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!

BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP...

...what's that, we all said...

...BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP...

...it's a fire alarm, we all realised as we arrived at Ashdown Crescent Sheltered Housing yesterday evening...

...IT'S BEING SORTED...

...we were assured – which it safely was – just as our wonderful group (of Celine, Danny, Hanry, Helen, Emilie, John, Justine, Siobhan, and Steve) got going with multiple tasks in Ashdown's special communal gardens!

Emilie, John, and Siobhan cracked a thirty minute miracle turning an overgrown patio into a serene space to relax - amazing!

Justine and Danny seemed to be constantly filling green bags – they captured weeds, trimmings, and other debris – and their efforts transformed the main entrance way into a space to enjoy - wonderful!

And Celine, Hanry, Helen, and Steve must have dabbled in a little magic to make the difference they did - tired and dead-wood filled planters ended up pruned, spruced, and planted with seeds and blubs - magical!

Thank you so much, everyone! Here's to next time!

There's a distinct odour to gardening in April...

...some people call it mulching...

...others call it preparing the soil...

...but that's not what it smells like...!!

This lovely group - of Andy, Helen, Steve, and Tom - got the full farmyard experience on Tuesday!

Working in the twilight-lit Listening Space Garden (which is gorgeous) in Kentish Town, this group worked with the lovely Jo and Sarah to give the flower and tree beds what they wanted...

..the heavy bags displayed words like mushroom mix and extra special mulch but they didn't smell like either of those things...

...as the bags were cut and poured, and as the 'mix' and 'mulch' was spread, a distinct aroma caught in the breeze...

...call it poop or muck or manure... it was unmistakably new for Camden!!

Thank you, everyone! Your work will give life and nourishment to this very special green space!!

This special group of eight GoodGym folk caught the best of the morning sunshine today, and as they did they also gifted flowers and blooms to the community at Ingestre Road Estate.

Across 90 active and happy minutes, nine recycled planters (from a fancy complex in Battersea) were filled with gravel, lining, compost, and perennials :)

Thank you, everyone, for your time and energy this morning! It was just great to see you!