15 GoodGym Barnet members took part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count (18 July–10 August), adding our sightings to the UK-wide citizen science survey. I managed three counts myself—numbers were low in my patches, so I’m keen to see the national results.

Butterflies are brilliant indicators of environmental health, helping scientists track the effects of climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Early reports suggest a good year for gatekeepers, red admirals, and peacocks, plus a UK first—the southern small white fluttering in from southern Europe!

Citizen science is easy, fun, and open to all—you don’t need to be a runner or an expert. Next year, let’s get even more people involved: friends, family, neighbours… the more counts, the better the data.

Thanks to everyone who took part—your 15 minutes really can help protect our environment.

🦋 Count them, love them, protect them.

5 keen Goodgym runners joined Area Activator Simon at the Arsenal Community Hub last night, to enjoy a group run up to the lovelySunnyside Community Gardens near Elthorne Park. Upon our arrival, we caught up with Eslam and the rest of our team, enjoying a warm Summer's evening in a pretty green space.

Shovels, forks, wheelbarrows and hose pipes were gathered up in advance, ready for a big Goodgym task! Our objective for the evening was to move the entire contents of a large compost bay, and then sieve through the soil to remove large twigs, branches or forgotten coffee sacks. The twigs were moved to a secondary compost bay, to allow them to break down over time.

As we rotated the soil, Michelle helped with spraying down the compost with water, to help with mixing the materials together (the soil has become very dry, and we needed to use forks to break it up). It took about 40 minutes for our team to remove the compost, but only 10 minutes to shovel it back into place- well done everyone l!

As as a Thank You for our hard work, Eslam invited us to the Sunnyside Community Gardens allotments and greenhouses, across the road from our work space. A hidden treasure trove of fresh vegetables, and community grown produce! We were even allowed to bring a few pots of callaloo back home with us!

Thanks again for a great evening.

Next week we will be at Elizabeth House Food Hub (meeting at 7pm)- more details below!

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN AUGUST

Community Mission - Elizabeth House Food Hub 7.15pm, Monday 11th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-elizabeth-house-food-hub-7pm-start-at-task-location

Group Run- Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 18th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-highbury-quadrant-green-space-garden-maintenance-71bbddc2-a560-4e69-aa68-66ebe431ac05

Bank Holiday Special Group Run- Parkland Walk Plogging with Camino Ultra and Trash Free Trails 6.15pm, The Woodman Pub, Highgate Monday 25th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/bank-holiday-plogging-parkland-walk-finsbury-park-with-trash-free-trails

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Post Group Run Social August- Someday Canteen, Finsbury Park

Monday 25th August, 8.15pm, Someday Canteen, Finsbury Park

Area Activator Simon began leading sessions for Goodgym Islington 6 years ago, taking the reins from Goodgym legend Paul Bown (still active in GG Sheffield). We invite you for good food, excellent refreshments and fun times!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-session-social-area-activator-simon-celebrates-5-years-27ad5928-1bf0-4295-b203-32538e5bed31

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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions

Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations

On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.

Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 7th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-eec7206a-2c2f-4260-89a4-7a643a59f3f6

Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 14th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-81c756cb-f880-4d4c-bc9d-273db6793f21

Hyde Park Lancaster Gate Thursday 21st August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-81c756cb-f880-4d4c-bc9d-273db6793f21

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 28th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-f1e7bda3-ccf3-4506-96bc-b1d6c90cdf61

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 4th September

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-0564ad66-99ad-4f45-aa08-2e42959ff2ad

Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 11th September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-cb3577ca-7ca3-4561-8ad9-6b0fec2aefd1

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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!

Tuesday 5th July, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House

On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.

Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-lunchtime-sweep-up-task-49567027-9006-425d-81a7-a74b928156e5

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 9th August, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington

A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!

A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.

Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-august

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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day

Saturday 16th August, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington

Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/golden-olden-community-gardens-monthly-volunteer-open-day-1e8a6ac9-aaa3-4ae8-bf27-1ffd556a6a98

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Penn Road Gardens - August Volunteer Day

Sunday 31st August, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens

Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-august-de813053-fd30-4336-abe6-9266377ac4da

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Camino Ultra Epping Forest 50km and 25km Eco Trail- Aid Station Superstars 2025!!!

Sunday 4th October, 9am onwards, Rangers Road, Chingford

DaznBone (aka Darren Strachan and David Bone) and the Camino Ultra team are putting together the logistics for their next 50km ultra race (running from Wanstead Flats, up the green corridor to Epping Forest and back), and have invited the Goodgym crew to get involved!

On the course, there will be 4 major aid stops, and we have been invited to take over the first refresh point and the penultimate aid station.

This will involve providing water and snacks to runners of all abilities during the key stages of their race, and to support them with smiling faces and enthusiasm!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/camino-ultra-epping-forest-50km-and-25km-eco-trail-aid-station-superstars-2025

July’s Anytime Litter Pick Round-Up

July saw a flurry of GoodGymers taking to the parks, pavements, and parkruns for some self-led (and often friend-powered) litter picks. Instead of one big group mission, we had a string of solo and paired-up heroes tackling the mess wherever they found it. The results were as varied as they were brilliant: • Peter van Tongeren took charge in Hackney and Redbridge, clearing gas canisters, a Lime bike dumped in a disabled bay, and general rubbish at parkrun. • Epping crew handled general waste with their usual quiet efficiency. • Kidbrooke’s Sutcliffe Park got a deep clean thanks to one dedicated plogger. Not only was a lost ‘Boris Bike’ reported to TfL, but around 200 Himalayan balsam plants were pulled to protect local biodiversity. A toy plane made a soft landing and was thoughtfully left for a young aviator to find. • Paul and Mike turned a casual walk into a purposeful mission, chatting and laughing their way through a clean-up with coffee and compliments from passers-by. • Jackie and Sally teamed up too—proof that plogging is better with pals!

There’s something quietly joyful about doing good in the background—just you, your buddy, and a grabber. People notice. You’ll feel it. And it sticks.

So why not give it a go this August? Grab a mate, your running shoes (or comfy walking ones), and sign up for your own little mission. You’ll get fresh air, friendly waves, and the warm fuzz of doing something that matters. And who knows—you might even find a toy plane of your own.