Area Activator Simon and the Goodgym Islington team met up at Camden Estate Gardens last night for a very fulfilling series of community green space maintenance tasks. As he was waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive, he spotted a beautiful young jay, comfortably settled across a brick wall and completely unfazed by his presence (apparently jays let ants crawl on them for delousing purposes, and there was definitely an ants nest attached to the wall).

7 Goodgym helpers (including first timer Cat- welcome!) joined Simon and local gardening expert Michelle for 3 main projects. Firstly, we set about unloading a compost bin (the final stage of turning) into a wheelbarrow using shovels. As the new fine material is lifted from the container, we then used a sieve (attached to a wooden frame) to filter any debris from the composting process. By the end of the evening, we had sorted an entire builder's merchant sack of new soil!

Secondly, Caitlin did a smashing job of giving the whole area a thorough sweep and tidy. She took the time to filter rubbish and recycling before adding green waste in the appropriate recepticals too- while making sure not to bother the cute little "slaters" (Scottish for "woodlice"- or the little guys who live under slates!).

Thirdly, Emily and Alison had the chance to try out a big fun motorised aeration machine, to make short work of ploughing and oxygenating through the tough soil in three future communal fruit and veg patches (we might be asked back to help with building frames to protect the produce from pests!). We even found time to spread a big container of new soil across the patches, before sweeping and tidying.

An action packed evening of wholesome Goodgym gardening fun! Well done everyone!

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN JUNE AND JULY

Community Mission- Camden Estate Gardens 7.15pm, Camden Estate Gardens, Rowstock Gardens Monday 2nd June

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-camden-estate-community-food-gardens

Community Mission- Everleigh Gardens Compost Turning 7.15pm, Everleigh Gardens Open Space, Finsbury Park Monday 9th June

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-everleigh-gardens-compost-turning-heroes

Group Run- Rose Bowl Youth Centre, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 16th June

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-rose-bowl-youth-club-3b3ee46b-1f06-4d8d-8828-1d6acf2ab89f

Group Run- Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 23rd June

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-highbury-quadrant-green-space-garden-maintenance-bfd7bad6-9f49-47f1-8840-cad466942fde

Group Run- Light of the World Church Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 30th June

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-light-of-the-world-church-gardening-project

Community Mission- Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground, 7.15pm, Hornsey Rise, Monday 7th July

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-hornsey-rise-kickabout-playground-377a24b0-a761-4b71-a1e9-89a6054c724b

Community Mission- Timbuktu Adventure Playground 7.15pm, Grenville Road, Islington, Monday 14th July

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-islington-community-mission-timbuktu-adventure-playground

Group Run- Isledon Gardens Nature Trail 6.45pm, Isledon Gardens, Parkside Crescent, Monday 21st July

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-isledon-gardens-nature-trail

Community Mission- Highbury Quadrant Estate 7.15pm, Highbury Quadrant Estate, Monday 28th July

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-highbury-quadrant-gardening-caa4b5c0-b45f-447c-8894-2f0c3a620ff4

Group Run- Market Road Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 4th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-market-road-gardens-with-elizabeth-house

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Post Group Run Social - June 2025

8.30pm, Tollington Way Monday 23rd June

Delicious Thai food from a great local pub- hosted after our group run to Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-run-social-the-tollington-arms-arsenal

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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!

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 5th June https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-a3ff6c7a-86fd-49cc-bf89-8bf08addadab

Emirates Stadium Thursday 12th June https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-f19db9f6-3b2e-47cd-a89b-ddceb04247ed

Paddington Rec Track Thursday 19th June

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-74f653d1-1801-4f55-85f9-c2df219c122f

Hyde Park Summer Session Thursday 26th June

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-c678ec05-b717-4db9-938c-c77e130dbd37

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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!

Tuesday 3rd June, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House

On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.

Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-lunchtime-sweep-up-task-5f1ac78f-f693-4641-8a28-b3d68dd60124

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Green Guardians Spring Sessions

The Garden Classroom, Newington Green

Wednesday 4th June

Wednesday 11th June

Wednesday 18th June

Wednesday 25th June

Saturday 28th June

Wednesday 2nd July

Wednesday 9th July

Wednesday 16th July

Saturday 26th July

Next session:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-green-guardians-volunteer-morning-86bfefdc-b98d-4d9e-9b20-6c01932c0502

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Market Road Gardens

Tuesday 3rd June

Tuesday 10th June

Tuesday 17th June

Tuesday 24th June

Tuesday 1st July

Tuesday 8th July

Tuesday 15th July

Next Session:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-686791e2-7104-4d1f-a702-a1d044fb2349

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 14th June, 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-march-0d91aa7d-ab72-44e3-b733-c597359ff4be

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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (June)

Saturday 21st June, 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-june

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Penn Road Gardens - June Volunteer Day Sunday 29th June, 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-june-9e600c77-b5a5-4aa8-abeb-c47ddf68b57d

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Matt and Anne were on hand to help tidy up the front garden, which had be one overgrown with grass, brambles and an assortment of other vegetation which was to be removed.

Task Owner, Alice, had already made a start in the week and was glad of the extra help to get the job finished.

As ever, the biggest challenge was what lay beneath the surface, to ensure roots were lifted along with the rest of the plant. And then after extracting the whole plant, shaking the soil off the roots so there was still something to plant fresh flowers and shrubs in. A few interesting 'historical finds' were also made, prompting the questions, how long does it take for a crisp packet to rot?, and when was scaffolding invented? Neither of which anyone could answer, although probably in the case of both, the answer is 'longer than you might think'.

The trio were given encouragement and thanks from the neighbours, as well as the offer of fresh espresso, which although declined, prompted a further question - how much quicker would the task get done if we were fueled by caffeine?

A scientific experiment for another day, perhaps.