What a turnout! Over 30 GoodGym enthusiasts rallied together for an evening of fitness and goodwill, all in support of the Finchley Food Bank. It was a sight to behold, with both familiar faces and a plethora of new ones joining the cause. Despite the cool breeze, the sun decided to grace us with its presence, making our mission even more delightful. We gathered outside the iconic Phoenix Cinema, eager to embark on our journey but not before a quick snapshot and some words of inspiration about the GoodGym spirit.Who says it's all about running? Not us! Penny and Franky led an equally enthusiastic group of walkers, while Paul and Moya took the reins for the running squad. The runners dashed off first, blazing down the left-hand side of the High Street, while the walkers strolled along the right.In a twist of fate, the walkers and runners reached the Food Bank simultaneously. How's that for timing? Well, it turns out the runners had been making pit stops for some impromptu exercises, from paired squats to synchronized pushes. With Anna, the Food Bank manager, welcoming us with open arms, we wasted no time unloading our bounty of food donations. The Food Bank was in dire need, and we were determined to make a difference. But why stop there? Feeling the adrenaline, the runners voted for an extended route through Coldfall Woods. Picture this: a breathtaking sunset peeking through the trees as we conquered hills and valleys, our spirits soaring higher with each step. Homeward bound, we weaved through the backstreets, pausing only to push our limits with three sets of sprints and well-deserved recoveries. As the night drew to a close, we reconvened at the Phoenix for some much-needed stretches, basking in the warmth of camaraderie and accomplishment. Until next time, Finchley Food Bank - you can count on us! Keep on running, walking, and spreading the GoodGym love!

Great to meet Tan & Tom on their first group run with Barnet.

Attendees were able to enjoy a taster menu of vegan treats and could also exchange pre-loved items, like toys and games, at a gift swap stand. Other activities included building a row of bunting from scraps of fabric, which will be displayed at the next community event organised by Finchley Pollinators. And for the artistically minded, a huge collective print artwork, made of dried flowers and other perishable materials. All in all, it was a great display of recycling and sustainability.

Daniel Mermelstein

Even though Barnet is one of the greenest boroughs in London with more than 2000 acres of green land, annually we are producing 1.76 million tonnes of carbon emissions. That is the equivalent of filling the rugby pitch at StoneX Stadium around 15,000 times - which would take about 79 million trees to absorb! (Barnet is home to 50,000 trees, on record).

Around 240,000 children in London suffer with asthma - about one-third of these cases are linked to air pollution, and around half of London’s air pollution is caused by road transport.

In May 2022, Barnet declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency because we recognise that urgent action is needed.

Our GoodGym Barnet group gathered at the Phoenix Cinema for an evening run and to gather data on barnet Tiny Forest. ( A unique,tree planting technique developed by Earthwatch) Despite the damp weather, spirits were high as we embarked on a 6km route through quiet streets and alongside Mutton Brook. Moya, our run leader, welcomed us. We shared weekend stories and warmed up .Limbs stretched, hearts pumping, we prepared for the run ahead. Our footsteps echoed off the buildings as we explored the quieter streets of east finchley before nature and the dark embraced us as we ran along Mutton brook. Cherianand Alefiyah joined our mission at the forest. We then set about measuring the young saplings that were now two years old and we uploaded the data, to the Earthwatch portal. Over 200 special Tony forests exist across the country. Anyone can contribute by measuring trees with a ruler and tape measure. We returned to the Phoenix Cinema, hearts ablaze with the magic of our run. Be part of something bigger—explore, measure, and make a difference with GoodGym Barnet! 🌲

Throughout January, GoodGym members took on a special community mission: cleaning up their own neighborhoods. With litter picking they showed that small actions make a big difference.

One member, on holiday in Dorset, encountered a local scuba diver emerging from the sea. The diver happily posed with a litter picker.

This encounter inspired a couple of puns : "Dive into Cleanliness: A Splash of Environmental Action" or "Making Waves: GoodGym's Dive into Litter Pick-Up."

Thanks to all those that took part we will look to go next month.