Saaarrff-bank Turf Wars

27 runners ran 8k to carry 60 square metres of turf to the roof garden of the Southbank Centre

On a cool Wednesday evening Camden GoodGym runners headed south towards the Thames- running together as a team to the Southbank Centre. We were asked to help Grounded Ecotherapy- a project that gives training and employment to people who have experienced homelessness, addiction and mental health issues. They were unable to get the turf up the stairs so asked us to give us a hand...

Hannah Trett writes:

Last night, 27 runners got dirty on the South Bank with the aim of providing some much needed manual labour, in the form of turf haulage, for Grounded: Ecotherapy, a roofgarden project on top of Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Grounded: Ecotherapy is a project that aims to use horticulture, the environment and media as forms of therapy and as a way to build social networks thus avoiding social isolation. The rooftop garden at the QEH is maintained by men and women who have been homeless, have battled drug addiction or have been in prison.

"All its Glory"

We ran 3.69km (or thereabouts, according to Shaun) through back alleys and past tiny pubs teeming with well-wishers, high-fiving us as we ran, albeit with limited success due to inebriation (the drinkers as opposed to the runners).

Upon arrival at the South Bank Centre, we were given a mini tour of the roof garden and shown the space that we would be turfing - a prime spot at the edge of the balcony overlooking the Thames in all its glory.

"Turf War"

Given that nothing is fun without an element of competition, Mark and Shaun decided to instigate a turf war and decided that we would split into teams and start from either end; the team to turf the most space would win. And so WE WERE OFF, navigating through the labyrinthine concrete corridors, past strange woodland installations and down the stairs to where a pallet of ready rolled turf awaited us. One by one, we heaved the rolls onto our Goodgym running shirt-clad chests and made our ascent.

"122 Hand Spans"

Mark's team headed left, Shaun's headed right, with differing techniques of horizontal versus vertical laying. At final count, each team managed 122 hand spans across and so a draw was called; however, I suspect Mark and Shaun's calculations had some diplomatic bias...

After a chat from Paul and his pooch, Scruffy, on the merits of the project, we headed north once more, homeward bound.

"...rolling around in the mud"

Some of the team took a long cut across embankment bridge and back along to Blackfriars, with the task of catching up the others. This was achieved at Aldwych with an impressive pace from all involved - good work!

Covered in soil (and breaking a bit of a sweat at this point), we passed the same pubs on our return journey and were asked if we'd been rolling around in the mud. Heaven knows what the punters thought we'd been doing for exercise…

Hannah Trett