A few GoodGym members came together to do online yoga.

Yoga talk Yoga is great for runners because it improves flexibility, strength, and balance, helping to prevent injuries. The focused breathing and mindfulness in yoga also aid in recovery and reduce stress, supporting better endurance and performance. Plus, it helps strengthen key muscle groups that support running, like the core, glutes, and legs, enhancing overall stability and efficiency.

GoodGym Barnet Community Mission: Lending a Hand at Shepherds Hill gardens.

Today, I had the pleasure of cycling over to Shepherds Hill Park in Crouch End, Highgate, arriving just in time to meet the wonderful Pat. She’s one of those local heroes who rarely gets the recognition they deserve—a steadfast volunteer who leads the Sunday Friends group, dedicated to keeping the park a welcoming and safe space for everyone. With limited council support and an aging volunteer base, Pat’s team has their hands full, but she was thrilled to welcome a few helping hands from GoodGym Barnet.

Ben and I joined Pat on the upper path, where she explained the group’s struggle to keep the park in shape despite their limited resources. It was eye-opening to hear just how challenging it can be to maintain a public space with only a handful of volunteers and barely enough equipment. But together, we tackled that path with gusto, raking up leaves, tidying behind benches, and filling compost heaps with what felt like a mountain of foliage! Other locals joined in, and it didn’t take long for us to turn the overgrown path into a clear, safe walkway for everyone to enjoy.

Pat’s gratitude was contagious, and after our hard work, we gathered for tea and biscuits. It was a simple but heartwarming moment of community connection, a chance to chat about the importance of keeping our green spaces alive and healthy. Pat mentioned her plans to approach the council for more equipment—just a few sturdy rubbish bags, gloves, and litter pickers would make a world of difference. It reminded me how crucial it is to support these small community groups. Without people like Pat, our parks would quickly fall into neglect.

Community missions like this make a real impact and show how just a couple of hours can go a long way. It’s a great reminder: even if you can only spare an hour every few weeks, your involvement matters. So, here’s to Pat, her Sunday Friends, and all the unsung heroes who keep our green spaces vibrant. And here’s to anyone who wants to join us next time—come along, have some fun, and make a difference!

In an upstairs workshop of the artsdepot, the Finchley Pollinator Project gathered pots, bulbs, soil and grit to bake some bulb lasagnes.

Children and parents took up their pots and layered grit for drainage, then the first bulb layer (allium sphaerocephalon - from the onion family), then the second bulb layer (Tenby daffodils) and finally some grit to hold the moisture in. Dave from the pollinator project suggested adding some holly leaves or bramble stems to stop the squirrels from digging things up, once the pots are settled outside for winter.

In spring, the daffodils will flower early, providing a vital source of nectar for insects before food becomes really abundant. The alliums will flower later, to keep that food source going and keeping the bees happy. All of these potted flowers will help connect patches of green across Barnet through back gardens and other built up areas, giving more space for insects to thrive.

After warming up, we numbered up (Goodgym got five on it) and talked about the first album that we bought, which inspired this song lyrics-filled run report.

All the leaves were brown and the sky was grey. We went leafleting on an autumn day - for the Phoenix Cinema. Winding our way down East Finchley streets, leaflets in hand and light on our feet.

Braving doorways and letterboxes, we heard the occasional barking, but fortunately no-one let the dogs out to send us scrambling. Afterwards, we went to the pub and we’re drinking my friend to the end of a brief episode.

Shout out to our new member Anthony and our regulars for making our very own flyerworks night for this lovely charity cinema! We can give ourselves a pat on the back and know that we’re simply the best.

A few GoodGym members came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk

Yoga benefits blood pressure and circulation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces stress-induced hypertension. The practice involves deep breathing and specific postures that enhance vascular function, improve endothelial health, and promote efficient blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body.

A perfect autumn afternoon set the stage for a Halloween/Samhain celebration! Even though Kirsten couldn’t join us due to illness, the rest of us—George, Theo, and myself—gathered in the heart of Tarling Road Community Garden, ready for a afternoon of festivities.

Just a couple of days earlier, we had worked on the garden paths, so it felt rewarding to see the space being enjoyed by others in the community. We were welcomed by Leo and some of the garden’s trustees, who had brought out their creative flair with spooky webs, coloring activities, and decorations, which added a festive touch to the garden’s late autumn atmosphere.

As we gathered around the open fire, a generous pot of spicy pumpkin soup was ladled out, warming us from the inside out as the cool November air set in. The fire crackled and flickered, adding to the magic of the evening.

The highlight of the gathering was a ceremony to welcome in the New Year. Each of us took a leaf and wrote down a single word symbolizing a feeling we wanted to release or leave behind. With a touch of lavender, we threw our leaves into the flames, watching them burn away while we sang together, voices blending into the night.

The atmosphere was fun and relaxed, and the little ceremony gave us a chance to reflect and reset in good company. It was an afternoon well spent—just us, the garden, and the warm glow of community.