After the changeable weather over the weekend, our Goodgym crew were greeted to a pleasant balmy Autumn evening, ready for a group run from the Arsenal Community Hub. Together, we engaged in a series of dynamic warm up drills before running up Hornsey Road, and over to the awesome Timbuktu Adventure Playground on Grenville Road (1.2 miles point to point). Great to catch up with new starter Ryan, new Taskforce member Louis and returning Goodgymmer Erayna on the run, and Thank you to Alice for expert back marking!

Upon our arrival, we met with Eslam at the entrance of the playground, armed with rakes, forks and shovels. Our objective for the evening was to turn as much of the wood chip surface surrounding the climbing frames, swings and trampolines as possible- targeting areas where children will play after school. The process of turning the wood chip helps to bring more oxygen to the soil, and to create safer landing spots of the kids at play.

Our second job involved gathering as many fallen leaves as possible from the play area, while filtering the wood chip from the debris. Our team collected up the green waste in 4 large builder's merchant bags, and succeeded in filling them within our 50 minutes of assistance. Well done everyone!

Great job to all of our Goodgymmers tonight. Check out the rest of our opportunities for tasks, training sessions and socials below!

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN OCTOBER / NOVEMBER

Community Mission - Sunnyside Community Gardens, 7.15pm, Monday 3rd November

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-sunnyside-community-gardens-composting-7de5ca9d-b101-4b9d-a16d-c98bc7ca3b5d

Group Run - Rose Bowl Youth Club Green Graft! 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 10th November

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-rose-bowl-youth-club-green-graft

Community Mission - TBC 7.15pm, Islington Location Monday 17th November

Group Run - Thornhill Square Gardens - Bulb Planting 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 24th November

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-thornhill-square-gardens-bulb-planting

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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions

Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations

On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.

Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!

OCTOBER

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 30th October

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-3f7026f3-7a38-455c-b400-329f37edd6c5

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 6th November

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-a8b0fc78-97bf-41ec-a84c-908bcf24c5f8

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Track and Towpath - Victoria Park Reps

Thursday 16th October, 7.50am, BLAS coffee, Victoria Park

Come and join Area Activator and UK Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon for a fun mixed pace training session

Our plan is to meet up outside BLAS Coffee, Victoria Park cafe at 7.50am, before enjoying an easy jog and dynamic warm up around the South side of Victoria Park by 8am.

All paces and abilities welcome!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/track-and-towpath-victoria-park-reps

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Track and Towpath - Xmas Bouldering Special!

Thursday 4th December, 7.50am, Mile End Climbing Wall

As a celebration for a busy 2025 with Track and Towpath Run Group, we are planning on closing up for Xmas with a special trip to Mile End Climbing Wall.

Just £5 for an off-peak climbing session, open to boulderers of all abilities! Followed by coffee and snacks at the café.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-mile-end-climbing-wall-xmas-special

(Strava group link)

https://strava.app.link/jZ0J8GD9NXb

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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions

Tuesdays (and a single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday

Market Road Gardens, London N7 9GT

Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Market Road Gardens looking beautiful! All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.

Winter Dates

September 16th, 23rd, 30th

October 7th, 14th, 21st (not 28th!)

November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

December 2nd, 9th and 16th

Next session

Tuesday 4th November:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-44b6c959-0920-4aff-ac05-53c71f72cff1

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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions

Wednesdays (and one single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday

TGC Hut, Newington Green Park Building, 2 Newington Green, London, N1 4RF

Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Newington Green tidy and lovely!

All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.

Winter Dates

September - 17th, 24th, and Saturday 27th

October- 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd

November- 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th

December- 3rd, 10th and 17th

Next Session

Wednesday 5th November

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-green-guardians-volunteer-morning-7abbc6d9-5f93-4509-ac74-dad68af28fc9

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Green Guardians- Whittington Park Sessions

Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions, Whittington Park, Archway

We have six really interesting gardening session happening at Whittington Park. We'll be planting native wild flowers, hedging and bulbs, creating a stumper and planting fruit trees.

These are relaxed friendly sessions where the emphasis is on spending time outside in nature, whilst learning and sharing skills and meeting new people.

The sessions are free and open to all, though under 16's must be with a responsible adult. No experience is needed. We provide tools, gloves, guidance and refreshments.

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Session Dates

1. Thursday 16th Oct 2025, 10am to 12pm ; planting native wildflower

2. Thursday 13th Nov 2026,10am to 12pm ; planting native bulbs

3. Tuesday 6th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Orchard tree planting with the Orchard Project (with optional free volunteers lunch at 1pm)

4. Tuesday 13th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Wildlife hedge planting

5. Tuesday 20th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation

6. Tuesday 27th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation

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Next session

Thursday 13th November, 10am - 12 midday:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/green-guardians-whittington-park-community-gardening-3673e3d9-2888-477f-89ff-0942d4938542

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Penn Road Gardens - Volunteer Day

Sunday 2nd November, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens

(Rescheduled from Sunday 26th October)

Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-october-a8f94271-ac93-4927-92ad-e5562ccd6f00

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 8th November, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington

A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!

A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.

Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-november-1e1d62f9-abe7-49b1-97d4-e49ae3eea82b

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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day

Saturday 15th November, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington

Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/golden-olden-community-gardens-monthly-volunteer-open-day-362747ab-b255-472c-a0c0-44aee832dbe0

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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning

Saturday 15th November, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens

The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.

Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-islington-friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-7e302984-bcc6-44d7-8d11-cb1cb816d4cf

Ran halfway there and back but the hill is always a killer. Ms F was glad to see me again after a few weeks. Had the usual frustration with no Breaded Haddock on Thursdays. I’ve got to know the women at checkout quite well by this point. I really appreciated the tea and biscuits at the end.

I was already in the area having ran Highbury Fields parkrun so I stuck about and gave a helping hand with some gardening as the sole representative of GoodGym. Think I did us proud by getting stuck in with some raking and light pruning for three hours straight. The organisers were very clear with their instructions and the shed was very well stocked with tools. A busker was practising on the park bench for the first hour which was a nice bonus. I then decided to stick around and have a good chat with some of the other volunteers over lunch.

Got stuck in with some weeding and moss removal on an overcast Friday morning. Made some solid progress on getting the garden into a better state. Mr P’s daughter was very nice and appreciative of my work. Had a solid chat with Mr P over a ginger beer after I finished in the garden about sport and his early memories of London.