On yet another muggy and humid Monday evening, Area Activator Simon was joined by 3 keen Goodgym runners for a fun social run right down to the Islington / Shoreditch border. Louise, Deirdre and Alice ran together from the Arsenal Community Hub, through Upper Street and down towards Regent's Canal and the City Basin- a solid 2.2 mile run with one slight wrong turn! The canalside was buzzing with activity - folks commuting from Angel or Kings Cross, the Islington Boat Club leading kayak sessions or fellow running groups passing through.

Upon our arrival, we met with Matthew, Mehmet and Eslam, and got straight to work with a variety of tasks laid out by The Friends of Graham Street (aka FROGS). Our first (and most important) task involved using buckets and watering cans to hydrate the community planting beds and allotments around Graham Street Park. We carefully dripped our vessels into the canal water, and made our way to the planting gardens by the open playground (covered in street art by Skeleton Cardboard), and towards the East of the park.

In the meantime, Matthew, Mehmet and Eslam were busy digging out a compost bin, and mixing the contents together (allowing the material to aerate). We used shovels for the initial digging, and forks for the shifting, while pouring more water onto the compost mixture for additional hydration. Towards the end of our session, we successfully piled the fertiliser back into the bin, ready to be cultivated for spring time. Louise and Eslam even washed the tarpaulin covers in the Regents Canal before placing them back in position.

Excellent work, everyone. A really efficient evening for jobs for this lovely community group. Keep your eyes peeled for more sessions on World Clean Up Day on Saturday 20th September!

https://www.worldcleanupday.org/

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN AUGUST

Bank Holiday Special Group Run- Parkland Walk Plogging with Camino Ultra and Trash Free Trails 6.15pm, The Woodman Pub, Highgate Monday 25th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/bank-holiday-plogging-parkland-walk-finsbury-park-with-trash-free-trails

Group Run- Isledon Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 1st September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-isledon-gardens-nature-trail-e1e80f64-79ea-42ab-9d6f-7abc764b3d0d

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Post Group Run Social August- Someday Canteen, Finsbury Park

Monday 25th August, 8.15pm, Someday Canteen, Finsbury Park

Area Activator Simon began leading sessions for Goodgym Islington 6 years ago, taking the reins from Goodgym legend Paul Bown (still active in GG Sheffield). We invite you for good food, excellent refreshments and fun times!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-session-social-area-activator-simon-celebrates-5-years-27ad5928-1bf0-4295-b203-32538e5bed31

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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!

Hyde Park Lancaster Gate Thursday 21st August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-81c756cb-f880-4d4c-bc9d-273db6793f21

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 28th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-f1e7bda3-ccf3-4506-96bc-b1d6c90cdf61

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 4th September

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-0564ad66-99ad-4f45-aa08-2e42959ff2ad

Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 11th September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-cb3577ca-7ca3-4561-8ad9-6b0fec2aefd1

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Penn Road Gardens - July Volunteer Day

Sunday 31st August, 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-august-de813053-fd30-4336-abe6-9266377ac4da

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The Post Big Half After Party

Saturday 7th September, 11.30am onwards, The Mitre, Southwark

Come to the after-party for a social with your fellow GoodGymers and celebrate your achievements!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-big-half-after-party-eed83bcd-77c9-425e-8264-84af1a37ce12

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 13th September, 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-september-804ac5e0-41e6-49f0-8960-0aeb611b1cc4

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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day

Saturday 20th September, 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/golden-olden-community-gardens-monthly-volunteer-open-day-8b35a77f-abc6-48bf-a700-e29f2e7d4dde

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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!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/camino-ultra-epping-forest-50km-and-25km-eco-trail-aid-station-superstars-2025