A perfect spring evening, a gentle glow in the trees, and a group of GoodGymers gathered outside the Phoenix Cinema ready to run, help out, and learn a thing or two about one of Barnet’s loveliest green spaces.

Before setting off, we did our usual introductions with a travel-themed twist: everyone shared their favourite country, or one they’d most like to visit. Japan came up twice, clearly a destination having a bit of a moment. Then it was time to head off at an easy jog.

Our first stop was Cherry Tree Wood for a proper warm-up. Circles on the grass, jump-ups, step-downs, high knees and a few efforts to get the heart rate rising before we pushed on towards Highgate Wood. Near the entrance, there was even a chance for a sharper burst uphill, with everyone free to take it at their own level. A proper workout, whether you fancied steady and sociable or a little blast of intensity.

Then into the woods themselves, looking especially beautiful at this time of year, with that fresh light-green glow that ancient woodland seems to do so well.

There we met Cindy the Park Ranger, who had a simple but very satisfying task lined up for us: removing a batch of stubborn stakes that had proved awkward to shift. For a GoodGym crew, this was just the sort of thing. Straightforward, useful, and oddly enjoyable. Less “pulling teeth” and more “extracting victory from the soil.”

With the stakes dealt with, Cindy treated us to a fascinating guided walk through the woods and the work being done there. We heard about plans to protect areas using “live fencing,” including holly laid and trained so it grows horizontally to form natural barriers. We learned about hornbeam, including how fallen growth can keep going in remarkable ways, and about the service tree, whose berries were once used in brewing. A tree with a pub connection is always going to get GoodGym’s attention.

We also got a glimpse into the quieter side of woodland life, with a hidden camera trained on a blue tit sitting faithfully on her eggs. From wildflower meadows to ancient tree craft to tiny birds getting on with family life, Cindy gave us a wonderful reminder that woodlands are never static. They are always changing, always being cared for, and always full of stories.

A huge thank you to Cindy for the warm welcome, the interesting tour, and the chance to help out in Highgate Wood.

After that, we headed back, and many of us rounded off the evening in the best possible way: pizza at the Phoenix.

Thanks to everyone who came along to run, learn, laugh, and do some good.

Six Goodgymmers gathered for another double whammy of leafleting for the lovely Phoenix Cinema and the artsdepot.

A few of us were already warmed up: Daniel and Kadir trekked over from Henley's Corner to the Phoenix. Welcome toKadir forhis first session! George and Subham ran from their respective corners of Finchley. Rachel and Theodore had some catching up to do, so we set off on a long trek down into the larger houses in East Finchley.

Starting just off the Bishops Avenue, we trekked down a side road to the A1 and back again, then up Deansway to the top of Brim Hill. Then we did all the way down Brim Hill to Hill Top, followed by Hill Top to Brookland Rise, where we finally ran out of leaflets. Daniel and Kadir parted ways with us then, as they'd almost clocked 10km for the evening, while the rest of ran the remaining path back to the Phoenix.

All in, one of our longer runs, clocking in a little over 5km, excluding the many drives and pathways we walked up and down, and a great boost for cultural visibility.

Stars, sprints and shovels at Martin Primary’s Forest School

On a beautiful clear evening, with the stars out and the temperature just right for running, a magnificent seven GoodGymers set off from the Phoenix Cinema for the short 1km trip to Martin Primary School’s Forest School on Tristan Green.

Before we got moving, we squeezed in a quick warm-up with kick-ups and knee raises to get the heart rate up, then jogged through the backstreets. On the way, we even found a handy spot for a few sprints, because GoodGym never misses a chance to mix community work with a bit of fitness.

Once at the school, we got straight into the jobs that needed doing. The team helped clear and tidy the outdoor kitchen area, recovering pots and pans that had somehow spread themselves all over the forest school, and then turned to the heavier work of repairing the paths with fresh woodchip using wheelbarrows, rakes and shovels. We also tackled a rather sizeable hole, filling it in before it could cause any more trouble.

It was one of those classic GoodGym evenings that shows what the group is all about: collective energy, practical help, fresh air and exercise, all wrapped into one session. There’s something especially satisfying about getting outside on an evening like that, doing useful work alongside other people who’ve chosen to spend their time helping out locally rather than sitting indoors.

A special welcome back to Gavin joining us again for his second session, and great to have Subham there too, adding to the growing task force.

A lovely evening, a useful task, and another reminder that doing good together feels even better outdoors.

Once again, Goodgym was out helping our favourite cultural institution, the Phoenix Cinema, reach audiences and keep going. Tonight, however, we had an extra batch of leaflets from the artsdepot in North Finchley, who are also trying to boost numbers. By chance we met their team in the Phoenix last week and offered to piggy back their leaflets on this session.

And, with another great turn out - eight of us! - we made short work of their programmes. With the weather picking up, we had regulars and newcomers. Great to see Sheela for her first session, after she joined us at last week's allotment session as part of her charity work. And welcome back to Theo, who cycled all the way from Queen's Park, over Hampstead Hill!

Rachel set a fun but tricky topic for us to chat about: name something you used to believe was true, but don't any longer. A couple of us came up with food-related topics that we thought were healthy, like Theodore, who shared the fun fact that frozen-then-defrosted bread is easier to digest that fresh bread.

And then we were off, running a bit further than usual towards Muswell Hill to try and reach some new audiences, with Paul backmarking (sadly no Gus with him). We made short work of our leaflets running around some very nice houses. Jacqui snapped some action pics for us on route. Then, twenty minutes later, with no leaflets left, everyone 'collectively and democratically' agreed to let me choose whether we did more hard exercises or a gentler run. Obviously everyone was up for another sprinting session on the hill path into Highgate Wood, where most of us suitably burned off excess energy, except Subham, who has a bottomless store and led the way back to the cinema, while some of us walked or jogged the last stretch.

Then we all huddled around the tables in the Phoenix for a little social, exercising our 10% Goodgym discount. A lovely close to the evening, and a solid 4km route as well.