What’s the connection between Barbie and an old Arrowhead. The answer is this weeks GoodGym Barnet group run!

A goodgym group run is a great way to get perspective on life and what better way than to start in a barbie saturated cinema, run to an ancient woodland, (where they had found a 4000-year-old Arrowhead) and then help to protect the trees by rebuilding fences.

We gathered at the cinema which was covered in pink balloons to celebrate the arrival of the film. Then warmed up, introduce ourselves, before setting off on the 1.5 km to the woods where we met Linda.

During her introduction, she mentioned the fact that they had recently found an arrowhead, which dates between 1500, BC and 4000 BC. She then went on to explain how we would rebuild some of the forest fences. We got to work as the sun started to set and by the time we had finished and set off back to the cinema, it was twilight. We had enough time to do some shorts sprints before a warm down outside the cinema. Some of us then went for some light refreshments in the cinema café.

Thanks for coming, running, doing some good and maybe shifting your perspective for the better!

Give a shout out to our new runners… Alefiyah Megan

7 GoodGymers made their way to meet Donald at one of my favourite East Finchley local spots, Long Lane Pasture nature reserve, which is managed entirely by volunteers, and open to the public on weekends. This used to actually be a pasture with horses in the past, and was saved from being built on around 20 years ago. Now it is a haven for wildlife (18 butterfly varieties spotted so far this year, some resident foxes, and lots of birdlife), with ponds and wetland, meadow grasses, and brambles with absolutely delicious blackberries. Definitely bringing a tupperware next time to bring some of those home for a crumble! We split into groups, with Beattie and Rachel doing some excellent work on the 'wigloo' willow den; Alefiyah and Yesika getting stuck in with a spade for some intense grass clearing to make way for more meadow seeds, and Lauren, Megan and Moya trimming back shrubbery to keep the paths passable (and eating a few blackberries on the way). This was the first good gym activity for Lauren, Yesika and Megan, and first Barnet based for Alefiyah. Was great to have you with us! We also celebrated the fact that this was Good Gyms 7th anniversary of supporting the nature reserve, and had some delicious vegan courgette cake homemade by Donald. That certainly helped give some energy for the run back!