Deirdre
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Doing good since July 2025
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Latest activity
Deirdre went on a group run
Mon 13th Oct at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On a wonderfully moody Autumnal evening, Area Activator Simon met with Da Marcus, Deirdre and first timer Camila (welcome!) at the Arsenal Community Hub for a pleasant1.5 mile run up to Elthorne Park, Archway. Hidden around the corner is the fascinating Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground project, set up by local residents and gardening enthusiasts on a former basketball court. The court fell into disrepair, and was forceably shut by Haringey Council due to anti-social behaviour complaints, but a collaboration with volunteers have allowed the court to be transformed into a growing space.
Top volunteer coordinator Eslam was on hand to allow us to access the gardens, and offered us all shovels, spades and forks for our task. The objective this evening was to un-earth two beds of nicely rotted down organic soil (cultivated by our team months ago with coffee chaffs, woodchip and green waste), and turn the material to allow for aeration. Very satisfying to see the results from our hard work paying off!
As an extra task (just in case we had time!), we were requested to unload a whole compost bin of fresh green waste into the beds, and combine the materials as effectively as possible. The six of us made short work of the mulch turning, leaving two compost bins for the gardening team to allocate for future projects.
Great work everyone! Next week, we will be at the Light of the World Church in Stroud Green!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN 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
Community Mission - Sunnyside Community Gardens, 7.15pm, Monday 3rd November
Group Run - Rose Bowl Youth Club Green Graft! 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 10th November
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-rose-bowl-youth-club-green-graft
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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
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 16th October
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 23rd October
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 30th October
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 6th November
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Track and Towpath - Bartlett Park Belters
Thursday 16th October, 7.50am, Poplar Union E14
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 Poplar Union cafe at 7.50am, before enjoying an easy jog and dynamic warm up in Bartlett Park by 8am.
All paces and abilities welcome!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/track-and-towpath-bartlett-park-belters
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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 14th October: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-e5ac8437-8a18-4679-bf4e-ab725a730cda
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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 15th October
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Green Guardians- Whittington Park Sessions
Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions, Whittington Park, Archway
We have six really interesting gardening session happening at Whittington Park. We'll be planting native wild flowers, hedging and bulbs, creating a stumper and planting fruit trees.
These are relaxed friendly sessions where the emphasis is on spending time outside in nature, whilst learning and sharing skills and meeting new people.
The sessions are free and open to all, though under 16's must be with a responsible adult. No experience is needed. We provide tools, gloves, guidance and refreshments.
Session Dates
Thursday 16th Oct 2025, 10am to 12pm ; planting native wildflower
Thursday 13th Nov 2026,10am to 12pm ; planting native bulbs
Tuesday 6th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Orchard tree planting with the Orchard Project (with optional free volunteers lunch at 1pm)
Tuesday 13th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Wildlife hedge planting
Tuesday 20th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
Tuesday 27th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
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Next session
Thursday 16th October, 10am - 12 midday: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/green-guardians-whittington-park-community-gardening
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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.
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 8th November, 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.
Deirdre signed up to a group run.
Mon 13th Oct at 6:45pm
Gardening and clear up near Sunnyside Community Gardens
Read moreDeirdre signed up to a group run.
Mon 6th Oct at 7:15pm
Compost turning for this excellent green space near Elthorne Park!
Read moreDeirdre earned their community cape by completing their first community mission. 🎉
Thursday 2nd October
Community Cape
Deirdre earned their community cape by completing their first community mission.
Deirdre completed a community mission. Instead of watching TV or lying in bed, Deirdre was out there making their community a better place to be. For making that choice they have earned the community cape.
Deirdre went on a community mission
Wed 1st Oct at 6:30pm
Camden Report written by Alex Murtough (he/him)
8 GoodGymers caught the sunset at a woodland garden in Camden!
This wonderful group – Alison, Deirdre (on their first Camden visit – welcome!), Emilie, Imogen, Lydia, Siobhan, and Steve – visited St Paul's Woodland Garden by Camden Square yesterday.
