Do you be-leaf in leaf after leaf?
10 Goodgymers helped their local community in Islington
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Monday 10th October 2022
Credits
Adam O'Riley
BACK MARKER
Jacqui
BACK MARKER
Simon Fitzmaurice
SESSION ORGANISER
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Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
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Our Goodgym Islington crew met up for another smashing evening of group running and green fingered gardening fun at Market Road Gardens. Welcome to our regulars, returning runners and new group run starters (Thanks for coming down, Ryan), and to those who have recently completed awesome running achievements (Adam successfully ran the London Marathon two weeks ago, and Kim ran her first 10km in Victoria Park- well done!).
After a dynamic warm-up and a series of muscle activations, our team ran the 1.3 mile distance to Market Road (following Pankhurst Road, Penn Road Gardens and Caledonian Road). Upon our arrival, we were greeted by our cycling Goodgymmers (Francesca and Emily) and the legend that is Frannie from Octopus Community Network.
Market Road Gardens is a really beautiful permaculture park, combining wild flower beds with public access and local community projects (like the Heywood Adventure Playgrounds and Mencap). Our main task for the evening was to assist with making the main pathways across Market Road Gardens as accessible as possible for all the groups who use the space (children, families, vehicles). Most of our team grabbed rakes, spades and green bags from our gardening shed at the top of the park (next to the lovely old mill float!), and scooped up all of the leaves, moss, mud and green waste from the pathways.
The rest of our crew helped out with clearing the thorns, brambles and nettles from the desire paths surrounding the wild flower gardens. Gloves and long sleeved coats and tops certainly helped with this process, and we were able to make an amazing amount of progress within 45 minutes of graft!
As we wound down our tasks for the evening, we went our separate ways- Area Activator Simon lead a group run back to The Arsenal Community Hub, and then on for our October Social at the fantastic OA Com Tam Vietnamese Restaurant on Holloway Road- exceptional noodles, soup, summer rolls and good times had by all!
NEWS
VI Guide Running with Achilles International at the Emirates Stadium
On Thursday evenings, Achilles International host a group running session with visually impaired runners. All abilities, all paces and always looking for sighted runners interested in trying guide running!
This week, we plan to meet at Arsenal tube station at 6pm, to then host our run at the Emirates Stadium concourse. Every other week in Winter, we visit Paddington Rec Track.
If you would like to shadow a VI runner would like to try your hand at guide running, sign up here:
Mildmay Community Centre Gardening Workout
On Friday evening from 6pm, Area Activator Simon and Dom, the head gardener from Mildmay Community Centre (an incredible Passiv Haus just off Newington Green), will be helping with some strimming, weed whacking, raking and green waste clearing. Classic Goodgym Green Fun!
Post parkrun Community Gardening with Canonbury Square Gardens
On Saturday 15th from 10am-12 midday (perfect for a visit after Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkruns!), Beatrix and the team of resident gardeners will be out for an open volunteering morning in the lovely Canonbury Square Gardens.
Sign up here to get involved:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-october
Camino Ultra London: Epping Forest Aid Station Volunteer Party!
On Saturday 15th October, Area Activator Simon will be helping Camino Ultra (aka Darren Strachan, David Bone and Paula Bedford) at their official Goodgym Aid Station for the Epping Forest 50km Ultra Race!
We will be helping the awesome runners on the green corridor between Wanstead and Epping at Butler's Retreat Café in Chingford, filling water bottles and offering up treats for hungry and thirsty running folks. It will be an absolute blast, and you are welcome to join us here:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/camino-ultra-london-50km-epping-forest-aid-station-party
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Forest Path Building Sundays
CREOS is on of Goodgym Islington's longest running monthly community missions, and is one of our favourites for good reason!
The Friends of Crouch End Open Space will be leading a session of forest path building between Highgate Woods and Muswell Hill on Sunday morning from 11am to 1pm, usually followed by a community picnic with hot drinks, snacks, soup, quiches and occasionally cider. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-october-2022
This task supported
Octopus Community Network is a collaboration between the largest multi-purpose community centres in Islington
We run lots of projects including 'We Can Grow' which encourages food growing on housing estates around Islington as well as engaging with residents to increase environmental literacy and access to outdoor spaces.
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Wed 12th Oct 2022 at 11:03pm
Well done on the ten deeds and the London Marathon! I forgot to look out for you when I was down by Tower Bridge - would've been great to see and cheer you
Join us on our next session
Islington
Joining the lovely resident gardeners at Thornhill Square Gardens for an evening of composting, watering and maintenance
