A brave gaggle of Goodgymmers gathered for our latest group run to Northway Gardens, where we were helping Brian clear the banks of the brook. A somewhat failed attempt at a conversation starter in 'What would you use AI for?', mostly leading to the answer 'To solve the need to ever have to use AI'. So we appointed Rachel to come up with a better prompt for next week!

We set off in good time, Beattie marking the rear, jogging through the back alleys of East Finchley. At Lyttleton Playing Field, we stopped briefly for squat kicks and some core strengthening - the braver among us doing one-armed planks.

Meeting Brian on Northway, he produced two pairs of trusty loppers and set us off in groups either side of the stream, cutting back the overgrowth. Daniel emerged from the undergrowth, having run straight to site - great to see him back again on his second group run in the past month.

Then to work! We cut back self-seeding trees, mostly elder, some figs, and our extra hands ran back and forth, like mobile trees (hence the Macbeth reference!) across the road to the dumping pile. It was hot and careful work, making sure no one took a swan dive into the drink while trimming saplings. We made it as far as the bridge, and made a big difference to the garden's view along the way.

Jogging back, Lucinda took up backmarking duties, and guess what? She's completed her 25th good deed! Well done!

With all the heat, we agreed we needed some refreshments, so we returned to the White Lion for a quencher and chitchat and a promise to be back next week, when we'll be helping Roger and the Friends of Cherry Tree Wood.

It's a very short run, so you can expect https://www.goodgym.org/v3/profile/paul-salman to lead a work out circuit or maybe even some yoga. See you there!

On a refreshingly wet Sunday, yet somehow dodging the torrential downpours, I popped over to to help Pat and the Friends of Shepherds Hill Gardens with a bit of hedge trimming and path sweeping. Very satisfying to see the fruits of our labour and Pat was very grateful for the extra hands with the more physical work.

Hopefully we can go for one more group session before deep summer, as many of their volunteers will be disappearing on holiday too. Even just a little bit of help is a huge boost for them. And there's always refreshments at the end - which isn't why we do it, but the guava juice was delightful!

Two goodgymers went to Mrs P's house to help her tame some of the plants in her garden. We cut back ivy and various trees, as well as some brambles that were obstructing the path to the garden. We managed to fill 6 large bags of garden waste and left feeling that it had been a job well done.

Two of us made it to the fundraising gig organised by Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), with Louise our link between CAB and Goodgym. We joined a fantastic crowd of around 60 staff, volunteers, friends and family for a boogie to some classic rock and pop covers.

Much thanks were shared, not only for Goodgym's help leafleting and promoting the night, but for getting people out on the dance floor (mostly down to Daniel if I'm honest). We shook our stuff to Thin Lizzy, strutted our stetsons to Dire Straits, bopped to Chris de Burgh and lots more besides!

Also, a big shout out to Ivo from a fan in the crowd who did his Masters in Charity Management, and wrote his dissertation on Goodgym! He interviewed Ivo for his project and still thinks Goodgym is utterly amazing!

A few people committed to do a litter pick in June. Litter—especially plastics, wrappers, and cans—can harm animals who may eat it or get trapped. Picking it up helps prevent injury or death to birds, marine life, and other creatures, and keeps natural spaces healthier. It improves community pride and mental wellbeing A clean environment looks better and makes people feel better. Litter picking is a small act that can spark a sense of ownership and community spirit—and doing it yourself can be surprisingly uplifting and calming, like a moving meditation with purpose.

Let’s go again in July!

Heat too much for barnet Gg