This evening we headed to one of our favourite spots - Marston Forest Garden. we first visited this site nearly 5 years ago to help dig out MASSIVE bramble roots and it has been gorgeous to watch it grow and thrive over the years.

The plot is now a diverse orchard with a pond, herb garden, fruit trees a-plenty and there have been some new additions recently - lavender and rose bushes.

After a mini tour of the area Isobel set us to work clearing cooch grass from around some of the younger plants and the herb circle. A surprisingly addictive activity, similar to litter picking. You just can't put your trowel down until you've done one more clump!

Fortified by watermelon and stroop waffles we left the beds clearer than when we arrived which is always a very satisfying feeling!

A gaggle of us then set off for our return run with pockets full of fresh mint - thank you for the route Cassy.

Already looking forward to our next visit!

After a winter full of cancelled tasks thanks to poor weather, it was a joy to be out in the sunshine at last!

We have a long history with Marston Forest Garden, having helped out and witnessed it's transformation since it's early days. This time we were moving and replanting a Sea Buckthorn tree (very spikey), collecting barrow loads of compost from the communal compost pile, and weeding away grass from around the Mulberry tree and surrounding herbs.

Two hours whizzed by and our Vitamin D levels got a boost.

Weeding, bulb-planting and cake; a delightful way to spend an autumnal Sunday morning.

Marston Forest Garden is a gorgeous project nestled in an allotment site in Marston. It is an orchard, in its infancy, and Goodgym have helped with various tasks over the last couple of years from digging out brambles to spreading woodchip and tree care.

This evening's task was weeding. The medicinal herb circle was in danger of being swamped by Rose Bay Willow Herb, bindweed and other pesky plants. After some instructions (and delicious flapjacks) from Isobel and Antony we got cracking, making sure that we were 100% sure what was a herb and what was a weed!

After an hour of hard work and chat the space was much clearer and the herbs looked a lot happier! We were then absolutely delighted by a visit from Rhian bring leftover bread and treats from Gails for us to take home. Waste not want not!!

With our carbs in hand we set off on our run, some back home for bread and butter, some to collect more Oxen on the Oxford Oxen Trail.

A fabulous evening!!

Last night was a long overdue return to Marston Forest Garden. We've been involved with this fabulous project for a few years now - from infamous winter mornings digging the ground for the medicine circle, to scything in last year's sweltering heat wave, we've stuck our fingers into a lot of tasks here!

Last night's tasks included starting to dig out a new pond, weeding around some of the mid-sized fruit trees and shrubs, mulching pear and quince saplings, and scything and sickling (is that a verb?!) around the medicine circle. An hour flew by, and we were treated to Isobel's fabulous cookies at the end plus a bouquet of wild flowers for our newest GoodGymer Sheron and another for Kieran to celebrate his 99th Good Deed.

Welcome to GoodGym Sheron.

Hot off the bike from run directing at Florence Park Junior Parkrun, I was put to good use by the work party at Marston Forest Garden.

I was asked to chip in for a whole range of task, including:

• shovelling many bags and wheelbarrows of woodchip from the shared pile to the Forest Garden.
• helping repair and replenish the water for the nearest water trough to enable gardeners to keep their allotments watered in the hot weather.
• stripping and preparing cardboard (I have a stern hatred for sellotape now) for laying in the forest garden.
• scything away nettles and other long grasses, while not removing the tasty horseradish.
• weeding and laying woodchip and mulch around juvenile cherry trees and others trees nearby.

It was a good workout aiding Anthony and Isobel for their work in the forest garden and looked much better when I'd finished. Richard's golden retriever Aur (welsh for gold) was very able support for the task!

Their summer party is on Sunday 25th June so keep an eye out for that!