Combining a little test ride of the old cargo bike with an overdue litter pick that has been annoying me for ages.

Mental note - bring head torch or do in daylight!

The second of our Christmas Tree clear up tasks, exploring the streets of Hackney for the final few stragglers. We dragged a big hoard of trees to the collection skip which was surprisingly empty with trees lying on the ground surrounding it. So for a bonus good deed we hurled many a tree through the air into the skip. It was raining trees and in no time the skip was full. Well done everyone!

Welcome Duncan on first good deed, nice one!

Great to be back helping the residents of Nightingale Estate and well done everyone for braving the cold to join us!

We split in two groups this morning, one group helping to dig up, clear and cut back a communal garden patch which had been neglected. In no time the area was clear and ready for planting 🙌

The second group headed to the Estate's parklet to clear leaves and seperate it from the litter. When I caught up with them they were dragging an industrial size bag full leaves! Smashing it 🔥

Welcome Jess who was on her second good deed of her first goodgym day 👏

And great to meet Goodgymers from different boroughs joining us for this Funday Sunday Task.

Today's chilly London Fields junior parkrun had the support of 6 well-wrapped GoodGymmers to help bring 35 youngsters from start to finish line.

Rue took the role of Run Director today and started the kids off with an incredible Haka to warm up and get motivated for today's epic run. The children (and adults!) got into the spirit and had fun with it - with Rue making special note to respect the Māori roots of the ceremonial dance.

Check out the awesome images!

John, Nick and Jess took on key marshal positions around the course to keep our youngster running safely in the right direction. Sooz managed some precision timekeeping, and Louise (who had already run to parkrun!) bravely took on the role of Tailwalker. This week that required a lot of running, to pick up late comers and catch up with the tail of the course. A lot of kms picked up for Louise's January Challenge pledge!!

A big GoodGym welcome to Jess who came to her first session this morning - and headed on to the FUNDAY SUNDAY task straight after. Well done Jess!

Come along next week and join Rue again to enjoy some wholesome volunteering fun on a Sunday morning.

Great to be back for our first group run of 2025 and even better starting it with a good deed clearing the paths in Hackney! This helps paths become accessible and gives Hackney Council a hand.

In under an hour combined with a social run we managed to clear near around 20 Trees. A fantastic cardio and strength workout.

And welcome Michael and Sibyl to their first Hackney session and for getting stuck in!

Keep an eye out for future group sessions :)

GoodGym was back at Nursing Home to continue helping clear an area of garden for a new pergola and seating area for staff. Today's task was to cut down three large shrubby trees, remove another lower shrub and finish clearing the area of any other vegetation.

The rain kindly eased off, allowing the merry band of 5 GoodGymmers to get stuck in and with an array of tools provided, they did just that.

John and Miranda (undeterred by the weather to attend her first session, showing true GoodGym spirit!) tackled the low height shrub, while Holly and Anne reduced the tree-shrubs to stumps to be extracted in Phase 2.

Two new tonne bags were filled quickly. Varda the task owner had luckily brought her kids who willingly jumped up and down in the bags so we could get more in.

Lobo turned up in time to supervise jumping, advise on pergola dimensions and ultimately take on the grand task of removing the tree-shrub roots with the pickaxe, which everyone else was too scared to use.

Despite a valiant attempt, however, the task left us stumped..... as the roots were far too deep to dig out. Another attempt will be made some other time when an electric saw is added to the collection of available tools.

After an hour or so of hard graft, the task was complete, everyone was caked in mud and very pleased with themselves.

We'll be back at Mary Seacole Nursing Home on Sunday 26th January to put up the pergola. Join us if you can.