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!

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.

And for us yesterday evening that included:

• bike tyres
• buckets
• an old garden fork
• window frames
• storage drawers
• household rubbish
• wine bottles and of course PANTS!

Returning to Boundary Brook is always a joy. This time we were tasked with litter picking the edges of the nature reserve, both inside and out. It is frankly bonkers what we find on litter picks.....

After an hour and a bit we had amassed a mountain of litter ready for the council to collect, and fortified by cherries (thanks Trevor) we set off into the sunny evening for our run.

Good work team!!