This evening we returned to the Meadow Lane playground project. Headed up by the amazing Usha, the project aims to transform the current playground into a more vibrate open and green play space for the community, encouraging children to make dens, explore nature and run free!

We have visited the playground a couple of times before and it is quickly becoming a favorite because we get to revisit our childhoods and BUILD DENS!!!!!

Today's structure was nothing short of amazing - surely classes as a one bed in a central location with good transport links to the city centre.......

A group of us also tackled the pesky metal fencing which is getting trickier to remove as we get to the parts where the trees have claimed the fence as their own. With bolt cutters,saws and determination we managed to clear another huge section.

Last but not least, grass was cleared and soil turned over for an incoming wild flower patch. Everything is beginning to take shape wonderfully!!

Welcome Goodgym Miguel, Nathanail and Genevieve. Thank you for coming and I'm really sorry about the map confusion!!

I finally got to tackle Mrs P's grass which has become very long at the front and back. It was not possible to do the mowing during the long period of wet weather. Mrs P was delighted to finally get it cut. There was time for a quick tidy around in the front garden and of course for a cup of tea and a chat with Mrs P. She is a lovely lady and it was a pleasure to help her with the garden.

If you go down to the woods today be careful of what you may find; from sofa cushions and mugs to old record players and once loved plastic Christmas trees, our trusty litter pickers won’t leave much behind (Except perhaps Fred – who for a short time we did think had been traded in for our litter-y haul!)!

Between the picking there was chatter aplenty, floral celebrations for Joe’s 50th good deed (in record time too!), a team attempt for a baby squirrel rescue and much enjoyment of the sunshine.

As the task ended we collected & admired our haul, and noted where to come back for another go (or three) – keeping our green spaces enjoyable and litter free as we can.

And as the sun was starting to set a mob of red T’s could be seen disappearing off into the distance, after deeding well, time to get fit and check on the goodness seeded around the city!

Mrs S was very welcoming. She told me that a friend had already mowed her lawn at the weekend and so she didn't need me to do that but asked if I could dig out and weed her narrow beds bordering the lawn instead. This will make things easier for her to manage in the future. I was happy to do this but only able to complete half of the task in the time available. She will see the referrer tomorrow and ask them to request a follow up visit from GoodGym. Mrs S was a lovely lady and we had a chat and cup of coffee once I had completed as much of the work as I was able.

Today's mission was an Odyssey to a new GoodGym venue at Denny Gardens in the shadow of the Kassam Stadium. Meg set the scene for us - an unloved patch of land was to be transformed into a community allotment. The brambles had been cleared from head high down to ground level. Our tasks were flyering, litter picking and digging.

Fred and Angus set about collecting 6 years' worth of litter. Bethan and Muireann made short work of the leaflet deliveries and joined Alice, Meg and Joe on the dig. Meg's plan was to demonstrate that the ground could become productive. With a 6 year head start, the brambles are dug in for the battle ahead. Ninety minutes of hard work created a satisfying pile of roots and a decent area of turned over soil.

Task completed without head torches, 3 of us set off by bike and 4 on foot.

After meeting new member Nicola and a mini litter pick around Marston we descended upon the Up in Arms to say farewell and bon voyage to Anwen.

This is the speech that I MEANT to give before I became a blubbering mess......

After 7 years and an amazing 665 good deeds the Queen of Goodgym Oxford is departing for a new European adventure.

The impact that Anwen has had on Oxford cannot be underestimated. She has gathered us to clean food banks, create green spaces, look after community gardens, remove brambles, weed walls, clear litter and even move an organ over a railway bridge.

As I was making my way to the task this evening I passed all the beautiful daffodils that we've planted - a cheerful reminder that Goodgym was here!

We have had many running adventures too - parkruns, races, our View Cones run in memory of our lovely Tim, and marathons in fun places. If Anwen sends you a link to a races and says "fancy it?" you should ALWAYS say yes!!

Anwen you kept us going through Covid (with Trev's help) providing essential food packages and prescriptions for the community and much needed social contact for us too. You have literally supported us through births, deaths and marriages and everything in between.

A thank you should also be said on behalf of the stray and feral cats of Oxfordshire - another example of your capacity to nurture and care.

Oxford's loss is very definitely France's gain and we will miss you. Please raise your glasses to Anwen!!