The plan was simple: help the Phoenix Cinema by delivering some promotional leaflets. Then came the call… could we help water the planters at Lyttelton Playing Fields instead?

As GoodGym helped with the planting over the last couple of years, there was only one answer: yes!

With temperatures still around 29°C, we warmed up at the Phoenix, delivered leaflets en route to support our fantastic local cinema, then jogged on to Lyttelton. Thanks to the hosepipe ban, around 15 planters had to be watered the old-fashioned way—with buckets and teamwork.

Of course, not all the water reached the plants… there were a few well-aimed splashes too! It was a great reminder that even serious challenges can bring people together with a smile.

As our climate changes, we’ll need more of this—communities helping communities. That’s what GoodGym does best: getting fit, having fun and making a real difference together.

also

🎉 Save the Date – GoodGym Barnet is 10! 🎉

This August we’re celebrating 10 years of GoodGym Barnet – and we’d love you to join us.

Whether you’ve run, walked, volunteered, hosted us, or worked alongside us to make Barnet a better place, you’ve been part of our story. Over the last decade we’ve helped dozens of local organisations and met some incredible people. We simply couldn’t have done it without you.

Join us on Tuesday 18th August at Long Lane Pasture, the very place where GoodGym Barnet began 10 years ago. We’ll lend a hand with a short volunteering task, then celebrate with food, birthday cake and plenty of time to catch up. Event details & sign-up https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/10-year-anniversary-gardening-at-long-lane-pasture-nature-reserve

If you’re still a GoodGym member, please sign up via the link. If not, just reply to let me know you’d like to come so we have an idea of numbers.

It would be wonderful to celebrate with as many old and new friends as possible. We hope to see you there!

15 minutes wondering round the garden revealed 1 butterfly. Fewer than I've seen on other occasions, but perhaps started a little late in the day. Sammy (my dog) clearly thought I'd gone crazy, and was much relieved when I stopped staring at the undergrowth and recorded my grand total. A quick and easy thing to do - I've now added the app, so will probably count butterflies again!

When our planned task at Martin Primary School had to be cancelled at the last minute, GoodGym Barnet did what GoodGym does best—we adapted!

Instead of heading to the school, we made the most of a beautiful evening with a run over to Cherry Tree Woods. Before getting stuck into the task, we warmed up with some jogging, dynamic stretches, knee lifts and a few strides to get everyone moving.

With such a lovely park and not too much litter to collect, we took the opportunity to mix fitness with a bit of fun by practising our frisbee skills. We worked on backhand and sidearm throws to improve our catching—always useful skills for a future game in the park!

After that it was time for the serious business of litter picking. Thankfully Cherry Tree Woods was looking in pretty good shape, but we still managed to fill a bag with the usual assortment of discarded rubbish, including a lonely Croc shoe and a child’s rucksack waiting to be reunited with its owner. unfortunately, it was binned!

With the park a little cleaner and everyone having enjoyed an active evening outdoors, we jogged back to the Phoenix to round off another adaptable GoodGym session.

Sometimes the best sessions are the ones you never planned! 🏃🥏

We had a great turn out for our return to the Finchley Charities' community plot at the Fuel Land Allotments. Ten Goodgymmers gathered, half at the Phoenix for the warm up run and half at the allotment gates for the task. We were met by the lovely plot coordinators Brigid and Les, as well as Carmel from the Finchley Charities. (A brief shout out to www.goodgym.org/v3/profile/sheela-guttula, who couldn't make it due to an injury - get well soon!)

With many hands, we made light work of the tasks: carrying logs from the back of the plot to the front to extend the palisade, weeding bindweed, horseradish and oak seedlings and watering the vegetables. We also admired the wonderfully weird icon of Jesus the group found by chance painted on an old slab resting by the shed, as well as a lovely tiger moth spotted on a fence near the plot.

It was great to see Jamie out again for his third session - hoping work commitments will allow for lots of future sessions. And thank you to Richard for suggesting the pizza and popcorn social afterwards for some of us.

On Tuesday 23 June, GoodGym Barnet braved the heat warnings (sensibly) to stay active and help our community at Highgate Wood... actually, a great place to be in this heat!

Most of us met at the Phoenix Cinema, where the conversation quickly turned to Britain’s highest recorded temperature: 40.3°C in Lincolnshire in July 2022. Richard won the debate! This week may not reach that peak, but prolonged heat, humidity and warm nights can be particularly challenging because our bodies and buildings have less opportunity to cool down.

After a gentle warm-up, we headed through the woods to meet Cindy. She enthusiastically shared news from a recent moth survey: 47 moths were caught and a range of different species.

We then visited the developing visitor centre, which will showcase the history and ecology of Highgate Wood—including a Roman pottery kiln dating from around AD 50–150. There will also be a Cindy corner.( that sounds like a legacy)

Our task was to repair a woodland fence that had been pulled apart to build dens. With plenty of willing hands, it was soon restored, leaving time for some Forest) bathing , stretching and movement with the breath.

Thanks to everyone who came along Please continue to take care in the heat—it is not only the highest temperature that matters, but also the duration, humidity and lack of cooler nights.

shout out to Abdikani on his first Community mission great effort!