The start of February is a significant time of the year in two calendars. Jewish tradition celebrates Tu B'Shevat, the New Year for Trees, from sundown. And in Celtic traditions, Imbolc takes place at the same time, celebrating the first signs of spring.

So what better time to gather for another fantastic planting session with The Orchard Project and Earthwatch Europe? This time we met in Stoneyfields Park, a lovely green space in Edgware, with a beautiful waterfall and lots of mature trees along the banks of the Deans Brook.

In a muddy corner of the park, our hosts had set up a marquee and brought the usual wintry fare: mulled apple juice and cider, shovels, fruit trees and bushes, mulch... As with our earlier orchard planting session with them at Hollickwood Park, we were there to provide an extra bit of physical oomph for the other volunteers - of which there were over 20!

Many hands made light work of the ten trees going in the ground: 4 apples, 2 pears, a plum, a mulberry, a sweet chestnut and a crab apple. There were around half a dozen berry bushes too. After an informative explanation of the process by orchard expert Daniella, we set to the task.

A great tip: if you plant your trees in a circular hole, then the roots will curve around in a spiral and not spread out properly. But if you plant in a square hole, they spread out faster and the tree will root stronger!

Despite rain, mud, and only one boshing device (a 'rammer') for getting the stakes in, everyone worked together brilliantly and we were done in a couple of hours. Then, after a bit of a snack and some apple-based beverages, we cleared down, admire our work and celebrated the start of spring.

Community Mission Report – Darlands Nature Reserve

A small but enthusiastic group came together today at Darlands Nature Reserve, with two GoodGym Barnet runners joined by three volunteers from the local conservation group. It was also great to meet Abi, newly signed up to GoodGym Barnet, on his first mission with me.

Led by Sam, the volunteer organiser, we spent the morning doing practical conservation work, mainly bramble thinning to give mature oak trees more space beneath their branches. This kind of work helps improve woodland health and resilience, and can also reduce dense undergrowth that poses a risk during very dry weather.

The conditions were ideal — mild, sunny and calm — and while we certainly got some work done, there was plenty of conversation too, which is very much part of what makes community missions so enjoyable. A real highlight was spotting a bird of prey, which we believe was a kestrel, circling above the reserve.

Darlands is a fascinating site with a rich history. It was once part of the landscaped parkland of the Copped Hall estate, with its lake and surrounding woodland shaped in the late 18th century. After years of changing use, it became a designated nature reserve in the early 1980s and is now protected and managed by the Darlands Conservation Trust, a local charity holding a long-term lease and supported almost entirely by volunteers. Despite being so close to London, it feels wonderfully peaceful and wild.

I had to leave before the end of the session, but the remaining volunteers continued with litter picking and other tasks. The amount of care and commitment shown by the Trust and its volunteers really stood out.

This is a unique and special green space that genuinely benefits from extra hands, and it’s a brilliant example of how local volunteering makes a lasting difference. We’ll definitely be back, and next time it’s listed, it would be great to see even more GoodGym Barnet runners coming along to support this important work.

We’re a friendly local group who walk, jog or cycle together while helping the community and local environment. All abilities are welcome — you always go at your own pace.

👉 See what we’ve got coming up: https://www.goodgym.org/areas/barnet/happenings

👉 And what we’ve already done (reports & photos): https://www.goodgym.org/areas/barnet/reports

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our January Anytime Litter Picking Community Mission what a phenomenal turnout!

Across the month we saw loads of GoodGymers getting stuck in, whether walking, running, solo or paired up. From riversides and parks to pavements and problem fly-tipping spots, the impact was real and visible. Bags were filled, heavy items shifted, incidents logged with councils, and even the odd football rescued along the way

Special thanks to everyone who shared photos, stories and stats and to those who quietly got on with good deeds behind the scenes. Every single action counts, and it all feeds into our January Challenge national target, which makes this even sweeter

And yes… I can confirm that litter picking works extremely well with dog walking Gus is a big fan of missions with purpose

Why litter picking is surprisingly great fun: 1. Instant impact – you can see the difference you’ve made straight away. One path, park or riverbank transformed. 2. Low pressure, high reward do it anytime, anywhere, for 10 minutes or an hour. It all counts. 3. Good for the body and the soul fresh air, movement, and that quiet glow of doing something genuinely useful.

Thanks again to everyone who took part you’re absolute stars Let’s keep this momentum rolling into the next mission.

A few people came online to do yoga.

This was a cycle route using Dollis Brook and Pymmes Brook . Jack was meant to join me but got pulled away for some urgent work, so I rode most of it solo which actually gave me a great chance to really test the roof properly. Jack was meant to join me but got pulled away for some urgent work, so I rode most of it solo which actually gave me a great chance to really test the roof properly. Cool dry condition a couple of muddy patches to keep things interesting but nothing sketchy. The big win is that it’s most of off-road traffic free and feels properly Green despite being right in BARNET. It rolls nicely works in all weathers and his ideal if you’re new to a group ride or just want to relax and have a social spin rather than a lung Buster. Honestly, it’s a perfect starter for a bike scenic for Giving and confidence boosting with plenty of places to pause chat and enjoy the surroundings. I’ll be listing this again in about a month or so and next time Jack will be there too. Join us next time if you fancy an easy welcoming ride that shows just how much green space we’ve got on our doorstep.

1 Goodgymer attended to help with some cardboard boxes that had a life of their own and were threatening to take over! With a broken lift and 3 flights of stairs to the bin room this was the perfect task for someone that likes climbing mountains in their spare time. 13 trips x up and down x 3 flights = a great step count for the day but more importantly makes a start on addressing a difficult living situation for a family with support needs. It was only the start of what will clearly need to be a much bigger piece of work but hopefully the reduction of cardboard and bags of rubbish blocking their main escape route reduces the fire hazard and general risk to them.