10 wonderful GoodGym folk made a green-fingered difference in Kentish Town!

Five of us – Alex, Danny, John, Matt, and Steve – started out from Somers Town yesterday evening.

Matt ran from Battersea Park – John sprinted from Euston Station – Danny ran down from Kentish Town – and Steve wove his usual route up from Bloomsbury!

Together we followed a steady route towards Willingham Terrace (situated in a very hot Kentish Town) and met five others – Alison, Caitlin, Helen, Lydia, and Sarah – each of whom made their own journeys (on foot and bike) to our good-deeding venue.

Hilda has lived on this estate for decades and she's transformed the green spaces – there's a bountiful allotment that was once a verge – and it's all thanks to Hilda's perseverance and creativity.

Yesterday was our second visit and we were focused once again on the communal square's hedgerow.

Weeds were pulled – grass edges were established – and four great big bags of cuttings were collected and disposed.

The difference was huge – and all under an overbearing July sun!

Thank you, everyone!! See you next time!!

Last night, some of us ran, some of us walked, but all of us came together on the Strand with one shared purpose: to get clothes and bedding to those who need it most.

We met with GROAD (Get Rid of and Donate), an incredible grassroots charity that collects and distributes donated essentials—clothes, shoes, bedding—to people experiencing homelessness across London. GROAD plays a vital role in bridging the gap and ensuring items go directly into the hands of those who need them.

While we waited for Andrea with the Groad van packed to the brim with donations we watched with interest all the different organisations coming together to form a real hub of support. There were lots of people providing resources, such as the highly efficient SWAT team (Sikh Welfare & Awareness Team) who were handing out delicious hot food.

As soon as the van was ready everyone quickly pitched in, helping to unload and carry the bundles across the road to where the distribution would take place. Soon, we had everything laid out—jackets, jeans, jumpers, socks, shoes, duvets—ready for people to browse and choose what suited them best.

In just half an hour, the vast majority of the donations were taken. Sadly, we couldn’t quite match the right person with a very fancy red strapless dress—but that’s a mission for another night. After a few high-fives, we said our goodbyes, snapped a quick photo, and then made our way home. If you know anyone who might enjoy GoodGym Westminster please signpost to them to this starter session coming up soon and we also have this great task coming up soon painting the foyer at a community centre.

Great job last night everybody, and thank you!

The London Permaculture Festival is an annual celebration of natural ecosystems, and it's being hosted at Camden's Cecil Sharp House this Sunday!

Which was why our wonderful group – of Alex, Dani, John, Lydia, Nivia, Sarah, Siobhan, and Steve – assembled for an hour of nature-based volunteering!

Our task was to make sure Cecil Sharp's gardens were crisp and tidy, and ready for London's permaculture devotees!

We started amidst a flurry of brooms, rakes, and conversation – under a July sun we swept the paths and combed the lawn – and we filled bag upon bag in short order!

We then turned our attention – en masse – to the entrance gates.

John, Lydia, Sarah, and Siobhan tackled the main pathway – and they made quick thrift of weeds and leaves – leaving things looking perfectly wonderful!

Dani and Nivia focused their efforts on an area under a large tree – and they cleared the debris (and weeds and leaves!) – leaving an inviting shade spot!

And Alex and Steve helped our brilliant host (Susannah) move a chunk of festival fare down to the basement storage!

We finished by piling up bag (upon bag upon bag) of green waste into the van, before meandering off into a gentle evening :)

Thank you, everyone!!