The NATS RSM team gathered in Bethnal Green in the heart of East London today to help out on the Hollybush Estate for their first GoodGym session.

Gathering in pretty Rocky Park, we started the morning with a great intro from Margaret from the Teesdale and Hollybush TRA, who gave us some background on the garden project.

With outdoor space often limited and housing densely packed, shared gardens offer more than just greenery, offering residents a chance to feel connected to where they live.

Margaret and Ash from the estate’s gardening team have been working steadily to transform Rocky Park and the surrounding areas into a space that does just that, turning overlooked corners into bright, usable areas filled with trees, shrubs and garden features.

Many of the trees and plants potted on site today will also be shared with local community groups across the borough.

And so to the task

We initially split into three teams tackling different jobs across the area.

One group worked behind the rear fence, turning tough soil and then preparing an adjacent space for a new log garden. Another team took on the task of potting trees, carefully placing young specimens into pots, ready for delivery to local groups.

At the back of the site, a third team emptied the large compost bays, wheeling barrows of sticks and garden waste to the other side of the park.

Margaret and Ash coordinated the activities and kept spirits high with top refreshments including apples, fruit chews, Creme Eggs, tea, coffee, and juice…

There was nearly a fourth task - digging the ground for a new pond - but the soil turned out to be rock-solid, and the job was reluctantly left for another day.

Finishing with fitness

Having started the session with a warm-up stretch, we ended with a longer cool down, focusing on the muscles most affected by digging, lifting, and wheeling, including lats, pecs, shoulders, and legs.

It was a fantastic morning, summed up by a message from Margaret later in the day exclaiming, “The team were superstars!”
Agreed.

Until next time.