The gorgeous Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park covers 27 acres and is home to a wide range of wildlife and plants.

Volunteers offer support to Park Manager Ken and his team to help manage the site, including the maintenance of its many pathways.

16 GoodGymers gathered this evening to help remove cow parsley from one of the pathways.

We welcomed Jasand Carina to their first Monday night task before Ken greeted us with a short briefing, tonight's pun and some good guidance on the task ahead...

Why cow parsley?

Cow parsley can spread rapidly and dominate open spaces, overshadowing smaller plants. Managing its spread helps keep a balanced and varied landscape.

The team spent a productive hour in the overgrowth, performing many squats to carefully uproot the stems, and taking it in turns to wheel loads around the corner to the green waste pile, before hurling armfuls of greenery onto this great big green mountain.

By the end of the evening, pathway clearings were more visible (see Emma’s before and after pics) showing immediate results of tonight’s effort.

It was gone 8 when we gathered gloves, forks and wheelbarrows and headed to the nearest bench for our final group pic! Ambling back through the park, we concluded it was something of a relief to enjoy a task in the daylight, complete with warm sun.

Until next time.

On a bright April Monday evening, a group of 15 GoodGymers gathered at the Rocky Park community garden nestled in the heart of Hollybush Gardens.

Led by Margaret and Ash—and enthusiastically supported by canine companions, Basil and Wicked—the team rolled up their sleeves for a productive session of digging, lifting, and laughing.

The garden is currently undergoing a transformation, with particular focus on the planters and borders – GoodGymers have been attending regularly to help progress the project.

We were divided into three teams to tackle different tasks: One group focused on turning and depositing soil into the compost bays (better than leg day, in my opinion). Another team tackled a sizeable planter, digging and turning the earth in preparation for new planting. Meanwhile, a third team worked with precision and care (I think), relocating dozens of newly potted donated trees and shrubs.

The pace was brisk, the company sublime and the tasks certainly gave some participants a solid Monday workout.

As we approached 8pm, tools were collected, wheelbarrows stacked, and the ideal group shot spot identified.

After perfecting the pic and making a quick final fuss of the dogs, Best Task Owner in the World, Margaret, presented the team with Easter eggs, accompanied by Lobo’s Milky Ways, ensuring the team’s glycogen stores were fully replenished for the journey home.

A splendid start to Easter!

Until next time.

No-one missed the train, which was a good start. Most of us began at St Pancras, three Tower Hamlet-ers got on at Stratford International, then Geraldine and JC, having almost done a ParkRun, joined us at Ramsgate. We had to wait for Kat to arrive on a later train, which was a good thing as there was a long wait for the toilet.

The first five paragraphs of the walk instructions only took us as far as Ramsgate Old Harbour, but Lucinda had arrived early to do a recce, so we followed her along the attractive old High Street, down to the sea.

Because of the low tide, we were initially able to walk along the beach. We hadn’t done a warm-up routine, but instead performed repetitions: leaping away from a series of mountainous waves crashing over the promenade.

Eventually we came across some steps and continued along the cliff top, finding beautiful views of Kingsgate Bay, with its accompanying castle, and Botany Bay, at Broadstairs.

As we approached Margate, we thought we spotted a swimmer, actually a statue in the water, which we correctly speculated must be an Antony Gormley effort.

Amazingly, we hadn’t lost anyone, so there were too many of us to get in the first pub we tried in the old town, the situation not helped by rugby internationals on telly. However, we managed to squeeze into a second hostelry, which had plenty of room upstairs, for those who wanted a thai meal – others went off to the chippy. Which indeed is what you’re supposed to do, at the seaside.

Thanks everyone for coming, there wasn’t much persuasion needed this time! A special welcome to Vidur – it was his first GoodGym experience, so we hope to see him at an upcoming task. And let’s do another walk soon!

It was a smaller but thoroughly committed team tonight who arrived at Newell Street to see Kamal at the Tower Hamlets Community Transport Hub, the new base for Ocean Youth Connexions.

Why were we here?

Ocean Youth Connexions (OYC) is a youth and community organisation established in September 2000 by local volunteers from the Ocean Estate.

OYC offers a wide range of activities, including youth club sessions, half-term and summer provision, cycling proficiency training and employment support.

Having relocated last year to the Tower Hamlets Community Transport base, Ocean Youth Connexions are playing a key role in tidying up the back yard of the space, ready for it to be transformed into a hive of activity, including hosting workshops and housing minibuses!

Community transport is an essential part of a thriving local area, making sure that everyone can get where they need to go, regardless of age, ability, or income.

It also allows community organisations and charities to offer more opportunities, making sure that cost and lack of transport don’t become barriers to taking part.

Our task tonight

Tonight we were preparing one of the containers for another big paint job, and continuing to clear the back of the yard for the new fence.

Despite being short of a few lights this evening, the GoodGymers managed well, climbing ladders, navigating wheelbarrow punctures and shifting a lot of soil.

With many trips around to the debris area, as always, this was quite the workout. Up and down ladders, emptying loads, plenty of crouching and squatting. Quite the Monday night upper body workout.

The beautiful sound of St Anne’s chiming 8 let us know time was nearly up.

With one final barrow-wheel and a run-in with a blocked sink, we proceeded to finish up for the evening.

Posing for our final pic with Kamal, we said our cheerios around said sink, rooting for Lucinda and Kamal as they gave the stubborn blockage one final push.

Heading out into another chilly Monday night, we concluded that was another fun night with Ocean Youth Connexions and we look forward to returning in a couple of weeks.