A spud in the mud

4 Goodgymers helped their local community in Tower Hamlets
Lobo
Oliver Rockett
Emma Jones
John Shirley
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Tower Hamlets

Sunday 13th October

Credits
Emma Jones
Emma Jones

REPORT WRITER

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Shirley
John Shirley

SESSION ORGANISER

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Report written by John Shirley

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We embarked on the archetypal GoodGym task - moving something, so it can be moved back later.

What's happened is that the planter beds at Rocky Park were laid, many years ago, in a diagonal formation. But if only they were squarely aligned with the park walls, there'd be room for eight more.

Which, of course, is where GoodGym came in. We were needed to shovel the earth out of the beds, so they could be re-aligned later, then re-filled with earth.

Like a grabber machine at an arcade, Emma's spade dug deep and occasionally came out with a prize - a small potato. Enough attempts, and she'd got enough spuds for a Sunday roast. When added to the aubergines and peppers provided by our hosts at the end, there was enough for a tasty curry!

After two hours, we'd shifted EIGHT TONNES of soil, and additionally Oliver and Lobo had pulled down an unwanted ropey/wooden roof. It only remained for us to check the progress made following our last visit (see pavement picture).

Hmmm, I wonder whether there's a fitness/volunteering organisation who could help at a later date with shovelling the earth back into the beds...


This task supported
Hollybush Estate
Hollybush's ‘Rocky’ Gardens and ‘Strawberry Fields’ orchard are now an established nature reserve with 79 growing spaces

The Hollybush and Teesdale Estate Urban Growers project began in April 2009 in Rocky Park – a disused children’s play area. Now enjoyed by the whole community, the area includes seats and communal herb beds for all to use.

See more

Discuss this report
Oliver Rockett

Sun 13th Oct at 11:01pm

Beautifully written and can't help but notice but it reads like all Lobo and I did was remove some rope 😂

Lobo

Sun 13th Oct at 11:08pm

Oliver, John wrote a different report, highlighting our amazing deeds but definitely suffered from editorial pressure from someone who we might not be able to name here, but we all know who she is!!

John Shirley

Sun 13th Oct at 11:11pm

The "we" shifted eight tonnes of solid soil, is supposed to cover it

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Tower Hamlets

Saturday morning session at The Felix Project's Poplar depot
🗓Saturday 9:30am

Come and kickstart the weekend with one of our most popular tasks!