With the temperature dropping suddenly (even though it was the hottest start to May ever recorded) and a few Goodgymmers taken ill, just three of us managed the group run to Shepherds Hill Gardens. Anthony and I both rocked up a little early to the Phoenix, while Sonya gamely offered to meet us at the gardens, so we set off promptly at a gentle pace. We arrived early and did a decent stretch, before heading over to meet Pat, one of the amazing custodians of the green space.

We gathered tools, sacks and snacks - yes, one of the lovely perks of visiting, but not the reason we go! - and set to the laborious maintenance tasks that are a challenge for the older volunteers at the space. We swept the path and steps at the public-facing end of the woodland patch while Pat litter-picked and pruned hedges, then ferried the waste down to the compost pile in the wood. That alone was enough work for the four of us, so we decamped to a bench for some hot hibiscus berry tea and apple juice, to natter about the various volunteers and the jobs they have ahead of them.

Like many green spaces around Barnet, they're looking ahead to the extra work spring and summer brings and trying to build capacity for pruning and maintaining new growth. Keep an eye out for a dedicated Community Mission to help them at their regular sessions in May and June.

The play street on Windermere avenue was the first of four this summer and Goodgym helped to make this local event a success. Nearly a hundred local residents converged on the street, closed to local traffic for two hours, to play games and socialise. There were street chalks, bubbles, giant Jenga, various home-baked cakes, as well as a book swap and an amazing spot where people could plant a pot with pollinator-friendly herbs and take it home with them. Goodgymers groomed with the set-up and staffed the street barriers, as well as helping with the clear up at the end. We look forward to the next ones!

Goodgym joined a flotilla of Barnet's volunteer organisations to promote opportunities for participation to around 140 asylum seekers and refugees.

Ukrainian, Palestinian, Middle Eastern and people from many African countries represented the many lovely, lively communities that gathered at Hendon Leisure Centre, as well as interpreters to help those with limited English. The event was organised by Barnet Together, which supports volunteering in the borough.

Goodgymmers come from all walks of life, and the same is true of the people who I connected with. I met people of all ages, backgrounds and professions, with different fitness goals and interests - weightlifters, runners, cyclists and martial artists. I ended up playing badminton with a man I think was Afghani, and then backgammon with an Iranian gentleman of advanced years. (He beat me on the last throw with a double-six!)

Many of the attendees barely have spare money for bus travel, so finding ways for Goodgym to connect with them safely is a challenge. Some are based in hotels across Barnet, so I talked with some of the other organisations about the possibility of us visiting them to lead group walks and runs for fitness and maybe to clean up nearby green spaces, to help people feel more connected to where they live and more confident about getting around.

Goodgymmers from Barnet and Brent joined a huge and vibrant team of elite water activists and citizen scientists for an amazing project funded and supported by Imperial College. The project aims to capture river pollution data from roads after heavy periods of rain, to better understand just how damaging the chemicals from tyre erosion, petrol spills and similar toxic compounds can be to our water ecologies in north London.

The core team identified 50 locations along the River Brent, Silk stream Edgware Brook, Deans Brook and Mutton Brook, as well as a control sample from the Dollis Brook. Following rigorous safety training (and a fantastic tour of the lab at Imperial College) as well as training on how to collect uncontaminated samples, we then sat and waited for a period of dry weather, followed by sufficient rainfall to cause flow from major roads, like the North Circular, into the rivers.

Once the call went out, we rushed out in pairs to various locations to do our best to capture samples from the middle of the waterways before, during and after rain, to map pollution levels. In all, over March and April, we have gathered and delivered 99 samples to Imperial's research team.

The project is ongoing, aiming for a hefty total of up to 300 samples from target locations. We'll be narrowing down to the most polluted sites for follow up tests, so we can get a bit more data of how pollution from road surfaces changes over certain months, or builds up after longer periods without rain.

Meanwhile, Goodgym Barnet is still participating in River Watch , looking for pollution in local rivers. And if you want to get involved in river activism, you can contact Clean Up the River Brent (Curb), who can put you in touch with groups near you.

Goodgym Barnet also supports the Pymmes Brookers and Dollis Brookers, who you can find online, as well as Thames21, so keep an eye out for future missions.

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!

On a glorious evening, five Goodgymmers gathered at the Phoenix for our group session. We welcomed Sarah, who is on her second good deed ever - and this week! - as well as regulars Beattie (who is really close to her 100th good deed!), Rachel and Lucinda. After a quick warm up in the sunshine down the side of the cinema, we trotted off through East Finchley tube station and into the alleys and quiet roads toward Northway Gardens.

We were met by the indefatigable Brian, custodian of the gardens, with litter pickers. First order of business was a quick photoshoot with us waving our ploggers around, so Brian could show the council what we're all up to, keeping the space clean for the public. Then the real first task: deadheading daffodils! We wandered like clouds - not lonely, but in pairs and threes - along the banks of the Mutton Brook, flicking the heads off the flowered daffodils, so the plants put more energy into the bulbs for next year, and less into creating seeds. This will keep the bulbs healthier and able to flower for more years ahead.

After we'd cleared the banks and beds, we then took up our trusty litter sticks and crossed into the smaller part of the gardens toward Lyttleton Playing Fields. It was relatively clear - or so we thought, but as we were gathering with our stashes of trashes to take to the bins, we found Sarah dragging a HUGE pile of waste from under an evergreen! She'd found so much rubbish she'd had to fish out a bin bag of her own (note: always come prepared for a plog!) to store it all in. We then dutifully dragged the waste back to the bins and said our farewells to Brian.

As always, Brian was incredibly grateful for the support we bring to keeping the space maintained and beautiful for everyone to enjoy. No doubt we'll be back again soon to help however necessary.

Bonus pic: Also, on the way to the Phoenix, I spotted my third red admiral butterfly of the year (two spotted near Brent Cross while I was taking water samples for the Brent Run-Off action). Maybe we should do a butterfly count at some point this summer...?