Sprucing up the neighbourhood

No one has plans on a Sunday night - fact. Over a dozen GoodGymers from a number of boroughs seized the opportunity to do some good - before pressing their smalls ahead of another working week. From base camp at Highbury Fields, runners from Islington, Harringey and Lambeth (really) pounded the sleepy streets in search of spruce trees that had served their merry purpose in December and were now ready for a date with the chipper. At first we couldn’t see the trees for the actual living things under the streetlights of leafy Highbury. Soon we realised that considerate locals were keeping the Norwegian Wood off the pavements. With permission, we liberated a small forest’s worth - 30 trees in all - from front gardens and bin areas. We carried in pairs, held trees aloft and even dragged the heftiest of the finds. Run leader Simon wasn’t just dazzled by his head torch as the recycling area filled up. And we all went home with a spring in our step - to make our healthy and elaborate packed lunches.