Octopus Community Network

Octopus Community Network is a collaboration between the largest multi-purpose community centres in Islington
We run lots of projects including 'We Can Grow' which encourages food growing on housing estates around Islington as well as engaging with residents to increase environmental literacy and access to outdoor spaces.

90 GoodGymers have supported Octopus Community Network with 51 tasks.


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IslingtonCommunity mission
anne malcolmInes B

Another Good Turn and a Berry Nice Reward

Saturday 31st August

Written by anne malcolm

Two Goodgymmers were back on hand today, helping the community gardeners at Highbury Quadrant.

After giving a young apricot tree a good drink, the goodgymmers were introduced to the compost heaps where fresh cuttings from the garden were dug and turned into the the existing heap to help speed up the composting process. A local robin joined in a supervisory role.

Then, following a quick introduction to the tiger worms in the wormery, and the 'hot box' full of not-tiger-worms, the next task was to water the plants and raised beds.

There was still time left to harvest the ripe tomatoes and pinch back the basil plants in the greenhouse to encourage new growth.

As we worked, we were offered raspberries and black currants fresh from the garden, and we left with a wonderfully fragrant stash of rosemary, basil and tomatoes to enjoy at home.

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IslingtonCommunity mission
anne malcolmDan DunnJohn Shirley

Water on tap

Saturday 3rd August

Written by Dan Dunn (He/ him)

We arrived and the sun came out as we divided and watered the community gardens, which included apple, pear trees and berry plants, giving them a well earned drink. 🍎 🍐 🫐 💦

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IslingtonGroup run
Simon FitzmauriceDan Dunn
EmilyCaitlin Rollison
Lucia

We DEED It!

Monday 13th May

Written by Simon Fitzmaurice

After a glorious weekend of spring time sunshine, we were thrilled to meet up for our weekly Monday group session back at the Arsenal Community Hub. Simon, Mehmet, Dan and Caitlin performed a series of warm up dynamic exercises o the Emirates Stadium slopes before running 1 mile up Highbury Hill and over to Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens.

It is our pleasure to congratulate Dan on joining us for 50 sessions, and Caitlin for joining us for 100 sessions! An awesome achievement, and I hope you both continue to run with us for many more!

Upon our arrival, we caught up with Emily, Alison and Lucia in the Highbury Quadrant Meadow. Frannie, one of the busiest gardening coordinators in the borough (who is now working for Elizabeth House!) and resident gardener Peter, set us a collection of tasks along the newly developed wild flower spaces. Group 1 were taken to the orchard with wheelbarrows and shovels, and helped with moving freshly cultivated compost into flowerbeds (while trying not to spook a curious fox friend next door).

Group 2 stayed in the main wildflower plot (super lush and green after the sun and heavy rains), and helped with clearing a pathway using clippers and secateurs through the forest. Together, we also assisted with moving some heavy logs and branches away from the entrance way, so residents can visit soon.

More work will be coming soon to prepare to the London Open Parks Festival on 8th and 9th June- follow the link for more information:

https://londongardenstrust.org/

Smashing work everyone. We all took the opportunity to travel back to The Emirates Stadium (walking, running and cycling) before heading to The Highbury Library bottle shop in Drayton Park to celebrate our achievements over the last month. Awesome stuff!


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 16th May- Battersea Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/achilles-international-vi-guide-running-battersea-park


Thursday 23rd May- Emirates Stadium

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-80f59abe-2d99-46bb-99a7-8384ceed2811


Thursday 30th May- Stratford Olympic Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-a62f62c2-4983-4404-a9fa-075f3a811719


Thursday 6th June- Green Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-0a217b1b-9f2c-46fe-9d07-ddaf5d315c4b

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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

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-volunteer-morning-f07f6b00-83d4-4ddc-8f5d-a2c3b3001c3c

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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 25th May-

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/highbury-quadrant-greening-with-elizabeth-house-178fe3fd-f1ff-47b1-a90e-5bdf4d2bf63e

Saturday 1st June-

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/highbury-quadrant-greening-with-elizabeth-house-f0843541-48e4-4394-9e05-01a943b17195


Compton Terrace Gardens Open Volunteer Morning

Saturday 8th June, 10am - midday, Union Chapel, Islington

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.

A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-june-4d7078cc-979a-4302-9aeb-2ed524886a2d


Post Group Run Social- May!

Monday 13th May, 8.45pm, The Highbury Library

Our monthly post group run meet up- at a smashing spot in Drayton Park. Join us after our trip to Highbury Quadrant Estate!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/post-group-run-social-highbury-library


The ARC Centre Riverside Gardens

Friday 17th May, 7pm, The ARC Centre, Angel

Come and help the local volunteer gardening team with some lifting and shifting on Regent's Canal. Followed by a trip to The Hanbury Arms in Packington Square!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-arc-centre-riverside-gardens


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!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/night-of-the-10-000m-pbs-2024-official-saturday-show-time-volunteers


Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (May)

Saturday 18th May, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens

Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-may-7cff41f7-6855-4b35-9b21-6c13dd063d0f


Hackney Half Volunteer Aid Station!

Sunday 19th May, 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


Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day

Sunday 19th May, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways

Our monthly 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-may-2024


British Blind Sports Walk Series- Highgate Woods

Sunday 19th May, 11am - 1pm, Highgate Underground Station

Part of a series of walks lead by British Blind Sports- social paced with local visually impaired neighbours!

