We all (milk) float on, alright
8 Goodgymers helped their local community in Islington
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Monday 29th January
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Caitlin Rollison
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Redbridge runner
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Simon Fitzmaurice
SESSION ORGANISER
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Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
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On a warm Monday evening, 8 keen Goodgymmers including first timers Mehmet and Martha joined us for a super pleasant run from Emirates Stadium, along McKenzie Road and over to Market Road Gardens (just on the border of Camden and Islington). Upon our arrival, we met with local gardening and green space expert Frannie Smith, who had agreed to spend here final session for Octopus Community Network with the Goodgym Islington crew!
Area Activator Simon and Frannie have been working together on projects in Market Road Gardens, Highbury Quadrant and Tufnell Park plant nursery since 2019, and we certainly hope to continue in the future! This evening, our main task was to give "Bessie", the Octopus Community Network's beautiful old electric milk float / laundry vehicle a complete clear out. The lovely little van has been used as a garden shed for years, but has now been sold to another project, raising funds for the charity. Together, we pitched in to give all of the interiors a good sort out and a bit of a clean, ready for Bessie's new owners! We discovered loads of forgotten tools, stuck at the back of he boot (litter pickers, loads of building merchant bags, useful planks of wood), all in good enough condition to be used towards future tasks.
Within 40 minutes, we had completely revitalised Bessie, and said Goodbye to Frannie for a few months (watch this space!). After our return trip to Emirates and the Arsenal Community Hub, we arranged to meet up at Memsaab Islington Indian Restaurant for our January Social and meet-up- good times, quality food, great catch ups!
Come and join us for our next Monday group run over to Caledonian Park and Clocktower!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-cally-park-trip-for-bark-chips
Goodgym Islington News
The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Various parks and gardens on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
Hillside Gardens, Caxton House Next Thursday- 10am - midday
Market Road Gardens Next Friday- 10am - midday
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium
Thursday 1st February, 6pm, Maida Vale Underground station
Every Thursday, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location. This week, we will be meeting up at Arsenal tube station, ready to run around Emirates Stadium. Open to runners and guides of all abilities!
Follow the link to sign up here:
ON Running and JENKI run club- Thursday morning matcha runs!
Thursday 8th February, 7am, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street
Area Activator Simon has set up a series of morning runs, hosted on Thursday mornings at the new ON Running store in Spitalfields market.
A social 5km before work, with the option to take out a pair of ON Running shoes for a test spin. Followed by hot drinks provided by the team at JENKI, Brushfield Street.
Next run is on Thursday 8th February:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/jenki-matcha-with-on-running-spitalfields-group
Goodgym Race Team- Met League Cross Country no.5- Trent Park
Saturday 10th February, 12 midday onwards, Trent Park
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!). Open to all Goodgym Race Team members!
Compton Terrace Gardens Open Volunteer Morning
Saturday 10th February, 10am - midday, Union Chapel, Islington
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.
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (February)
Saturday 17th February, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-february
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 18th February, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our annual trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-february-2024
Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 25th February, 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.
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This task supported
Octopus Community Network is a collaboration between the largest multi-purpose community centres in Islington
We run lots of projects including 'We Can Grow' which encourages food growing on housing estates around Islington as well as engaging with residents to increase environmental literacy and access to outdoor spaces.
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Special hedge planting project with the Friends of City Gardens
