Frannie and the team at Octopus Communities Network returned to Highbury Quadrant Estate this Saturday, and our team of 5 Goodgym folks were on hand to help out! We have been making some smashing progress so far with this green project, but there is still plenty to do.

We gathered up our tools (wheelbarrow, spades, forks, litter picker and rakes) from the community shed, and headed over to the potential orchard plot. Digging up stubborn roots from the soft ground (caused by the recent rain fall) was the name of the game today. We really got stuck in (resulting with Trainer Simon and Sarah toppling over from pulling out some particularly tough tangles of roots!), and were able to remove plenty of these long tendrils from the soil.

The next task was to rake up the leaves and green waste from the area, and to separate the rubbish from the piles of branches and roots. Lots of plastic bags and pieces of household waste has been strewn across the garden over the years (probably blown in from the estate), which is all now proving quite tricky to remove.

Upon locking up the gates to the orchard, we brought all the tools back home and gave them a scrub and sanitise, ready for the next crew of volunteers.

Well done everyone. We will be back again on Halloween day (31st October) at midday (same time, same place!)

A whopping 16 Goodgymmers from all different areas joined us as Thornhill Square Gardens last night for some gardening by torch light. By the time Trainer Simon had arrived from the Packington Gallery Food Bank with Caroline and Ellie, Anna (the resident gardening master) had already set our team to work!

Half the group were tasked with loading up wheelbarrows with mulch and soil, freshly delivered earlier this week, and distributing the mix onto all of the rose beds in the park. Other tasks included sweeping up and composting loads and loads of fallen Autumn leaves (into the secret composting station, kept away from rogue composting opportunists!), and using gardening hoes and edging tools to tease weeds and messy plants from the planters lining the entrance of the gardens.

We made amazing progress over the course of the hour, with the space looking really immaculate by the time we left. Well done everyone!

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Mid Week Extra Tasks!

SHP Mercer Road, off Holloway Road

Come and join us for an exciting redevelopment project at the Single Homeless Project. We are planning on removing an old flower bed from the client's garden space, and replacing it with fresh soil.

A regular Tuesday lunch time task, starting today at 1pm.

Sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/lunchtime-garden-regeneration-with-single-homeless-project-shp

Highbury Quadrant Greening- Help us build an orchard!

2 opportunities to help out at Highbury Quadrant Estate (by Clissold Park) this week- and both in the light!

We will be clearing patches of weeds, overgrown plants and hard core from old building projects from this forgotten garden, with the intention to regenerate the space for the residents of this housing estate.

Mission 1: Thursday 22nd October- 4pm

Sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/mid-week-extra-highbury-quadrant-greening-project

Mission 2: Saturday 24th October- Midday

Sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/help-us-make-an-orchard-at-highbury-quadrant