Tuesday 2nd April
Find out about GoodGym TaskForce
Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
After a glorious Easter weekend, our Goodgym Islington team returned for an unusual Tuesday evening group session, over in Canonbury (sandwiched between Islington and Dalston]. Area Activator Simon met with Dan (running down the canal towpaths in the rain!) and Charlotte (first time attendee- welcome) for a walk/hobble to The Rose Bowl Youth Club on Ramsey Walk.
We were greeted by the lovely Dawn, the top coordinator for this active community hub and after school club, and shown the way to the main playground area. Easter Holidays for local schools have kept the centre busy, so our help is hugely appreciated!
Maggie, Anne and Charlotte were offered a collection of funky looking gardening group tools, and assisted with some super satisfying weeding around a bed of newly planted fruit trees. Charlotte used a special trowel with a serrated edge to dig out some stubborn roots around the unwanted greenery, and Anne used what could only be described as a weed scooper to pop the roots straight out of the ground without having to stretch! Genius!
Maggie was in charge of raking over a bare patch of a former gardening bed, before spreading some new grass seeds across the patch. We might be able to see some growth next time we visit! Dan and Caitlin started the session with some lifting and shifting tasks, and then swept up slippery leaves and debris from the access ramps to the playground (to avoid possible trips and falls).
Together, we pitched in a solid 30 minutes of help in a very wet evening. Congratulations everyone!
We will be visiting Elizabeth House Food Hub next Monday at 6pm to help with local food bank deliveries!
Sign up here to get involved:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-easter-helpers-6pm-start
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
----------------‐---------------------
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!
----‐--------------------------------
Thursday 4th April- Paddington Rec Track, Maida Vale Underground station
Thursday 11th April- Emirates Stadium (Arsenal tube station)
-------------‐---------------------
Thursday 18th April- The Big Battersea Park London Marathon Meet Up!
Thursday 25th April- Stratford Olympic Park
----------------------------‐---
Thursday 2nd May- Green Park
Thursday 9th May- Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground)
-------‐----------------------------
The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Wednesday mornings, 10am - midday, Newington Green
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
Compton Terrace Gardens Volunteer Open Morning - April
Saturday 13th April, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel
Monthly community gardening mornings with the Friends of Compton Terrace Gardens.
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (April)
Saturday 20th April, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 21st April, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our annual trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-april-2024
---------------‐----------‐---------------
Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 28th April, 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.
Night of the 10,000m PBs- Volunteer marshals for the UK athletics party of the year!
Saturday 18th May, 2pm - 10pm, Parliament Hill Track
Help the UK's premier grassroots athletic event go ahead on Parliament Hill!
The event is an annual full day of endurance distance racing with the most competitive runners on the scene. These races have been listed as part of the European 10,000m qualification criteria, so some incredible running will be on show!
Islington
Joining the lovely resident gardeners at Thornhill Square Gardens for an evening of composting, watering and maintenance