Tonight's group session was a gentle push around East Finchley, fundraising for a local school. The Archer Academy's Raise the Roof Campaign aims to build a new performing arts studio for their lower school students to rehearse in. It's an ambitious project and one our Goodgymmers wholeheartedly support!

Lucinda, Anthony and George set out into a light drizzle, with our usual warm up outside the Phoenix and then a gentle trek through side streets. We leapfrogged up Fortis Green to the 'shires', chatting as we went. Our ambitious plan to clear the small-looking stack of flyers in half an hour soon gave way to the very thin paper they were printed on. Like nuclear fission, they seemed to multiply in our pockets!

We covered a fair few streets before making our way back to the Phoenix, a thin stash remaining, where we were welcomed by the staff with gratitude. They'd promised to deliver loads themselves, so the small pile will sit for cinema goers to pick up.

If you can help the Archer Academy's campaign, please do!

Spring is in the air, and what better way to mark the change of seasons than with a community mission in the heart of Highgate Woods? GoodGym Barnet gathered once again to lend a hand to the wonderful Ranger Cindy, a familiar face from our summer sessions. This time, we were stepping out of winter hibernation to help restore and protect a well-worn patch of woodland—laurel and behold, we had a plan!

A Fence of Foliage

Meeting at the café in the centre of the park, we soon made our way to Cindy’s latest project near the playground and toilets. The ground in this area had become heavily compacted by the constant footfall of visitors, leaving a barren patch where greenery struggled to thrive. Cindy’s clever idea? A “laurel” defence—using cut laurel branches to create a natural-looking barrier that would discourage people from trampling the space, allowing it time to recover.

With logs in hand (and a fair bit of heavy lifting), we carefully placed them around the perimeter. Then came the pièce de résistance: planting the laurel branches upright, crafting what looked like fresh new growth. The deception was all part of the plan—if it looks like a newly planted area, people are less likely to walk through it. A cunning, leafy illusion!

A Walk on the Wild Side

With our natural fencing complete, Cindy led us on a walk deeper into the woods to explore some of the conservation efforts taking place. We visited a protected pond teeming with life and admired a newly planted Blackthorn hedge. Then, to our delight, we spotted a tree creeper—a small, elusive bird that blends so well into tree bark that it’s a rare sight even for regular visitors. Laurel-ly speaking, it was quite the highlight!

A Moment to Restore

Before we wrapped up, we took a few moments for some restorative yoga—because after all that heavy lifting, our bodies deserved a stretch. We stood tall in mountain pose, flowing through some simple movements with the breath, before adding a few deep squats to shake off the effort. A little woodland-wellness to round off a morning of good deeds!

Join Us Next Time!

This was our first session at Highgate Woods coming out of winter, but certainly not our last. Cindy’s experiment with laurel fencing is an inspired approach to conservation, and we can’t wait to see if it takes root (pun intended!). If you’re looking for a fun, active, and rewarding way to give back to nature, come along to the next GoodGym Barnet mission—we’d laurel-ly love to have you!

Check out upcoming sessions and get involved—your local green spaces (and your legs) will thank you!

The days are getting longer and we'll soon be running sunsets, but the skies were clear for tonight's run to Shepherds Hill Garden and the stars out. Two of us set off from the Phoenix - Kubilay and George - and we picked up Lucinda along our steady 2.5km run.

We were met by Pat and Flora, two of the amazing custodians of the gardens, who handed out rakes, brooms, bags and a dustpan. We cleared leaves along the top path, nearby beds and benches to make the space safer and more attractive to visitors. Then we made our way down the hill to rake a grass bed that has been suffering from lack of light and too much leaf mulch.

With the leaves of our labour bagged and disposed off around the new dead hedges further down the slope, we then decamped to top, where Pat broke out the thermos and biscuits for a round of hot chocolate. We watched the stars and mused over whether that was Venus we could see up above (we're in the midst of a planetary phenomenon!) , before returning the tools to Pat's place.

Then the three of us walked Flora a short way home, before picking up our pace and trekking back home ourselves, safe in the knowledge we'd leafed no path unswept.