15 GoodGym Barnet members took part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count (18 July–10 August), adding our sightings to the UK-wide citizen science survey. I managed three counts myself—numbers were low in my patches, so I’m keen to see the national results.

Butterflies are brilliant indicators of environmental health, helping scientists track the effects of climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Early reports suggest a good year for gatekeepers, red admirals, and peacocks, plus a UK first—the southern small white fluttering in from southern Europe!

Citizen science is easy, fun, and open to all—you don’t need to be a runner or an expert. Next year, let’s get even more people involved: friends, family, neighbours… the more counts, the better the data.

Thanks to everyone who took part—your 15 minutes really can help protect our environment.

🦋 Count them, love them, protect them.

Two Goodgymmers gathered on a dry cold day to help the amazing volunteers at Finchley Memorial Hospital's community garden spread compost on their raised beds and do a bit of weeding. It was great to see Richard cycling up to the garden and getting stuck in to a mission - the first he has been able to attend in a while.

The existing volunteers mostly comprise retired nurses and local volunteers, all with amazing histories of working in the hospital, and a passion for gardening. Many of the plants there were grown from seed or cuttings in volunteers own gardens, while others were donated through the Finchley Pollinators, who we helped sow the tinymeadow last year.

The compost arrived somewhat late, so we helped to weed last year's a maize bed in preparation for bean planting. Then it was all hands on deck to carry the compost and mulch from the van to the beds, and started spreading.

We did a great job, but the compost ran out before we could cover the last bed and a half, so we'll be back next week to finish things up and spread the mulch.

Cornelia lead a walk from Woodside Park looking to combine fitness fun and community spirit.