Attending a GoodGym session can, I always think, feel like stepping into two worlds.

In one, you meet lovely, interesting, kindred spirits like Alex, Jackie, John, and Liz, and you connect and share whilst doing something active and giving together.

And in the other, you get to move into the sphere of a wonderful and local community organisation - one you may have often walked past but never looked in - one you may know all about but have never seen things from the inside.

I felt like I had that joy last night as this brilliant group ventured into the gorgeous Calthorpe Community Garden. Sat in the heart of Central London, this garden has been part of and beneficial for the local community for over 40 years. Even in the dark, we felt separate from the surrounding urban hubbub as we trawled its weaving network of green paths and walkways. It's genuinely beautiful there.

Met by the kind and effusive Gaven, who's been part of Calthorpe for some 24 years, we were warmly shown to our tools and task for the evening.

We spent nearly an hour loading wood chip into wheelbarrows, meandering our ways to bare ground, and spreading the chip down neatly and fully. A few of us focused on a few of the raised beds in one corner, whilst Liz worked speedily to transform one of the paths.

Thank you, all, it was wonderful to see you last night! And see you again soon!!

29 GoodGymers ran between 3-6km to help Castlehaven Community Centre and the Calthorpe Project

Welcome along to Liz whose first time it was last night - lovely to have you along!

In the news this week:

1. Well done to Freya and all the other runners who took part in Hackney Half Marathon on Sunday - PLUS well done to our water station squad - good work!
2. There is a long run this weekend starting in Battersea Park and finishing in Richmond Park - see details here.
3. As Sir Tom Benson said last night the GG Olympics is taking place on Saturday 30th June - there will be egg & spoon, the GoodGym Relay and tons of other events. Please enter by 3rd June!

Last night we were helping two amazing community projects in Camden, making a massive impact to our community!

Hayley's write up on the Calthorpe Project:

After a steady 1.2km run to the Calthorpe Project we were met by Rokiah who explained that the main job was carefully dismantling some pallets to be used for upcycling workshops!

Up your cycle!

Planks of wood with holes in required varnishing in order to waterproof them as they were going to be used to grow plants using a hydroponic technique - this is an approach which doesn't use any soil to cultivate the plants. They were to be suspended through mesh through the holes in the wood into liquid fertilizer which the wood would float on, hence the requirement for waterproofing!

The task took over an hour to complete and Rokiah was very pleased!

PB Castlehaven Report:

Meanwhile the rest of the group headed to Castlehaven Community Centre to do some gardening for them, this fantastic centre has projects for older and younger people AND looks after two parks. Upon our arrival everyone played the demonstration game while I got the keys - squats, star jumps & more!

We set to work weeding and clearing an area of 6 trees behind the football pitches. Lots of the pesky moss, weeds and pollen had spread around the area so we set to work removing it. Armed with brushes, trowels and brooms we collected up three buckets of weeds over 30 minutes - looking beautiful!

Beautiful looking pavements you have there!

After returning the tools we headed to Granary Square along the sunny canal for a fitness session - first off a progression run around the square and then a wheelbarrow race to end all wheelbarrow races! Good for the core YO! Hristo & Alex Brown were the winners - woop woop!

As the groups joined together we stretched and headed to the pub. Don't forget it's Imogen's last GoodGym Run with us next week as she moves to LA, come for drinks and fun after the run!

Sign up here for next Wednesday where we'll be off to help Camden Scope Charity Shop.

PB out.