430+ new trees! 🌳🌳

Nearly two months on from the planting of 3 new Tiny Forests in Barnet, GoodGym trio Jack, Paul and George were back for part 2 on another lovely, sunny spring day.

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Despite a rocky start (someone stole the Earthwatch shovels before we got to them!), we powered through and got everything planted in the right zones across the 3 newest Tiny Forests.

There were 430+ trees to get in the ground, including sessile oak, english oak, rowan, gray willow, silver birch, broom, downy birch, buckthorn and hornbream.

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The Tiny Forests will serve as a living laboratory for local citizen scientists, to collect data and investigate techniques to promote faster tree growth. Each plot uses a slightly different planting system to improve understanding of soil condition, carbon sequestrations and drainage.

In one of the Tiny Forests we planted trees using 1 cup of biochar (a modified charcoal that improves soil quality) underneath the tree roots to help Earthwatch discover its impact on growth and how it affects different tree species.

We look forward to seeing the trees grow tall!

Just a heads up - the soil is pretty parched so we may need to start watering soon, even for the ones that went in deeper. Watch this space!

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To see all upcoming GoodGym sessions in Barnet please click here.

To find out more information about Earthwatch's Tiny Forest project please click here.

Last night’s GoodGym group run was a love letter to one of Finchley’s finest: the Phoenix Cinema. This unique, purpose-built 1930s cinema has been showing films continuously for nearly a century and remains a treasured cornerstone of the local community. Supporting it isn’t just a good deed—it’s a privilege.

We gathered outside the cinema in the early evening sun, collected our film programs for delivery, and had a cheerful catch-up before jogging off to Cherry Tree Wood for a warm-up. A few dynamic leg and arm movements (and a respectable group plank!) got our bodies moving and ready for action.

We then split into pairs and hit the streets, posting Phoenix programs through letterboxes along the route. It was a real pleasure to welcome Sarah, who joined us for her first-ever GoodGym activity in support of the Phoenix. She did brilliantly, especially as she delivered a leaflet to one of Finchley’s most famous popstars. We’re sworn to secrecy—but if you want the inside scoop, join us on the next Phoenix delivery run!

With our rounds complete, we took the scenic route to Highgate Woods for a forest fitness finish. We enjoyed a shaded loop through the trees, ending at a bench for some leg and upper-body strengthening. Think single-leg squats, press-ups, and bench dips—two tough circuits in total.

The evening ended back at the Phoenix with a well-deserved tea and hot chocolate break, made even better by Rachel’s delicious homemade vegan cake—healthy, nutritious, and gratefully devoured.

Thanks to everyone who came along and gave their energy to a cause worth running for. Same time next week.

A few GoodGym people came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk

One of the reasons yoga feels so different from other forms of exercise is the way it blends static postures with deep relaxation — often in a rhythmic flow between effort and ease.

Holding a posture engages the muscles, fascia, and nervous system, stimulating mild stress that builds strength and stability. But unlike many workouts, yoga follows this with a deliberate release — a moment to soften, breathe, and recalibrate.

This alternation between gentle stress and conscious relaxation helps train the parasympathetic nervous system — the part of us that governs rest, recovery, and digestion. Research shows that practices like yoga can reduce levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), slow the heart rate, and activate brain regions linked to calm and emotional regulation (Harvard Health, 2021; National Institutes of Health).

Over time, this practice creates a kind of inner intelligence: the body learns how to let go, not just in stillness, but in life. The breath leads the way, the body follows, and the mind is invited to settle.

That’s what makes yoga unique — it’s not just a workout, it’s a training in how to return to balance.