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!

One of the first phrases Antony uttered as we arrived at Marston Forest Garden! We hadn't, fortunately he had the tools and the skills required.

It was a glorious evening to spend at Marston Forest Garden. We had various tasks - mostly involving cutting back encroaching brambles and bindweed, weeding around struggling shrubs, shoring up an enthusiastic pear tree and giving everything a good water.

We learned about the proper way to weed mares tail, how to make VERY pungent natural fertiliser (comfrey leaves and water and let it sit and brew) and the importance of snipping down cuttings for compost.

Marston Forest Garden really is a gorgeous haven and we love coming here.

Fortified by tomatoes, red currants and dates we headed off for a lively evening run - across the fields and far away.

Glorious.

With grey skies and persistent rain the cycle bit of our duathlon was abandoned BUT we were not to be defeated!!

SKIN IS WATERPROOF

The numbers at Abingdon parkrun were, unsurprisingly, a little lower than usual but that meant that the usually rather congested start flowed nicely.

The conditions were damp and muggy, and by the end we all weren't sure where the sweat ended and the raindrops began.

After a photo with the sign (did the tourism even happen if there isn't a sign photo?!?) we headed off for a very well earned hot drink and breakfast and future tourism planning.

Well done everyone for coming and special back slaps and high fives to Kieran for his 100th parkrun!

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!

Pastures new for us this week, as we headed to Oxford Preservation Trust land in Kennington. The task was to remove ragwort before it spread further throughout the grazing land. Ragwort, whilst a cheery pop of yellow and a good habitat for some species, is very toxic for grazing animals.

Removing ragwort from this field was very satisfying, and in an hour we had almost completely cleared the land, filling 2 1 tonne builders sacks.

Our reward was water and ginger cake (thank you Hannah!) and an opportunity to go and explore Bagley Woods on our post-task run.