A mild, bright evening saw 17 GoodGymers head to Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park for a goose-grass and cow parsley bonanza tonight.

We started with 15 minutes of fitness outside the park office, which saw us welcome Nick to his first GoodGym, joined shortly by fellow first timers, Nia and Becky.

Speeding through the weekly lunge selection; adding in a little light upper body work, and finishing with a range of stretches, we managed to get through quite a lot in a short space of time.

Heading over to the well-stocked tool shed, we were greeted by Ken, who had wheelbarrows, rakes and gloves galore ready, and promptly led the way to our spot for tonight's task.

Background to the task

Our regular visits to the park, overseen by experienced Park Manager Ken, always ensure the week gets off to a good start. Although the park has a fantastic team, and a steady stream of volunteers, a decent-sized group of GoodGymers never goes amiss at this picturesque local spot.

Spread out over four corners in total this evening, we raked and plucked at these pesky weeds, which, given half the chance, would take over the park. It was a decent workout, particularly with the wheelbarrow runs to the big weed pile, and most importantly, we made a decent dent in the weeds in this area.

The team didn't stop (well, only to pose patiently for pics, and debate the all-important issue of tonight's pun, who we have Lukas to thank for, but our Emma's fantastic effort absolutely did not go unappreciated).

At around 7:45, we lined up wheelbarrows, collected gloves, and posed for one last pic before speeding back to base.

A brilliant evening once again!

Next week, Emma leads our Monday night activity to Rocky Park, complete with run from the gorgeous Town Hall Hotel!

Until then.

Tonight’s task started with a fitness session on Middleton Green, consisting of a short routine of body weight exercises and some running courtesy of Emma and Rohan.

It was a beautiful evening for a few push-ups and a lap of this pretty park.

At 7pm we headed around the corner to meet Margaret who was well prepared as usual. This evening’s task? Filling planters with soil!

A well-organised task

The task started very efficiently with wheelbarrows lined up, bags of soil at the ready, and an efficient system in place.

After a team effort of climbing over the wall with the polytunnel frame, we formed several teams to start on each bag of soil. Shuttling up and down the small path, lifting barrows over the wall and raking soil into planters, we achieved a lot in a short space of time.

At shortly before 8, the whole team gathered to haul one huge back of soil along the path, to position it in an easily-accessible spot for Ash when he resumes this work tomorrow.

Gathering wheelbarrows, rakes and gloves, we made our way back to Rocky Park, via the toolshed and the heavenly jasmine climber.

After posing for that all-important group pic, we finalised the details of our next visit to the gardens on May 20th. (Check out the listing for the next visit here).

A wonderful, sunny mid-week task. Well done everyone.

Until next time.

A breezy but bright Monday evening saw 12 GoodGymers head to Columbia Road to help the Columbia TRA with some weeding and mulch distribution.

Following a short workout in Ravenscroft Park (where we welcomed Connie to her first GoodGym Tower Hamlets task) we made our way around the corner to the gardens of Sivill House where Ed, Ed, Liz and Dougal were well preparing the equipment for this evening’s activity.

After a short briefing, we were promptly dispatched into three teams (one distributing mulch; one weeding in the garden by the street, and another weeding in the orchard area).

Shuttling barrows of mulch around the gardens, plucking pesky grass and unwanted dock leaves, the time sped by.

At shortly before 8, we decided to call it a night, emptying the last weed onto the compost pile and the last wheelbarrow of mulch onto the young trees.

A good night’s work, and great to be reunited with the fun Columbia TRA team.

Next week, our Monday night activity’s moved to Wednesday, due to the Bank Holiday, when we’ll be joining Margaret and Ash for another fun evening in-and-around the Hollybush Estate.

Until then.

A short, sharp workout

No fewer than 9 GoodGymers joined for tonight’s short workout outside the Soanes Centre!

Welcoming first time GoodGymer Georgina, we popped bags to one side in order to get cracking on tonight’s short workout.

We started with a few dynamic stretches before moving to the obligatory single-leg squats; a seated abdominal exercise and a couple of lunge variations, before finishing with a handful of stretches.

We then made our way over to the toolshed to see Ken, the Park Manager of the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, and our task owner for tonight.

After a short intro, we piled wheelbarrows with gloves and bags, and headed over to tonight’s location, a little way into the park.

The best briefing in the world

Ken then gave his usual brilliant briefing, covering all aspects of health and safety as well as a speedy masterclass in goose grass and cow parsley removal.

Starting work on both sides of the park path, GoodGymers wasted no time in filling many barrows with these common weeds.

It was a productive evening, made all the more enjoyable by the daylight (and even a glimpse of sun).

At just gone quarter to eight, we wheeled the last barrow around to the weed pile and slowly made our way back to base via a most scenic route.

We said our final cheerios to Ken, delighted to be returning next month, to lend a hand helping to maintain this much-loved, beautiful park.

Next week, we’re back to the Columbia Road gardens!

Until then.

Monday night fitness

We enjoyed a short run and a fitness session this evening en route to our task on the Hollybush Estate.

Navigating a busy Cambridge Heath Road, we headed for Old Bethnal Green Road at the first opportunity, before adding to our mileage around pretty Middleton Green.

Following a handful of mini-hill sprints, we sped through our stretches, and made our way across the road to meet Margaret and Ash.

Some exceptionally large weeds

After admiring well-loaded wheelbarrows, our little group meandered to Strawberry Fields, the Estate’s orchard area.

Tonight’s task was weeding the large beds in preparation for redistributing the soil in the beds to other areas of the Estate.

The weeds were larger and more abundant than both Margaret and Ash had anticipated, so this part of the task took us a while.

We filled many bin liners which were then wheeled over to the compost heap.

Rain, Rain, Go away

Just over halfway through the task, the heavens opened. With a much-heavier-than-forecast downpour, this put a halt to proceedings. Sheltering underneath balconies, we paused to take stock.

Having decided this was no ordinary downpour, Margaret instructed us to gather tools, a little earlier than planned, and headto the compost bays for a final couple of trips.

Gathering for that all-important final pic, we said cheerio to Margaret and Ash, and headed back out into Bethnal Green, the heavy rain failing to dampen our spirits after another fun and productive Monday night.

Until next time.

Despite a change of day from our regular Monday night, tonight's task still saw an impressive seven GoodGymers joining us at the Island House Community Centre on the Isle of Dogs.

Four of us enjoyed a bit of fitness in neighbouring St John's Park, thrilled to be GoodGyming in daylight once again.

We then made our way around to the Island House Community Centre to meet Amanda who was leading our task tonight.

With amazing preparation (tools were laid out, painting trays ready; aprons and gloves good to go...) awaiting us, Amanda walked the first group to the outside garden area to brief on the first part of our task. Here the team of three were clearing moss and weeds from paving stones, cutting back shrubs and hedges and collecting litter.

The second team arrived in the fabulous large hall and wasted no time grabbing rollers and satin paint, and proceeded to finish the two large cupboards from our last task, and complete another in the hallway.

The garden team then moved around to the front of the building, to tackle the small area by the entrance, accomplishing another vast amount in a very short space of time.

Assembling in the hall to clear away the final few bits and pose for that all-important final pic, we concluded it had been an awesome evening and a great start to April.