Just a short hop from where Amy Winehouse once lived this special space is a haven for nature and community.
Catherine – our task host – is part of the brilliant Green City Projects team, and they use this space to support people living with mental health difficulties. It was a joy to be there :)
In the race against the dying daylight, everyone kicked swiftly into good-deeding action last night!
The first task was to move a giant pile of bags filled with something called 'hoggin', which Google tells me is a self-binding mixture of clay, sand, and gravel that creates a firm, attractive, and permeable surface, and which I can confirm is very very very heavy!
Not that was a match for this group's muscles, who moved 30+ sacks to a variety of corners in this woodland space :)
Having completed the shifting and the heaving much quicker than anticipated, everyone moved quickly to emptying the 'hoggin', and it really did create firm, attractive, and permeable surfaces!
Thank you so much, everyone! You did a huge and wonderful amount!
Deirdre signed up to a community mission.
Wed 1st Oct at 6:30pm
Join us to support the wonderful Green City Projects team in Camden Square!
Read more
Deirdre went on a group run
Mon 1st Sep at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
After a day of changeable Autumn weather, Area Activator Simon was happy to catch up with a top crew of Goodgym Islington runners after the Bank Holiday Weekend. Together, we enjoyed a pleasant run down Sobell Road, and over to a hidden community plot by Isledon Gardens (maintained by local volunteers Mary and Richard).
Local legend Eslam also cycled over to see us, bringing along a cargo bike full of tools. Spades, forks and even the odd pick-axe!
Our plans for the evening were three fold:
We helped with digging a trench along an already established wood chip path (both sides, approx 8 inches deep). The objective is to plant new supports along the route to maintain its integrity (especially during wet winter months)
After the digging task, we were directed to an alleyway across the road from the gardens. We paired up to safely transport 16 railway sleepers into the gardens. These had been left in place since for many years, but we did a smashing job of preparing them for future projects
Finally, we used our last 10 minutes or so to gather up green waste from around the gardens, and to add it to th compost bins. Using shovels and jutes coffee sacks helped to make short work of our last task!
The volunteer gardening team were thrilled with the amount of progress we had made in just under an hour, especially between a team of 8 keen Goodgymmers!. Well done everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN SEPTEMBER
Community Mission- Light of the World Church Gardening and Painting 7.15pm, Lighthouse Community Centre, Evershot Street, Monday 8th September
Group Run - Caledonian Park- Autumn Path Building 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 15th September
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-caledonian-park-autumn-path-building
Community Mission - Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 7.15pm, Highbury Quadrant Estate Wildflower Gardens, Monday 22nd September
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
—-----------------------------------
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!
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 4th September
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 11th September
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 18th September
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 25th September
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 2th October
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 9th October
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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
—-----------------------------
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.
—-----------------------------
World Clean Up Day - Finsbury Park Plogging with Sustainable Nutrition Academy
Saturday 20th September, 10.30am - 12 midday, The Museum of Homelessness, Finsbury Park
Eslam from the Sustainable Nutrition Academy is leading a litter picking session around Finsbury Park
Together, the plan is to gather litter and rubbish from the perimeter of the park, particularly around fences and hedgerows.
—-----------------------------
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.
—---------------------------
Penn Road Gardens - July Volunteer Day
Sunday 28th September, 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.
—-------------------------------
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!
Deirdre signed up to a group run.
Mon 1st Sep at 6:45pm
A new project with the Sam Morris Nursery and Isledon Gardens
Read moreDeirdre went on a group run
Mon 18th Aug at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
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/
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
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
Group Run- Isledon Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 1st September
—------------------------------------
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!
—-----------------------------------
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
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 28th August
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 4th September
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 11th September
—---------------------------
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.
—--------------------------------------
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
—-----------------------------
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.
—-----------------------------
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.
—---------------------------
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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