GoodGym Islington
Green Day
Monday 22nd April
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On a slightly overcast Monday evening, Dan, Alison met with Kim and Area Activator Simon outside Caledonian Road and Barnsbury overground station (Thank you for accomodating for Simon's stress fracture recovery- we are making progress!) before walking together to Thornhill Square Gardens. We chatted about our activities over the weekend (such as helping at Canonbury Square Gardens on Saturday, and joining the Goodgym cheer squad at London Marathon on Sunday) on our way over.
Upon our arrival, we met with Anna, the local resident gardening expert within the square who had a variety of tasks available for us! Lucia and first timer Milena (welcome!) picked up trowels and forks and helped with picking weeds, green waste and sycamore saplings out of the rose bushes surrounding the south side of the gardens.
Emre and Kim chipped away at the moss and weeds growing out of the walling at the entrance of park using hoes and "zombie knives", while Alison, Dan and Emily gathered the greenery into wheel barrows and towards a lovely composting system towards the back of the park.
Within 50 minutes, we did an awesome job- almost all of the weeds in this overgrown patch had been gathered within a single evening. Well done everyone!
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GoodGym Islington News
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!
Thursday 25th April- Stratford Olympic Park
----------------------------‐---
Thursday 2nd May- Green Park
Thursday 9th May- Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground)
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The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Wednesday mornings, 10am - midday, Newington Green
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
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Highbury Quadrant Greening with Elizabeth House
Every Saturday, 10.30am - 12 midday, Highbury Quadrant Meadow
A fantastic task for post-parkrun runners at Highbury Fields or Finsbury Park!
Elizabeth House Community Centre, in partnership with Islington Council, Highbury Quadrant Tenants and Residents Association, Highbury Councillors and community organisations transformed three unloved and unusable green spaces on Highbury Quadrant estate.
These green spaces have been designed into three distinct spaces, improving bio-diversity and the local environment. There is now a beautiful meadow, an orchard and woodland areas.
Local residents have the opportunity to access these green spaces and take part in gardening and nature based activities, every Saturday mornings 10 am to 12 pm.
Saturday 27th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/highbury-quadrant-greening-with-elizabeth-house
Saturday 4th May
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Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 28th April, 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.
Night of the 10,000m PBs- Volunteer marshals for the UK athletics party of the year!
Saturday 18th May, 2pm - 10pm, Parliament Hill Track
Help the UK's premier grassroots athletic event go ahead on Parliament Hill!
The event is an annual full day of endurance distance racing with the most competitive runners on the scene. These races have been listed as part of the European 10,000m qualification criteria, so some incredible running will be on show!
Hackney Half Volunteer Aid Station!
Sunday 19th April, 7am - 1pm, Hackney Marshes Centre
Help our fellow runners at this incredible local half marathon party! Join the Goodgym team at an official water and aid station to cheer on the participants!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/hackney-half-aid-station-volunteering
London Orienteering Klubb- Finsbury Park Go Orienteering Event
Tuesday 21st May, The Twelve Pins, 6pm onwards
Orienteering is really great fun! All abilities running, walking and map reading.
Follow a map offered by London Orienteering Klubb, and find the "controls" (flags and scanning points) across Finsbury Park in order.
2.5km and 5km distances on offer
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-orienteering-klubb-finsbury-park
Canonbury Share
Saturday 20th April
Written by John Shirley
Canonbury Square has been described by the Evening Standard as “London’s most beautiful square”. But it takes work to keep it that way.
There were several tasks to be undertaken, so it was good that six GoodGymers were on hand to assist. Dan and Byron worked on the composters while Alison, Emily, Ines and John shared the task of sweeping the paths. There was even time for some weeding before a coffee and a chat.
Big London Marathon Battersea Bash with Achilles International
Thursday 18th April
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
The GoodGym crew were thrilled to join the Achilles International all abilities sports charity in Battersea Park for their amazing pre-London Marathon meet up in Battersea Park. We had runners visiting from the New York, Melbourne and Belgian chapters arriving for race day, along with our weekly attendees and friends and family. The energy was electric, and we thoroughly enjoyed our newly developed run location (big wide drives, loads of fellow running enthusiasts- we might have some potential new guides!).
Well done to Audrey and Luc for joining us for their first Thursday session.
