GoodGym Islington
Lime and soda
Friday 13th June
Written by Ivo (he/him)
Mrs D wanted some weeding done and to get the ivy off her fence. Next door garden was very overgrown and someone had chucked a Lime bike over the back wall, unwanted brambles and ivy were spilling into Mrs Ds garden. I cut back the ivy and brambles and pulled out some Virginia creeper. Got rid of some stinging nettles in the rest of the garden we then weeded the front garden. We chatted the whole time , Mrs D thanked me with a bottle soda. A lovely afternoon.
Time to relax and unvine ๐
Thursday 12th June
Written by Gosia Rybacka
It was a proper summer โ๏ธ day today (finally) perfect for some evening gardening work ๐ฉโ๐พ. I arrived at Mrs C's doors at 7, she welcomed me and right away led to her back garden to explain the task.
The garden was not in any horrible state but was just fully "occupied" by some unwanted climbing weeds that were just literally everywhere - on a fence, an apple ๐ tree and all Mrs C's flowers ๐ธ and bushes. It wasn't just her problem as they seem to be also in the entire neighbourhood ๐.
Tackling these pesky vines as the first activity I took on and one I spent most of my time on (maybe around one full hour ๐). Mrs C brought a pair of sharp scissors โ๏ธ which massively helped me in cutting down and entangling the unruly plants.
Mrs C also helped with the gardening work at some point, getting rid of the weeds from the bushes and also brooming ๐งน, cleaning up the weeds and sweeping the leaves ๐.
Once I was done with the weeding I took over the broom and continued the general tidy ups. From time to time I crouched to pull out the weeds stuck inbetween the pavement blocks.
Mrs C's was very happy with the outcome and kept saying "Thank you", "Thank you", "It's hard to believe", "My husband won't believe". It wasn't that much of an effort from me so I was glad I was able to make such a big difference and made Mrs C smile ๐.
Done...drawer-ed and cornered.
Thursday 5th June
Written by Nick Moore
David and I arrived at Ms J's prepared for a bit of heavy lifting, but in the end it proved to be a task requiring more brain than brawn. Ms J wanted a chest of drawers lifted from on top of a small sideboard, with the sideboard then moved out of the way, and the chest of drawers parked where the sideboard had been...with the sideboard then left accessible as Ms J would like to sell it.
After a bit of deliberating as to the correct plan of action, we soon had the chest down at ground level and it was then a case of rotating the sideboard out of its corner and tipping it on an end, where it fitted neatly into a corner - we then moved the chest of drawers into the empty space, and after a quick empty of the drawers in the now vertical sideboard (...), and a replug in of everything we'd unplugged, our early evening task was complete, and Ms J seemed very happy with the outcome.
TGC is the best
Tuesday 3rd June
Written by Natalie Panico
I have really enjoyed my sessions with The Garden Classroom (TGC). Everyone is so nice and welcoming and the work is really fulfilling.
Later Slaters!
Monday 2nd June
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Area Activator Simon and the Goodgym Islington team met up at Camden Estate Gardens last night for a very fulfilling series of community green space maintenance tasks. As he was waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive, he spotted a beautiful young jay, comfortably settled across a brick wall and completely unfazed by his presence (apparently jays let ants crawl on them for delousing purposes, and there was definitely an ants nest attached to the wall).
7 Goodgym helpers (including first timer Cat- welcome!) joined Simon and local gardening expert Michelle for 3 main projects. Firstly, we set about unloading a compost bin (the final stage of turning) into a wheelbarrow using shovels. As the new fine material is lifted from the container, we then used a sieve (attached to a wooden frame) to filter any debris from the composting process. By the end of the evening, we had sorted an entire builder's merchant sack of new soil!
Secondly, Caitlin did a smashing job of giving the whole area a thorough sweep and tidy. She took the time to filter rubbish and recycling before adding green waste in the appropriate recepticals too- while making sure not to bother the cute little "slaters" (Scottish for "woodlice"- or the little guys who live under slates!).
Thirdly, Emily and Alison had the chance to try out a big fun motorised aeration machine, to make short work of ploughing and oxygenating through the tough soil in three future communal fruit and veg patches (we might be asked back to help with building frames to protect the produce from pests!). We even found time to spread a big container of new soil across the patches, before sweeping and tidying.
An action packed evening of wholesome Goodgym gardening fun! Well done everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN JUNE AND JULY
Community Mission- Camden Estate Gardens 7.15pm, Camden Estate Gardens, Rowstock Gardens Monday 2nd June
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-camden-estate-community-food-gardens
Community Mission- Everleigh Gardens Compost Turning 7.15pm, Everleigh Gardens Open Space, Finsbury Park Monday 9th June
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-everleigh-gardens-compost-turning-heroes
Group Run- Rose Bowl Youth Centre, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 16th June
Group Run- Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 23rd June
Group Run- Light of the World Church Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 30th June
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-light-of-the-world-church-gardening-project
Community Mission- Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground, 7.15pm, Hornsey Rise, Monday 7th July
Community Mission- Timbuktu Adventure Playground 7.15pm, Grenville Road, Islington, Monday 14th July
Group Run- Isledon Gardens Nature Trail 6.45pm, Isledon Gardens, Parkside Crescent, Monday 21st July
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-isledon-gardens-nature-trail
Community Mission- Highbury Quadrant Estate 7.15pm, Highbury Quadrant Estate, Monday 28th July
Group Run- Market Road Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 4th August
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-market-road-gardens-with-elizabeth-house
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Post Group Run Social - June 2025
8.30pm, Tollington Way Monday 23rd June
Delicious Thai food from a great local pub- hosted after our group run to Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-run-social-the-tollington-arms-arsenal
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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 5th June https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-a3ff6c7a-86fd-49cc-bf89-8bf08addadab
Emirates Stadium Thursday 12th June https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-f19db9f6-3b2e-47cd-a89b-ddceb04247ed
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 19th June
Hyde Park Summer Session Thursday 26th June
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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 3rd June, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
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Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Wednesday 4th June
Wednesday 11th June
Wednesday 18th June
Wednesday 25th June
Saturday 28th June
Wednesday 2nd July
Wednesday 9th July
Wednesday 16th July
Saturday 26th July
Next session:
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Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 3rd June
Tuesday 10th June
Tuesday 17th June
Tuesday 24th June
Tuesday 1st July
Tuesday 8th July
Tuesday 15th July
Next Session:
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 14th June, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (June)
Saturday 21st June, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
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Penn Road Gardens - June Volunteer Day Sunday 29th June, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road. https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-june-9e600c77-b5a5-4aa8-abeb-c47ddf68b57d
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Achilles International Crew: Running Relay Relay Fast in Stratford!
Thursday 29th May
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
The first ever Runthrough Relay event was hosted on Thursday evening in Stratford Olympic Park, and the team from Achilles International were thrilled to participate! Our VI (visually impaired) runners and sighted guides made up 4 teams of 3 runners each, ready to run a baton around 5km of the West Ham Stadium, City Mill River Path and across the Iron Bridge. 134 teams from all across London were lined up ready to run from the Pool Street Market- an incredible atmosphere on the night!
Behind the scenes, volunteer coordinators Simon Fitzmaurice, Chris Blackabee and Mark Durban had spent a few weeks of organising and messaging to make sure that every VI runner had a guide, and that everyone knew where to meet and when to run. It was amazing to see a plan come together, and all of our Achilles International crew were able to cheer and celebrate each others achievements.
Well done to everyone running, guiding, dog minding (Mario and Spike!), coordinating and cheering from the side lines. Thank you for a wonderful evening of running!
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