We explored a special (and new) space for us this week.

Tucked in the shadows of Kentish Town City Farm, Cressfield Close Sheltered Housing is a private haven for its residents.

There's a peace and a quiet in this space, and this tranquility was a welcome calm for our group as we arrived in red on Wednesday.

Met by the super-experienced Cathi, our wonderful group of Alex T, Jackie, Sarah, and Steve swiftly split into groups to tackle overgrown weeds, grasses, and foliage in the residents' private gardens.

Sarah joined Cathi, and they transformed a space across 45 minutes, pulling weeds, scraping moss, and bringing tidiness to the garden!

Alex and Steve went to battle with a hedge that had started to consume a garden - and their work returned the overbearing mass to orderly beauty!

And Jackie and I got to stripping back long grasses and brambles, filling a refuse liner before agreeing to come back soon with more hands and tools!

Thank you, all, for your work and efforts - I really appreciate it :)

To next time!!

We witnessed a beautiful late summer sunset yesterday, and I had the joy of enjoying it alongside 15 wonderful folk :)

Ingestre Road Estate was where our group in red descended. Nestled a few minutes from Tufnell Park, this community housing is set amidst mature trees, lively flower beds, and a great-huge-magnificient (and hidden) woodland. We've helped out here a few times this year, and it was special to come back as we look towards Autumn.

Several of us (Alex T, Chalomi, Ivo, Jack, Jackie, Jenny, John, Marta, Sarah H, Steve, and I) started our evening with meandering run up and through the evening hubbub of Kentish Town - whilst several others (Darren, Emily, Jacob, and Sarah A) had made their own ways on foot and pedals.

Met by the wonderful Pete (who used to head up GoodGym Camden), we swiftly split into teams, each tackling a much-needed task.

We had Team Cut-the-Crap-Out-Of-The-Over-Grown-Area (consisting of Ivo, Jenny, Sarah A, and Sarah H), who absolutely transformed a patch of overgrown weeds and brambles across 30 strenuous minutes!

We had Team Tap>Water>Walk>Trees>Water>Repeat (consisting of Alex T, Darren, Emily, and Steve), who gave a newly planted woodland orchard of apple trees the water they deserve :)

We had Team Turn-Bog-Into-Pond (consisting of Jacob, John, and Marta), who shifted bucket after bucket of fresh sand to a natural water-draining pond, gifting it robustness ahead of the wetter months to come!

We had Team Bramble-2-Wheelbarrow-Ramble (consisting of Chalomi and Jack), who cut back oodles of overhanging bramble and who then traversed ramps, gates, and keen photographers as they carefully transported their towering barrow of cut thorns!

And we had our very own litter-picking maestro, Jackie, who bagged a huge pile of litter from both the estate and woodland :)

To top off our evening, a few of us headed to The Vine for a social natter, where we were also met by the wonderful GoodGym Greenwich AA, Rachel :)

Thank you to Pete for organising such a brilliant suit of tasks - and thank you, all, for your energy, work, and time - I appreciate it!

See you soon!

On a balmy summer's evening we gathered to hear tales of our inspiring and interesting books that we've read recently. After some quick warm ups we headed over to the Hervey Road Sports Field for some more gardening with Annie. We teamed up- team one were the watering crew and we got busy watering all the trees which were struggling in the heat and all of the new shoots and borage which we planted last time we were there. It's lovely to see the progress of the garden and watch the plants grow. The other team did an excellent job weeding around the lavender.

Grateful for an evening of gardening with friends and feeling like we've done some good. Next week we're litter picking in Woolwich and the 28th is our joint task and social with Camden- don't miss it!

Until next time 😊

"Ashdown Crescent, you say?"

"That's right, Ashdown Crescent"

"Ashdown Crescent, neighbour to Queen's Crescent?"

"Oh yes that's the one, Ashdown Crescent right by Queen's Crescent"

"Mmmmm I think I have indeed passed that crescent, the Ashdown Crescent, the one by the Queen's Crescent!"

"Oh yes I should think you have! We all know Ashdown Crescent, the crescent next to the Queen's Crescent"

Which, fellow friends, has been the dialogue in my brain ever since 'Ashdown Crescent' entered my ears. Was this really a real place? Had my life finally become irreparably conjoined with Jane Austen's? Was I actually featuring in an episode of Downton Abbey?

RIGHT - ENOUGH OF THIS SILLINESS - I HAVE AN EVENING OF GOOD DEEDING TO TELL YOU ABOUT!

Nine of us - nine of us without (unless appropriate evidence is forthcoming) regal connections - battled the evening's business to make our ways to this special sheltered housing complex just to the West of Kentish Town. Home to 35 local residents, Ashdown supports independent living and community in a hidden pocket of green just off the main thoroughfare.

Our wonderful group of Alex, Caitlin, Dan, Emilie, Emre, Giulia (on their first good deed - you're very welcome!), Sarah, and Steve mirrored a crack team of altruistic gardening experts. Having been warmly welcomed by Frezghi and Paul, this group needed little more than a blink to divide themselves into productivity.

Alex and Giulia got straight to pruning and weeding an overlooked section of walled garden - Caitlin, Dan, and Emre honed in on the middle bank of the garden, pulling weeds and re-composting - Emilie and Sarah started an evening-long battle with two compost drums in need of emptying and refreshing - and Steve got to work with the largest broom I have ever seen on a GoodGym task.

Over 45 minutes, this group made a material and visible difference, and I know the residents at Ashdown will be grateful! We'll certainly be back this summer to do even more :)

Thank you, all, for your work and energy - it was a joy to see you all!!