On Monday evening in Stroud Green, Eslam was on hand to help with a smashing community task at The Light of the World Church. The Goodgym Islington crew did a smashing job of lifting, shifting qnd gardening in this lovely hidden green space. Followed by some indoor painting jobs (especially good for these darker evenings- lights and torches are recommended between now and Spring time!).

Well done everyone!

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN SEPTEMBER

Group Run - Caledonian Park- Autumn Path Building 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 15th September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-caledonian-park-autumn-path-building

Community Mission - Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 7.15pm, Highbury Quadrant Estate Wildflower Gardens, Monday 22nd September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-highbury-quadrant-gardening-e8d683c9-f13e-44fa-b3cc-adc3a0c00ec0

Group Run - Thornhill Square Gardens, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-thornhill-square-gardens-a8ed6638-d46f-44f9-a2f5-e26ee2c54c2c

Community Mission - Sunnyside Community Gardens, 7.15pm, Sunnyside Community Gardens, Monday 6th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-sunnyside-community-gardens-composting-9b803a84-1d19-43e4-8092-e6251235aa49

Group Run - Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 13th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-hornsey-rise-kickabout-playground-3b5b7f63-00c1-4a60-ab7e-53786b5e0b12

Community Mission - Light of the World Church Gardening and Painting, 7.15pm, Evershot Road, Monday 20th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-light-of-the-world-church-gardening-and-painting-6dff1a8d-898b-4d40-b992-04d7f8567089

Group Run - Timbuktu Adventure Playground 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-return-trip-to-timbuktu-adventure-playground-c04c29e1-19ec-45ae-9e98-de5762c63bbc

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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!

SEPTEMBER

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 18th September

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-9d007395-3a01-45ab-b1ec-ce34259a8423

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 25th September

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-f0b39538-49b7-4de1-b662-0158c1bda0f0

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OCTOBER

Paddington Rec Track Thursday 2th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-dfcdd250-4f57-4892-8089-82d8a88ee73d

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 9th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-5d840f08-8ceb-4f2a-995b-8aa4ec0a1c1d

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 16th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-fb30d327-a149-4c53-8543-0a8db41a263e

Paddington Rec Track Thursday 23rd October

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-66e4c4cb-2d0d-4eb8-8f02-20ef5f999096

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 30th October

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-3f7026f3-7a38-455c-b400-329f37edd6c5

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Track and Towpath - Mile End Green Bridge Bash

Thursday 18th September, 7.50am Lion Coffee Shop, Burdett Road

Come and join Area Activator and UK Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon for a fun incline trading session Mile End and Limehouse can be a difficult place to find elevation. But this "Kenyan Hills" inspired workout would be smashing for the learning ups and downs. All paces and abilities welcome!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/track-and-towpath-mile-end-green-bridge-bash

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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions

Tuesdays (and a single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday

Market Road Gardens, London N7 9GT

Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Market Road Gardens looking beautiful! All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.

Winter Dates

September 16th, 23rd, 30th

October 7th, 14th, 21st (not 28th!)

November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

December 2nd, 9th and 16th

Next session

Tuesday 16th September:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-0c43500c-125a-439e-87bd-7b0e97577d22

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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions

Wednesdays (and one single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday

TGC Hut, Newington Green Park Building, 2 Newington Green, London, N1 4RF

Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Newington Green tidy and lovely!

All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.

Winter Dates

September - 17th, 24th, and Saturday 27th

October- 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd

November- 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th

December- 3rd, 10th and 17th

Next Session

Wednesday 17th September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-green-guardians-volunteer-morning-12c647c7-829b-4e74-8b40-33368a3d93d2

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World Clean Up Day - Finsbury Park Plogging with Sustainable Nutrition Academy

Saturday 20th September, 10.30am - 12 midday, The Museum of Homelessness, Finsbury Park

Eslam from the Sustainable Nutrition Academy is leading a litter picking session around Finsbury Park

Together, the plan is to gather litter and rubbish from the perimeter of the park, particularly around fences and hedgerows.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/world-clean-up-day-finsbury-park-plogging-with-sustainable-nutrition-academy

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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day

Saturday 20th September, 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/golden-olden-community-gardens-monthly-volunteer-open-day-8b35a77f-abc6-48bf-a700-e29f2e7d4dde

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Penn Road Gardens - July Volunteer Day

Sunday 28th September, 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-september-3c720a70-ea3e-4bb9-921c-56613aaa5268

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Camino Ultra Epping Forest 50km and 25km Eco Trail- Aid Station Superstars 2025!!!

Sunday 4th October, 9am onwards, Rangers Road, Chingford

DaznBone (aka Darren Strachan and David Bone) and the Camino Ultra team are putting together the logistics for their next 50km ultra race (running from Wanstead Flats, up the green corridor to Epping Forest and back), and have invited the Goodgym crew to get involved!

On the course, there will be 4 major aid stops, and we have been invited to take over the first refresh point and the penultimate aid station.

