GoodGym’s Hottest Role Model Run

On what felt like one of the hottest days of the year, a hardy crew of GoodGym Barnet gathered outside the Phoenix Cinema While the sun still blazed, the time of day meant it was a pleasant temperature for a light jog.We welcomed a new Runner Isabella Talbot

Before setting off, Rachael threw in a fun idea for our warm-up chat: who were our role models growing up? Answers ranged from Arnold Schwarzenegger (flex appeal) to David Attenborough (nature appeal) — so we were clearly aiming for a blend of strength and wisdom.

Just as we were limbering up, the Phoenix Cinema manager popped out with a request: could we deliver leaflets for their upcoming classic film screenings? Naturally, we were happy to help our hosts — it’s not every day your run gets a prequel.

With leaflets in hand, we jogged gently to The Finchley Charities allotment, making a few deliveries along the way. There we met Peps, our host, plus two more new faces — Oliver and Amanda who joined Isabella on her very first GoodGym outing. Three new starters in one evening!

The allotment, which supports the local food bank and residents of nearby almshouses, had a buffet of tasks for us: • Watering thirsty plants • Bramble bashing (a GoodGym classic) • Harvesting thanks, rhubarb, courgettes,apples and plums

We worked in the warm, golden light until the sun dipped below the trees, Those of us running headed back then gathered for a well-earned stretch and cool-down.

It ended up being a double good deed: helping both the Phoenix Cinema and The Finchley Charities in one evening. And who knows? Maybe our childhood role models really would have been proud of us — though Arnold might have suggested a few more reps, and Attenborough would probably have narrated the bramble-bashing in hushed tones.

Here’s to the next GoodGym adventure whatever the weather throws at us!

15 GoodGym Barnet members took part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count (18 July–10 August), adding our sightings to the UK-wide citizen science survey. I managed three counts myself—numbers were low in my patches, so I’m keen to see the national results.

Butterflies are brilliant indicators of environmental health, helping scientists track the effects of climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Early reports suggest a good year for gatekeepers, red admirals, and peacocks, plus a UK first—the southern small white fluttering in from southern Europe!

Citizen science is easy, fun, and open to all—you don’t need to be a runner or an expert. Next year, let’s get even more people involved: friends, family, neighbours… the more counts, the better the data.

Thanks to everyone who took part—your 15 minutes really can help protect our environment.

🦋 Count them, love them, protect them.

A few GoodGym members came online to do yoga.

yoga talk The connection between mental training and yoga can be seen in how yoga emphasizes mindfulness and intentional muscle engagement. In yoga, visualizing movements and focusing on muscle activation, even in static poses, may lead to physical benefits similar to the mental training studies. The mental focus in yoga helps create a "mind-muscle connection," potentially enhancing strength, flexibility, and muscle control, as seen in research where mental exercises alone improved muscle strength. Yoga’s meditative aspect reinforces this connection, blending physical and mental conditioning.

GoodGym Barnet at the Tiny Forest Gathering

This saturday four of us from GoodGym Barnet – Paul, Daniel,Peter and Steven joined the annual Earthwatch celebration for southern Tree Keepers, starting at Mutton Brook’s Tiny Forest and ending at the Barnwood community space in Tarling Road.

Daniel and Paul kicked things off with a spot of litter picking on the way and even more at the site itself proving that tree care sometimes starts with crisp packets and bottle tops.

We met Divya from Earthwatch, who was expecting around 40 people. In the end, about 15 hardy souls turned up – which just meant more space (and snacks) for us. After a warm welcome, we loosened up with an icebreaker - strike the pose of your favourite tree. Cue a forest of humans swaying in the imaginary breeze.

The science chat that followed was a fascinating update on Barnet’s first Tiny Forest now three years old and one of the most monitored in the UK. Citizen scientists have logged growth, species diversity, and environmental benefits. Birch and willow are currently the local heavyweights, shooting up faster than other species planted at the same time elsewhere.

We also heard about three new experimental Tiny Forest plots quickly nicknamed Alpha, Beta, and Charlie: ( it’s about time we gave them a name looking uphill from left to right) • Alpha – planted with cardboard sheet mulch (now a weed haven) • Beta – each tree given a dose of biochar compost • Charlie – standard digging, compost, and mulch approach

Some of these plots even include lab-grown saplings raised in constant, season-free conditions. Over the next year or two, citizen science will reveal which method works best. It’s easy to join in: all you need is a smartphone to upload observations. Perfect for curious families.

From there, we walked to Barnwood, collecting natural curiosities along the way from fallen apples to lichen-covered twigs. Barnwood’s green heart, with its teaching area and wildlife-friendly planting, was the ideal spot for lunch and the next activity: creating zines (mini handmade books) inspired by our Tiny Forest experiences. Armed with old magazines, scissors, and glue, we cut and collaged our ideas about trees, nature, and community.

The day ended with a powerful reminder from Barnwood’s Leo: “Nature is our life-support system neglect it at our own risk.” We each wrote a letter to our future selves, imagining what we’d achieve for the environment in the next six months. These will arrive in our postboxes later this year a little nudge from our past selves to keep going.

A huge thanks to Earthwatch for bringing us together. Tiny Forests aren’t just about planting trees they’re about planting ideas, friendships, and care for the place we live. We’ll be back next year, and in the meantime, we’ll keep watering, weeding, measuring… and waving like trees in the wind.

An epic evening once again helping out the lovely volunteers at Shepherds Hill Gardens! Deep summer brought all sorts of fresh and woolly faces together into our flock, from the lesser-spotted Peter to first-timer Marija. Great also to see Memory and Anthony out and about, as well as Phil, who walked to and from the site. And we had a visitor, Emily, joining us from Islington and who may come again given how close the gardens are to her.

Many hands made light work. Our host, Pat, had her arm in a sling, so she wasn't as able to get stuck in as she often does. Sprightly still, she made her way around showing us the various jobs and setting us to work. There was bramble-bashing - taken up by Lucy and Subham; some ivy clearing, which Paul and I had a crack at. And then lots of sweeping and tidying for the others, making the area safer and more inviting for visitors to enjoy. One of the Friends of Shepherds Hill, Joan, meanwhile, gave the area a quick litter pick. And, of course, we were joined by the boundless ball of furry energy that is Gus, who did a good job of sniffing out anything interesting in the bushes we might have missed.

Pat's message of thanks described us as, "A jolly and very hard working crew, who have given us peace of mind." Most welcome and we'll be back again soon!

Despite the blustery weather, this garden task was well-shielded by a lovely mature quince tree. Planted 30 years ago by the family, the tree is amazingly resilient, but it's in need of some TLC. Passersby often mistake the fruit for pears, so one of the tasks was to tie up the branches with fruit so they are out of reach. With a bit of pruning , the view from the bench in the garden was perfectly framed for a quiet summer evening.

The area around the bench needed tidying as well, with some empty pots, lots of leaves to clear up and some general litter and other things to organise. A quick sweep and transferring potted soil back into an empty compost bag for future planting, and it that was about it. The tree and a nearby camellia bush will need pruning some time in autumn, so perhaps Goodgym Barnet will visit again in a few months.