Thornhill Square Gardens
A quiet oasis off Caledonian Road with plenty of space to picnic, rest, read, and walk a dog.
'A quiet oasis off Caledonian Road. Plenty of space (it is the largest square in Islington) to picnic, rest, read, admire the flowers shrubs and trees, and walk a dog. Volunteers, with the council are working to encourage healthy activities, including walking and yoga, and also to improve the diversity of wildlife in the park.'208 GoodGymers have supported Thornhill Square Gardens with 65 tasks.
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Previous sessions
Cargo a go go!
Monday 29th September
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon met with Paul at the Arsenal Community Hub, Benwell Road, for a dynamic warm up and a nice chatty 1.3 mile run to Thornhill Square Gardens. We ran down to Caledonian Road, and into the dark park to meet with resident gardening expert Anna by the community tool shed.
Matt and Eslam caught up with us all, and helped with bringing out wheelbarrows, shovels and forks for our session. The objective was to transfer a pile of donated wood chip over to the rose beds and flower patches towards the south of the park. Paul and Matt used the wheel barrows, while Simon and Eslam used a nice electric e-bike and a collection of hardy sacks to drop off the piles of chip.
Within 45 minutes, the four of us made a significant dent in the huge pile of wood chip, and successfully filled in many patches of exposed soil, ready for the Winter months. Great job everyone!
Newly listed session with Thornhill Square Gardens!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/thornhill-square-gardens-saturday-morning-sessions
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER
Group Run - Thornhill Square Gardens, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th September
Community Mission - Sunnyside Community Gardens, 7.15pm, Sunnyside Community Gardens, Monday 6th October
Group Run - Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 13th October
Community Mission - Light of the World Church Gardening and Painting, 7.15pm, Evershot Road, Monday 20th October
Group Run - Timbuktu Adventure Playground 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th October
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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!
OCTOBER
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 2nd October
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 9th October
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 16th October
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 23rd October
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 30th October
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Track and Towpath - Stepney Green Strides
Thursday 4th October, 7.50am Rinkoff Coffee, Stepney Green Park
Come and join Area Activator and UK Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon for a fun mixed pace training session
Our plan is to meet up outside the legendary Rinkoff Bakery at 7.50am, before enjoying an easy jog and dynamic warm up in Stepney Green Park by 8am.
All paces and abilities welcome!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-stepney-green-strides
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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions
Tuesdays (and a single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday
Market Road Gardens, London N7 9GT
Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Market Road Gardens looking beautiful! All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.
Winter Dates
September 16th, 23rd, 30th
October 7th, 14th, 21st (not 28th!)
November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
December 2nd, 9th and 16th
Next session
Tuesday 30th September: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-38932d33-59d4-4d28-b055-64b1e4c3c1aa
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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions
Wednesdays (and one single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday
TGC Hut, Newington Green Park Building, 2 Newington Green, London, N1 4RF
Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Newington Green tidy and lovely!
All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.
Winter Dates
September - 17th, 24th, and Saturday 27th
October- 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd
November- 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
December- 3rd, 10th and 17th
Next Session
Wednesday 1st October
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Camino Ultra Epping Forest 50km and 25km Eco Trail- Aid Station Superstars 2025!!!
Sunday 4th October, 9am onwards, Rangers Road, Chingford
DaznBone (aka Darren Strachan and David Bone) and the Camino Ultra team are putting together the logistics for their next 50km ultra race (running from Wanstead Flats, up the green corridor to Epping Forest and back), and have invited the Goodgym crew to get involved!
On the course, there will be 4 major aid stops, and we have been invited to take over the first refresh point and the penultimate aid station.
This will involve providing water and snacks to runners of all abilities during the key stages of their race, and to support them with smiling faces and enthusiasm!
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 13th October, 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.
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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day
Saturday 18th October, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington
Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning Saturday 18th October, 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/goodgym-islington-friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning
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Penn Road Gardens - Volunteer Day
Sunday 26th October, 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.
No, I don't want no shrubs
Monday 31st March
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Last night, Area Activator Simon was joined by 7 keen local Goodgymmers for our first group run session of British Summertime! Simon, Luke, Caitlin, Paul and first timer Alice ran 1.3 miles together from the Arsenal Community Hub, up Mackenzie Road and down to the beautiful Thornhill Square Gardens (one of Islington's largest community maintained public parks).
Upon our arrival, resident gardening expert Anna introduced us to a variety of tasks for the night. We split into 3 groups- Matt and Sam (originally from GG Southwark) assisted with rebuilding a dead hedge (a barrier made of fallen branches and trimmings) by the south side of the park. Luke and Paul were given a root pulling challenge around the former rose bush beds- trimming down overgrown foliage, and excavating the long roots to prevent them from reappearing (the hard ground made for difficult work- we even lost a hardy gardening fork in the process!). Caitlin, Alison and Alice helped with weeding the memorial flower bed (very close to the cherry blossom trees we helped to maintain last year! Still going strong and looking healthy!), removing pervasive greenery to make space for more plants. Towards the end of the session, the crew found time to install loads of lovely snowdrops around the bed- hopefully we will see thousands of these growing soon.
