A fab-sized team gathered in Newell Street this evening for our task with Ocean Youth Connexions and Tower Hamlets Community Transport Hub.

Meeting outside King’s Wharf Park before 7, we caught up on the news from the weekend and discussed the night’s task.

Kamal, from Ocean Youth, came down to greet us as our group size was growing and we slowly made our way into the garage area to be briefed on tonight’s task.

Ocean Youth Connexions offer a range of youth provision across the borough, during term time and the school holidays.

The organisation has recently relocated its offices to Limehouse, to join the Tower Hamlets Community Transport team, a small charity ‘set up to provide transport to voluntary and community groups in Tower Hamlets’.

Gathering in the garage area, surrounded by equipment for tonight’s task, Kamal proceeded to run through the list of tonight’s activities, which included another big leaf-clearing in the outdoor area; a thorough cleaning of all the upstairs windows, and a sugar-soaping of the toilet walls, in preparation for next month’s big painting activity.

The GoodGymers worked fast, moving onto new tasks including radiator-cleaning and jasmine-pruning.

It was now well and truly dark, complete with an Autumn wind, but thankfully, the outside area at the Hub is beautifully (flood)lit.

As always, the time flew and just before 8, Emma, John and Lucinda were heading up the task wrap-up effort, finishing slickly and precisely at 8.

Another great night with Ocean Youth - we return on the 28th October... Save The Date!

On this sunny Saturday early afternoon, our small but mighty team (of 6) gathered at the Ellsworth Street roundabout, ready to tackle a rather earthy challenge. We were greeted by the ever-energetic Margaret and Ash from the Teesdale & Hollybush TRA, who directed us to our mission: moving tonnes of soil that came from old dismantled flower beds outside Ellsworth House to Rocky Park, a good 100+ metres away.

Some of the flower beds had been dismantled, and others had been rebuilt to help with upkeep, and it was up to us to ensure the surplus soil made its way to its new home. Armed with shovels and wheelbarrows, we plunged into the task. Under the blazing sun, it was all about mud, sweat, and- well, maybe not quite tears, but definitely some serious determination! The soil flew into the wheelbarrows as we pushed, pulled, and rolled our way through the distance, navigating around tight corners in Rocky Park and through the heat.

The dynamic duo, Oliver and John, also teamed up with Margaret at the beginning of the session to expertly fill the topsoil into the beds outside the house, making sure the area looked its best. We all then continued the relay to Rocky Park, with each trip feeling like a mini-marathon but made light-hearted by good humour, Margaret's 'sweat catcher' (a face mask around the ears, pulled up to the forehead - quite ingenious!) and a shared sense of purpose.

In just over an hour (much less time that we thought it would take!) we’d shifted what felt like mountains. Despite being a small group, our effort had a big impact, showing what can be achieved when some mighty GoodGymers pull together! Margaret and Ash were so grateful for our help.

A big shout-out to everyone who joined in and had faith in me to lead the task! It might have been hot, and the soil might have been heavy, but the sense of accomplishment made it all worthwhile. And hey, who knew moving soil could be such a workout?

Until the next muddy mission! 🌱💪🌞 Emma

And one by one our little group grew tonight, until there were no fewer than 13 GoodGymers working on the new hazel fence at the pretty St Leonard's Priory Park up in Bromley-By-Bow.

We said hello to first time GoodGym-ers Gurprit, Anton, Anna, and a warm welcome to Tower Hamlets to Anna!

Starting with four teams (one chopping hazel, one weeding, one digging fence-holes and one repairing our less-than-perfect previous hazel fence), it was definitely a case of learning on the job as we pruned, stripped and chopped; weeded and wove, blitzing multiple jobs at one time.

With the team working flexibly, rotating out of one task to another, particularly as time sped on ("Hazel! We need more hazel!"), it was a busy but sociable evening, with the countdown to sunset well and truly on.

A decent workout was had by all, whether digging up weeds or sawing tough branches.

It was after 8 before the team were generously stacking up the kit, and wheeling barrows to the back of the park.

With Kareem providing decent tech assistance, the all-important group pic remained in tact, despite the lack of light.

A great effort, everyone - and a final shout-out to Charlie, who came up with tonight's belter of a pun.

Next week

...we're back to Hollybush Gardens, for our first visit of Autumn with Margaret and Ash.

Until then.

A brilliant little squad showed up tonight to help Margaret and Natalia tidy the well-used garden around Patriot Square.

This small garden area aligns both sides of the path leading off the square. Used as a useful access to Russia Lane and neighbouring Old Ford Road, as well as a popular dog-walking spot, overhanging rose and blackberry bushes can mean the path gets a little congested.

Last month we headed to join the team to tackle the worst of the branches, returning this evening to finish the inside and bag up last month's stash.

With Natalia on Operation Strimmer and Margaret joining the pruning team, it was down to Oliver and Lucinda to tackle the bulk of last month's waste.

As luck would have it, we were joined relatively early in the proceedings by Cameron, also part of the neighbourhood gardening team, who kindly brought us the team's new supply of sturdy gloves, which helped matters no end.

It was a lovely evening to watch the sunset and join this productive, welcoming team for a spot of gardening, getting the week off to a really great start. Well done everyone.

Next week, we join Larry back at St Leonard's Priory Park, for our first visit of 2024!

Until then.