Moonlight Mission at FUEL Lands On Tuesday evening our GoodGym Barnet crew gathered outside the Phoenix Cinema before heading off on a short 1.5 km run to FUEL Lands, where Finchley Charities are developing a community allotment. A bright moon lit the start of the run, before disappearing behind thick grey cloud, leaving a rather dramatic sky above us as we arrived to meet Bridget and Sheela from Finchley Charities. The task was to reposition several raised beds so they ran parallel with the path, making them accessible for people using wheelchairs or with restricted mobility. This wasn’t just a simple shuffle — it meant emptying the beds, removing the wooden frames, repositioning them, and refilling them with woodchip and soil. With only three GoodGymers on the task, expectations were modest. Maybe one bed if things went well. But the GoodGym work ethic kicked in. Working in the dark, we dismantled, moved and rebuilt the beds, eventually completing three fully reassembled raised beds, ready for planting. Not bad for a small crew and a head-torch shift. Even in the low light you could see the potential of the site. The allotment is shaping up to be a wonderful community space where people can get involved in gardening and spend time outdoors. The project is run by Finchley Charities, an extraordinary local organisation that has been supporting people in the Finchley area for over 600 years. Mission accomplished, we jogged back to the Phoenix Cinema where popcorn and refreshments awaited. Fancy getting involved? We’ll be back helping again soon join us for a run, a workout, and the chance to support a brilliant local project.

Three Goodgymmers found themselves navigating the residential maze of Cricklewood, south of Brent Cross Town. Mission Control told a cautionary tale of a garden fence that had been swallowed by a wild and monstrous beast known as Ivy.

The out of control monster towered over the neighbours and our host, eating sheds, birdbaths and garden gnomes. But our brave Goodgymmers faced the beast undaunted!

Armed by our host with sharpened shears, trusty loppers, two ladders and a handsaw for the thickest limbs of the sprawling behemoth, we set to work rescuing the fence from its leafy clutches.

And lo! as we snipped, hacked, lopped and sawed into the beasts flanks, we found a second fence hiding in the maw of dark wood and creepers. This too, we rescued as best we could, followedby a quick clean up, stuffing the verdant guts of the beast into two wheelie bins and three rubbish sacks.

No doubt if any one of us had faced this quest alone we would have fallen, but together we beat the fronds back on all fronts and triumphed.

Well done to Jack for completing his first mission! And full fanfare and party hats for Daniel, who locked in his 100th good deed with today's victory! Onwards!!

Fairway to Go! February’s Fantastic Finds

February saw another brilliant Anytime Plogging Community Mission, with GoodGym members heading out across their local areas to keep streets, parks and beaches a little cleaner.

A big thank you to everyone who sent in photos and reports it’s always inspiring to see what’s being tackled out there.

Peter was out and about but seemed to uncover parts of a van along the way, which understandably slowed progress a little! Jacqui and Sally combined their litter pick with a theatre trip .. multitasking at its finest — collecting an eclectic haul including bottles, papers and some rather curious odds and ends. Paul uncovered what felt like the lost driving range of North London a stash of golf balls rescued from the undergrowth. And I did my own litter pick on Chesil Beach with my niece, gathering an eclectic mix of widely travelled rubbish packaging from Japan, Poland and beyond. A reminder that litter doesn’t just travel down our streets… it travels across the world.

From riverbanks to beaches, from golf balls to van debris, every bag filled makes a difference.

If you haven’t joined in yet, why not give it a go for March? Bring a friend, grab a picker, and head out for a short plog near you — anytime that suits you.

Thanks again to everyone who took part community spirit in action.