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Mon 23rd Jun at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
It was wonderful to have so many participants for our group run session to Highbury Quadrant Estate on Monday evening! 11 Goodgymmers (including first timer Lazar - welcome!) helped local volunteer coordinator Frannie and the team at Elizabeth House with a variety of green fingered tasks around the woodland gardens.
4 Goodgym runners joined Area Activator Simon for a warm up on the Emirates Stadium slopes, and a pleasant (if slightly hilly) run towards Clissold Park. Together, we gathered in the Wildflower Meadow community space, ready to assist the local residents (and to pet a 2 year old Border Terrier called Bernie- she was very friendly and was keen to meet new visitors!).
Group 1 were requested to pull on some gardening gloves, and to help with releasing rainwater from two large water butts next to the tool shed. The butts were in need of a clean, but we wanted to thoroughly drench all of the growing beds first to give the fruits, vegetables and flowers the best chance of surviving this very hot weather. A big job, but completed by the Goodgym team!
Group 2 started with using loppers to chop down the overgrown ivy surrounding the brick walls of the Wildflower gardens. Then, the rest of the crew used hoes, secateurs and rakes to gather up as much green waste as possible from the connected garden spaces. Anne and Matt took on the top garden, while Rosie and Michael (who completed his 50th good deed with us tonight! Congratulations!) made short work of the pathways by the allotments.
We did an amazing amount of work within 50 minutes - stellar job Goodgym folks! To celebrate, we ran back to the Arsenal Community Hub, and enjoyed a post group run social at The Tollington Arms. Highly recommended for delicious Thai cuisine and good times!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN JUNE AND JULY
Group Walk!- Light of the World Church Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 30th June
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-light-of-the-world-church-gardening-project
Note: We will be walking from Arsenal Community Hub at 6.45pm sharp to arrive at Light of the World Church Gardens for 7.15pm!
Community Mission- Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground, 7.15pm, Hornsey Rise, Monday 7th July
Community Mission- Timbuktu Adventure Playground 7.15pm, Grenville Road, Islington, Monday 14th July
Group Run- Isledon Gardens Nature Trail 6.45pm, Isledon Gardens, Parkside Crescent, Monday 21st July
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-isledon-gardens-nature-trail
Community Mission- Highbury Quadrant Estate 7.15pm, Highbury Quadrant Estate, Monday 28th July
Group Run- Market Road Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 4th August
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-market-road-gardens-with-elizabeth-house
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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!
Hyde Park Summer Session Thursday 26th June
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 3rd July
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 10th July
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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 1st July, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
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Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Wednesday 25th June
Saturday 28th June
Wednesday 2nd July
Wednesday 9th July
Wednesday 16th July
Saturday 26th July
Next session:
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Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 1st July
Tuesday 8th July
Tuesday 15th July
Next Session:
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Penn Road Gardens - June Volunteer Day
Sunday 29th June, 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/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-june-9e600c77-b5a5-4aa8-abeb-c47ddf68b57d
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Elizabeth House Food Hub - Blue Day Leafleting Campaign
Saturday 12th July, 10.30am - 1.30pm, Elizabeth House Food Hub
A session of distributing flyers across the Islington, Finsbury Park and Highbury boroughs to promote the amazing work by Elizabeth House Food Hub. Great to attend after parkrun!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-blue-day-leafleting-campaign
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 12th July, 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.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (July)
Saturday 19th July, 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.
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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day
Saturday 19th July, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington
Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object 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.
Mon 23rd Jun at 6:45pm
Back at Highbury Quadrant to cultivate this lovely community garden space
Read moreMon 19th May at 7:15pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On Monday evening (after the incredible Hackney Half on Sunday- read the report here ), 5 Goodgymmers met Area Activator Simon and Elizabeth House gardening expert Frannie at the lovely Highbury Quadrant Estate near Clissold Park. We were grateful for having a keen team with us, as we had an abundance of tasks to take on!
The resident gardening team have been extremely busy preparing the garden space for London Open Gardens on 7th - 8th June 2025 (find out more here: https://londongardenstrust.org/log2025/gardens/HighburyQ.html), so engaging with Goodgym to offer some extra hands proved to be very helpful! Matt and Vic were taken on a tour of the immediate estates with Frannie, to install banners to advertise the open day. These were fitted using cable ties to multiple railings and walls to spread the word.
