A small but dedicated group of GoodGymers headed to the base of Ocean Youth Connexions in Limehouse this evening.

The Centre is taking shape nicely, with rooms being cleared and painted, toilets given a coat of paint and the yard spruced up.

Oliver and Sam were first to head outside. Armed with paint trays, rollers and overalls they made their way to the dark green container to complete a whopping two coats.

Meanwhile first time GoodGymer Liv headed upstairs with Justin to blitz the toilets in a speedy bathroom-painting double bill.

Charlie headed out to the shutters to start cleaning them for the next big paint job in August.

Ruby cleared the yard of leaves, twigs, soil and bits of litter before bagging and binning the lot.

It was another productive evening with GoodGymers working at an exceptionally fast pace.

At shortly after 8, paint trays were scraped, bins filled, dirty water emptied and pics posed for.

Another lovely night in Limehouse.

As I was leaving I asked Kamal how he managed to get the place looking so good in a relatively short space of time: "GoodGym", he replied, "It's the GoodGymers."

Until next time.

17 GoodGymers spent their Monday evening helping out at the Prospect Walk Allotments just off Meath Gardens.

The task, led by longstanding task owner Catherine (and supported by Des and Liam) was straightforward but much needed: clearing bindweed from fences and cutting back overgrown trees and weeds that had started to take over the borders.

With private gardens often limited locally, allotments are a great asset for locals, but keeping them usable and accessible takes ongoing effort, so it was good to come and lend a hand with the weeding and pruning of the communal areas tonight.

Armed with gloves and tools, the group made a start, unravelling the long vines and clearing the way for light to reach the plots. (Bindweed's spread across large sections of the site, particularly along the fencing, where it tends to cling tightly and block out sunlight).

The team also pruned tree branches, including the wonderfully-named Heavenly Tree, and removed other fast-growing weeds that tend to creep in when left unchecked.

Working for just over an hour, the GoodGymers covered a great section of the site.

At just after 8 we posed for our final pic and made plans to return to a similar task a few doors down next month! A great night with a good turnout (and a big welcome to Nancy, who joined for her first GoodGym session!).

Until next time.

 It was a beautiful evening for a good-sized group of GoodGymers to join Margaret and Ash on the Hollybush Estate last night.

We were once again working in Rocky Park, on the continuation of the overhaul of the community growing site.

(Only recently the Rocky Park Urban Growers were winners of the Tower Hamlets in Bloom award - see trophy in group pic).

Marvelling at how much Margaret and Ash have achieved in the short time since our last visit, we were soon dispatched to four sites across the small area to shovel soil before depositing into newly constructed planters.

Working in small groups of 2 and 3, it was an active, productive and very sociable hour.

After posing for the final picture complete with trophy, we gathered to celebrate Ilana’s birthday with John's phenomenal cake, and Lucinda's mysterious candles, before heading to the pub to continue the celebrations.

We return to Hollybush at the start of June for a Friday night special!

Never mind the Bank Holiday, GoodGym Tower Hamlets were out in good numbers for another visit to Margaret and Ash’s community garden. We met two new Good-Deeders – and 50% of them even managed to find the notoriously tucked-away Rocky Park in time! Good to meet you Ellie and Elena, hope to see you again soon. We also welcomed back Priscila, who was already heading for another GoodGym session the following night. And we congratulated Kitty and Michael on their recent Marathon efforts.

Our main task was to dig three large holes into which to insert olive trees which had outgrown their plant pots. We set to work so quickly that we’d soon excavated three deep, wide pits, into which the trees were carefully re-housed with the addition of some compost, and now have plenty of room to expand and thrive.

Additionally, we were tasked with weeding the neighbouring area, having eventually reached a consensus on the vital question “what is a weed?”. We also picked a few bits of litter which were blighting the area – including an unfortunate rat which had met its end midway across the grass.

Next Monday night we’ll be helping at Ocean Youth Connexions in Limehouse. See https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-big-monday-night-task-may-visit-to-ocean-youth-connexions.

And don’t forget you can join one of our quiz teams at the Coburn, near Mile End and Bow Road stations, next Sunday. Sign up at https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/quiz-time-at-the-coburn.