Wrap a Goodgym t-shirt round the old Arc tree 🌲 🎀
12 Goodgymers helped their local community in Islington
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Monday 17th October 2022
Credits
Annikki Mair
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Islington runner
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Simon Fitzmaurice
SESSION ORGANISER
Patrick Luong
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Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
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As the sun went down across the Islington borough, our Goodgym crew caught outside the Arsenal Community Hub on Benwell Road, ready for our weekly group run. Great to see a mix of returning runners and new faces (congratulations to Paul after his recent marathon exploits!).
We ran together parallel to Holloway Road, and over to Compton Gardens past Union Chapel (a Saturday morning gardening community mission soon to listed on the site- watch this space!). After dropping down from Upper Street and Packington Street, we met up with Will, the head gardener for Packington and Riverside Gardens opposite the Arc Centre, and the rest of our Goodgym team.
Our main objective for the evening was to clear some large heaps of overgrown weeds and shrubs from the roots from 5 trees within Riverside Garden. These trees were originally donated by the Chelsea Flower Show, so we really want to make sure that they are well prepared for the Winter months. Meanwhile, Patrick, Francesca and Nick donned their headtorches and clip lights, and assisted with litter picking around the perimeter of the park (particularly in the bushes nearest to Regent's Canal- lots of bottles and cans rescued from this lovely green space!).
Within 45 minutes of graft, working with portable lights, we successfully completed our garden maintenance help, and really made a difference. After a catch-up chat, our team set off back home via bike, tube and on foot, and Area Activator Simon lead a group back to The Emirates via an alternate route past Essex Road, through Highbury Fields and across Drayton Park. Wonderful stuff- Thank you for joining us, everyone!
Upcoming Goodgym Islington Events
GROUP RUN- Elizabeth House Food Hub Half Term Helpers
Next Monday (24th October), we will be leading our weekly group run (starting at The Arsenal Community Hub) over to one of our favourite community mission spots. Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested our help with delivering additional supplies and parcels to the local community over the school holidays. A smashing way to spend a Monday evening, and one that will make a huge difference to many people.
Sign up here to get involved:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-half-term-helpers
Mildmay Community Centre Evening Gardening Workout
Area Activator Simon will be helping Head Gardener Dom on Friday evening (21st October) with an evening of weed whacking and foliage clearing (using electric strimmers and rakes) on the sloped gardens in this unique carbon neutral Passiv Haus project.
Really good fun! Sign up here:
Halloween Headtorch Run on Hampstead Heath!
Back by popular demand, Area Activator Simon will be leading this year's Halloween headtorch run around Hampstead Heath. Starting and ending at The Bull and Gate in Kentish Town, we will run about 10km around this gorgeous green space in the dark, following the lights from our fellow runners! Friday 28th October, from 6.30pm- all abilities and running paces welcome- this is a social run.
This will be an absolute blast! Sign up here:
GROUP RUN- Thornhill Square Gardens SPOoOoky edition!
Yes! Goodgym Islington will be out for our weekly Group Run on the most terrifying night of the year- Halloween!
We will set off from Arsenal Community Hub at 6.45pm, and run together to Thornhill Square Gardens. Costumes recommended!
and afterwards we plan to enjoy our monthly social with a trip to The Horatia on Holloway Road for delicious Bao baps, traditional pub food and a full range of refreshments.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/spooooky-social-post-group-run-trip-to-the-horatia
Highbury Quadrant Soil and Shingle Shifting
On Wednesday 26th October (6.30pm onwards), Area Activator Simon and Frannie from Octopus Community Network will be out at Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens, filling a collection of newly constructed flower planters with soil, ready for winter bulbs.
Sign up here to help out:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/highbury-quadrant-bonus-shingle-and-soil-shifting
Achilles International Guide Running Group Runs at The Emirates Stadium
For the past few years, AA Simon has been coordinating guide running sessions in Green Park and at Paddington Rec Track on Thursday evenings. This year, we have been able to introduce our sessions to The Emirates Stadium concourse over the Winter months (every fortnight).
We will be meeting our runners at Arsenal tube station on Thursday 27th October at 6pm. Guides of all abilities are welcome- we approach the evening as a group running session, but with visually impaired runners included!
Sign up here to get involved:
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Thu 20th Oct 2022 at 5:23pm
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Islington
A "treasure hunt" style orienteering challenge around the streets of Islington
