People arrived in dribs and drabs, all discipline having disappeared from the group, for some reason… But we all put in a good shift, until well after our allotted finish time

Lazar – a Tower Hamlets first-timer – came all the way from Serbia (been there!), via Hackney, where he now lives. Three of us were fresh (or not so fresh) from taking on the Big Half, where another two of tonight’s attendees had been cheering us hoarse from a balcony, to little or no response

Rohan, Lazar and myself set to work shaping a bush, though we resisted any urge to topiary, we just made it look a lot tidier. Ivo got mulching with large bits of cardboard, while Tom mixed paint. Anna and Lobo, from Southern Europe (been there!) via Wapping, roughened up a bench, making it look worse, before turning it into something beautiful with gleaming green paint

Lucinda and Ilana took on all sorts of tasks; they swept cigarette ends and rubbish from the floor into the huge bins, then made a big hole in some earth into which they planted a many-rooted bush. This relieved the frustration on a day when cycling to work proved stressful, with rather a lot of bikes on London’s roads (been there!)

I went with Tom to cover some nearby graffiti, a more artistic task than it sounds, as each brick was to be painted a different shade. Reinforcements – most of the rest of the team – came to help with a hugely satisfying job

Eventually, it was way past eight o’clock and time to return to the estate via a zebra crossing, Anna fulfilling a lifelong ambition to become a lollipop lady. All she needs is a big lollipop - I’d only brought gloves, this time

Meanwhile, oblivious to all this, Ilana and Lucinda were cutting back rose bushes, while trying to avoid falling into those huge bins. Thinking we’d sneaked off home and left them all alone, they already had their bike lights on, when we all appeared from round the corner, said “surprise surprise!” and joined them for the group photo

Join us for more fun next week at Ocean Youth Connexions https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-big-monday-night-task-september-visit-to-ocean-youth-connexions

Later in the month, we’re returning to the Coburn for their Sunday night quiz https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/quiz-night-at-the-coburn

and in October, it’s our last organised walk of the year: from Dover to Folkestone https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/walk-from-dover-to-folkestone

See you soon!

London's community half marathon went red this year! 🔥

A huge congratulations to the oodles of GoodGym folk who caught well-earned happy mornings under a hot-hot-hot late summer sun ☺️

It was the biggest joy seeing you all!

Please send me your photos (!) and I will pop them up here (alexmurtough@goodgym.org) ❤️

What better way to spend a glorious Saturday morning in September than with a spot of apple-tree care in the heart of Bethnal Green? Catherine welcomed 5 of us to Prospect Walk Allotments, a hidden green treasure just off Roman Road, where neat little plots sit alongside a wilder, wildlife-friendly orchard plot.

Our mission was to give three fruitful apple trees a post-summer spruce-up by tackling the jungle of nettles, brambles and weeds at their roots. The aim was to free up space for nutrients to reach the soil – while still keeping the area wild enough to stay a cosy home for bugs and bees.

Armed with gloves, secateurs, comically-small buckets and lots of energy, the team got stuck in. Brambles were wrestled, nettles conquered, and the weeds didn’t stand a chance - especially against Xing (Lucinda’s mum!) who joined us for her very first GoodGym task.
It was an amazing effort and a lot of laughs in the September sun! This one proved that gardening really is a full-body workout!

Allotments like Prospect Walk bring so much joy and value to the community – from fresh produce, fresh air, wellbeing to wildlife. It felt great to leave knowing we’d helped this beautiful space continue to thrive.

We wrapped up by taking a self-timed pic of the 6 of us together, and taking home some rhubarb and rosemary from Catherine!

Well done to all who came 🍏💪 ~ Emma