A plot to remember

26 Goodgymers helped their local community in Tower Hamlets
John Shirley
Chris Burns
Laura Williams
Rohan
Ruby
Danya Marx
Becky
Lobo
Kareem
Michael
Ilana
Lucinda
Tom Gwillim
Charlie Giattino
Anna Collier
Dan Williams
Abbey
Lance Brogden
Michael Thorpe
Mack Matters
Martin De Lange
Julia Saulez
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Tower Hamlets

Monday 10th February

Credits
John Shirley
John Shirley

WELCOMER

Chris Burns
Chris Burns

PHOTOGRAPHER

Laura Williams
Laura Williams

SESSION ORGANISER

PHOTOGRAPHER

DOCUMENT CHECKER

REPORT WRITER

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Report written by Laura Williams

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It was another chilly Monday evening for 26 willing GoodGymers gathered at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park.

But spirits remained high as we set out to tackle two key gardening activities: clearing brambles and removing ivy from headstones where the new park’s path is set to go.

About the park

  • Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, one of London’s Magnificent Seven cemeteries, serves as a burial ground for over 350,000 people.

  • Today, it also functions as popular local nature reserve. Managed by The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, the park is home to a diverse range of plants, birds, and insects, making it a valuable ecological site.

  • Volunteers play a key support in the park’s efforts to maintain a balance between history and biodiversity.

After the usual brilliant briefing from Ken, we set out to tonight’s spot, wheelbarrows filled with tools.

Brambles and ivy, while valuable to wildlife, can quickly become problematic. Brambles spread rapidly, creating dense growth that obscures headstones and restricts access. Ivy is often seen as an attractive feature, but it can cause damage to both stone surfaces and other plant life.

It was a busy 45 minutes: bramble patches thinned, ivy removed, and many trips made to the waste pile.

The group did well, making a difference in the short space of time they were there.

At shortly after 8, we made our final few wheelbarrow trips, collected tools and headed back to the toolshed for one final pic.

Another great winter night in the borough – well done, everyone.

And a special shout-out to our Rue, who led tonight’s run from the Town Hall Hotel!

Next week we return to Rocky Park, to help Ash and Margaret with The Big Planter Overhaul.

Until then.


This task supported
The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
Looking after the nature reserve and heritage site

The Friends are an independent charity responsible for managing Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, a unique and vital nature reserve and heritage site in East London. Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park offers everyone a breathing space in the heart of East London. This woodland cemetery is a unique place of transformation: a people’s cemetery, a place for remembrance, a sanctuary for humans as well as nature, a place for festivals, field studies and forest schools. Always changing with the seasons, it is rooted in the history of the East End, a place of rich heritage that is full of possibilities and freedom for all.

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Discuss this report
Jacob Harriss

Tue 11th Feb at 1:04pm

Great stuff everyone!

Join us on our next session

Tower Hamlets

The Felix Project Poplar: The Saturday morning slot!
🗓Tomorrow 9:30am

Come and join this friendly, popular volunteeringsession.

Americk Bhakar
One GoodGymer is going