It was another glorious evening to spend in Tower Hamlets, catching up with one another and enjoying some serious hedge pruning.

Our task tonight...

This evening, Janet and Eileen from the Cranbrook Community Centre had been in touch to see if we could spare an hour or so helping to get the plants trimmed back from the fencing around the Centre.

This busy community centre runs bundles of events for local residents, in-and-around the Roman Road area.

Events are advertised on the fences outside, so when the area is overgrown, it obscures the signs. (Long branches also end up extending over adjacent pavements, which can prove a safety hazard for anyone using the surrounding paths and pavements - particularly when located at eye level).

A can-do attitude

The GoodGymers, having met earlier to run through a short workout in front of the garden, proceeded to grab tools and bin liners, heading to all three areas of the garden with their usual can-do attitude.

Armed with secateurs and loppers, the team strategically positioned themselves around both inside and outside of the garden cutting back bushes, trees, shrubs and weeds to make pavements accessible and fences visible. There was a lot of upper body work involved, and for those tending to the borders, a good amount of squatting too.

Not so fast...

We were about to start the clear-up effort when Janet said, “Great work, let’s make a start on this side now.” And so the whole team headed to the inside area, blitzing dead branches, overhanging hazelnuts – and collecting litter as they went.

The pace quickened and the job completed, with a splendid finale thanks to Emma appearing with an electric fan enquiring (with a totally straight face) what she should do with “…this electric fan I found hanging in a tree?”. Right.

We collected kit, disposed of the last stem and branch, and as usual the team posed patiently for one final pic.

Amazing work!

The shout-outs

As always, shout-outs to the whole team tonight (especially for not leaving until the job was done).

...And a great big GoodGym welcome to Hari, who joined us for a tremendous GoodGym debut! (Great work, Hari - hope to see you again soon).

Next week...

...we’re back to St Leonard’s Priory Park, for some more big gardening activity, complete with pre-task workout.

Until then.