19 Goodgymers ran 4-6km to help Caxton House with leafleting and destruction of lots of bushes!

We didn't have any newbies this week but plenty of 2nd and 3rd timers and of course regulars - lovely to see you all.

In the news this week:

1. Well done to Steve and James who both got PB's at Dulwich Parkrun at the weekend!
2. There is a GG social in Walthamstow this Thursday - join Pritesh for drinks, puns and heroes - sign up here.
3. Also there is a Community Mission at 10am this Saturday helping Barnsbury Square Gardens - lovely local Islington mission!

After warming up we headed to Caxton House, the slight incline all the way there always makes it tiring but great to know it's a down hill run on the way home.

Upon our arrival we met Rose who explained our two tasks: leafleting and destruction! A group of ten people, going off in pairs leafleted for the Community Centres Zumba Classes - nice!

Meanwhile the other eight people, who were joined by Sofia continued the work of destroying bushes and small tree's in the front garden. This space is going to be transformed once everything is removed. Armed with an array of tools we got to work chopping things down. Steve and George quickly chopped down some small tree's, while everyone else was contacting ever increasing spikey thorns!

Nice legs Graham!

Over time we were joined by pairs of flyers who'd finished distributing in their desonated areas. They helped massively to chop into small pieces the removed tree's and bushes. And beautifully Graham 'Always Shorts' Atkins got into the big bin and jumped on the incoming branches - he said "I haven't had this much in ages!" Always good to hear, especially when it's a bit colder than recently.

Once we collected all the debris up in either piles, the bin or bags we said our goodbyes to Rose. We headed to a local hill for some sprints before a downhill run home and biscuits - yum!

Sign up for next week here when we'll be helping Waterside Adventure Playground and Mildmay Community Centre.

PB out

22 Goodgymers ran 4-6km to leaflet for Green Gym and sweep leaves for Castlehaven!

Welcome along to Miki, whose first time it was last night! Lovely to have you along.

In the news this week:

1. Well done to John who hit 200 Good Deeds last night - big numbers!
2. Welcome to Abi Perrin, Liz Mills and Katie Roberts to the Camden Taskforce, they are joining Kat and John.
3. Many thanks to Katherine and Rosie who have been part of taskforce for the last 18 months and have now stepped down.

It was a bit chiller than predicted but we were still out there doing good and getting fit - nice!

Green Gym Leafleting:

Chris and Frances led a group each to leaflet for the wonderful Green Gym, a group that organises monthly outdoor tasks in the community, a bit like us but no running.

Leaflet fun!

Frances' group headed to Kentish Town and Tufnell Park area to circulate around 150 leaflets, meanwhile Chris' team headed to Primrose Hill area to deliver there's. The most exciting thing that happened was a passerby telling Steve he has nice legs!

Castlehaven Community Centre:

The rest of us headed to Castlehaven to finish off a task we started three weeks ago. This fantastic community centre have big plans for their Nature Area, but before they can get started they need all the leaves cleared from the compost area (where they put all the leaves in Autumn from the two parks).

Armed with rakes, grabbers and big sacks we got to work collecting all the leaves up and then dragging the sacks to area for recycling. Good work! We then headed along the canal for a run back to base - lovely jubbley.

Sign up for next here where we have a new task helping Age UK and we'll be back making beds for the homeless.

PB out

17 Goodgymers ran 4.5km to help Caxton House Community Centre cut back bushes!

Welcome along to Gareth and George - it was there first time last night. Also welcome back to Claire who joined us again after having a baby.

In the news this week:

1. We are still looking for Finsbury Parkrun pacers this Saturday! Details here.
2. Goodgym February long run and Tooting Bec Track Session both on this Sunday.
3. It was Christina's last GoodGym Islington last night as she moving to Manchester - thanks for coming along and we're sad to see you go.

After we warmed up we all headed up to Caxton House Community Centre together, that lovely steady up hill that is always a bit of challenge but worth it for the downhill return home.

Caxton House is a fantastic hub in the Archway/Crouch Hill community - provide educational programmes, older persons groups and supports. Once we arrived at the task Rose explained our main task for this week was to cut back as many bushes, ivy and brambles as possible in the car park area. They want this area to be cleared as it is high maintenance and they'd like to secure funding to rebuild parts of it.

Sticks n' saws!

While the major of the team got started cutting back things, Ellie and Gareth did a litter pick sweep around the building and in the front garden. Armed with various tools, including saws, everyone really got into the destroying part of the task. So many small tree's and bushes were coming down eveywhere!

I may have underestimated how long it would take for us to bag things up, it took time to break down the branches and sticks to then bag them up. Amazing work all!

After 45 minutes of work we took a group picture and headed back other base for as stretch and biscuit round 2!

Sign up for next week here - we'll be shifting tonnes of woodchip for SHP.

PB out