Three goodgymers joined local community activists at the Mutton Brook tiny forests, for a wet morning of weeding and litter picking. The rain came down, which was great for the trees, not so good for the workers! But we all persevered, and dug up a mountain of weeds that had been growing since the tiny forest trees were planted in March. The tiny forests at the site are part of a scientific experiment with different growing conditions. We saw oaks, hollys, hazels, all thriving.

There's plenty more work to do there, so we look forward to going again soon!

A brave attempt to test the waters with a Thursday evening group run left me on a solo run from East Finchley to Finchley Central, but not to worry! A run is a run is a run!

This particular run was a data check of local businesses signed up to the Community Toilet Scheme, to see if this vital service was still operational.

I check the East Finchley businesses first, barging in sweaty and going straight for the toilets. Maddens was first and nobody stopped me, but this friendly Irish pub didn't look like they'd stop anyone. After a quick chat with the gaffer, I popped across the road to number 85, where Coffee Buddy was now being refurbished into Triple Two Cafe. Strange to call it 222 when it's at number 85, but never mind, business closed, no toilets for the community!

Being on my own, I took the less scenic route up East End Road, crossed the North Circular and popped out on Ballards Lane almost opposite my next stop: The King of Prussia. A lovely family pub, the toilets were clean, accessible and, by this point, worth a pit stop. Chatting to staff after, only the duty manager remembered they were part of the scheme, but they were more than happy to open their toilets to all and sundry either way.

Final stop, Ahir Lorenzo's on the corner. A funky local bar, they didn't stop me wandering around to the back to find their toilets. I then had a long chat with the friendly bar staff and a regular, before settling in for a pint of rehydration (and, OK, I'll admit it, a half of something stronger) to check my notes were legible.

Thursday group runs won't be on the menu for a while, but we'll be trialling other starter sessions to encourage new Goodgymmers to join us. Meanwhile, normal services resume next Tuesday, when we'll be visiting Coldfall Wood.

A few GoodGym members came together to do online yoga.

yoga talk

As mentioned in class yesterday, yoga is a great way to activate the parasympathetic nervous system — our “rest and repair” mode. By calming the breath and focusing the mind, we help the body shift out of stress and into a state that supports healing, recovery, and overall well-being. It’s one of the reasons a regular practice can feel so deeply relaxing. https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/can-yoga-decrease-stress-and-anxiety

Brambles, Banter and Baby Bottles: A Run to Remember at Cherry Tree Woods

We kicked off the evening at he Phoenix Cinema with our now-traditional circle chat—this time diving into our earliest childhood memories. From the sound of milk bubbling in baby bottles to first flights to India and tales of youthful bumps and scrapes, the stories flowed almost as freely as the banter and laughter.

With nostalgia warmed, we split into runners and walkers and headed downhill to Cherry Tree Woods—just half a kilometre away. One kind passer-by even applauded us on our way down, a first for many of us!

At the woods, we met András, our fantastic host from the Friends of Cherry Tree Wood, who had tools lined up and tasks ready. But first—bramble bashing could wait—a quick fitness session on the open field. Some warm up exercises and a nice plank to finish. we are now ready to take on the brambles!

Armed with loppers, rakes, and shovels, we got stuck into clearing overgrown brambles. We powered through the first patch so quickly that we tackled a second area before time ran out. Litter was picked, pathways cleared, and even some locals stopped to say thank you.

As we walked and ran back in small groups, it was clear just how much can be achieved in under an hour when a group of people come together with purpose and energy. It’s always a privilege to support local volunteer groups like Friends of Cherry Tree Wood, whose ongoing work makes these spaces safe and welcoming for the whole community.

The first person to read this and write a comment get a drink from me!

GoodGym lends a hand at Hampstead Heath Parkrun

Sometimes the best things happen last-minute. On Friday afternoon I got an email from the Hampstead Heath Parkrun team—they were short on volunteers for Saturday morning. I replied, signed up, and by 9am I was at the start line, barcode scanner in hand.( my iphone!)

Well, nearly. The race director had a bit of a morning: the defibrillator and finish tokens had mysteriously gone missing. Undeterred, the team rallied. A defib was sourced from the nearby swimming ponds, and the tokens were digitised on the spot. It was impressive to see everyone pulling together to keep the event alive.

Around 500 runners gathered in the sun, and the Parkrun spirit was in full flow. One runner was concerned about her blood sugar, and when the race director asked if anyone had snacks to share—dozens of people stepped forward with drinks and food. It was a lovely moment of community in action.

I was paired with Samuel for barcode scanning—he managed the digital tokens, and I scanned the runners’ barcodes. Despite the rocky start, everything ran smoothly, and the runners were full of appreciation. At one point, the event was close to being cancelled, so it was especially rewarding to help make it happen.

I even bumped into a fellow GoodGymer, Paul, and we made plans for a celebratory swim and coffee at the ponds afterward.

If you enjoy friendly chaos, fresh air, and helping out your local community, volunteering at Parkrun is a brilliant way to start the weekend. It’s easy to sign up, and whether you’re cheering, timing, or scanning, you’ll be part of something genuinely uplifting. Come join us at Hampstead Heath sometime—or support your local Parkrun. You won’t regret it.

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!