Three Goodgymmers came together for an afternoon blitz, fig-guratively speaking, to help tidy up a much-loved garden.

We quickly got down to bush-ness. Together, we rearranged pots, bricks and a table to help make the space easier to navigate. Kubilay and George set to pruning the fig tree, and then took af-fern-ative action on the shrubs around the back garden, clearing the old growth to make way for spring. Kubilay then gave the witch hazel a trim, while Daniel used his height advantage with the loppers to reach the high branches of a tree out front, creating more light for the house.

Mrs J said it was genuinely life-changing to be able to sit and enjoy the garden without worrying about all the jobs she couldn't do any more. It was great to see the fruits of our labour have such an immediate impact!

A few GoodGym people came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk

Don’t take your health for granted. Don’t take your body for granted. Do something today that communicates to your body that you desire to care for it. Tomorrow is not promised.” — Jada Pinkett Smith

A few GoodGym Barnet members decided to clean up their local Streets as part of the Goodgym January challenge. well done for all your efforts and thanks for pulling together to help hit our January targets. awesome effort!

GoodGym January Litter Pick Report

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in January’s litter pick! Despite the rain, wind, and occasional challenges, you all stepped up to make a real difference in your local communities. It’s inspiring to see the creativity and dedication you bring to these events. Let’s take a moment to celebrate some of your amazing efforts: • Gosia braved the evening rain and windy conditions in her local area, collecting bags, cans, and bottles. She even stumbled across two broken umbrellas – proof of how wild the weather was! Taking photos in the wind wasn’t easy, but she powered through. • Paul Browning explored Elmstead Woods and noticed a big improvement compared to last month – less litter to bag, showing how impactful regular clean-ups can be! He also took his efforts to Chinbrook Meadows, ensuring no path was left untouched. • Sally and Jacqui fished crisp packets and beer cans out of the canal during their litter pick. And after all that hard work? They fittingly celebrated with crisps and beer at the pub – a perfect way to finish the evening! I enjoyed my litter pick with my dog Gus and I was amused to see a sign which said not today next to a piece of rubbish see photo! Says it all!

Every contribution made a difference, whether it was in Elmstead Woods, local streets, or along the canal. It’s this shared effort and sense of community that makes these events so rewarding. You’ve all helped to make your neighborhoods cleaner, greener, and better for everyone.

Looking Ahead to February

Let’s keep this momentum going! We’ll be hosting another litter pick in February, and we’d love to grow the numbers even further. Why not invite a friend or family member along? Together, we can have fun, get active, and continue to make a positive impact.

As always, it’s about more than just picking up litter – it’s about building connections, supporting our local areas, and showing what a difference we can make when we work together.

Thank you again to everyone who got involved this month. Let’s make February even bigger and better!

Best wishes, Paul