GoodGym – April Plogging Report

It’s been fantastic to see 12 members take part in our April plogging initiative—an open, rolling event encouraging litter picking while walking or running. This flexible format allowed members to contribute in their own time, either solo or with a friend, making it easy to stay active, connected, and community-minded.

By taking just 20 minutes to clean up their local area, members made a visible difference to our streets, parks, and paths—while also enjoying the physical and mental benefits of being outdoors and moving with purpose. The event has highlighted how small, self-led acts can build momentum for wider community pride and environmental care.

Thank you to everyone who took part and shared photos—we look forward to continuing these small but powerful missions!

Fantastic opportunity to survey local river (The Lee) as it passes through arable landscape. Very surprising results with high levels of pollutant scored. Very interesting science lesson as well.

I carried out my monitoring at Dollis Brook in Finchley, a serene and easily accessible section of the stream. The shallow water and good access made it an ideal location for phosphate and nitrogen testing using the Earthwatch kit. I found the process surprisingly easy and, perhaps not so surprisingly, very relaxing — there’s something naturally calming about listening to the water and the birds around you. It’s a great way to engage with your local river, and I would thoroughly recommend trying it yourself. Based on my tests, Dollis Brook appeared to be in fairly good condition, especially considering its urban setting.

Check out the other photos..