On a beautiful summer evening, four GoodGymers set off for a run from Ealing Broadway to Hanwell through quiet back roads towards the Hobbayne Community Gardens.

The space is the result of transforming derelict land beside the Grand Union Canal into 55 mini allotment plots for local people to grow fruit and vegetables. It also serves as a community space and a place to support wildlife, thanks to its pond.

At the destination, Freya, Steph, Sevan and Kash met Christos and tonight's task facilitator, Eli, who manages one of the plots at the site. Eli let us into the allotments and offered a range of tools for our session. The job was to clear an overgrown "secret garden" hidden behind a difficult-to-open gate.

With shears, loppers, rakes, and an hour to spend on intense chopping, we discovered the garden's secrets:

• a shed (with a strimmer locked inside)
• an oar (it was actually a paddle)
• a tennis ball
• a dirty washcloth
• a plum tree growing horizontally
• that the space to clear was three times bigger than we anticipated!

We cleared almost half of the space of grass, brambles, nettles and other undesirable plants. Eli said we've done a brilliant job. Fantastic progress towards transforming a jungle into a newly reclaimed community space!

Next week we'll head towards the opposite side of the borough to show the "wildflower trail" in Acton some love. We will be watering thirsty plants and litter picking. Sign up now!