This time, we will be visiting the Parkland Walk and Finsbury Park together.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/british-blind-sport-walking-group-highgate-woods

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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

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Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day

Sunday 26th May, 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/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-may-7d3ebe7e-3ab5-42a7-9351-32a2c89b7925

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IslingtonCommunity mission
anne malcolmScarlett EvansAgataDan DunnInes BByron Heffer

Back to our roots

Saturday 4th May

Written by Dan Dunn (He/ him)

Six GoodGymers arrived on this sunny Saturday morning to help clear an unusable allotment bed which was covered with ivy, random objects and deep roots.

We cleared the whole bed making a big difference and it looked as good as new! Ready for growing and it will help with biodiversity in the area.

We also uncovered a forgotten bench and found time to give it a bit of a spruce up.

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IslingtonCommunity mission
Simon Fitzmaurice
Dan Dunnanne malcolm

Eager Easter Efforts at Highbury Quadrant Meadow

Friday 29th March

Written by Simon Fitzmaurice

We were thrilled to have a great turn out for a quick turnaround request from Frannie and the lovely team at Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens.

The crew received a very generous amount of quality compost from a supplier in Essex, who was courteous enough to drop it off in person. So we put out a call out for strong helpers to assist with distributing the compost into newly prepared vegetable plots and flower beds across the gardens. Anne, Dan and David also helped with spreading the compost evenly across the beds using shovels and hoes, ready for springtime planting by local residents.

Wonderful work everyone. Have a lovely Easter break!

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IslingtonGroup run
+4
Caitlin RollisonMaggie LoMehmetEmily

We all (milk) float on, alright

Monday 29th January

Written by Simon Fitzmaurice

On a warm Monday evening, 8 keen Goodgymmers including first timers Mehmet and Martha joined us for a super pleasant run from Emirates Stadium, along McKenzie Road and over to Market Road Gardens (just on the border of Camden and Islington). Upon our arrival, we met with local gardening and green space expert Frannie Smith, who had agreed to spend here final session for Octopus Community Network with the Goodgym Islington crew!

Area Activator Simon and Frannie have been working together on projects in Market Road Gardens, Highbury Quadrant and Tufnell Park plant nursery since 2019, and we certainly hope to continue in the future! This evening, our main task was to give "Bessie", the Octopus Community Network's beautiful old electric milk float / laundry vehicle a complete clear out. The lovely little van has been used as a garden shed for years, but has now been sold to another project, raising funds for the charity. Together, we pitched in to give all of the interiors a good sort out and a bit of a clean, ready for Bessie's new owners! We discovered loads of forgotten tools, stuck at the back of he boot (litter pickers, loads of building merchant bags, useful planks of wood), all in good enough condition to be used towards future tasks.

Within 40 minutes, we had completely revitalised Bessie, and said Goodbye to Frannie for a few months (watch this space!). After our return trip to Emirates and the Arsenal Community Hub, we arranged to meet up at Memsaab Islington Indian Restaurant for our January Social and meet-up- good times, quality food, great catch ups!

Come and join us for our next Monday group run over to Caledonian Park and Clocktower!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-cally-park-trip-for-bark-chips


Goodgym Islington News


The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!

Various parks and gardens on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.

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

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-volunteer-morning-170ac3c3-93d6-4f34-ace0-944e209bef31

Hillside Gardens, Caxton House Next Thursday- 10am - midday

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-garden-classroom-hillside-park-volunteer-morning-9568ca51-f6e3-4ebf-8b4c-59f900931e4e

Market Road Gardens Next Friday- 10am - midday

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-volunteer-morning-cdde2653-f4df-4f38-b82d-7973fef95b29


Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium

Thursday 1st February, 6pm, Maida Vale Underground station

Every Thursday, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location. This week, we will be meeting up at Arsenal tube station, ready to run around Emirates Stadium. Open to runners and guides of all abilities!

Follow the link to sign up here:

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-7cd58318-cf39-452d-ad1b-16f38ce42f27


ON Running and JENKI run club- Thursday morning matcha runs!

Thursday 8th February, 7am, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street

Area Activator Simon has set up a series of morning runs, hosted on Thursday mornings at the new ON Running store in Spitalfields market.

A social 5km before work, with the option to take out a pair of ON Running shoes for a test spin. Followed by hot drinks provided by the team at JENKI, Brushfield Street.

Next run is on Thursday 8th February:

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/jenki-matcha-with-on-running-spitalfields-group


Goodgym Race Team- Met League Cross Country no.5- Trent Park

Saturday 10th February, 12 midday onwards, Trent Park

Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!). Open to all Goodgym Race Team members!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/met-league-cross-country-trent-park-a8196b95-9466-42c9-9220-2a4944378fb6


Compton Terrace Gardens Open Volunteer Morning

Saturday 10th February, 10am - midday, Union Chapel, Islington

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.

A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-february-cf1a0d3d-f06c-4d25-aacb-e6e9090373a1


Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (February)

Saturday 17th February, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens

Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-february


Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day

Sunday 18th February, 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/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-february-2024


Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day

Sunday 25th February, 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-february-51e9d571-1d83-47ee-a2f5-09499ef9d816

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