108 GoodGymers have supported Sunnyside Community Garden with 22 tasks.
Monday 27th July
Written by Louis Benham (He/him)
A busy Monday task as five GoodGymers set about watering all of the trees in Sunnyside Community Gardens.
A hosepipe ban is in place so this involved filling buckets and watering cans and using wheelbarrows to more easily reach the trees furthest away from the tap. I got a little bit wet in the process but all worth it. We worked well covering the majority of the space and then had a slow walk back to Nags Head. Thanks Eslam for organising.
Monday 13th July
Written by StephDucat
Lovely Monday evening and the crew was back at Sunnyside for some composting action. The key master Eslam was here with his bunch of keys. First task was opening the container to get the tools out. Then the Fantastic 5 started moving compost from one area to another in order to air it. First pile moved, then it was time to overturn and move the massive dry pile to the other side of the wooden edge...dry pile so the Key Master had to use his magic keys to allow Hermione run the tap and spray some water on her fellow goodgymers and the compost. At this stage, the Key Master 🔑 had another trick with his other keys and went to show the GG Crew the other garden just across the road which was a direct impact of their Good deeds at Sunny Side. Then came the Thief's...sorry the siev came in action as Eslam demonstrated to curious children how to sepaarate the soil from the twigs etc. Future goodgymers ?
Monday 22nd June
Written by Louis Benham (He/him)
A very active task to start the week. Half the group wheelbarrowed woodchip while the rest of us emptied some compost bins. Algae removed from the pool too. We all came together towards the end to finish building the compost heap. Thanks for having us Eslam.
Monday 2nd March
Written by Hermione Taylor
We were back at Sunnyside Community Gardens to finish off last week's compost turning. Taking inspiration from the recent Winter Olympics, we applied avalanche rescue snow-removal techniques to moving compost: using a "V" formation with three rows of diggers passing dirt back to the next, forming a nice efficient chain effect.
Great team effort - we were able to complete the compost bay that had totally defeated us last week.
Now it's over to the worms to do work their magic...
Monday 23rd February
Written by Hermione Taylor
Solid effort turning compost at Sunnyside (more like Rainyside) Community Gardens. One bin turned to completion - the other barely scratched the surface, but failure isn't a word in Eslam's vocabulary, so we'll call it a win. All the more for next week, right?!
Monday 13th October 2025
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On a wonderfully moody Autumnal evening, Area Activator Simon met with Da Marcus, Deirdre and first timer Camila (welcome!) at the Arsenal Community Hub for a pleasant1.5 mile run up to Elthorne Park, Archway. Hidden around the corner is the fascinating Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground project, set up by local residents and gardening enthusiasts on a former basketball court. The court fell into disrepair, and was forceably shut by Haringey Council due to anti-social behaviour complaints, but a collaboration with volunteers have allowed the court to be transformed into a growing space.
Top volunteer coordinator Eslam was on hand to allow us to access the gardens, and offered us all shovels, spades and forks for our task. The objective this evening was to un-earth two beds of nicely rotted down organic soil (cultivated by our team months ago with coffee chaffs, woodchip and green waste), and turn the material to allow for aeration. Very satisfying to see the results from our hard work paying off!
As an extra task (just in case we had time!), we were requested to unload a whole compost bin of fresh green waste into the beds, and combine the materials as effectively as possible. The six of us made short work of the mulch turning, leaving two compost bins for the gardening team to allocate for future projects.
Great work everyone! Next week, we will be at the Light of the World Church in Stroud Green!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN OCTOBER
Community Mission - Light of the World Church Gardening and Painting, 7.15pm, Evershot Road, Monday 20th October
Group Run - Timbuktu Adventure Playground 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th October
Community Mission - Sunnyside Community Gardens, 7.15pm, Monday 3rd November
Group Run - Rose Bowl Youth Club Green Graft! 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 10th November
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-rose-bowl-youth-club-green-graft
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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!
OCTOBER
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 16th October
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 23rd October
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 30th October
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 6th November
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Track and Towpath - Bartlett Park Belters
Thursday 16th October, 7.50am, Poplar Union E14
Come and join Area Activator and UK Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon for a fun mixed pace training session
Our plan is to meet up outside Poplar Union cafe at 7.50am, before enjoying an easy jog and dynamic warm up in Bartlett Park by 8am.
All paces and abilities welcome!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/track-and-towpath-bartlett-park-belters
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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions
Tuesdays (and a single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday
Market Road Gardens, London N7 9GT
Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Market Road Gardens looking beautiful! All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.
Winter Dates
September 16th, 23rd, 30th
October 7th, 14th, 21st (not 28th!)
November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
December 2nd, 9th and 16th
Next session
Tuesday 14th October: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-e5ac8437-8a18-4679-bf4e-ab725a730cda
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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions
Wednesdays (and one single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday
TGC Hut, Newington Green Park Building, 2 Newington Green, London, N1 4RF
Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Newington Green tidy and lovely!
All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.
Winter Dates
September - 17th, 24th, and Saturday 27th
October- 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd
November- 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
December- 3rd, 10th and 17th
Next Session
Wednesday 15th October
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Green Guardians- Whittington Park Sessions
Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions, Whittington Park, Archway
We have six really interesting gardening session happening at Whittington Park. We'll be planting native wild flowers, hedging and bulbs, creating a stumper and planting fruit trees.
These are relaxed friendly sessions where the emphasis is on spending time outside in nature, whilst learning and sharing skills and meeting new people.
The sessions are free and open to all, though under 16's must be with a responsible adult. No experience is needed. We provide tools, gloves, guidance and refreshments.
Session Dates
Thursday 16th Oct 2025, 10am to 12pm ; planting native wildflower
Thursday 13th Nov 2026,10am to 12pm ; planting native bulbs
Tuesday 6th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Orchard tree planting with the Orchard Project (with optional free volunteers lunch at 1pm)
Tuesday 13th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Wildlife hedge planting
Tuesday 20th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
Tuesday 27th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
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Next session
Thursday 16th October, 10am - 12 midday: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/green-guardians-whittington-park-community-gardening
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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day
Saturday 18th October, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington
Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning Saturday 18th October, 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.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-islington-friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning
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Penn Road Gardens - Volunteer Day
Sunday 26th October, 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.
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 8th November, 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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