Sharon Graham

Jenny, James and Linda participated in Valentines ParkRun with James achieving another PB! Well Done Buddy 👏🏻

After a brief pit stop to refuel Val had cycled up to meet us and we moved on to the Forest Garden. Jenny and Linda went to retrieve the cardboard fellow GGer PVT had collected for this project from her car whilst James and Val started removing the plastic tape and labels from the cardboard already at the forest. Sharon arrived shortly after to help with this and the subsequent laying down of the cardboard. We were then joined by Jenny's partner and new GG member Padraig, he and Jenny were given the strenuous task of shifting wood chip onto the cardboard to serve as weed sheet. While Val and Linda spread the wood chip evenly, Sharon and James moved on to help weave a wall for the insect sanctuary between the tree stumps. James was then given a machete to cut some more branches for weaving, a job which he took on with much enthusiasm...maybe a little too much enthusiasm 😂

Rakesh the task owner arrived and asked Jenny, Padraig, James and Val to move some rather large slices of tree which are to be to be assembled into a seating area. This was clearly heavy work but being the GG troupers that they are they didn't complain and even went on to do another task at the local food bank who had put out a last minute cry for help. Sharon and Linda stayed on to finish up with the weaving.

Sending out a huge welcome to Padraig on behalf of Good Gym Redbridge, he wasted no time in getting stuck in with the rest of the gang and even went on to do the double. 🙌

Good arm workout and a chat with station staff to see the plants thriving by watering them

Another lovely crispy evening for a run and a good deed!

It was a tad a chaotic start to the group run - Linda and Sharon were getting to the task directly, Julia was late but made it there at 7pm just as Jenny arrived, who wasn't sure if she will make it due to work commitments!

3J crew (James, Julia and Jenny:)) went for a nice jog around Hainault to the session and met Linda and Sharon at the gates. We all got into the school grounds and found the garden and started on the very weedy area at the back - we pulled out all the weeds in no time and celebrated with a cuppa and waffles kindly provided by Sharon, what a treat!!!

After we locked up, the three Js went for another, albeit shorter, jog!

It was fantastic to see how much progress we made at the school in just one session!

It's my 1st Good Gym event and I was so pleased I've signed up for this great cause. My fellow pickers were so lovely and welcoming, I feel we did a fantastic job clearing the debres/rubbish, that the park goers failed to take home with them, mind you a lot of empty vodka, beer and alcoholic bottles chucked in the bushes, I guess they knew we'd be there to clear up after their party!! Am looking forward to the next event

Lovely evening, lovely people, lovely cake!

What a nice warm evening to get together with fellow goodgymmers to motivate each other to do some exercise whilst helping the local community!

We all arrived at the station on time and a puncture didn't stop Hélène getting there and then walking back home with the bike - a true GoodGym spirit! This was the first time at this location for Tony and Vicki, great to have you in the north of Redbridge! Lovely station staff allowed us to store our things and bikes in their safe area. We also noted that the planters inside the station need some watering - we'll be back this week!

Getting Fit

After introductions and task briefing (and dealing with Sharon incidental small finger cut (how did that happen by just standing?!), which thankfully was alright and disinfected by goodies from Julia's FirstAid kit) we separated into two groups - walking (Jay, Linda and Sharon) and running (Tony, Hélène, Vicki, James and Julia). Overall the runners ran 5.2km and walked walked 2.8km to and from the task - great effort by everyone!

Doing Good

We all met at the gates at John Bramston School, opening and locking the gates after ourselves to enter the grounds and find the garden at the back. This is a school's project to 'Grow School Dinner' and is set in the lovely garden that has been overtaken by weeds whilst the school was closed during lockdown. The aim of this project is to help children learn about sustainability, nutrition, ecology and where food comes from - great cause!

We got down to business straight away after positioning our new camping lights for the evening tasks (they did really well - great investment!) and separating into three groups to clear the weeds from the paths. Everyone did a great job whilst catching up with each other, Lottie enjoyed helping too (Jay's cute doggie:)) We think we'll be able to finish the path clearing the next time. We moved all pulled out weeds to composting bins, cleared up and locked up! There's still plenty to be done so we are looking forward to being back in two weeks!

Cake Bananza

Once we made it to the station, all refreshed by our walk and run, Sharon kindly shared her home-baked delicious cake, which went down very well, with a few people helping themselves to the second portion (we won't tell who;))! Thank you Sharon for this lovely treat!