Apologies for belated report but our AA managed to land himself in hospital for a few days pretty much straight after this task. He's on the mend now and hopefully back with us next week. But rest assured our Goodgymmers were absolute heroes last week, lending a hand to the Friends of Finsbury Gardens following a lovely community event the weekend prior. We litter picked to our heart's content. Also, normal service will continue as Sarah takes to crew to Wolves Lane to lead them on a good howling session - join them!

London's community half marathon went red this year! 🔥

A huge congratulations to the oodles of GoodGym folk who caught well-earned happy mornings under a hot-hot-hot late summer sun ☺️

It was the biggest joy seeing you all!

Please send me your photos (!) and I will pop them up here (alexmurtough@goodgym.org) ❤️

9 Goodgymmers delighted in a plethora of prismatic arcs as they lent a hand at the tiny forest in White Hart Rec.

Snatching victory from the soggy jaws of defeat

In what was thoroughly wet, wet and... wet day, our Goodgymmers headed out to Blue House Yard undeterred, ready for a soggy run under the inclement weather. However, proving the old adage right, that if you do good, good things will come to you (and you will get fit?), as soon as we had congregated at the start line, the skyes were tentatively clearing and we ran to White Hart Rec mostly dry. Victory!

We were welcome by Michael from the Friends of Woodside Park who entrusted us with giving this lovely wild space a thorough clean up ahead of an Earthwatch scientific survey that is taking place in the next week or so.

Our Goodgymmers were keen to get started before the rain returned, but we got momentarilly sidetracked by the treat of not one, not two, but (allegedly) three rainbows above us. Either nature was showing off or someone up there is really into our lovely red GG t-shirts and impressive squat form.

There were loads of Insta-ready posing and they were really a beautiful sight to behold.

Alas, the promise of half-drunk cans of G&T and discarded Lime bikes awaited us to remind us that not everything that is green is good for the planet, so our Goodgymmers tore themselves away from the rainbows and litterpicked to their hearts content.

Paul, Mark, and Dave were our most intrepid explorers and headed deep into the heart of the (tiny) jungle, while the rest of the team concentrated on the meeting square area of the site - covered as it were on a large tapestry of cigarrete butts. In true do-gooder syle, we even collected all the detritus that could be recycled on Michael's trusty wheelbarrow and Paul and Veronika made their way across the rec to put it all into a recycling bin. Heroes.

After about 45 mins, and with the heavens heavy with imminent rain, Michael brought our proceedings to an end by thanking us and leaving the door open for us to return whenever we want. A good days was had.

Join us next week as we pay a second visit to the Hornsey Medical Centre to help them create a pleasant space for their patients to relax.

7 Goodgymmers got a clean bill of health at the doctors this week as they lent a hand at the Hornesy Central Nrighbourhood Health Centre

Doctor's Orders

Our wonderful host for the evening kindly sent the list of tasks we achieved at our mission tonight. He says: "sheet mulching open soil with corrugated cardboard, mulching paths with woodchip, reusing a surplus pallet collar to create an instant raised bed, part filling the raised bed with part broken down oak and softwood logs, filling up the bed with part composted brewery waste, planting a selection of mint plants into repurposed Haringey Council Recycling bins, rehoming a beautiful Sedum or Ice Plant, watering in all of the new plants with rainwater."

Can you believe we managed to do all of that in an hour? Never mind the limited access due to the car parked uncomfotably close to the gardens entrance. Highlights of the evening included Julie and Sarah becoming de facto elevators to help get the many wheelbarows used tonight onto the garden, and poor Sam and Gramps in a race to outretch each other as they worked on the massive pile of composted brewery waste. Ooof, what a smell!

In the end, an evening that had threatened to be a damp squib turned into a lovely sunny evening full of fun and games.

I love it when a plan comes together.