On a warm and sunny Sunday morning, which felt just as if it was still summer (in October!), six GoodGymers from all across London descended on Parliament Hill School to lend Claudia, Nick and Adam hand in the amazing garden transformation.

Matt and Richard used their DIY skills to build a new compost bin, making use of discarded pallets. Michelle and Cherian took hose pipes to water recently planted hedges. Sevan, after an episode of cutting back a monster cluster of brambles, got back into his speciality - scything. Kash got acquainted with a slasher and lost herself in a very satisfying bramble bash.

What a rewarding morning, full of claiming bramble-ridden ground and building new things, it was!

Yesterday we went back to Cossall Estate to help Jackie. Along with newbie Dennis (welcome!), David, Daryl and Isaac met me at Old Spike, and we ran the 2kms there together. Richard was already at the community hall when we arrived, and Benjamin joined us soon after.

Jackie had two tasks for us, one which was to move things from one storage cupboard into another bigger one. And secondly, we continued scrubbing chairs which were stained from a flood. We managed to get both jobs done, before running back to Old Spike. Great job team! 🙌

On a warm Monday evening, 13 keen Goodgymmers arrived at the idyllic Olden Community Gardens, just opposite Drayton Park station. This beautiful spot is could be easily missed when walking by Arsenal Stadium, but there are hidden allotments, butterfly gardens and neighbourhood connections built on an area that was dedicated for gathering WW2 debris in the past!

More information about Olden Community Gardens can be found here: https://www.oldengarden.org/

Welcome to first time Goodgymmer Lisa - Thank you for joining us!

We had a variety of tasks on offer for us, stretching between the main garden entrance, past many fox dens, and over to "the bridge gardens" (which expand over a working railway bridge for National Rail services).

- Task 1

Together, we helped to shovel 2 full builder's merchant bags of mixed compost from the main entrance (the only vehicle drop point for gardening material), over to a more convenient location. At least 6 of our crew filled portable tubs of compost, before carrying this material by hand. By the end of the session, we came together to lift the final bag of mulch safely and carefully to the intended spot. Great job all!

- Task 2

Our team helped with preparing the gardens for the potential heat wave next week! We located all of the available water points for hose pipes and watering cans, and set about dousing as many of the plants and saplings as possible. This was a difficult task, as Olden Community Gardens is set on a hillside, and we needed to stretch the hose pipes around awkward corners and down slopes to effectively cover as many beds as possible. Between us, we did a smashing job within an hour of problem solving and teamwork!

Following our session, we enjoyed a trip to the Highbury Library bar and bottle shop to celebrate former Area Activator Simon's 800th good deed! A great way to close up a quality evening of Goodgymming- well done all!