The evening began at Suitcases, where seven GoodGymers gathered before heading to Princes Park. Sophie, who was leading the run, welcomed everyone and gave a particularly warm welcome to our two new members, Matt and Charles, before the group set off.

With Sophie leading the way, seven members ran to the task while the others made their way to the park separately. By the time everyone arrived, 13 GoodGymers were together and ready for another GoodGym session.

After a few introductions, Kate from Friends of Princes Park welcomed the group and talked us through the evening’s task, along with the important safety points before we got started.

Our work was centred around the paths near the island and the Nelson Mandela Memorial. The task involved trimming back overgrown trees and branches, raking leaves and debris, clearing grass and vegetation, and brushing the paths. It was satisfying to see the difference as we worked along the paths, making them clearer, tidier and more accessible for park visitors.

The shorter days and darker evenings also reminded us that summer is now behind us. It was a timely opportunity to check our headtorches and running lights, recharge them and make sure they were ready for the darker months ahead, and, of course, we put them to good use during the evening.

There was a wonderfully relaxed and friendly atmosphere throughout the session. Everyone worked together, chatted along the way and happily got stuck into the task. The combination of practical work, fresh air and good company made the evening pass quickly.

Moonraking beneath the night sky

Then came one of those little moments that made the evening memorable.

As we worked, the moon rose beautifully above Princes Park, illuminating the evening sky. With our rakes in hand and the moon shining overhead, we had come to clear the paths but it felt as though we were Moonraking beneath the night sky.

It was a fitting name for an evening that brought together community work, exercise and a beautiful autumn sky. Sometimes it is the simplest moments that make a GoodGym session particularly special.

There was another reason to celebrate too: Dinacompleted her 10th GoodGym session! A fantastic milestone, congratulations, Dina!

It was a wonderful evening of running, volunteering, friendship and community spirit, with a little moonlight magic along the way.

A very warm welcome to Mattand Charles, congratulations to Dina on reaching her 10th session, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along and contributed to the evening. And, of course, thank you to Friends of Princes Park for giving us the opportunity to help care for this much-loved community space.

Thirteen GoodGymers, a few rakes, a beautiful moon and one memorable evening of Moonraking.

It was a drizzly morning with all the hallmarks of an autumnal one but minus golden leaves and dropped temperature. It was still so mild for September and after all the rain the once bleached grass was back to healthy bright green. I saw Suren at the meeting point, it was good to meet up, I hadn’t seen him for a couple of months. Then Bekah joined us and we saw Sophie walking up. We walked over to the start line and got instruction from a very competent shouter of a martial, I have never heard someone project so well across a large crowd! There must’ve been about 300 people it was really crowded considering the recent bad weather. I ran/walked a lap and a half and then bowed out to wait for the others. Sophie had finished around 27mins, then we saw Aatefa, then Leo at a respectable 33mins. Bekah was not so happy with her finish time but this is the big build up for her now to running the London marathon next April so very soon our park run will literally be a walk in the park for her. Amina said she’d run/walked and couldn’t join us for breakfast but wanted to get in the picture as proof of her attendance for the coveted sticker. Suren must have run and left as we couldn’t find him but he had told me at the start that he wasn’t joining for breakfast. We got a message from sticker guardian Steph that she had reserved a table at our new breakfast spot, Golden Brunch. Myself, Leo, Bekah and Aatefa walked from the park to join her. The food was amazing! Very generous portions, a good variety and great quality. Possibly a contender for our new favourite. Then we all went our separate ways in the rain.

One more task, one more Monday, one more… one more… one more… What’s the point? I’ll remind you.

Recently, someone watching us weed asked, “Why do you keep removing weeds? They’ll be back next week. They win. It’s pointless…”

At the time, I shrugged it off, but the question stayed with me. After a few weeks away from GoodGym, today’s session brought me back to it…why do we keep doing something when we know it will grow back?

There isn’t one answer, but for me it’s about caring for the things that matter. Everyone who regularly comes to GoodGym knows what it means to hold something dear and want to look after it. We also know how difficult that can be when life gets tough and how much a helping hand can make a difference and move the immovable barrier that stops us from showing up and doing the little deeds of care.

It’s not about eradicating the weeds. It’s about consistency and showing up. Sometimes a part of our lives needs a little maintenance, and sometimes we need someone else to help us with it.

This site is a great reminder of that. We return regularly, and it’s always satisfying to see how much difference a little work, repeated consistently, can renew a garden.

Anyway, back to the actual report!

We were joined by Fred (who has already completed five tasks in less than three weeks, Well done!), Erin on her second session (welcome back!), Clara, Bekah, Liam, Miriam and myself.

After introductions and a quick explanation of the task, we got stuck into removing the overgrown weeds before the colder months arrive. Clara and Bekah tackled some litter picking and even found a USB card reader (should we start a GoodGym lost and found?)

As the garden settles, so do the critters and spiders between the plants, making the task slightly more eerie as plenty of them came running out during the weeding.

This site is also known for people noticing and appreciating what we do, giving us great opportunities to tell people about GoodGym. We even met one of the garden’s neighbours, who cheekily invited us to come and work on his garden. I’ll have to think of a comeback for next time!

By the end, the entrance was looking renewed. Another task completed, another small act of care, and hopefully another good deed that will make someone else’s day a little brighter.

And perhaps that’s the answer.. we keep showing up because the weeds will grow back, but so will the good that we do.