The team were back helping volunteers from Stoke Newington Common Users Group (SNUG) with the monthly weeding and plant care. With the ground so dry, we didn't want to disturb it too much. So we agreed to focus on deadheading any flowers that had passed, and getting rid of bindweed. There is always bindweed to be removed. As we worked, we discovered several self-seeded saplings to be pulled up too.

After an hour, there wasn't a strand of bindweed in sight, and with the morning rapidly heating up, we agreed it was time to rehydrate.

Talking of which - we'll be back on the Common Wednesday to water the trees! Would be great if you can join us.

The task owner Kubra gave us a warm welcome. Then it was time for tasking.

The majority of the group got on with turning over the woodchip floor while me and Lizzy got on with weeding under the climbing frame. We managed to cover half the space in the hour which is pretty good going.

Looking forward to finishing off the job next month!

Monday night brought out a magnificent twelve GoodGymers to ARC, with six running with Steph Ducat from Arsenal stadium, and all 12 rolling up their sleeves to get the towpath garden ready for planting out.

While some of us were still buzzing from Sunday's Arsenal Parade, others were visibly relieved that football had packed up for the season - and that this wasn't a week for litter picking!

Amy from ARC marshaled this particular Red Army into action across three fronts: one crew tackled the prickly job of cutting up and bagging thorny hawthorn branches; another set to work building raised beds along the garden border; and new member Devika and I got our hands well and truly dirty turning the compost heap.

The transformation of this little patch - small in size but brilliantly situated - since our last visit is genuinely impressive. A good night's work, a fresh set of raised beds, and all last night's rain should combine to even more progress and growth by our next visit. Bring it on.