Supergrass

4 Goodgymers helped their local community in Islington
Emily Strachan
Luke Burrage
Matt Burton
Simon Fitzmaurice
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Islington

Monday 11th November

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Emily Strachan
Emily Strachan

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Luke Burrage
Luke Burrage

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Simon Fitzmaurice
Simon Fitzmaurice

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Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice

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Area Activator Simon was joined by Goodgym runners Luke and Emily for a really pleasant jaunt from the Arsenal Community Hub to Thornhill Square Gardens. Together, we embraced the 1.4 mile run up to Caledonian Road, and the swift downhill towards Barnsbury.

Upon our arrival, we spotted the powerful headlamp light of Matt, directing our team over to resident gardening volunteer expert, Anna. Wheelbarrows, spades and forks had been set out specially for our arrival.

Our task for the evening involved clearing out some really hardy and quick growing grass from a collection of flowerbeds across the park. Forks and shovels were required to dig out the stubborn roots remaining in the ground before removing these very tall shoots. Alongside this job, we also helped with weeding a memorial garden on the south side of Thornhill Square, ready for fresh manure and compost to be added before the new year. I expect we will be planting some new bulbs here soon!

We were thrilled to hear that Thornhill Square Gardens had won the Gold Award for Best Park for the Islington Together awards last month. Well deserved considering the care and attention offered by this active community group! Congratulations!

https://thornhillsquare.wordpress.com/


GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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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! 

14th November- Emirates Stadium

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-39f89ecd-c162-4aa1-b93b-0a3e00b1a888

21st November- Paddington Rec Track

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3e4fe18b-1587-425c-ac3e-97039179ae8d

28th November- Stratford Olympic Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-c64a89b2-bcb4-4e15-a809-e9f2b1fa47d3

5th December- Paddington Rec Track

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-868bea0c-359b-48f4-8866-1f5f62244e6f

12th December- Emirates Stadium

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-3db3d302-0f0b-49dc-be28-359a0e87147e

19th December- Paddington Rec Track (and Post Run Xmas Party- The Carlton Tavern)

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3cce383e-03ac-42d0-bc57-34a23589082b


Green Guardians Weekly Workdays

Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am - 12 midday, Wednesdays, Fridays and occasional Saturdays

Community garden volunteer drop in sessions organised by a collection of specialists and tutors across the borough. Always day time, with occasional weekend meetings throughout Autumn.

The next sessions are as follows:

Wednesday 13th November, 10am - 12 midday, Newington Green

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-green-guardians-volunteer-morning-b1837d45-57fe-46f5-aeea-7648ebcdaa4b

Friday 15th November, 12 - 2pm midday, Market Road Gardens

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-friday-volunteer-morning-2e7d520a-028c-43b1-8feb-929e3b668c75


Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!

Tuesday 12th November, 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-58dc6754-c986-4e5b-8e40-257d4f4f1ce7


The People's Army- Food Parcel Deliveries

Friday 15th November, 2pm - 4pm, Cressida Road, Archway

The team at The People's Army food bank and community hub are seeking more volunteers for their busy service.

Every Friday, care parcels are prepared for isolated individuals and families in the Archway and Islington boroughs, and delivered by amazing volunteers.

Any assistance for deliveries on foot or by bicycle would be hugely appreciated.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-people-s-army-food-parcel-deliveries-895a4ead-9cee-4832-9c3f-c3e1c4377f40


Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (November)

Saturday 16th November, 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/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-november-51415f7c-08d0-49be-9f36-3f2414efab4c


Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day

Sunday 17th November, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways

Our monthly 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-november-2024


Penn Road Gardens - November Volunteer Day

Sunday 24th November, 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/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-october-fe972325-861b-4af3-a4e4-82b61a524be2


JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (November)

Thursday 5th December, 7 - 7.30am, ON Running Spitalfields

Every 1st Thursday morning of the month, ON Running Spitalfields and JENKI Matcha Café on Brushfield Street will be hosting a 5km social paced group run through East London and by St Katherine's Dock.

Meeting at ON Running Spitalfields store at 7am (Bag drop, community shoe try ones, run register, chat and catch up!)

Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/jenki-matcha-with-on-running-spitalfields-group-november

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 14th December, 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/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-december-581b9c1f-de11-4fa4-a529-ab3d0cc5dd65


Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team

Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025

Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)

Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!

Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!

Fixtures

30th November Uxbridge https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-uxbridge

11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park

8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park


This task supported
Thornhill Square Gardens
A quiet oasis off Caledonian Road with plenty of space to picnic, rest, read, and walk a dog.

'A quiet oasis off Caledonian Road. Plenty of space (it is the largest square in Islington) to picnic, rest, read, admire the flowers shrubs and trees, and walk a dog. Volunteers, with the council are working to encourage healthy activities, including walking and yoga, and also to improve the diversity of wildlife in the park.'

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