Great harvests. Rain needed - maybe the next few days will help

Sarah was first to arrive at tonight's task, having run from home and braved running past legions of Spurs supporters while wearing a red t-shirt.

Our destination was just past the stadium, a small supported housing block. We were met by Maria, who introduced us to the residents and explained that there was a tree in the garden blocking one resident's view.

Armed with a shears, secateurs and gloves Sarah and resident D assessed the situation. Those were some very tall branches, and even with a ladder we might not be able to remove them safely.

Sarah settled for cutting what she could down low, to thin the tree out a little.

Asan arrived and pitched in to help with some litter picking - unfortunately there are some rather unsavoury neighbours who throw things over the fence.

Having cleared the area of litter, Sarah and Asan were able to pile the cut branches under the trees in the corner of the garden. At least everything looked a lot neater than when they arrived.

Saying goodbye to D, Sarah reminded D that soon the trees would lose their leaves and he would be able to see through the branches after all!

5 Runners ran 3k to help keep the Children's Garden in good shape.

4 of us met up at Blue House Yard and found we were split into 2 groups. Team 5k Helen and Yann vrs team Ultra Dave and Duncan. Duncan having recently done a proper cross country one!

After some quick dynamic warm ups we then wove our way through the Russell Park and Belmont Rec over to Lordship, where we finished with a single hill sprint. Focusing on Heads, -shoulders,- knees, and toes. Straight spine, high knees, and looking 3 steps ahead.

Once we got to Harmony Gardens, we split into 3 teams. Weeding, Mulching, and the local kids and honorary GoodGymers were on fruit clean up duty.

When I was last in the garden, there was loads of tadpoles in the pond. I was really pleased to see the pond hadn't dried out in the drought, and we managed to find loads of tiny frogs hiding round the edge. He even coaxed one into sitting on his fingernail!

Despite the wildlife breaks, we still managed to smash out all the weeding and remulch the paths, and squeezed in a quick driving elbows drill to improve running efficiency.

Today's group run started in a new location and a new time - 6:30pm in Finsbury Park. And, in fact, run leader Sarah decided there would be no run as it was still 31⁰ and we were in the middle of an amber heat warning ⚠️.

The first excitement came when a fire truck arrived to douse a smouldering tree stump next to where Sarah was waiting.

Gradually, Team GGH filtered in, clutching various homemade and makeshift eclipse-viewing apparatus. Not being of these isles, Sarah asked - "would you say this is Blue Peter?" Paul confirmed that yes, it was very Blue Peter. "Shame there's no badge though". "We could MAKE them!" Sarah suggested.

The park was full of other people, some of whom also had homemade devices. The group gradually moved around the park, chasing the best viewing angles to see the tiny pinhole (or colander) projections as they changed shape and the sky darkened - and was that the wind changing?

Once the eclipse had peaked it was time to make our way to the task - conveniently located close to the park. The aptly named Olive Tree House is a sheltered housing scheme with a garden dominated by a large olive tree.

No tools, no problem!

Unfortunately today's task owner had forgotten to drop off tools at the task - but as the team were already in a mood to improvise nothing could stop us. Utility knives were found, muscles were flexed and before long the bins in the bin store were full and there was a pile of black bags full of weeds and prunings at the side of the garden.

After some quick refreshments, it was time for our team to leave, with a promise to return to do even more.

Today's task owner was feeling a little under the weather, but heroically came up with an alternative plan for our group: giving the parklet on Gladstone Avenue a bit of TLC.

It was lovely to meet newcomer Henriana and also to welcome Jessie back from her travels in South America. Sarah selflessly handed her gardening gloves over to Henriana so she could pick up discarded dog poo bags while Sarah took photos for the run report.

Armed with two Veolia sweeper bags, the team quickly organised to put recycling (beer cans, energy drink bottles) in one bag and general waste (dog poo, dirty cardboard) in the other. "Why are we doing this when Veolia is going to collect it all as general waste?" Sarah mused. "Because I can take it home and put it in my bin" Dave said. Then Yann pointed out that he lived only a couple of if minutes' walk away and also had a recycling bin. Problem solved!

A lot of the litter tonight was in planters that sadly don't contain any plants or soil any more. Paul and Dave put their heads together and came up with a solution: attaching some mesh across the opening of one of the planters. Paul ran home for the mesh and screws, before making short work of attaching the mesh across the planter.

Finishing with loads of time to spare, Latoya suggested a round of Sallies to round off the evening. There was unanimous agreement to this suggestion from unsuspecting newcomers and seasoned Goodgymmers alike. Hazing ritual complete, Sarah declared tonight's task officially over.

On a very balmy evening Sarah met Yann and Dave at Blue House Yard, for a very gentle run to Harmony Gardens, where we met Paul, Ed and task owner Mike.

Mike explained our task was to give some very thirsty trees a big drink. He had already filled various bottles, watering cans and a giant Camelbak-style bottle and had them lined up in wheelbarrows and a rickety cart waiting to go.

So we proceeded around the Rec to various trees that needed a boost - serving doubles ) double watering cans that is) to each. We also got stuck in to mulching some of the trees with cardboard and woodchip.

About halfway through it was lovely to see Niamh who had turned up to Harmony Gardens but was guided across the Rec by our voices and our vibrant red t-shirts.

Our work done, some of us then visited the pond in Harmony Gardens to spot frogs and a rather magnificent dragonfly, before heading off to slake our own thirst.

We are back at Harmony Gardens next month - let's hope the drought breaks before then!