And good luck to Andy and Andrew on their race on Sunday!
https://www.achillesinternational.org/
Our next session will be on Thursday 25th April, at Stratford Olympic Park:
Disturbing the Soil Worms
Monday 15th April
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
A Return to Caxton House Community Gardens
This week, Area Activator Simon caught up with 9 Goodgymmers from all across town between Archway underground station and Caxton House Community Gardens. Continuing our regular walking groups (runs will return on Monday 13th May!), our team arrived outside the centre and met with Rose and a big crowd of local volunteers, all on hand to help out for an evening of lifting and shifting.
The plan is to make a start on building a lovely new sensory garden- ready for new bulbs and plants to be prepared in June (we will definitely be returning to help out!). First things first, our crew picked up shovels and forks to dig up masses of old soil, and bagging the mud up for other projects. Emre did a smashing job of wheelbarrowing the full bags to the garden entrance gate, ready of pick up. Emily and Sally also helped with weeding the pavements on the main courtyard, and gathering sycamore seeds from the surfaces (these can be invasive and quick growing- best to pick them up ASAP!).
After 45 minutes of digging and jaffa cakes, our crew successfully pulled out an abundance of plastic piping, left behind from previous garden users. A difficult job, very well done! Excellent work everyone.
Together, we walked back toward the underground station, before popping in for refreshments, pizza and Scrabble at The Archway Tavern for our monthly social.
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
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!
-------------‐---------------------
Thursday 18th April- The Big Battersea Park London Marathon Meet Up!
Thursday 25th April- Stratford Olympic Park
----------------------------‐---
Thursday 2nd May- Green Park
Thursday 9th May- Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground)
-------‐----------------------------
The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Wednesday mornings, 10am - midday, Newington Green
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
-----------‐-----------------------
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (April)
Saturday 20th April, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 21st April, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our annual trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-april-2024
---------------‐----------‐---------------
Highbury Quadrant Greening with Elizabeth House
Every Saturday, 10.30am - 12 midday, Highbury Quadrant Meadow
A fantastic task for post-parkrun runners at Highbury Fields or Finsbury Park!
Elizabeth House Community Centre, in partnership with Islington Council, Highbury Quadrant Tenants and Residents Association, Highbury Councillors and community organisations transformed three unloved and unusable green spaces on Highbury Quadrant estate.
These green spaces have been designed into three distinct spaces, improving bio-diversity and the local environment. There is now a beautiful meadow, an orchard and woodland areas.
Local residents have the opportunity to access these green spaces and take part in gardening and nature based activities, every Saturday mornings 10 am to 12 pm.
Saturday 27th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/highbury-quadrant-greening-with-elizabeth-house
Saturday 4th May
--------------------------------‐---------
Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 28th April, 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.
Night of the 10,000m PBs- Volunteer marshals for the UK athletics party of the year!
Saturday 18th May, 2pm - 10pm, Parliament Hill Track
Help the UK's premier grassroots athletic event go ahead on Parliament Hill!
The event is an annual full day of endurance distance racing with the most competitive runners on the scene. These races have been listed as part of the European 10,000m qualification criteria, so some incredible running will be on show!
London Orienteering Klubb- Finsbury Park Go Orienteering Event
Tuesday 21st May, The Twelve Pins, 6pm onwards
Orienteering is really great fun! All abilities running, walking and map reading.
Follow a map offered by London Orienteering Klubb, and find the "controls" (flags and scanning points) across Finsbury Park in order.
2.5km and 5km distances on offer
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-orienteering-klubb-finsbury-park
Churning Our Keep
Saturday 13th April
Written by John Shirley
Cherian came from Hendon, Dan from Hackney, Lisa and John from Camden Town, Mehmet from UCL (the long way round) and Scarlett from Australia (an even longer way round). Welcome especially Lisa (recommended to GoodGym by our Angeliki) and Scarlett to their first ever good deed.
Arriving bang on time, or even earlier in some cases, we were soon provided with a random selection of digging and cultivation tools. We set to work churning the earth in preparation for seeding an area of Compton Terrace Gardens which had become worn and bereft of grass due to wavering walkers veering off the path.
We took a bucket-full of stakes, bamboo sticks and variously-sized poles, positioning them round the earth we'd prepared earlier, as a subtle warning to any passers-by to "Keep Off The Good-deed".
Then came the seeds themselves, a consistent shower of grass-coloured specks spread evenly and thickly over the newly churned soil by our super sextet, before being covered by top-soil from two large, newly-opened bags.
We hadn't finished yet. There were twigs and small branches to be picked up, making the place look a lot tidier. Whenever we thought the task was almost complete, we spotted many more twigs and small branches previously invisible to the naked eye.
And Lisa did a great job rescuing a park bench from an overgrown bush, making it once again somewhere safe to sit without being assaulted by superfluous branches.
