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!

In the final week before the closure of the community garden, we helped tidy up and pack away the plants and equipment

Eight wonderful GoodGymers enjoyed community last night!

The start of April signaled the light and lengthening evenings, and the end gifted us brightness and heat.

Our group looked wondrously summer-y as we assembled on Cressfield Close in Kentish Town.

Home to the City Farm, this quiet cul-de-sac is also where a happy sheltered housing block sits. Our group has been helping tend their (wonderfully cared for) communal garden for years, and we got quickly to our tasks yesterday.

Guided by ace manager, Cathi, and kind residents, Marie and Michael, we settled into rhythms of conversation and work.

Caitlin and Siobhan filled two new vegetable growing pens with manure, mulch, and compost, and they left them ready for the coming weeks' incoming vegetables!

John and Jackie (later joined by Caitlin and Siobhan) worked their weeding magic on a growing patch that will soon bloom with roses - the difference they made was huge!

And Emilie, Imogen, and Steve visited lovely resident, Kit, and together they removed bag-upon-bag of weeds, shrubs, and vines - they left the space transformed!

Thank you, everyone! This was a special evening to share!

It was great to get out helping the community garden on a gloriously sunny day. We welcomed Charlie, embarking on his first ever Good Deed, . He was quick to get stuck into planting, as well as helping with composting. Meanwhile, Jackie and I set to work clearing weeds from between the paving stones.

We also kept our minds occupied with tales of house renovations and long walks in the sunshine. Charlie took some potatoes away with him; he had to squeeze them into his running belt before jogging home. Perhaps he'll have mashed potato all ready when he gets back...