Today we made our long-awaited return to Barracks Lane Community Garden. A gorgeous oasis at the end of the Cowley Road, it is a community space which hosts a forest school, refugee projects, yoga classes, a monthly open day and much much more.

This evening they needed some heavy jobs doing as well as the usual weeding, watering and tidying.

After an introduction from Jane we split into groups and flexed our muscles moving a tonne bag of soil, using Stig's "Symphony of Wheels" (a buggy frame, sack trolly and some wood on wheels) to move some hefty patio slabs ready for a new shed. We also helped lay said slabs - who knew that jumpikg was the best way to level a patio?!?

After a well earned drink and snack - delicious melon and the queen of biscuits, the Jammy Dodger, a group of us headed off for a run.

On a planned route guys, a planned route!!!

Welcome to Goodgym Marcus it was lush to meet you!

Magdalen Wood is a lovely spot. A little network of paths, lots of lovely trees and natural clearings. It is also, unfortunately, a HUGE litter grot-spot.

The main path through the woods has just been resurfaced in a very lovely track-like material (note to self, maybe a good place for an interval session.......) which has potentially attracted more pedestrians.

Wonderful, but the litter was ASTONISHING.

Working along the main paths we quickly filled up loads of bags - mainly beer cans and cigarette packets but with the usual smattering of clothes and weird and mystery items - anyone need a coin sorter?!?

Then a call came from Vicky who had discovered the aftermath of what must have been QUITE the party. Cans, cans as far as th eye could see. We considered just reporting it to the council but figured strength in numbers we could get it sorted. 5 goodgymers (who would have appreciated nose pegs) and 5 minutes later it was clear - good work team!!

We all appreciated lots of hand sanitiser and a good post-task scrub after all that.

Welcome to Goodgym Meg and Mae, it was wonderful to meet you.

The answer: lots of regular scything.

Last night we returned to Aston's Eyot to try to get some nettles under control. An area that we've worked on previously has been earmarked as a picnic/play/chill-out space. Unfortunately it is currently covered in nettles. To ready it for the council's tractor we scythed and cleared lots of nettles, sawed some low hanging branches - Joe discovering some pole-sawing skills - and collected the inevitable litter.

Another team were sent a little further along the river to deal with a fallen tree. A tree surgeon had done the heavy work but we needed to clear branches from a river-side flower area. Sawing up branches is quite the workout but chats about books was a good distraction!

Well done team! We'll be back in September for another go!

This evening we returned to Oxsrad! This time no painting was done - the reception area is looking SPLENDID, if we do say so ourselves.....

Today we were based outside clearing and widening some of their pathways which were becoming rather weedy and therefore not particularly safe for wheelchair users.

After an hour and a bit and some inventive tool use - (who knew tent pegs were so good for removing pesky weed roots?!?) we left the area looking much neater and clearer.

Well done team!! And thanks for the company on the run!