Easter Eggs and Excellent Energy at Elizabeth House
Monday 8th April
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Early on Monday evening (a rare 6pm start!), 5 Goodgymmers met with Area Activator Simon outside Arsenal Underground station. Together, we walked together down Gillespie Road, and over to Elizabeth House Food Hub on Hurlock Street- a busy "supermarket style" community food bank for the Highbury and Arsenal boroughs.
The Easter holidays often affects the availability for regular helpers at the food hub- families and those with dependents may find themselves unable to attend the "supermarket" in person as well. So Goodgym Islington have been maintaining a frequent connection with this essential centre, offering assistance over holiday months. The hub was in full flow when we arrived, but Roshni and the crew had set up a series of pre-prepared drop off locations for supplies and essentials. Including a special Easter Egg for a former volunteer and visitor over in Highbury Hill!
Emre and Dan took on a collection of deliveries around Twyford House, on the estate, while Charlotte and Faye ventured further into the borough (past the former Arsenal stadium complex!). Upon the return of our Goodgymmers, the food hub had started to close down for the night. So we all pitched in to move non-perishable food and supplies back into the kitchens and on to shelving. All perishable items were then composted or offered to any hungry volunteers (lots of allotment grown rhubarb, celery and mushrooms were taken home!).
A wonderful evening had by all. Well done everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
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Caxton House Community Centre Sensory Garden Building
Monday 15th April, 6.45pm, Archway Underground station
We have been invited back to Caxton House to lend a hand with their new sensory garden project. Lifting, shifting and digging to be expected. But other lighter tasks are also available as well!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-session-caxton-house-sensory-garden-building
And following our group session, we will enjoy our monthly social:
Post Group Session Social- The Archway Tavern
Monday 15th April, 8.45pm, Archway Tavern
Excellent refreshments and good times kn Navigator Square, Archway!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-session-social-the-archway-tavern
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!
----‐--------------------------------
Thursday 11th April- Emirates Stadium (Arsenal tube station)
-------------‐---------------------
Thursday 18th April- The Big Battersea Park London Marathon Meet Up!
Thursday 25th April- Stratford Olympic Park
----------------------------‐---
Thursday 2nd May- Green Park
Thursday 9th May- Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground)
-------‐----------------------------
The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Wednesday mornings, 10am - midday, Newington Green
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
-----------‐-----------------------------
Compton Terrace Gardens Volunteer Open Morning - April
Saturday 13th April, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel
Monthly community gardening mornings with the Friends of Compton Terrace Gardens.
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
London Heathside AC Track Busting Volunteer Afternoon!
Saturday 13th April, 2pm - 6pm, Finsbury Park Track
Call out for volunteers to spend a few hours 2- 6pm Saturday 13th April (the weather forecast predicts a scorcher) helping to get the track ready for the season ahead.
Come prepared for some manual labour, a bit of banter with club mates, afternoon tea and the satisfaction that you have helped your club keep this invaluable facility going - it is largely run by a small band of dedicated volunteers.
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/london-heathside-running-club-track-busters-volunteer-session
-----------‐-----------------------------
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (April)
Saturday 20th April, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 21st April, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our annual trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-april-2024
---------------‐----------‐-------------------
Highbury Quadrant Greening with Elizabeth House
Every Saturday, 10.30am - 12 midday, Highbury Quadrant Meadow
A fantastic task for post-parkrun runners at Highbury Fields or Finsbury Park!
Elizabeth House Community Centre, in partnership with Islington Council, Highbury Quadrant Tenants and Residents Association, Highbury Councillors and community organisations transformed three unloved and unusable green spaces on Highbury Quadrant estate.
These green spaces have been designed into three distinct spaces, improving bio-diversity and the local environment. There is now a beautiful meadow, an orchard and woodland areas.
Local residents have the opportunity to access these green spaces and take part in gardening and nature based activities, every Saturday mornings 10 am to 12 pm.
Saturday 27th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/highbury-quadrant-greening-with-elizabeth-house
Saturday 4th May
--------------------------------‐----------
Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 28th April, 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.
Night of the 10,000m PBs- Volunteer marshals for the UK athletics party of the year!
Saturday 18th May, 2pm - 10pm, Parliament Hill Track
Help the UK's premier grassroots athletic event go ahead on Parliament Hill!
The event is an annual full day of endurance distance racing with the most competitive runners on the scene. These races have been listed as part of the European 10,000m qualification criteria, so some incredible running will be on show!
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