A gorgeous Monday night saw 12 GoodGymers heading to the lovely GET OUT Food Forest Community Garden in Bow.

Following a short fitness in Harley Grove, we proceeded to make our way to the large garden gate to meet Frankie, our task owner for the night...

What is GET OUT?

"GET OUT has created a community garden and food forest project in the heart of Bow. The charity's converted an overgrown area of around half an acre into a productive food forest that acts as a hub for both education, and connecting to nature.

The garden is home to an outdoor classroom, and grows seasonal veg, fruit trees and perennials for the school and local community. It's also helped to create a refuge for wildlife, which includes the garden's very own pond - a useful tool for local ecology education!"

Gathered by the well-stocked shed at the bottom of the garden, Frankie proceeded to run through the details of the first tasks of the night: sawing logs from long branches and pruning bushes.

Working industriously in small teams, GoodGymers wasted no time in cracking on with the job in hand, piling logs and bags full of foliage.

With over half an hour left and branches no more, Frankie dispatched us to new corners of the garden to shift gravel, chop more branches and turn compost.

It was a physical evening, and one which we thoroughly enjoyed.

It was gone 8 before we were posing for the final photo, sampling the garden's cherry tomatoes, and accepting Frankie's lovely gift to green-fingered GoodGymers of his own brand fertilizer.

What a night!

A big shout-out to the whole team, especially to David and Neena who joined us for their first Monday night Tower Hamlets task! Look forward to seeing you again soon.

Next week

...we return to the Priory Park, to see Larry for another big garden clearance.

Until then.

We were back on the Ham Lands for our monthly visit this morning, 8 happy GGers ready to help the Friends of Ham Lands in their efforts to conserve the beauty of the area for all visitors to enjoy.

It was another celebration mission as Rosie hit her 50 Good Deeds milestone and she donned the black sash with pride. Big congrats to Rosie, here’s to the next 50!

It was a warm morning. Our task was to continue where we left off in July, cutting down the suckers (saplings) growing from the roots of the cherry trees not far from the road.

The group got going with secateurs and loppers, trying to cut the suckers off as close to the ground as possible to keep the growth in check. As usual there was plenty of chat as we caught up on each other’s news.

A brief break was called as we stopped to admire the antics of a very impressive looking wasp spider, which had weaved a very effective web in the tall grass. While we watched, three unwitting insects were caught in the web and she was quick to pounce and wrap them up for later snacking. So long, suckers again…

After we finished it was time for hot drinks. With it being Rosie’s 50 milestone (and Beth’s so recently), Salwa had made her customary celebration brownies and we made our way to a cafe right by Teddington Lock (the Swiss Bakery being closed for the Summer) to gorge ourselves.

Next time at Ham Lands will be the 9th of September, you can sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-the-happy-ham-landers-ea5ce0b7-e02f-4cd5-af3d-b6ac28ebe3d0

Another good sized group gathered along the wall for some body weight training before tonight's task!

We focused on some effective lower body stretches, and some brilliantly-done push-ups before moving to The New Squat Technique, The Obligatory Split-Squat Series and some dreamy Pilates roll-downs, courtesy of a delayed task start.

At a few minutes past 7, we headed around to the side of the garden to help cut back a few tree and bush branches which had crept over into the area by the bench, and near the family play area. The team worked exceptionally fast, and before long were calling out for assistance to help move the huge piles of branches.

Meanwhile Fiona and Aran were raking bags full of leaves around the front of the garden, before they headed over to the trimming team around the side of the centre.

We gathered armfuls of branches to take to the bin area, safely tucked to one side in as neat-a-piles as we could manage.

It was a great little task to be invited to help out with. Task owners Janet and Eileen oversee the Community Centre itself and this side of the garden. So when we're invited to join them for a quick gardening catch-up, it's always guaranteed to feel like a productive and fun night.

On depositing the last little pile of branches and leaves, we headed back to the bench for one last pic.

A lovely evening, everyone - you did great.

Next week we return to the GETOUT garden in Bow, for our first visit of the summer - complete with pre-task workout.

Until then.