In beautiful winter sunshine, George Peter ( welcome great to see you!) and I (Paul Salman) had the pleasure of representing GoodGym Barnet at a wonderfully uplifting community orchard planting day, organised in partnership with The Orchard Project and Earthwatch. It took place in a small, little-known park one of those hidden green spaces that reminds you how many surprises still exist close to home if you’re willing to step slightly off your usual path.

Around 20 people came together, from children to seasoned GoodGym runners, all drawn by the idea of turning an underused space into something vibrant, productive, and shared. Lizzy from The Orchard Project guided us with infectious enthusiasm and crystal-clear explanations not just what to do, but why we were doing it this way. Square holes (not round!) to help roots spread, fungal powder to encourage healthy growth, careful staking, and making sure the graft union sat safely above soil level every detail felt purposeful.

We planted a rich mix of fruit trees and bushes designed to encourage biodiversity and community use for generations. An Apple Discovery, ripening early in August and kept low so children can reach the fruit easily. A beautiful pear tree, tall, long-lived, and potentially standing here for 150 years now that is a legacy. Plums, greengage, Golden Drop (ready in September), plus an edible island of fruiting bushes and herbs, all adding layers of colour, food, and habitat to the park.

Fuelled by an astonishingly generous vegan lunch (so plentiful people were encouraged to take food home), we returned to finish the planting and then gathered for wassailing singing to bless the trees and wish them a strong harvest. We used a traditional song sheet from Hackney Wassailand while I can’t guarantee my singing will help the trees grow, let’s hope it doesn’t do the opposite.

A new green space has been gently nudged into life, with the hope it draws people in, grows food, builds connection, and maybe even inspires more singing next yearafter a fantastic harvest.

if you’d like to visit Freehold Community Centre 9 Alexandra RoadLondonN10 2EY London England N10 2EY GB

Also, if you’d like to do your own orchard singing

https://hackneywassail.org.uk/songsheet/

Rain, Resolutions & a Hidden Gem

Our group run to Stephens House and Gardens from the Phoenix Cinema had all the hallmarks of a tough one. It might have been a relatively mild 10°C, but the steady rain and gloomy skies made it feel intimidating. And yet incredibly everyone turned up. Not a single runner was put off by the forecast or the prospect of getting soaked.

We gathered in the foyer of the Phoenix Cinema, shaking off the drizzle and catching up. It was great to welcome Matta brand-new runner, clearly committed to his New Year resolution of trying something different. Fresh back from cold-water dipping in Sweden. we hope to see him at our next challenging event.

Our warm-up chat turned to resolutions kept, broken, or still evolving before we headed out into the rain, easing into the pace with George sensibly anchoring the back. Don’t forget: capture your run or walk on Strava every activity counts for the January Challenge.

About 20 minutes later we arrived at Stephens House and Gardens. By then the drizzle had eased, and we were warmly welcomed by the wonderful volunteer duo Alison and Warwick, who give so much of their retirement time to supporting this historic place.

Our task was a satisfying one: clearing leaves from the front car park and the stable yard — a job that’s particularly effective late in the evening once the cars have gone. Armed with wheelbarrows, brooms, shovels and rubble bags, we soon filled two very large bags of leaves. Jackie was so engrossed she barely seemed to want to stop proof that leaf-clearing can be strangely addictive.

Before heading off, we reflected on just how important this place is. Stephens House is a real hidden gem, run as a trust and heavily reliant on community support. Many people don’t realise how vulnerable places like this are right now. Whether it’s popping in for a coffee, enjoying the food, attending an event or even hosting a wedding every visit helps. Even the Antiques Roadshow recognised its charm, filming three episodes here.

The run back revealed a lovely irony: East End Road was closed to traffic, but on foot we slipped straight past the barriers — yet another reminder of how adaptable (and smug) runners can be.

Most of us finished back at the Phoenix Cinema for well-earned refreshments: popcorn, homemade chocolate, and cider generously supplied by Theo — our resident cameraman for the night.

A wet evening, a brilliant turnout, a great task and another reminder of why GoodGym works so well.

A few GoodGym members came online to do online yoga.

Yoga talk

One of the most overlooked benefits of yoga for runners and for life is how it trains you to stay relaxed while something feels uncomfortable. Holding a steady pose while the legs shake or the breath tightens isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about softening just enough to stay present. That skill transfers directly to running when a hill feels endless, or to life when things feel tense or uncertain. Yoga quietly teaches you that discomfort doesn’t always mean danger sometimes it’s just a moment asking for patience rather than force.

Two of us showed up for a climbing session at the Castle in Manor House. It was Paul's first climb in about 25 years, but he was very game, putting all his yoga, running and cycling to the test.

After a quick tour of the building (inside only, given the rain!), we warmed up and then started climbing. A couple of regulars joined us and we toured around the building, trying different routes. We finished up with a quick game of 'take-away' - we'll probably try add-on next time if enough people come.

Hoping this will be the start of a good habit! Expect regular sessions on Friday evenings through 2026. Please say in the comments if you can't make that evening and when you're available, so I can mix up times and days.