bedding garden beginnings

21 people ran 10 km to lift pallets and grow bags for Secret Seed Society

It was my first time at GoodGym Hackney, so when I turned up at the starting point, Coffee Is My Cup of Tea, I was a little nervous. Ade introduced herself, and she was so friendly I instantly felt at ease. After a series of dynamic stretches, as we ran through London Fields being cajoled along by Ade in her yellow mac, (I couldn't help thinking how comical this must've looked), we set off on the 5km to Dalston and the new garden in the car park at Dalston Roof Top.

There we were met by Amy, from Secret Seed Society, and she had us lugging around wooden pallets to form the bedding garden in no time. I was amazed at the transformation we made in half an hour. It really struck me how much more you can get done with 21 enthusiastic helpers when I considered how long it would've taken one or two people to do we work we did. I felt like I was part of some motley crew of superheroes, running in, creating a beautiful garden, then running off into the night again!

The running itself I found passed so much more quickly with people to chat to, and my fellow runners had nothing but positive things to say about the GoodGym. I think GoodGym is onto a winner with the combination of fitness, sociability and doing positive work in the community. I'll definitely be back!

Sarah Driver