The London Permaculture Festival is an annual celebration of natural ecosystems, and it's being hosted at Camden's Cecil Sharp House this Sunday!

Which was why our wonderful group – of Alex, Dani, John, Lydia, Nivia, Sarah, Siobhan, and Steve – assembled for an hour of nature-based volunteering!

Our task was to make sure Cecil Sharp's gardens were crisp and tidy, and ready for London's permaculture devotees!

We started amidst a flurry of brooms, rakes, and conversation – under a July sun we swept the paths and combed the lawn – and we filled bag upon bag in short order!

We then turned our attention – en masse – to the entrance gates.

John, Lydia, Sarah, and Siobhan tackled the main pathway – and they made quick thrift of weeds and leaves – leaving things looking perfectly wonderful!

Dani and Nivia focused their efforts on an area under a large tree – and they cleared the debris (and weeds and leaves!) – leaving an inviting shade spot!

And Alex and Steve helped our brilliant host (Susannah) move a chunk of festival fare down to the basement storage!

We finished by piling up bag (upon bag upon bag) of green waste into the van, before meandering off into a gentle evening :)

Thank you, everyone!!

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? 😉