Stars, sprints and shovels at Martin Primary’s Forest School

On a beautiful clear evening, with the stars out and the temperature just right for running, a magnificent seven GoodGymers set off from the Phoenix Cinema for the short 1km trip to Martin Primary School’s Forest School on Tristan Green.

Before we got moving, we squeezed in a quick warm-up with kick-ups and knee raises to get the heart rate up, then jogged through the backstreets. On the way, we even found a handy spot for a few sprints, because GoodGym never misses a chance to mix community work with a bit of fitness.

Once at the school, we got straight into the jobs that needed doing. The team helped clear and tidy the outdoor kitchen area, recovering pots and pans that had somehow spread themselves all over the forest school, and then turned to the heavier work of repairing the paths with fresh woodchip using wheelbarrows, rakes and shovels. We also tackled a rather sizeable hole, filling it in before it could cause any more trouble.

It was one of those classic GoodGym evenings that shows what the group is all about: collective energy, practical help, fresh air and exercise, all wrapped into one session. There’s something especially satisfying about getting outside on an evening like that, doing useful work alongside other people who’ve chosen to spend their time helping out locally rather than sitting indoors.

A special welcome back to Gavin joining us again for his second session, and great to have Subham there too, adding to the growing task force.

A lovely evening, a useful task, and another reminder that doing good together feels even better outdoors.

A few people came online to do Yoga.

Yoga talk Yoga teaches us to find ease in effort, comfort in discomfort, and resilience in every breath. This idea is beautifully mirrored in a concept called hormesis—the practice of facing small, manageable challenges to grow stronger and more adaptable. Whether it’s holding a pose longer than feels easy or stepping onto your mat when it’s cold outside, these moments of deliberate effort cultivate resilience.

GoodGym members joined forces with local residents for a satisfying morning of churchyard graft at St Mary-at-Finchley, the oldest building in Finchley, with parts dating back to the 12th century.

This was no ordinary tidy-up. The churchyard is packed with local history, and our task was to help protect it. We worked on the western side near the tower, clearing overgrowth, tackling stubborn roots, cutting back ivy and snowberry, and helping free up gravestones that were being slowly swallowed by vegetation.

It was great to see a healthy turnout, with GoodGym Barnet members and community volunteers all mucking in. Bit by bit, the area started to open up again, revealing memorials that had been hidden and making the churchyard feel more cared for, more visible and more respectful.

And this site really does matter. Among the memorials are Grade II listed gravestones, including the tomb of John Cartwright a significant figure in British political reform. Cartwright campaigned for fairer representation and wider voting rights, and his ideas fed into the long road towards universal suffrage. He also supported the principles behind American independence, so this quiet Finchley churchyard has connections to some very big democratic ideas.

So there we were: cutting roots, hauling back branches, tidying the past, and giving history a bit more breathing space.

A lovely community mission in a beautiful and important setting practical, purposeful, and full of local character.

Once again, Goodgym was out helping our favourite cultural institution, the Phoenix Cinema, reach audiences and keep going. Tonight, however, we had an extra batch of leaflets from the artsdepot in North Finchley, who are also trying to boost numbers. By chance we met their team in the Phoenix last week and offered to piggy back their leaflets on this session.

And, with another great turn out - eight of us! - we made short work of their programmes. With the weather picking up, we had regulars and newcomers. Great to see Sheela for her first session, after she joined us at last week's allotment session as part of her charity work. And welcome back to Theo, who cycled all the way from Queen's Park, over Hampstead Hill!

Rachel set a fun but tricky topic for us to chat about: name something you used to believe was true, but don't any longer. A couple of us came up with food-related topics that we thought were healthy, like Theodore, who shared the fun fact that frozen-then-defrosted bread is easier to digest that fresh bread.

And then we were off, running a bit further than usual towards Muswell Hill to try and reach some new audiences, with Paul backmarking (sadly no Gus with him). We made short work of our leaflets running around some very nice houses. Jacqui snapped some action pics for us on route. Then, twenty minutes later, with no leaflets left, everyone 'collectively and democratically' agreed to let me choose whether we did more hard exercises or a gentler run. Obviously everyone was up for another sprinting session on the hill path into Highgate Wood, where most of us suitably burned off excess energy, except Subham, who has a bottomless store and led the way back to the cinema, while some of us walked or jogged the last stretch.

Then we all huddled around the tables in the Phoenix for a little social, exercising our 10% Goodgym discount. A lovely close to the evening, and a solid 4km route as well.

Subham arrived at my house, where I performed the sort of generous act that should probably earn civic recognition I lent him a bike and a helmet. Thus equipped, we set off on a scenic journey through the golf course and along the brook towards Cricklewood, looking less like elite athletes and more like two men heading out to negotiate with shrubbery.

Our destination was Mrs C, who had found herself on the wrong side of an increasingly assertive hedge. It had grown so large and unruly that it was pushing out towards the road, narrowing the pavement and causing understandable concern among neighbours, passers-by and, it seemed, possibly the authorities too. This was no modest garden trim. This Hedge was a small green mountain!

When we arrived, it stood there looming over us at well over ten feet tall, as if daring us to have a go. Armed with loppers and a certain amount of misplaced confidence, we got stuck in. After an hour of chopping, dragging and general horticultural combat, the beast had been subdued. The pavement was wider, the road clearer, and order had been restored to this small corner of Barnet.

The nicest part was the reaction. A couple of local people stopped to thank us, including a neighbour, and one woman said, “God bless you for doing this,” which is not something you hear every day while standing ankle-deep in hedge clippings.

Mrs C was delighted and visibly relieved. It was one of those GoodGym tasks that reminds you that a fairly ordinary hour of effort can make life noticeably better for several people at once.

After that, Subham and I got back on the bikes and headed home. Or rather, I got back on the bike. Impressively, Subham had actually run to my house before the mission and ran home afterwards as well, which meant he had somehow turned a hedge-cutting errand into a highly respectable endurance event. It’s a new event run Bike hedge! Could it catch on? You heard it here first!

A fine afternoon’s work: one giant hedge defeated, one pavement rescued, and one GoodGym runner quietly showing the rest of us up.

Brook to Brook by Bike

A foggy start didn’t stop four adventurous GoodGym Barnet cyclists heading out to explore some of the best traffic-free routes in the borough.

Subham, Peter Jack and Paul met in Mill Hill on a misty morning, with the promise of sunshine later in the day, and set off along the beautiful Dollis Valley Greenwalk.

Within minutes the traffic noise faded and we were gliding along quiet paths and green corridors, the sort of places that make you wonder why more people don’t cycle around Barnet.

After following the valley north we climbed gently towards Hadley Wood, arriving at the lovely Jack’s Lake, tucked away beside Hadley Golf Course. This peaceful fishing lake is the source of the Pymmes Brook, and it made the perfect stop to admire the view before continuing the journey.

From there we followed the route of the brook, weaving along long stretches of car-free paths with the occasional quiet lane, enjoying the feeling of travelling through green spaces that most people never realise are there.

As if perfectly timed, the sun finally broke through the clouds, warming the day as we made our way back towards Stephens House & Gardens, where the ride finished with some well-earned refreshments in the sunshine.

Rides like this show just how good cycling can be in Barnet — peaceful routes, hidden nature spots and a great way to get active with good company.

🚴 We’re hoping to make these relaxed social rides a regular thing, perfect for anyone looking to get into cycling, build confidence, and explore the area in a sustainable way.

If you fancy joining a future ride, keep an eye on GoodGym Barnet or get in touch.