It was a fantastic evening last night at the Canal Club Community Garden.

With a brilliantly-sized team, the preparation started early as Paul, Dharmesh and John set about tonight’s big greeting effort. As GoodGymers arrived one by one the hall was filled with the sound of animated GoodGymers catching up after the weekend and welcoming new and not-seen-for-a-while faces. A big warm welcome to Beth, who joined for her first GoodGym!

Tonight’s task owners were the brilliant Sally, accompanied by Dominic, who were both unfazed by the size of tonight’s group.

With one team quickly dispatched to the rear garden to help clear the area around the shed and empty the pool, other teams were tasked with a big garden blitz ahead of the big Open House Festival on September 14th. Heading to the canal side garden, the front wildflower patch, the side borders and the rear of the building, it was 45 minutes of diligent, effective weed plucking and clearing.

Thanks to Sue for brilliant project-management at the front of the centre, who thankfully knows her hollyhocks from her hogweed and so the front patch blitz meant all the right plants remained in tact.

As is the case every week at GoodGym, the time flew. With the last bin bag full of soil, weeds and debris dispatched to the lock-up around the corner, we made our way out to the tree in front of the hall (thanks for the location direction, Emma J ;)) before making our way inside for some of Sally’s spectacular lemon drizzle cake and a cuppa.

With this being my final Monday night as your very lucky Area Activator, we enjoyed a real get together both in the hall and at the pub after. Thank you to our wonderful, wonderful Task Force, Ivo and our regular members for an absolutely cracking night to remember.

Next week, we’re back to the pretty gardens on the Parkview Estate to see what DIY and gardening tasks our Des has in store for us…

Until then.

One by one GoodGymers gathered at tonight's task in Clarkson Street.

We were here tonight to help Margaret and Ash of the Teesdale and Hollybush TRA relocate a large mulch pile around the corner in the orchard area of Rocky Park.

Mulch helps the soil stay moist, reduces the need for watering, and keeps weeds in check. In the orchard, mulch protects tree roots, adds nutrients to the soil, and helps fruit trees grow stronger and healthier.

What looked like a manageable pile turned out to higher, denser and wider than it appeared, and so even with numerous wheelbarrow runs across the estate, the mound of mulch remained.

We took turns in filling wheelbarrows and shuttling them along Clarkson Street around the corner where Margaret was steadily raking the mulch across the orchard area.

We boosted step count, worked upper body and honed agility skills wheeling the barrows up the makeshift ramp.

And the time flew.

It seemed like we'd been working for no time at all before we were sweeping residual mulch off the pavement, gathering tools and - get this - enjoying ice lollies courtesy of Margaret.

Having posed for the all-important group shot and voted on the pun (thanks to Rose for tonight's winner - but thanks to Anna​ and the team for some top suggestions too ;) ) we headed out into another warm, sunny June evening.

Next week we're Columbia Road-bound for an SOS, sandpit-emptying task at a local school. Do join if you can!

Until then.

Oof, it was a winter run. We had it all freezing temperatures, patches of ice, cold fingers, and an incredible 42 runners. Proving that Hackney juniors are hardy runners. Parkrun can only happen with volunteers and today was a Good Gym take over. Not only did we help with setting up and packing away, GG energy and enthusiasm lifted everyone's spirits. It was such a great GG team and a highlight was welcoming Jas to her first ever GG mission. Another warm welcome goes to Harvey a GG legend who joined us all the way from Ealing and was a terrific tail walker, making sure no one was left behind. Of course a big shout out to Danya, Jess, John, Lobo, and Nick our local GG's and the heart of the team. We'd be remiss not to say a huge thanks to Mas who took on the role of run director and made us all feel welcome and useful. Whether you were being briefed on how to marshall, or being cheered for running Mas made sure everyone was celebrated. We are grateful for him stepping up and leading so smoothly. All in all a fantastic morning and we can't wait to see more smiles and runners next week. The post parkrun cafe stop was a perfect way to get to know each other better and defrost!

Tonight a good-sized group of GoodGymers headed to the Yurt Cafe at the Royal Foundation of Saint Katharine in Limehouse to help in the exciting last few weeks of this new community garden.

The garden is taking shape nicely, with a new pathway along the side, the monastic garden now housing benches and fruit bushes, and the sides of the garden clear and ready for more planting.

Having started work on this garden at the start of the year, it's been great to see it take shape as the months have gone by: from demolishing sheds and old planters on cold January nights to laying the final barrows on gravel on a balmy July evening, visits to the project in Limehouse, overseen by brilliant task owner Larry, have been a 2024 staple here in Tower Hamlets.

Tonight three teams worked on shovelling gravel, spreading gravel and weeding in-and-around the monastic garden.

By the end of the evening, we weren't sure which was the best workout.

Having assumed weeding would be the gentler task, we realised very early on that tough, well established weeds combined with dry soil meant a claw hammer came in very handy. But then a sidelong glance at wheelbarrows of stones being upended wasn't such an easy gig either.

It was certainly a physical evening, and a fun one too. Welcoming John​ to his first session, it was a splendidly sociable start to the week as usual.

A great effort, team, and I look forward to the next time.

Until then.