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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN OCTOBER

Community Mission - Light of the World Church Gardening and Painting, 7.15pm, Evershot Road, Monday 20th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-light-of-the-world-church-gardening-and-painting-6dff1a8d-898b-4d40-b992-04d7f8567089

Group Run - Timbuktu Adventure Playground 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-return-trip-to-timbuktu-adventure-playground-c04c29e1-19ec-45ae-9e98-de5762c63bbc

Community Mission - Sunnyside Community Gardens, 7.15pm, Monday 3rd November

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-sunnyside-community-gardens-composting-7de5ca9d-b101-4b9d-a16d-c98bc7ca3b5d

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

Paddington Rec Track Thursday 23rd October

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-66e4c4cb-2d0d-4eb8-8f02-20ef5f999096

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 30th October

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-3f7026f3-7a38-455c-b400-329f37edd6c5

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 6th November

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-a8b0fc78-97bf-41ec-a84c-908bcf24c5f8

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Track and Towpath - Victoria Park Reps

Thursday 30th 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 BLAS coffee at 7.50am, before enjoying a dynamic warm up in Victoria Park by 8am. All paces and abilities welcome!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-victoria-park-reps

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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 21st October: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-6f38a32e-ac5c-462f-a37e-f643e78f51c2 —--------------------------

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 22nd October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-green-guardians-volunteer-morning-bb9b2a40-a6c7-4902-9c0d-0cbf004c698f

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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.

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Session Dates

1. Thursday 16th Oct 2025, 10am to 12pm ; planting native wildflower

2. Thursday 13th Nov 2026,10am to 12pm ; planting native bulbs

3. Tuesday 6th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Orchard tree planting with the Orchard Project (with optional free volunteers lunch at 1pm)

4. Tuesday 13th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Wildlife hedge planting

5. Tuesday 20th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation

6. Tuesday 27th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation

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Next session

Thursday 13th November, 10am - 12 midday:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/green-guardians-whittington-park-community-gardening-3673e3d9-2888-477f-89ff-0942d4938542

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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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-october-a8f94271-ac93-4927-92ad-e5562ccd6f00

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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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-november-1e1d62f9-abe7-49b1-97d4-e49ae3eea82b

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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day

Saturday 15th November, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington

Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the objective 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/golden-olden-community-gardens-monthly-volunteer-open-day-362747ab-b255-472c-a0c0-44aee832dbe0

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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning Saturday 15th November, 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-7e302984-bcc6-44d7-8d11-cb1cb816d4cf

We all said it — huddled by Rathmore House Care Home — that this would be a very nice place to call home.

Tucked behind trees on a street with many trees, we headed straight for the hidden (and lovely) garden.

Which is where this special group — Alice, Kathleen, John, Siobhan, and Steve — donned gloves and grabbed tools and got to work for 60 happy minutes :)

Strewn apples were collected and piled, fallen leaves were raked and swept, and the sprawling moss between the cracks was scraped and bagged.

Every space welcomes TLC and this wonderful group gifted it aplenty this morning :)

Nice work, folks! Thank you for a gorgeous morning!

Ten Lovely GoodGym Folk Made a Difference in Camden Town and We Celebrated Jack's Wonderful 50 Good Deeds!!

Truly hidden amidst the electric bustle of Camden Town is an apartment block...

...Camden passersby see the shops and notice the (beautiful) church, but most walk right by the alley that leads to Barnes House Estate...

...although that changed last night as 10 wonderful folk in red were welcomed in by the equally wonderful Dan and Anna!

Our special group - of Alex, Auriela, Emily, Imogen, Kathleen, Jack, John, Michael, and Steve - started by taking in the communal garden's quietness - outside Camden Town bustled, while inside things felt gentler 🧘

Across the next 45 minutes, these lovely people scraped weeds from paving slabs, pulled weeds from grassy patches, and swept weeds into tidy compost bags! The section that looked half-weed, ended looking fresh and cared for!

And last night was an extra special occasion: Jack works in GoodGym HQ and I've seen (and benefited from) his truly excellent work - his efforts make GoodGym what it is - thank you for that, Jack, and thank you for your 50 good deeds!!

Thank you, everyone, and here's to next time!!