Monday 20th February 2023
Find out about GoodGym TaskForce
Report written by Laura Williams
A good-sized group gathered around the corner from tonight's task to speed through a short workout.
Balancing on the wall, we sped through incline push ups, leg lowers, tricep dips and the toughest single-leg squats. The team did great. You could have heard a pin drop, but they didn't falter, finishing with the fantastic curtsey lunges.
We then made our way around the corner to the garden entrance to meet Kieran of charity GET OUT, our task owner for the night.
What is GET OUT?
GET OUT is a local charity that believes 'all young people should have the same access to the natural world'. The organisation's programme of surfing, outdoor education and food growing project is designed to 'help overcome the disconnect between young people and the environment'.
Tonight, following a long winter, we were playing gardening catch-up in this well-used local space.
Two teams spent their time on each end of the garden, clearing weeds and preparing the ground for planting and other use by the garden's users. Working tirelessly to pull up weed after weed in poorly-lit areas, the before and after pictures of both areas of the garden were impressive.
Meanwhile at the other end of the garden, three strong participants were keen to tackle the relocation of some seriously heavy paving stones (despite my initial hesitance) and did an absolutely great job. They lifted, wheeled, and broke up slab after slab, speedily moving them to the opposite end of the garden. Having completed the task early, they proceeded to turn a bit of compost as a nice cool-down.
8pm came and went, and by ten past, we were emptying the last of the weeds into the compost, packing up equipment and heading to the fire area (better than it sounds) for our final group shot.
We then said cheerio to Kieran, and made our way back out onto peaceful Harley Grove for a few final stretches after this tough task.
What a great night!
Shout-outs
A big, warm welcome to Davide, whose first GoodGym task this was, and to Alan, whose first Tower Hamlets task this was! A brilliant debut from you both, and we hope to see you again very soon.
...And to our Rosie, who tonight reached her 50th good deed. Well done Rosie!
Next week, we return to Cranbrook Community Food Garden!.
Until then.
Tower Hamlets
We're back to see Janet at the Cranbrook Community Food Garden!