12 GoodGymers take multiple lifts and elevators on a Wednesday night!

The Greenwood Centre in Kentish Town looks like it should make sense.

It's not especially large and it doesn't appear to be meandering.

Someone might look up and remark: That's a nice glass cube! Bet you can't get lost in there!

How wrong they would be!

There are gardens on the roof and out the back and off a random room on level one — you can't turn a corner without finding a garden!

And while I was busy getting bemused and confused, this special group were busy making a wonderful difference ❤️

Last night we welcomed Abigail on their first good deed (welcome!) and Caterina on their first trip to Camden GG (welcome!), as well as fabulous regular faces 👉 Ariane, Danny, Gary, Jackie, John, Kareem, Karen, Steve, and Thierry (great to see you all!)

Together they:

💚 Pulled weeds from seemingly every gutter bordering every garden on every floor!

💚 Shifted heavy bags of soil and sand and gravel and mulch 👉 upstairs to downstairs and downstairs to upstairs!

💚 And multiple other small tasks that make a big difference!

Thank you, everyone!

9 GoodGymers caught 60 good deeding minutes in Camden!

Nestled on an innocuous side road — out of reach from Kentish Town's bustle — is a super special and wonderfully accessible building...

..the Greenwood Centre serves local people with disabilities and it is all glass and sharp design and...

...community green spaces too!

Which is where this special group — of Ariane, Danny, Kamil, Karen, Lydia, Pritika, Steph, and Steve — spent 60 wonderful minutes on Wednesday!

Together we:

💚 Dug out a (huge) planter, removed (so many) deadwood branches, and installed new irrigation!

💚 Decanted stones and gravel and other helpful materials into small bags ready for easy access and use :)

💚 Watered sprouting broccoli!

💚 Cleared and sorted the tool shed :)

💚 Weeded a paving area leaving it neat and tidy!

Thank you so much, everyone!

This wonderful group - 11 in number - brought GoodGym to the Mount(ain) today!

I must admit my ignorance.

Until this morning, I (mistakenly) believed that London was a mount(ain)-free city.

I knew about hills (like the fearsome incline between Chalk Farm and the Gail's in Belsize Park), but I knew nothing about mount(ain)s.

This all changed when we arrived at the gorgeous Waterlow Park.

I had thought (again, mistakenly) we were there to tend a wildflower mound, but apparently it is more than a mound - it is a mount(ain).............

.........anyway!

This lovely group - Caitlin, Emilie, Emily, Karen, Kathleen, Khai, Mike, Natalia, Sally, and Steve - painted an active, social, and fun picture of community today ☺️

Guided by April, our brilliant host from Friends of Waterlow Park, we cut bucket-load (upon bucket-load upon bucket-load) of dried grass from the mount, leaving it well-pruned ahead of yellow rattle being sewn over the coming weeks. The hope (🤞) is that the mount will bloom this summer, and we will be back to see if it does!

Thank you, everyone, for your work and company - you made for such a fabulous morning!!

GoodGym Barnet gathered at the iconic Phoenix Cinema for an evening of running and community service at Highgate Woods.

We began with a warm-up under the golden hues of a beautiful summer evening, right outside the cinema. The run took us through the picturesque Cherry Tree Woods and up to the enchanting Highgate Woods, a remnant of the ancient woodlands that once covered this area, where traces of Roman activity have been discovered.

Upon arrival, we met Cindy, the enthusiastic Highgate Woods Ranger, at the Pavilion Café in the heart of the woods. Our task was to dismantle den structures and repurpose the wood to fence off areas for regrowth. Cindy, with her deep knowledge of the local wildlife, enriched our understanding of the woodland ecosystem. She shared exciting news about a nesting hobby, a small bird of prey, that had relocated to Highgate Woods from Queenwood. To protect the chicks, the area beneath their nesting tree was cordoned off.

Cindy also spoke about her recent experience with a wildlife hospital in Rickmansworth, which cared for a pair of orphaned hedgehogs. This highlighted the growing pressures on wildlife due to human encroachment.

Working beneath the canopy of ancient trees, we dismantled the wooden dens and fenced off an area being used as a shortcut by passersby. The serene surroundings, filled with bird calls and fresh, clean air, made the task a joy. To our delight, we completed the job swiftly and took a moment to enjoy some yoga under the trees.

As the evening drew to a close, we headed home, feeling accomplished and a bit more knowledgeable about our local woodland. It was a perfect way to spend a beautiful summer evening, blending fitness, nature, and community service. Join us next time at GoodGym Barnet to experience these magical moments and make a positive impact on our environment.