, woodchipped area perfect for the bees. All thanks to many visits from GoodGym! Mikhail made a lovely picnic area for the kids to use (see photos) and we gave some gorgeous veg and plants a much needed watering. A big whoop for Kath who provided the photos tonight - just look at those sunflowers!

Solid work team, looking forward to next week.

Keep running happy, Lucy