Summer logging, painting and run

26 runners ran between 5k and 3k to paint for Kentish Town Tenants Association and help at Skip Garden

A thick layer of cloud hung over Camden this Wednesday evening, June certainly wasn't bringing us summer and it wasn't bringing us Paul 'PB' Bown either!

We did have two new faces - welcome to Sarah and Lewis and for the second week in a row we had some GG Bristol visitors in the shape of the infamous Paul 'PB Sr.' Becker and Dave Guest! Great to have you all in Camden :)

With Paul off sick (get well soon!) myself and Polly took charge and we split into Team 'PA' and Team 'UL'...PAUL...geddit?! With the briefing done and a great warm up from Polly off we went. Here's what the teams got up to:

• Team PA led by Pritesh

Team PA headed up to Kentish Town to help the tenants association with the upkeep of the estate. With Chris ably leading the way we got there with plenty of time to continue our painting efforts.

It's not creosote!

We met Vaughan, donned our gloves, split into teams and got straight into the painting. Richard and Steve bumped into a local resident while painting and filled him in on what we were up to - he thought GoodGym was an excellent idea and asked if he could take a photo for his social media streams and we duly obliged - check the pic here.

Everyone did an excellent job - we got the smaller fences done before a few started on the larger fence and before we knew it it was time to head off. We said our goodbyes to Vaughan and then Chris led us on an alternate route. This led us to the canal where we bumped into some of Team UL. We cheered them on and then completed our run back to Somers Town.

• Team UL led by Polly

Team UL went off to Skip Garden to move logs, a water butt and turn the Ridan composter.

Four runners took off to the canal with trolleys to collect chopped wood which will be used to make a bug hotel. Steve led on this having previously done this task - thanks Mr C!

Bug Hotel

The remaining six helped to relocate a water butt, so it can collect rain water from the roof of a new shelter. Paul “chief gnome”, told us rain water is best for plants because of its lower pH value versus mains water. Next, the team then got to work churning the contents of the Ridan composter with a particularly enthusiastic Will managing to get most of the compost down himself...well done Will, no harm done!

Paul said he was always surprised how much we get done on our visits and was very chuffed with the work.

Next we took to the canal to run 3k & 5k and coo over the goslings.

With everyone back we had a stretch and a few of us headed for a well-deserved drink and some sweet potato fries!

Thanks for all your help in supporting us with Paul away and don't forget to sign up for next week here and tell all your friends about #volunteersweek and the starter session on Sunday!

PSB & PM out!