Our first balmy weather of the year brought a friendly group of six Goodgymmers together for a session at Shepherds Hill Gardens. Four of us set off from the Phoenix, with Theo rocking up just in time to set off as our fifth for the 3km run.

The run had us dodging tree roots, leaping over dogs, swerving around pedestrians and somersaulting cars. (Well, not really, but I'm trying to earn the pun in this report title. We were SUPER-safe and observant the whole way.)

Rescheduled from earlier in the year, we were glad to see Pat fighting fit and - bless her indomitable kindness - already prepping refreshments! We got stuck in with brooms and rakes, clearing leaves at the top of the Gardens. Working in pairs, we swept the paths and benches, scooped up the green waste and carried it down to the dead hedges and piles in the wood.

Then we settled at a bench for biscuits, hot chocolate, fresh mint tea and a special treat just for the vegan among us (me!): samosas. Though within moments we had a new vegan signed up to a plant-based dietary regime for the rest of his life - well done Paul! (I'm sure he wasn't just after a samosa.) We also spotted some violets along the wall by the path - lovely early signs of spring.

Tonight's question was: which actor, living or dead, would you like to play you in the biopic of your life? Here's a 'match the actor to the Goodgymmer' quiz:

GGers George / Paul / Subham / Jack / Lucy / Theo

Actors El Vez / Angelina Jolie / Jonny Depp / Philip Seymour Hoffman / Robert Redford / Jack Nicholson

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!

With the temperature dropping suddenly (even though it was the hottest start to May ever recorded) and a few Goodgymmers taken ill, just three of us managed the group run to Shepherds Hill Gardens. Anthony and I both rocked up a little early to the Phoenix, while Sonya gamely offered to meet us at the gardens, so we set off promptly at a gentle pace. We arrived early and did a decent stretch, before heading over to meet Pat, one of the amazing custodians of the green space.

We gathered tools, sacks and snacks - yes, one of the lovely perks of visiting, but not the reason we go! - and set to the laborious maintenance tasks that are a challenge for the older volunteers at the space. We swept the path and steps at the public-facing end of the woodland patch while Pat litter-picked and pruned hedges, then ferried the waste down to the compost pile in the wood. That alone was enough work for the four of us, so we decamped to a bench for some hot hibiscus berry tea and apple juice, to natter about the various volunteers and the jobs they have ahead of them.

Like many green spaces around Barnet, they're looking ahead to the extra work spring and summer brings and trying to build capacity for pruning and maintaining new growth. Keep an eye out for a dedicated Community Mission to help them at their regular sessions in May and June.