We downed tools after just under 50 minutes of effort, and arranged to see Anna again soon. A team of us then celebrated the end of March (and first session with no lights or head torches needed) by visiting The Hemingford Arms for some refreshments. Well done everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN MARCH / APRIL
Community Mission- Barnsbury Square Gardens 7.15pm, Barnsbury Square Gardens Monday 7th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-friends-of-barnsbury-square-gardens
Group Run- Elizabeth House Food Hub 6.15pm (early start), Arsenal Community Hub Monday 14th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-6-15-pm-start-easter-special
Community Mission- Timbuktu Adventure Playground 7.15pm, Timbuktu Adventure Playground, 31 Grenville Road Monday 21st April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-timbuktu-adventure-playground
Group Run- Highbury Quadrant Estate 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 28th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-highbury-quadrant-green-space-garden-maintenance
Community Mission- Sunnyside Community Gardens 7.15pm, Sunnyside Community Gardens, Monday 5th May
Group Run- Sunnyside Community Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 12th May
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-sunnyside-community-gardens-composting
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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!
Green Park Thursday 3rd April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-2ac7d985-4c29-48ba-806a-b17afad7039b
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 10th April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-d35d794a-d813-4cb4-ba66-13782bb31631
Emirates Stadium Thursday 17th April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-a04b2b49-dfb1-46c1-93b8-b4be751fa9f7
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 24th April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-807ac766-ce7f-4496-8589-c8023e7fa0cc
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Track and Towpath Social Running Sessions
Every Wednesday (fortnightly), 7.30am, Mile End Athletics Track
If you are looking for accessible training sessions that can be included in your schedule, then come and join Area Activator Simon for his fortnightly runs.
Track training is always more fun with others, and these are designed to be sociable and open to all!
Structured training sessions, followed by refreshments at The Yurt Café, Limehouse!
Wednesday 2nd April
Wednesday 16th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-8
Wednesday 30th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-9
Wednesday 14th May
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-10
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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 1st April, 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!
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Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Wednesday 2nd April
Wednesday 23rd April
Wednesday 30th April
Wednesday 7th May
Wednesday 14th May
Wednesday 21st May
Next session:
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Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 1st April
Tuesday 22nd April
Tuesday 29th April
Tuesday 6th May
Tuesday 13th May
Tuesday 20th May
Next Session:
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 12th April, 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.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (April)
Saturday 19th April, 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.
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Penn Road Gardens - April Volunteer Day
Sunday 27th April, 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.
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Hackney Half Aid Station and Marshal Volunteering
Sunday 18th May, 7am onwards, Marion Place, Pritchard's Road (TBC)
The team at Motiv Sport have asked if our Goodgym team would be interested assisting with the 2024 Hackney Half Marathon on one of the 6 water and aid stations.
All volunteers that help in 2025 are offered a free place in any of our running events in 2026 (Hackney Half, London 10K, Oxford Half).
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/hackney-half-aid-station-and-marshal-volunteering
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Mack on Track 02: marshals and pacers wanted!
Thursday 22nd May, 6.30pm, London Marathon Community Track, Stratford
Mack on Track is a super inclusive 5000m track running event, with a twist. The objective is to help as many runner as possible get (or come close to) their personal beats for 5km by providing trusted pacers to do so.
The team are looking for helps to assist with registration of participants, alerting runners about when each pace group starts and cheering on the athletes!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/mack-on-track-03-marshals-and-pacers-wanted
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London 10km with Saucony- Water Station Volunteers!
Sunday 13th July, 7.30am onwards, Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH
An incredible event that offers runners to opportunity to race through traffic free streets in the Capital!
Motiv Sports (who also operate the Hackney Half and Oxford Half marathons) have requested Goodgym assistance to help at their 2nd aid station on the day.
Food and water provided, and a free entry for any 2026 event on the Motiv Sports roster will be offered to all volunteers!
Storm-hill Square Gardens
Monday 27th January
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Despite the rain and wind from the recent storms across the country, 6 Goodgymmers spent an evening in Thornhill Square Gardens helping resident gardening expert Anna McKane with useful green maintenance. Our objective was to prepare the gardens for spring time planting and new flowers in one of Islington's largest public parks.
Freddie and Ellen helped with moving a very heavy tree trunk, accidentally left around a patch of annual snow drops around the edge of the park. Only possible with many hands and a plan! Matt lend his efforts to knocking stakes from sawn down branches around a collection of dead hedges. Caitlin and Alison assisted by using secateurs to trim down overgrown brushes, and garden forks to lift long grass from flower beds in the centre of the park. All during some quite wet and windy conditions! Great job everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN FEBRUARY
Group Run- Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 3rd February
Community Mission- Rose Bowl Youth Club 7.15pm, Rose Bowl Youth Club Monday 10th February
Community Mission- Caxton House Community Centre 7.15pm, Caxton House Monday 24th February
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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!
