Goodgym Islington were invited to a new task this evening - always a joy to receive a referral for our help! The crew met up on Holloway Road to catch up before meeting up with Sandy, one of the key helpers at Pollard Close Allotments (great job to Alison and Caitlin for helping in Kentish Town, and to Matt for assisting in Thornhill Square last weekend).

Together we were led through a wiggly pedestrianised passage over to a nondescript metal door. On the other side was a hidden collection of 28 allotment beds formed out of a former car-park next to an electric substation- amazing! Sandy showed us over to a large couple of composting bins, ready to cultivate new soil for planting in Spring. Our task for the night was to make a start on moving all of the freshly rotted compost into builder's merchant bags, and to tip the semi-rotted compost into a new bin- keeping a rotation in motion. The plan is to encourage the rest of the local gardeners to complete the job, after making a solid start this evening.

The team did a smashing job of digging out the compost as best they could- while also finding huge spiders, brightly coloured millipedes, parsnips, russet potatoes and swathes of carpet lodged in between the soil and mulch. All of the vegetables were collected up and distributed between the group for roast dinner additions and winter stews. Within 45 minutes, we successfully filled 1 and a half tonne bags of new compost, ready for planting.

An excellent job well done on a Monday evening- great stuff!

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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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!

Thursday 31st October- Stratford Olympic Park- Runthrough Chase The Moon- Halloween Special

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/achilles-international-runthrough-chase-the-moon-olympic-park-halloween-special

7th November- Paddington Rec Track

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-054f4b1f-94f5-40a0-997a-f78bade1dc12

14th November- Emirates Stadium

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-39f89ecd-c162-4aa1-b93b-0a3e00b1a888

21st November- Paddington Rec Track

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3e4fe18b-1587-425c-ac3e-97039179ae8d

28th November- Stratford Olympic Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-c64a89b2-bcb4-4e15-a809-e9f2b1fa47d3

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JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (November)

Thursday 7th November, 7 - 7.30am, ON Running Spitalfields

Every 1st Thursday morning of the month, ON Running Spitalfields and JENKI Matcha Café on Brushfield Street will be hosting a 5km social paced group run through East London and by St Katherine's Dock.

Meeting at ON Running Spitalfields store at 7am (Bag drop, community shoe try ones, run register, chat and catch up!)

Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/jenki-matcha-with-on-running-spitalfields-group-october-8931c018-4d2c-4abd-8781-30ec6e3594e8

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Green Guardians Weekly Workdays

Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am - 12 midday, Wednesdays, Fridays and occasional Saturdays

Community garden volunteer drop in sessions organised by a collection of specialists and tutors across the borough. Always day time, with occasional weekend meetings throughout Autumn.

The next sessions are as follows:

Wednesday 6th November, 10am - 12 midday, Newington Green

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-green-guardians-volunteer-morning-162d83c6-8131-4abf-8260-34e00428f991

Friday 8th November, 10am - 12 midday, Market Road Gardens

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-friday-volunteer-morning-22f6df7b-99d8-4774-95b4-8d1da4186ac9

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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!

Tuesday 5th November, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House

On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.

Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-lunchtime-sweep-up-task

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The People's Army- Food Parcel Deliveries

Friday 8th November, 2pm - 4pm, Cressida Road, Archway

The team at The People's Army food bank and community hub are seeking more volunteers for their busy service.

Every Friday, care parcels are prepared for isolated individuals and families in the Archway and Islington boroughs, and delivered by amazing volunteers.

Any assistance for deliveries on foot or by bicycle would be hugely appreciated.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-people-s-army-food-parcel-deliveries

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 9th 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-a2e4f504-9d8a-45ff-ad0f-70fee4b72900

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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (November)

Saturday 16th 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/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-november-51415f7c-08d0-49be-9f36-3f2414efab4c

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Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day

Sunday 17th November, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways

Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-november-2024

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Penn Road Gardens - November Volunteer Day

Sunday 24th November, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens

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-fe972325-861b-4af3-a4e4-82b61a524be2

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Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team

Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025

Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)

Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!

Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!

Fixtures

9th November Horsenden Hill https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country

30th November Uxbridge https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-uxbridge

11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park

8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park