In the meantime, Simon, Sarah and Mehmet picked up gardening forks, hoes and wheelbarrows to help with clearing the woodland play area of weeds and green waste. The plan was to flatten out the surface closest to one of the side entrances to establish a spot for a safe fire pit, and a seating area made of logs. We also planned to re-use an old children's kitchen counter (a toy one made of wood) to make a "mud kitchen" outdoor play area for local kids.
When Matt, Vic and Frannie returned, our team picked up the old wooden kitchen counter, and carefully lifted the structure through 2 gates, up some stairs and into the woodland orchard gardens. It slotted perfectly into the area we just prepared, and thankfully stayed nice and steady! As a final task for the evening, we laid out some logs around the perimeter of the play area to encourage children to sit and relax in nature.
Well done everyone on completing some heavy lifting and presentation jobs- hugely appreciated by the residents of Highbury Quadrant Estate!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN MAY
Group Run- Camden Estate Gardens Bank Holiday Session - No Bag Drop! 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 26th May
Community Mission- Camden Estate Gardens 7.15pm, Camden Estate Gardens, Rowstock Gardens Monday 2nd June
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-camden-estate-community-food-gardens
Group Run- Everleigh Gardens Compost Turning 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 9th June
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-everleigh-gardens-compost-turning-heroes
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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!
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 22nd May https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-addfc9c2-e2a4-4d39-ac0d-e580031471d8
Stratford Olympic Park (and Runthrough Relays) Thursday 29th May https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-and-runthrough-relays
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 5th June https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-a3ff6c7a-86fd-49cc-bf89-8bf08addadab
Emirates Stadium Thursday 12th June https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-f19db9f6-3b2e-47cd-a89b-ddceb04247ed
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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 27th May, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
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The Garden Classroom- Brickworks Community Roof Garden Session
Friday 23rd May, 10am - 12 midday, Brickworks Community Centre, Crouch Hill
Join us at Brickworks Community Centre to help create a Sensory Garden! This hands-on event will bring together volunteers to plant, design, and beautify this new space
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just looking to get your hands dirty, we welcome all skill levels. Come together with your community to make a lasting impact on our shared space. Let's grow something beautiful together!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-brickworks-community-roof-garden
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Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Wednesday 21st May
Wednesday 4th June
Wednesday 11th June
Wednesday 18th June
Wednesday 25th June
Saturday 28th June
Wednesday 2nd July
Wednesday 9th July
Wednesday 16th July
Saturday 26th July
Next session:
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Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 3rd June
Tuesday 10th June
Tuesday 17th June
Tuesday 24th June
Tuesday 1st July
Tuesday 8th July
Tuesday 15th July
Next Session:
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Mack on Track 02: marshals and pacers wanted!
Thursday 22nd May, 6.30pm, London Marathon Community Track, Stratford
Mack on Track is a super inclusive 5000m track running event, with a twist. The objective is to help as many runner as possible get (or come close to) their personal beats for 5km by providing trusted pacers to do so.
The team are looking for helps to assist with registration of participants, alerting runners about when each pace group starts and cheering on the athletes!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/mack-on-track-03-marshals-and-pacers-wanted
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Penn Road Gardens - April Volunteer Day
Sunday 27th May, 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/wwf-x-goodgym-islington-penn-road-gardens-open-morning-may
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (June)
Saturday 21st June, 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.
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London 10km with Saucony- Water Station Volunteers!
Sunday 13th July, 7.30am onwards, Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH
An incredible event that offers runners to opportunity to race through traffic free streets in the Capital!
Motiv Sports (who also operate the Hackney Half and Oxford Half marathons) have requested Goodgym assistance to help at their 2nd aid station on the day.
Food and water provided, and a free entry for any 2026 event on the Motiv Sports roster will be offered to all volunteers!
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Free Training Plans and Coaching for The Big Half
Apply by 2nd June 2025
Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon is offering 3 spots for 1-to-1 run coaching for Goodgymmers
Simon has been leading group runs, training sessions and workouts for over 10 years, and has been qualified as a Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF) since 2017 and Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) since 2019.
To further his practice, he is looking to broaden his coaching portfolio by offering free coaching and training plans for Goodgymmers signed up for The Big Half 2025 (Sunday 7th September).
Open to 3 Goodgymmers only.
This opportunity includes:
A personalised 10 week training plan (starting from Monday 30th June)
Weekly calls or messages (dependent on time requirements of you, the athlete) to check on progress, and well-being
Open to runners of all abilities and looking objectives!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/free-training-plans-and-coaching-for-the-big-half
Mon 19th May at 7:15pm
Helping Frannie from Elizabeth House with this lovely urban garden space
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