13 inspiring GoodGym folk made a wonderful difference in Kentish Town last night!

Some people can distinguish a grass from a weed and a weed from a flower. I am not one of these people.

But many of these intelligent beings... everyone apart from me... were present in our special group!

Our group in red 👉 Alison, Danny (on their first good deed - hello!), Helen, Imogen, Jackie, John, Majid (on their first good deed - huge welcome!), Sarah, Siobhan, Steve, and Will 👉 arrived in Kentish Town (not far from the Prime Minister's house!) to meet the wonderful Hilda (who was also on their first good deed!!) 👉 and we were there to help her cultivate a healthy hedgerow 🌳💚

I watched in awe as this group identified the 'keeps' from the 'get-rids' while also sharing stories and connecting. The weeds were piled – bag upon bag – and the remaining wild flowers and bushes noticeably started to breathe. And I resorted to taking photos and walking up and down in an attempt to look busy.

Across 60 bright evening minutes this group opened space in the hedgerow – and the fruits of their efforts will carry through into June and beyond – this would have taken a single soul 13 hours to match!

Thank you so much, everyone, for a well-spent evening ☺️

Here's to next time!

Before the clocks spring forward, we always know our evening tasks will be dark... yet sometimes... we also hope for the dry!

Yesterday felt like a flipped day of meteorological halves, with the morning bright and warm, and the evening... less so!

The weather didn't, however, dampen our moods and spirits.

Emre, Steve, and I met with smiles outside King's Cross Station, and we took a happy and steady run up through Camden and over to Kentish Town.

We talked about Emre's home in Cyprus, teaching, history, and more! It was a joy to share that time and run together :)

We arrived in Kentish Town just as the sun had fully descended, and we met the wonderful Suzanna who'd arrived with a wise umbrella in hand.

Through the gates into the Willingham Close Estate we went, and we were met by the friendly Hilda and John, who give so much of their time and skills to their community.

Our task - amidst the continuing rain - was to create some breathing space for recently planted hedgerow stalks. We donned our gloves and got to pulling out the surrounding weeds, nettles, and grass, creating the air and room for these new plants to flourish.

Thank you, all, for your work and time - it was cold and wet, yet fun and enjoyable too - and we made a difference yesterday :)