Emma Jones

A great night at Traid shifting rails of clothes into boxes and off to the warehouse so Traid could change seasons!

Spoilt for choice...

And so it returned: two-task Monday…

First up: Mile End Community Garden. This garden is a “community-led garden whose space, including pathways, seating areas and edible borders, is available to all, and accessible to all, in the Tower Hamlets community.” We were therefore really pleased to be invited down this evening to help with some gardening work, to make the area more accessible for local residents.

Leading this brand new task tonight was Becky J, along with task owner, Nic.

Writes Becky, “This evening’s task was to level the uneven ground ready for concrete to be laid, to allow for wheelchair and other access.

We all picked a patch to shovel: Simon took the entrance, levelling the earth under some old rubber matting; Hester took leaves, leaving everyone else taking on passageways between planters.

Ceiling proved Queen of the Wheelbarrow, navigating tricky terrain and a steep slope (carefully avoiding the samplings round the perimeter) to tip barrow after barrow into the designated spot at the bin in the back of the garden.

A satisfying task where we could clearly see the difference made - looking forward to seeing the finished pathways next year!”

Meanwhile, over on the Cranbrook Estate...

...a team of five tackled every tall block on the estate leafleting for the upcoming Christmas holiday HAF (Holiday Activities and Food Programme) project, for Trapped in Zone One. In a race against the clock, we took odd and even-numbered floors in pairs, making our way through the buildings at record pace. No landing left uncovered, no block too tricky to access, we were assisted by residents inside and out, as we distributed leaflets on this youth activity all over the estate.

The two teams finally called it a day a little after 8, and we all made our way home in different directions, chilly but cheerful, and glad to have spent another evening out in our Borough.

Until next time.

A chilly, cheerful start

It was a splendid start to the night: a good-sized crew gathered above the well-lit Art Pavilion in Mile End Park to speed through thirty minutes of the sweaty stuff this evening.

It was a chilly one and the team didn’t stop.

Off they sped through the usual tough balance and abs moves; running drills and stretches. And to top it all off, we enjoyed an impromptu segment taught by Ivo: partner exercises, hip strengtheners…We were very lucky indeed.

Our Beth

And then we went to meet John, our task owner from Friends of Mile End Park, an 'independent and inclusive group that will play a role in ensuring that the Park is developed, cared for and used in ways that actively involve and benefit the local community.'

But before we moved on to The Main Business of the Night (woodland clearing) we paused to congratulate Beth on her 1000th good deed. Beth does a lot of GoodGym. A lot. And keeps pretty quiet about it. But what an asset she is, to so many.

About the offal

John then gave us a thorough briefing, with plenty of health and safety, including The Story of the Buried Offal, and other nasty need-to-knows.

Off to the woodland we marched, complete with lights, spare gloves and a can-do attitude.

Teams were divided into three: one shovelling and wheeling woodchip in an attempt to uncover The Missing Snowdrops; another headed to the ivy area, to clear the pathway, while a third team tackled beastly brambles, taking their life into their hands as they got stuck into the grim greenery.

It was all go, I can tell you. Barrows were filled, ivy un-knotted, kitchen implements uncovered (will explain another time).

Despite freezing temperatures, spirits remained high and productivity off the scale.

At gone-8, we reluctantly agreed to call it a night, before dimming lights, posing for pics and saying cheerful cheerios, with a promise from John we could return soon.

Shout-outs

To Joel for this evening’s fabulous pun.

To Ivo for leading some fab last minute fitness.

To the Central team, past and present, who came to show their support and respect for Beth, but who boosted morale and warmed spirits more than they could realise.

To John, from Friends of Mile End Park, our brilliant task owner whose planning, humour and commitment to our activity always makes our night.

And to Beth. ❤

Until next time.