REPORT BY NAZIFA

St Matthew’s Gardens had certainly accumulated its fair share of leaves, so it was time for the GoodGym crew to get involved! 🍂

The task was mainly focused on clearing leaves from around the garden and churchyard, with a little bit of litter picking thrown in too. There were* A LOT* of leaves to tackle, but everyone got stuck in. We picked, swept, gathered and bagged them up, with plenty of bags being filled along the way

I made sure everyone had bags to collect the leaves in, and it was great seeing everyone working together to clear the paths and tidy up the area. There was definitely no shortage of leaves, but we managed to make a good dent in them!

It was also my first time leading a GoodGym session, so I was really happy with how everything went. As Emma would say, I can’t “be-leaf”it was my first one!

A big thank you to everyone who came along and helped out. It was a really good experience for my first time leading, and I think we all did a great job

We enjoyed something a little different this weekend with a combined task in Cambridge, welcoming GoodGymers from Tower Hamlets to join us at Fox Den Community Allotment.

Becky, Debbie and I met tourists Darren, John and Kareem at the station, where Darren led us in a mobility focused warm up before we set out for a jaunt to the allotment. Taking a scenic route along the river and across the common, we soon had the allotment in sight, and never one's to turn down a challenge Kareem and Darren even managed an impressive sprint finish. I hear there was a cap peak in it.

We were greeted by a smiley Harriet and shortly afterwards joined by Ilana and Brian, who all arrived by bike, in true Cambridge style. Helena and Jacob made it a perfect 11! Shout out to Brian and Helena who joined for their first GoodGym task 🙌

As always, we were warmly welcomed by task partner, Lorna, who told us the fascinating history of the allotment and their plans to develop a forest garden on site. These incredible ecosystems rely on established trees and bushes to create nutritious soil where mycelia thrive, allowing plants to communicate and support hydration. Eventually, after 20ish years (or 1000s of GG sessions) the garden becomes self-sustaining. 🌿

Helping towards the forest garden goal, our tasks for the session involved weeding, digging and some rather unusual pond work.

Making a start on the weeding Debbie, Harriet, Helena and Ilana split between the Hugel mounds (created in a previous GoodGym session) and did a smashing job of clearing the beds.

Jacob and Becky were in charge of transforming a previously cleared storage area into a bed ready for planting, by raking and turning the soil before soaking it. Proper hard graft 💪

The rest of the group were on pond duty. First up they removed the (empty!) body-shaped bag then trampled the greenery that had taken root, choosing an innovative dancing method. Like Morris dancers round a maypole, they stomped (and clapped) the grass flat, employing some jumping to finish it off. The pond then had to be filled with clay, which proved to be a proper strength workout with a lot of heavy lifting, never seen before by the Tower Hamlets group 🏋️‍♀️ Everyone got involved and even a toad came to say hi 🐸 With all the clay bags empty and the pond full, it was ready to be left for the rain, which will soften and level it, making it suitable to be tampered into shape. A task for another day.

In just one hour then area was transformed proving that ponderful things happen when GoodGymers come together. 💛

Feeling pretty spent, it was time for some refreshment, so we headed to the river for well-earned pizza and beers. Then, eager to make the most of time in Cambridge we went on a little tour, taking in the views from St Mary's tower (another workout climbing the 123 steps!), enjoying some tasty gelato from Jack's, and rounding off the day in the sunshine ☀️

A beautiful day, channelling true GoodGym spirit, doing good and connecting with others. We look forward to visiting Tower Hamlets for more of the same soon 🙌

Brook, look and a biscuit!

Everyone seemed to appear at once at Finchley Central at 11am perhaps they’d all caught the same Tube! A great turnout for our GoodGym Barnet walk, with Gus and Amanda’s dog joining the company. A couple of brief showers came and went, leaving us with a lovely mix of cloud and sunshine. This initial Walk also supported Move10 https://www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/movefor10

Our introductions had a local twist: name, number and a fact about Finchley — or your favourite biscuit if you were stuck. Surprisingly, Finchley knowledge comfortably held its own against biscuits! Margaret Thatcher and famous residents featured, along with Harry Beck, creator of the familiar Tube map, whose local station was Finchley Central. More about Beck’s connection⁠. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/sep/21/harry-beck-tube-map-london-transport-archive-sale

Our first stops included Finchley Way Open Space, where GoodGym helped clear scrub and create paths a few years ago. It’s always satisfying to return and enjoy somewhere you’ve helped look after.

Once the grounds of Brent Lodge, this little green space has quite a story. In the 1910s, Alice Melville established a communal living scheme here, with shared cooking, laundry and dining facilities. Later, owner Augustus Cooper left the house and gardens to the people of Finchley for public enjoyment. A rather lovely legacy, still being cared for by local volunteers. Local history⁠. https://www.fofwos.org/history-of-fofwos

We then followed Dollis Brook before turning towards Darlands Nature Reserve. Woodland paths, tree views and plenty of conversation made it easy to forget we were still in London. The lake was originally ornamental, created for a nearby country house; today it provides a valuable refuge for wildlife. Darlands’ history⁠. https://www.barnet.gov.uk/directories/parks/darlands-lake

Recent desilting work has helped restore the lake. With the nearby stream looking dry, it was encouraging to see water remaining in the lake and birds making use of it. Among them was what appeared to be a great cormorant. A seaside visitor? Apparently not — cormorants are quite at home fishing on inland lakes and rivers too. Another thing learnt along the way!.

Lunch at Finchley Nurseries gave us another chance to chat before the final stretch to Mill Hill East station. Good company, a bit of movement and a few discoveries on our doorstep — thank you to everyone who came along. I think we did about 6 miles.

Fancy helping care for these places too? We could organise a litter pick as a GoodGym community mission. Let me know if you’re interested, when you’re free, or if you have another local idea.

We’ll aim for another walk in a month or two, this time heading the other way along Dollis Brook and onwards towards Hampstead Heath. Look out for the listing, and bring a friend — and perhaps a four-legged one too!

welcome Victoria & Lucy on their first outing with GoodGym Barnet. Hope to see you again soon