Three GoodGym volunteers were out with members of the Stoke Newington User Group to water the young trees on Stoke Newington Common. It was great to have Rosie joining us all the way from Cardiff, and to have Bianca join us for the first time too.

This week, the group adopted a new strategy, supplementing the regular water trolley of contrainers with as many watering cans as volunteers could get their hands on. This allowed the Watering-Can Crew to get started watering the saplings nearest the water source, while the Trolley Team wheeled their canisters to the further flung trees.

The two watering teams converged and joined forces to finish the job in record time.

It was great and it felt good to connect with my community and find out about all the work SNUG does! Looking forward to help out in future activities!

We were back at Stoke Newington Common today, this time watering the young trees planted previously in the year and mulched at the weekend. One GoodGymer joined the Stoke Newington Users Group (SNUG) volunteers to get the job done.

The trolley full or containers was filled with water and the group set off to the furthest away trees, which needed 3 containers of water each. After a refill, the next batch of thirsty trees were tended to. Thereafter, it was time to water the youngest of the trees - those planted earlier this year and still in their protective plastic tubing. They needed just 1/3 of a container each but there were about ten times as many, so there were several trips back and forth to the water tap to refill the containers again. And again....

After 1.5, all trees were hydrated and it was time for the group to head home for some refreshments of their own.

The Stoke Newington Common Users Group (SNUG) were back out on the common today, mulching young trees ahead of the dry summer days. One GoodGymer went along to lend a hand.

Before the group could get started, they needed to collect wheelbarrows, spades and shears from Abney Park Cemetery. From there, the volunteers proceeded across to Stoke Newington Common and the mulch pile. The target was to distribute ALL the mulch by the end of the session.

With barrows filled, the group systematically visited the young trees, weeding around the roots before piling on the mulch - one barrow per tree. Having planted lots of young trees earlier in the year, there was plenty to do, requiring multiple trips back and the forth to the mulch pile.

Within 2 hours, the mulch pile was no more, all the trees were protected and the group were able to get away home before the rain came on.

When I turned up at the agreed start time for dismantling the plant sale, much of the work had been done already. The plant sale had been auch a great success, that Stoke Newington Users Group (SNUG) had sold all their plants and cakes ahead of schedule.

There were still a couple of gazebos to come down and pack away, not to mention stacks of empty crates and chairs and table clothes and other essential paraphernalia to pack into cars and unload at their destination.

Another very successful event over for another year.

It was a glorious day for the Stoke Newington Common Users Group (SNUG) plant sale and three GoodGymmers were on hand to help set up for the day. It was great to meet Kanice and Caroline, both trying out GoodGym for the first time.

Task One was to set up the gazebos, which, as one of the SNUG group pointed out, 'Once you've done one gazebo, you'll discover all the others work slightly differently.' Undeterred, and with our usual problem solving minds switched in, there were soon 5 gazebos of varying height, weight and structure assembled and pegged down.

Task Two was to set up the trestle tables. This required a walk to the local community hall to collect 3x of tables and carry them back to the common. A proper work out indeed!

With the tables in place, Task Three was to make further trips to the homes of various SNUG members to collect their plant donations for sale. A lot of ground was covered, a number of cars were filled and numerous plants were collected and delivered to the common.

The final task was setting out the plants according to category and price. Special attention was required during this work, to remove and unwanted slugs.

The set up plan went smoothly and once everything was ready, the Common was awash with colour and looking fabulous.

All funds made from the event will go towards more trees, hedging and maintenance of Stoke Newington Common.