This will involve providing water and snacks to runners of all abilities during the key stages of their race, and to support them with smiling faces and enthusiasm!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/camino-ultra-epping-forest-50km-and-25km-eco-trail-aid-station-superstars-2025

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 13th October, 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-october-9968d47d-0566-44ec-893f-a0aee0bb117b

GoodGym Barnet: A Run, a Ramble, and a Reel

As usual, our GoodGym Barnet group run began at the Phoenix Cinema – our much-loved meeting point and one of Finchley’s cultural treasures. The day had been a washout with heavy rain, but in true GoodGym fashion the skies cleared just in time. Not that it would have put us off – we’re a hardy bunch who don’t let a little water dampen our spirits, especially once we’re moving!

This week we had a special twist: a social night to support the Phoenix Cinema, which has recently announced it’s facing financial challenges. With the warning of “use it or lose it”, it felt more important than ever to show our support. That meant a slightly shorter session than usual, planned to bring us back in time for an evening film together.

For our warm-up we stretched both body and mind, chatting about our favourite films as we loosened up. Mine was the Coen Brothers’ Blood Simple – though I confess I can’t remember most of the others! (Drop yours in the comments – I’d love to know).

We then jogged over to Cherry Tree Woods, just 500m away, to meet Roger and Andras who set us up with our evening’s task: building leaf cages to help create compost for the park. Armed with chicken wire, stakes, and plenty of teamwork, we built two sturdy cages in no time. We also fashioned a rustic forest fence by the playground and even squeezed in a quick burst of bramble bashing before heading back.

After a warm-down at the Phoenix, the real treat awaited: hot chocolates, ice creams, and a trip into the auditorium for Materialists, a thoughtful rom-com exploring how people match (or don’t!) in relationships. Whatever the film’s message, our night’s was clear: we worked hard, did good, and supported a community landmark that absolutely deserves to stay open.

The Phoenix isn’t just our meeting point – it’s one of the oldest continuously running cinemas in the UK, run as a charity, and a vital part of Finchley’s cultural life. If you haven’t been recently, why not treat yourself to a ticket? They’re showing some brilliant films in the coming weeks. Let’s help keep this gem shining.

GoodGym Barnet – Use It or Lose It!

Barnet gathered once more at the Phoenix Cinema, and what a turnout it was – boosted by a bumper crop of first-timers. A big cheer to Keith, Natasha, Billy and Lucie for joining us for the first time. Great to have you with us!

We couldn’t have picked a better meeting point. The Phoenix has been in the local news recently – one of the oldest continuously operating cinemas in the country, but sadly struggling to turn a profit. The trust’s message is clear: use it or lose it. ( just like our fitness ) So, while we meet outside for our runs, why not pop back another night for a classic film, an indie gem, and of course, copious amounts of popcorn?

After a gentle warm-up and a quick bank-holiday-weekend debrief (sunshine featured heavily), we set off through Cherry Tree Woods and on to Highgate Woods, where we met Cindy the Ranger. While waiting, we even managed a bit of gentle yoga in the evening light ( who says GoodGym doesn’t stretch you in every sense!)

Cindy led us to a rather large wooden construction. Picturesque, yes. Useful for biodiversity? Not so much. She explained how deadwood plays a vital role in the woodland ecosystem, supporting fungi, insects, and all sorts of wriggly life. Our task: dismantle the wooden tower and repurpose the material into protective fencing to help new undergrowth regenerate.

Armed with determination (and a limited number of gloves…), we attacked the structure with gusto, soon reducing it to neat piles ready for its next life as woodland fencing. Satisfying work – though possibly more splinter-prone than popcorn-eating!

Shout-outs and Top Tips • Huge welcome again to our new recruits – you smashed your first GoodGym mission. • A little plea: future tasks often involve logs, nettles, or other prickly characters. Treat yourself to a pair of lightweight gardening gloves – they’ll make you look the part and save you some splinters. • With darker evenings on the horizon, a head torch is also a worthy sidekick. You’ll thank yourself when you can see both the path and the nettle patch.

As ever, GoodGym is about more than running – it’s about supporting our local community, green spaces, and charities, many of whom are short of volunteers. By showing up, you remind them that what they do matters. Plus, winter training with GoodGym is secretly brilliant – it’s invigorating, you’ll stay motivated, and honestly… it hardly ever rains (and if it does, you’ll hardly notice!).

So keep coming, keep running, and keep helping. Barnet needs you and so do the trees!

An epic evening once again helping out the lovely volunteers at Shepherds Hill Gardens! Deep summer brought all sorts of fresh and woolly faces together into our flock, from the lesser-spotted Peter to first-timer Marija. Great also to see Memory and Anthony out and about, as well as Phil, who walked to and from the site. And we had a visitor, Emily, joining us from Islington and who may come again given how close the gardens are to her.

Many hands made light work. Our host, Pat, had her arm in a sling, so she wasn't as able to get stuck in as she often does. Sprightly still, she made her way around showing us the various jobs and setting us to work. There was bramble-bashing - taken up by Lucy and Subham; some ivy clearing, which Paul and I had a crack at. And then lots of sweeping and tidying for the others, making the area safer and more inviting for visitors to enjoy. One of the Friends of Shepherds Hill, Joan, meanwhile, gave the area a quick litter pick. And, of course, we were joined by the boundless ball of furry energy that is Gus, who did a good job of sniffing out anything interesting in the bushes we might have missed.

Pat's message of thanks described us as, "A jolly and very hard working crew, who have given us peace of mind." Most welcome and we'll be back again soon!