21 runners ran 5k and moved 220 wooden stakes and 220 metal grills to protect 110 trees at a community orchard

The wet and windy conditions and London travel chaos would have been enough to stop even the most hardened runner last night. But it couldn't stop a team of Camden GoodGym runners from pulling on their trainers and heading for Somers Town Community Centre.

Urban Orchard

We were off to help in an urban orchard on Camley Street. Managed by London Orchard Project and Alara Wholefoods this orchard is used by the local community to grow a host of fruit trees. London Orchard Project promotes the growth of orchards- taking over disused land and converting them to grow trees. They then work with the community to harvest the fruit- and encourage other sustainable home growing practises.

A long cut

Due to the closure of the our usual exit from the canal our route was a little longer than expected (sorry y'all) but we arrived refreshed and ready for some hardcore lifting. Our job was a big one- we needed to shift some rolls of metal mesh and a huge pile of wooden stakes from the carpark to the garden at the back of the building.

Chain gang

We initially moved a little slowly- lifting and carrying the load in pairs around the side of the building. However Steve quickly hit upon the idea of a human chain- passing the stakes from person to person all the way down to the storage facility. Despite one of two splinters we smashed through the job- shifting over 240 wooden stakes, and 220 big metal grills in 30mins. Amber from the Orchard Project told us it usually takes her team of 3 people 3 evenings to do the same job! Nice work

Canal run

With temperatures dropping we quickly got back into our running and made a beeline for home. We broke into two teams- one heading straight back and the other took a slightly longer route back along the canal. David, Irina, Steve and Sophie pushed the pace- running to a further bridge and back before turning home.Nice one everyone.