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 30th January https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-db3e1e87-d1e9-4d55-8f34-fd86e1b9101a
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 6th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-7cdb905f-ec50-40f7-9932-ca8debf0354c
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 13th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3f25f419-3aa6-4d75-b192-a9c3d2d4ec2f
JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (February)
Saturday 8th February, 8.45am, ON Running Spitalfields
Every 1st Saturday 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 8.45am (Bag drop, community shoe try ones, run register, chat and catch up!) Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!
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Track and Towpath Social Running Sessions
Every Wednesday (fortnightly), 7.30am, Mile End Athletics Track
If you are looking for accessible training sessions that can be included in your schedule, then come and join Area Activator Simon for his fortnightly runs.
Track training is always more fun with others, and these are designed to be sociable and open to all!
Structured training sessions, followed by refreshments at The Yurt Café, Limehouse!
Wednesday 5th February
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-3
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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 28th January, 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!
Thursday 28th January
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 8th February, 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.
Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Wednesday 29th January
Wednesday 5th February
Wednesday 12th February
Saturday 22nd February
Wednesday 26th February
Next session:
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Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 4th February
Tuesday 11th February
Tuesday 25th February
Next Session:
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Saint John's Garden: Building a Dead Hedge and Garden Maintenance
Saturday 22nd February, 11am - midday, St John's Garden
Friends of St John's Garden community group would LOVE Goodgym's help to build and maintain their dead hedges and as an optional lighter task help sweep the garden paths.
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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
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
Supergrass
Monday 11th November 2024
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Area Activator Simon was joined by Goodgym runners Luke and Emily for a really pleasant jaunt from the Arsenal Community Hub to Thornhill Square Gardens. Together, we embraced the 1.4 mile run up to Caledonian Road, and the swift downhill towards Barnsbury.
Upon our arrival, we spotted the powerful headlamp light of Matt, directing our team over to resident gardening volunteer expert, Anna. Wheelbarrows, spades and forks had been set out specially for our arrival.
Our task for the evening involved clearing out some really hardy and quick growing grass from a collection of flowerbeds across the park. Forks and shovels were required to dig out the stubborn roots remaining in the ground before removing these very tall shoots. Alongside this job, we also helped with weeding a memorial garden on the south side of Thornhill Square, ready for fresh manure and compost to be added before the new year. I expect we will be planting some new bulbs here soon!
We were thrilled to hear that Thornhill Square Gardens had won the Gold Award for Best Park for the Islington Together awards last month. Well deserved considering the care and attention offered by this active community group! Congratulations!
https://thornhillsquare.wordpress.com/
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!
14th November- Emirates Stadium
21st November- Paddington Rec Track
28th November- Stratford Olympic Park
5th December- Paddington Rec Track
12th December- Emirates Stadium
19th December- Paddington Rec Track (and Post Run Xmas Party- The Carlton Tavern)
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 13th November, 10am - 12 midday, Newington Green
Friday 15th November, 12 - 2pm midday, Market Road Gardens
Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 12th 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!
The People's Army- Food Parcel Deliveries
Friday 15th 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.
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.
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
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.
JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (November)
Thursday 5th December, 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-november
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 14th December, 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.
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
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
Currying Favour at Thornhill Square Gardens
Monday 23rd September 2024
Written by Emily (She/her)
I arrived at Thornhill Square at 7:16 to find Luke, Sebastian and Mehmet with Anna standing by a verdant flowerbed. Luke claims he arrived early at 7:05, but my sources have not verified the claim. Anna had shown the guys a “curry plant” (Helichrysum italicum) whose leaves smell like curry, and I was instructed to rub the leaves myself. Sarah arrived shortly and with all our fingers smelling like curry – though Sarah said it smelled like celeriac - we got on with the tasks assigned to us.
There were a few invasive ash trees in the flowerbed that Anna asked us to get rid of, and some weeding along the edge of a path. Me and Sarah left the guys with the ash trees and went to clear the path. We were joined the guys once they had cleared the trees, and over the course of 45 minutes we filled up an entire wheelbarrow of weeds!
At 8:02 we decided to call it a day. Luke finished the job by pulling up a very large weed that he claimed had taken “hours” to pull up. Sebastien emptied the wheelbarrow into the compost and we were finished for the evening.
Anna announced she was “thrilled” with the job done and I must say even in the dark you could see a difference. She also told us that Thornhill Square Gardens may have recently won Islington in Bloom, but she wasn’t sure as nobody was at the ceremony. Well, my independent research has found that Thornhill Square Association did win “Best Park”. Well done, Anna and team!
Digging and levelling
Saturday 7th September 2024
Written by Rob Hallett
Had a great morning at Thornhill Square Gardens, digging up an elder tree, rose bush and thistle bush before levelling the patch and sewing some grass seed down.
Wish I’d taken a ‘before’ photo!
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