Despite the blustery weather, this garden task was well-shielded by a lovely mature quince tree. Planted 30 years ago by the family, the tree is amazingly resilient, but it's in need of some TLC. Passersby often mistake the fruit for pears, so one of the tasks was to tie up the branches with fruit so they are out of reach. With a bit of pruning , the view from the bench in the garden was perfectly framed for a quiet summer evening.

The area around the bench needed tidying as well, with some empty pots, lots of leaves to clear up and some general litter and other things to organise. A quick sweep and transferring potted soil back into an empty compost bag for future planting, and it that was about it. The tree and a nearby camellia bush will need pruning some time in autumn, so perhaps Goodgym Barnet will visit again in a few months.

GoodGym Barnet: Buckets of Fun at Lyttelton!

You just can’t beat GoodGym in the summer – running in T-shirts and shorts, soaking up the evening warmth, and doing something good for the local community. This week, we took on a brand-new task: watering pollinator planters and fruit trees in Lyttelton Playing Fields – a leafy patch of green tucked into Hampstead Garden Suburb.

As always, we gathered outside the trusty Phoenix Cinema, where the pre-run chatter somehow turned to interesting relatives – the kind of chat that’s ripe for a bit of gentle teasing and a guaranteed follow-up during the task. Classic GoodGym: social fitness at its finest.

It was a short jog downhill through quiet streets – just over 2km – with the summer air feeling fresh and just right. This week was extra special as we welcomed back Phil, returning from a long hiatus due to a back injury. We kept the pace relaxed and let him guide the warm-up. No pressure, no race – just people moving together and supporting each other.

At Lyttelton Playing Fields, we were met by Stephen from the local Friends group, who gave us the lowdown on the ongoing community projects in the area. Our task? Give the planters of pollinator-friendly flowers and young fruit trees a solid soaking.

Armed with a very long yellow hose and a battalion of buckets, we set to work. Of course, the hosepipe couldn’t quite reach every corner, so teamwork came into play – some walked, some ran with buckets (some impressively carried two!), while others filled and ferried water back and forth. There was a steady rhythm to it: fill, carry, water, swap. And before long, the trees and planters were all looking perkier.

After wrapping up, most of us jogged back up to the Phoenix for a gentle warm-down – and a well-earned drink at the local pub.

Thanks to everyone who came along, helped out, and made it such a warm and welcoming evening. Check out next week’s run – you can join us at the Phoenix or meet us at the task. See you there for more running and more doing good!