18 Hackney GoodGymers ran 6k to Abney Park Cemetery to help with the monster project of mapping 200,000 graves!

On the first dark session of the season, we welcomed our 2 GG first timers and armed ourselves head torches before heading 3k into the Stoke Newington wilderness in Abney Park Cemetery!

Meeting Park ranger Tom we tooled up and headed deep into the cemetery (one of London's Magnificent 7).

Our main mission for the evening was to chop down as the ivy and vegetation that was covering the grave stones so that the team of grave mappers can come plot who is buried where in the vast park. There are 200,000 people buried in Abney and the project will run for a year!! Tom offered prizes for best name uncovered and oldest grave! Which upped the anti for our chopping efforts!

We also had a group of shovelers who began prep for the last path in the park to be repaid by scrapping and shifting mud and debris away from the path so the composite gravel and mulch can be laid.

35 minutes of intense action cleared 100 metres of path and 150 Head stones!! Prizes won by Emily for oldest headstone (1842) and Rowena (Ambrose Quail) who picked up official Abney Park rubbers and Pencils!!

Heading back with a little extra zip we got back to the Bakehouse on time to see the film set in full swing!

Next week we will be fence painting so careful on your clothing choices!

Look out for our Parkrun/Mission outing to Hackney Marshes and the Tree Musketeers on 30th of September!!

Have a great week!

Smooth Running

Joel