24 runners ran 5k to shift 90 sacks of woodchip for a community food recycling enterprise

Despite the threat of blustery showers 24 intrepid runners congregated at Somers Town Community Centre to run and do good. This week we were heading to the Maiden Lane Estate in Camden to help a community food recycling group. Foodloop Maiden Lane is a fantastic project- they encourage local residents to save their food waste; recycling it on site and using the compost to help them grow fresh food on the plots doted around the estate.

A-maze-ing offer

The composting process requires a good supply of woodchip but the delivery drivers wont drop it where they need it. Shifting the stuff from one end of the maze-like estate to the other is a pretty difficult job for the small number of volunteers involved- so our offer of help was accepted with open arms!

Trolley Dollys and The Muscle

Following a nice 2km run we arrived at Maiden Lane and were greeted by Robert, Clare and Sabina who run the project. They quickly divided us into 2 teams- 'The Trolley Dollys' and 'The Muscle'. 'The Muscle' were the lifters- filling 15 trolleys and barrows with sacks of woodchip, and emptying them by the recycling hub. 'The Trolleys' had the surprisingly difficult job of pushing the heavy, disobedient trolley's round the twisty estate paths. Jules careered around the estate like a jockey taking a naughty horse to water...

Yackety- yack.. Move them Sacks

We went for it- Iona and Elena ended up pushing trolleys almost as big as themselves, and Max virtually hauled half a tonne himself. In little under 30mins all 90 sacks were shifted and emptied. Robert was delighted- it was enough woodchip to keep going throughout the winter!

Warm sense of achievement

Having finished in record time Clare talked us through the entire recycling process- showing us how the woodchip we had moved would be used by the 'Rocket'; a composting machine that chews up the food waste and woodchip and spits out compost. We left the centre glowing- our efforts had made a real difference and Robert and Clare were delighted.

Canal detour

On the way home we took a slightly longer route home- with some runners pushing themselves a little bit harder along the canal path. We made it back to the centre, stretched, high fived and grabbed all of our gear just before the clock struck 8.30pm. A momentous evening- well done team.