Gloves and jacket weather has begun!

Area Activator Simon met up with Steve, Eilidh and Dee at the Arsenal Community Hub on a crisp, slightly chilly Monday evening. After a chat and a warm-up, our team run up to Grenville Gardens (a super straight line covering 1.2 miles up Hornsey Road), passing the Hornsey Baths illuminations on route. Upon arrival, we met up with the rest of our Goodgym crew, who had run, cycled and walked from other locations, and with Sarah, the key coordinator for all Friends of Grenville Gardens projects.

Our objective this evening was a continuation of our previous group run session task, when we broke apart a collection of old rotten planter boxes. A large pile of fresh compost had been donated to Grenville Gardens, and we distributed the new material throughout the three main flower patches in the gardens, using wheelbarrows, buckets, tubs and spades. The plan is to give the flowers an extra layer of fertiliser throughout the winter months.

We made a smashing effort within 40 minutes of help, and our crew covered every area of the flower beds very efficiently! Local passersbys inquired about what we were up to (a busy group of red t-shirted folks in running kit and headtorches, digging and gardening at night!), and were thrilled with our assistance in their community gardens.

Wonderful evening of Goodgym fun, folks! See you same time next week for our next group run to Caxton House Community Centre!

On Monday evening, 3 Goodgym folks (including Dee on her first GG run- welcome!) joined Area Activator Simon for a group run over to Market Road Gardens. Simon, Kike, Aidan and Dee ran together across Holloway Road, and up to Caledonian Road to meet Paul (one of our regular Goodgym cyclists) at the doors to the permaculture garden space.

Simon had the keys on hand (arranged in advance by the top folks at Octopus Community Network) and proceeded to open the community garden equivalent of Fort Knox to allow us access to the space and the necessary tools for the task (better safe than sorry!).

Our plan for the evening was to move all of the contents of a compost bay (full of green waste and dry rotted leaves) over to a hugelgarden space opposite, designed to speed up the decay process, and to provide fresh compost of spring gardening after the winter months. Between us, we separated into 3 teams- team 1 shoveled the green waste into wheelbarrows. Team 2 transferred the wheelbarrows to the hugelgarden spot. Team 3 unloaded the wheelbarrows and spread the mulch evenly across the beds.

This proved to be a pretty efficient way of working, and we almost cleared the entirety of the compost bay within 45 minutes of effort! A very satisfying accomplishment on one evening!

Nikki joined our group run crew for the 1.2 mile social run back to the Emirates Stadium, where we completed some additional stretches together before heading off into the night. Great work everyone!

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CREOS (Crouch End Open Space) November Open Day

We will be returning to one of our favourite weekend community missions next Sunday (21st November), from 11am - 1pm. This time, we plan to lay down some fresh hoggin (cement and sand mix) along the woodland paths between Crouch End and Highgate Woods. It is a great day out, and is often followed by hot drinks and a picnic hosted by the Friends of CREOS.

Sign up here to get involved: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-november-2021

Finsbury parkrun Goodgym Takeover

We have arranged with the lovely folks of Finsbury parkrun to take on most of the volunteering duties and pacing opportunities on Saturday 4th December. We would love to see a strong Goodgym presence on the day, whether you choose to run or to volunteer!

Sign up for for more information, and to get involved:

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/finsbury-parkrun-goodgym-takeover

Goodgym Islington Christmas Party!

We will be hosting a special Xmas social at the Hammerton Brewery Taproom just off Caledonian Road on Thursday 16th December.

Sign up here to join us: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-islington-festive-social-at-hammerton-brewery-taproom