We started off as usual at the Phoenix, led by George and shadowed by our semi-back-marker, quantum-state Richard, before heading out for a leaflet drop. We tripped up garden paths (well, that of Rachel's secret soul mate) and out again, until we exhausted our leaflet supply, before turning our steps towards the allotments.

After briefly considering a game of cat and mice with the slightly late Subham, we entertained ourselves by skipping down the high street, and with Rachel’s question for the evening about coping well (or not) with a last-minute change. She told the story of a very last-minute change during a search and rescue exercise, where she managed to confuse the team slightly by forgetting who she was supposed to be as the missing person (having been upgraded from witness to witless lost person, at the last minute).

George then told us about watching for stag beetles with Daniella. Having waited a little longer than sensible they were just about to head home having not seen a single beetle when they saw a man, who had just arrived, catch a stag beetle out of the air. This stag beetle expert gave them a memorable evening helping him with his nightly survey. Result - more stag beetles than they could ever have wanted to see.

Then last-minute Subham was challenged over last-minute coffee choices. Apparently, the American isn’t a fan of an Americano. We let him espresso himself on the subject.

Then it was on to the allotments, where mattocks were wielded, plants were pulled up, bind weed was unbound, and great progress was made. There was a moment of peril when Beattie appeared to be held hostage by the horseradishes, which threatened to pull her down a very particular type of rabbit hole. Thankfully, she escaped before becoming fully radishilised. At the end of the session, we were rewarded with a last-minute offer of magic (non-coffee) beans (what could go wrong?).

Sheela helpfully released us into the wilds of East Finchley after the session was complete.

After leaflets, stag beetles, coffee confessions, mattocks, magic beans and one suspiciously powerful horseradish, we decided we had earned the right to head heroically home.

Today Goodgym volunteer at the Play Street event on Windermere Avenue, N3. This community initiative, supported by the council, temporarily closes part of the road to traffic, creating a safe space for local residents, particularly children, to play and socialise outdoors.

My role was to assist at one of the road barriers. I helped inform approaching drivers about the road closure and explained the purpose of the event.

The atmosphere was welcoming and friendly, with children enjoying the freedom to play games, ride bicycles and scooters, and interact with neighbours in a safe environment. Adults also had the opportunity to socialise and strengthen community connections.

The event was well organised, and residents were supportive of the initiative. It was rewarding to contribute to a project that promotes community engagement, outdoor activity, and safer neighbourhood spaces for families.

Overall, the Play Street was a successful community event, and I was pleased to support local residents in creating a fun and safe environment for everyone to enjoy.

Our second round of clean up at the Glebelands Open Space started and ended in the same place as last week - around the Albanians Association Football Club. While the area looked a lot better than last week, there was still a huge amount to do.

Unfortunately, the Council hadn't managed to find last week's haul, so the first job was to re-bag what the foxes had opened, then carry everything up to Summers Lane. Luckily, the Lesser-Spotted Steve was there to help. Then we got stuck into the verges around the clubhouse, pulling out old plastics, fast food, cans.

Along the fence against the David Lloyd car park we found even more nitrous canisters, and by the end of our collection we must have gathered close to 40 of the things. We carried the whole stash up the lane and reported it, but there's still more along the way. We'll do one more session on the morning of the community event on 14 June, so everyone can enjoy the green space and the area's a bit safer for wildlife.

Following our energetic group session last Tuesday to Stephens House and Gardens, Helen, our wonderful host there, invited us to join her for another project she helps with at St Mary's. As part of the church's London Festival of Architecture Week, they hosted a community gardening session, clearing parts of the graveyard and tidying gravestones.

Jacqui arrived first and, given a choice between gardening alone in damp weather or going on a tour of the church, she went on the tour. Then I arrived, with Filip and Chloe (who'll soon be earning their first t-shirts!), and we met Helen with a wheelbarrow and got stuck in, coppicing some of the smaller trees, digging up alkanet and then dragging ivy back from the graves. Chloe found and relocated a toad to one of the quieter parts of the grave. We all found lots and lots of snails.

A couple of local volunteers cleared and tidied some of the old graves. Many are too worn to read, but we found a few from around two hundred years ago. Helen told us that one we were working around had actually vanished into the undergrowth. They found its location from old site maps, and rescued it.

Richard then arrived from his training (he's doing a marathon hike next weekend!), grabbed gloves and then grabbed up great fistfuls of ivy. And Jacqui waved hello as the church tour led her through the graveyard. Understandably, she couldn't tear herself away from the tour, the church is a real historical gem for Finchley and always open if you fancy a visit.