Lismore Circus Community Woods is an urban space in Gospel Oak, staffed by volunteers, which is where we come in. They can always do with some extra help and there were ten of us!

First we had to move a fallen tree. Then we set to work on the hedges, which were growing over footpaths and a cycle path, and were generally looking rather untidy. Fancying ourselves as skilled hairdressers, we thought about working on perms, wedges, buns, braids, and mullets, but in the end just made some nice fringes.

By the time we’d finished, the paths were free of overhanging and overgrown foliage, and the hedges were cut back to leave a proper edge to the path.

A special welcome to Victoria, who we’d previously met at Hampstead ParkRun, and was here for her first ever good deed! See you again soon Victoria.

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!