The Coldfall Chronicles: A Heroic Ramble Through the Woods of Barnet

On a balmy spring evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the dense foliage of Coldfall Woods, a band of intrepid adventurers assembled. Their mission: to aid the venerable Linda and the Friends of Coldfall Woods in their noble quest to rid the forest’s edge of litter and debris. This was no ordinary gathering; it was the GoodGym Barnet brigade, a motley crew of runners, walkers, and cyclists. The Assembled Heroes: • Freya embarking on her maiden voyage with GoodGym Barnet, displayed the enthusiasm of a seasoned explorer. Her strides were purposeful, her spirit indomitable, leading the charge with a vigor that belied her novice status. give her a cheer! • Sally, the seasoned sentinel, took up the rear, ensuring no comrade was left behind. Her experience was a beacon, guiding the group with a steady hand and an encouraging word. • Ewelinaand George, the steadfast foot soldiers, opted for a brisk march, navigating the terain with precision and arriving at the meeting point ahead of the fleet-footed runners—a testament to their superior planning. • Theodore, the youthful chronicler, wielded his camera ( or more like my mobile phone!) like a sword, capturing moments of levity and toil, urging his compatriots to strike poses that would immortalize their efforts in the annals of GoodGym lore.( yes the classic jazz hands.) • Lucinda, a regular presence, brought consistency and cheer, her dedication shining as brightly as the evening sun filtering through the canopy. • Subham, whose past exploits in the realm of frisbee were the stuff of legend, joined the fray despite nursing an injury—a true testament to his unwavering commitment. • Paul, the seasoned runner, with tales about the merits of yoga and the learnings from his dog Gus!

The Quest:

Armed with litter pickers and an unyielding sense of purpose, the group ventured into the underbrush, uncovering hidden caches of refuse that marred the natural beauty of the woods. Each piece of litter collected was a small victory, a step towards restoring the forest to its pristine state. The task, though humble, was carried out with the zeal of knights on a crusade! As twilight descended, the heroes reconvened at the Phoenix, their mission accomplished.

The GoodGym Barnet team may not seek the spotlight, but their consistent efforts in Coldfall Woods ( and other good causes are available ) reflect true heroism.

Six sturdy Goodgymmers met at the Phoenix for our regular group session. We welcomed Lucy for the first time, a keen and capable runner, as well as our regular crew, Beattie and Rachel, Anthony and our excellent photographer, Theodore.

Following a quick warm up down the side of the cinema (with thanks to Rachel for the evenings conversational topic: things you thought were bad at the time, but turned out to be good - lots of COVID stories), we crossed the nearby junction then scooted our way through the quieter roads and back alleys to Long Lane Pasture for our evening deeds. There, met by our inimical host Donald, we were handed ploggers, rakes, a pitchfork and barrows and split into two teams.

Team one jogged around the site litter-picking and tidying, while team two began clearing dead brambles to pile into a dead hedge. The second task is making way for a silver birch to be planted near the gates in memory of Wayne, a key figure in the Pasture's founding, who helped the community secure the original lease from Barnet Council. The brambles were piled into a dead hedge that will also stop visitors to the site from crossing through a key 'bee lane', from the apiaries to the nearby flower meadow.

With a solid four barrows of brambles and a sack of rubbish out of the way, we then jogged back to the Cinema, satisfied we'd made our impact on ourselves and for the community.

Two Goodgymmers, Theo and George joined the wonderful volunteers at Finchley Memorial Hospital for a session clearing the 'other' kind of beds and then planting some of the displaced sage and lavender plants.

We dug over the dandelions and pulled up pansies, but we left some clover for ground cover until the team are ready to start sowing in their veg. After digging in the shrubs, the volunteers watered everything well. After weeding the bed next to us, volunteers put weed suppressant sheets down in preparation for sowing beans.

The composting, planting and mulching in the raised beds is still not quite finished, so we hope to be back a couple more times in spring to help.

With clear skies above and sturdy legs below, four Goodgymmers stormed into the darkening evening from the Phoenix Cinema. We ran a solid, mostly car-free 3km to the tinyforest, with Kubilay and Theodore. Subham kept the pace up while night scarfed up the tender eye of pitiful day. Starlight hardly pierced the twilight engulfing Lyttleton fields, so we turned on head torches.

On Falloden Way we met Gabonnet and Scarlett, who joined us in the meadow. Dark tracks from the diggers led to the newly turned earthy, where we'll be planting three new tinyforests later this month. Then, in the far corner of the forgotten fields we found the existing tinyforest.

We assembled our three birdfeeders, two with fat balls and one with seeds, entered the forest and hung the feeders on branches. Though stones have been known to move and trees to speak, we heard nary a nightingale nor late blackbird singing for supper, but we'll see what they have taken when we come back next week.

We talked about the impact of the tinyforest, the various citizen science data we could record (in daylight) and the new tinymeadow that should start blooming soon. Then, wishing a fair journey home to Scarlett, Subham and Gabrielle, three of us mustered our mettle for the 3km trek back to the Phoenix.

GoodGym Run Report – Phoenix Cinema to Stephens House & Gardens

Tuesday’s GoodGym run was not just about getting our steps in, but about supporting the incredible volunteers who dedicate their time to making our local spaces better. While we might selfishly enjoy the exercise and social time, we also hope that our efforts show how much we appreciate those who welcome us and give us tasks to do.

Most of the group set off from the Phoenix Cinema, taking a scenic but hilly route through the back streets of East Finchley, while a few met us directly at Stephens House & Gardens. Excitingly, Stephens House is set to host the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow in June! So, if you’ve got a dusty heirloom lying around, check out their website for details and enjoy a visit to the Stables Café while you’re there.

Getting Stuck In at Stephens House & Gardens

On arrival, we were ushered to the back area where we met Helen, Warwick and Alison, who had already set up tools and made a start on the evening’s tasks. With limited time and plenty to do, we threw ourselves into: ✅ Weeding ✅ Brushing & sweeping ✅ Pulling up moss from the terrace ✅ Improving the grass verge

It was great to see Scarlett again, who braved the cool evening to join us for a run. Her enthusiasm, along with the efforts of all the volunteers, helps to boost the morale of those who work tirelessly to keep these community spaces thriving.

Ending with Energy & Gratitude

Before heading home, we finished the session with a Hakra breathing exercise—a way to re-energize before we wrapped up for the night. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who make spaces like Stephens House & Gardens a true jewel in the crown of Finchley.

Most of the group then ran back to the Phoenix Cinema, completing a solid 5K run. And, in a rare stroke of luck, the rain held off just long enough for us to finish.

Thanks to everyone who joined in—see you next time for more running, volunteering, and GoodGym camaraderie!