Hidden behind a nook - somewhere just north of Camden Town - is a secret garden called Adelaide.

A door that's inconspicuous. A sign that's easily passed. And rows of houses that disguise the scale of what's inside...

...it was our first time visiting Adelaide Community Garden this Wednesday, and as we walked (and walked (and walked)) through this special sanctuary, we were all left wondering: "does this garden have an end?"

Which it did, and which we were all thankful for. Especially as our task, as the light fell, involved scooting up and down the full length of Adelaide's pathways.

This wonderful group - Emily, Gosia, Helen (on their first GG good deed - welcome!!!), Jackie, John, Nivia, Sarah, Siobhan, and Steve - made a huge difference this week!

Our task was to distribute a total of 200 sacks of (freshly delivered) soil and fertiliser - in piles of 7 sacks - to specific named plots.

Cue wheelbarrows ferrying, sacks aloft shoulders, and trolleys busying - and all amidst shouts of plot-owners' names - "I have 2 manures for Marie!" - "can anyone see Brian's, I have 3 sacks of fertiliser!" - etc!!

As night truly landed, our happy group finished this mammoth task. It made a big difference, and it was an evening filled with fun, connection, and teamwork!!

Here's to next time!!

As today's gloomy light faded, one wonderful group - Emilie, Gosia, Jackie (on their first GoodGym good deed - welcome!!!), Jacqui, Nivia, and Steve - stood by 1 pallet of rocks ⛰️ + 1 (huge) pallet of compost 🏋️ + 1 (giant) sack of mulch 🐂

I couldn't shake the thought - it was the only thought I had - that we must simply (mistakenly) have turned up to Camden's Strongest Voluntary Group.

This collection of heavy things was positioned outside the Caversham NHS Practice in Kentish Town - an unlikely destination for Camden's Strongest Voluntary Group (it's usually held in an out-of-town industrial estate) - and we were there to ferry ⛴️ this collection of garden essentials to the Caversham's quite beautiful Listening Space garden.

While I scoped things out (searching for other voluntary groups lifting weights and pumping iron) this ace group made light, happy, and swift work of everything. The route between the pile and the garden became a flurry of wheelbarrowing + carrying + running + laughing. My dry day became bright, and all because of these lovely people.

Finishing early and with smiles, we said our goodbyes to Jo and the Caversham (now home to rocks, compost, and mulch), and we all agreed how good it will be to visit again soon ☺️

This Saturday, Camden GoodGym members Nivia, Pete, Gabrielle, and the dynamic duo, the Super Twins Alex and Steve, dug deep into their gardening powers at the Ingestre Community Centre's woodland oasis. With trowels in hand and determination in spades, they turned the space into a blooming masterpiece!

Our green-fingered heroes got stuck into the dirty work, spreading fresh soil to nurture new plants and rejuvenate the woodland area. It was a muddy mission, but their teamwork and humor made it feel less like a chore and more like a garden party! 🌟

Once the groundwork was laid (literally), the group replanted herbs and spruced up the space, leaving it looking vibrant and inviting for the local community to enjoy. A daunting task at first, it was no match for their can-do attitude—they absolutely nailed it in a jiffy!

The morning wrapped up with well-earned teas, biscuits, and chatter, as everyone shared laughs and stories from the week. 🍵🍪

A huge thank you to everyone who lent a hand and to Ingestre Community Centre for the warm hospitality. Together, we’re not just planting seeds—we’re growing community spirit! 🌷💚

Who's up for round two next time? 😉

The English Dance and Song Society, situated at in the heart of Camden, is a registered charity which relies on wedding hire to make ends meet. Marriage ceremonies rely on good pictures, and the beautiful Cecil Sharp House and gardens, the society’s HQ, needs to be kept looking smart and well maintained.

Which is where GoodGym Camden came in. To clear the grounds of fallen leaves, which look a mess and prevent the grass from flourishing, we used a mixture of a rake, two brooms, a large leaf grabber and – for the first time, in my experience - a leaf blower, as used by the local council and which we’ve all secretly wanted a go on. This meant we could clear the grass of stifling leaves without the rather crude raking which risks harming the turf itself. The leaves were blown onto the paths, to join their fellow fallen, which were then all swept and raked into strong plastic bags.

The six GoodGymers joined over-worked task owner Susannah with clearing the back lawn, but such was our speed and hard work, we had time to clear the front of the building, and then to tackle the side paths as well. By the time we’d finished, we’d filled about twenty bags with leaves, and it only remained to somehow cram them into Susannah’s car, for transporting to the recycling centre.

A special welcome to Rose, taking on her first ever GoodGym task tonight. We look forward seeing you again for many more Good Deeds!

We've got further tasks next Wednesday evening https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friendly-group-session-setting-up-the-cold-weather-shelter-at-the-american-international-church,

on Saturday week https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friendly-group-session-moving-timbers-digging-earth-autumn-gardening-at-st-cuthbert-s-church,

and every Wednesday lunchtime! https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/help-a-green-environmental-project-2c4dfb10-3e02-4987-9a2d-a169b836f988

YouTube - if you ask for the right things - is quite the haven for gardening advice.

You can learn to mow and grow - or weed and seed - and there's a particularly healthy glut of guidance on planting.

I know this because I started my Saturday by searching (YouTube): how to plant bulbs

I watched several videos.

I was particularly impressed with Geoff from Australia, who demonstrated every conceivable tool one could use to dig a hole (for a bulb), before I realised his real interest was to sell the BULB-DEMON-2000 (which does, I admit, drill a hole in perhaps 2 seconds)

I left for the special Barnfield and Woodfield Estate feeling decidedly under-confident, especially without a BULB-DEMON-2000

Yet my anxieties were calmed as I met Mike, Lucy and Sedef (on their first GoodGym good deeds - a huge welcome!!), and we started the morning by collecting spades and taking them to a freshly mown autumn lawn.

We were soon joined by Alison, Caitlin, Cherian, and Nivia, and Mike (with my anxiety fading) showed us the bulb-planting to-dos with calm and poise. And I nodded in a way that suggested I knew all about this.

Dividing gorgeous spring bulbs (delectable types of daffodil) and spades, our group (with Barnfield resident, Callum, and Steve joining too) swiftly got to digging turf pockets, making roomy space, and planting our spring flowers to come.

With pastries and coffee to finish, we said our farewells :)

I feel excited about returning in March to see what nature does with our efforts! Thank you so much, everyone, for your time and work - I had a super lovely time and hope you did too!

Here's to next time!