Andreea Anastasiu
Oxford
1Good deeds
1runs
7cheers
Andreea completed a community mission. Instead of watching TV or lying in bed, Andreea was out there making their community a better place to be. For making that choice they have earned the community cape.
Andreea is a now a fully fledged GoodGym runner. They've just run to do good for the first time. They are out there making amazing things happen and getting fit at the same time.
Oxford
Making light work of heavy lifting
The return of the Lazy Dogs!
Yesterday afternoon we descended on Boundary Brook Nature Park for a bramble up-rooting session. Boundary Brook is a gorgeous hidden corner of Oxford between the Iffley and Cowley Roads. We've helped out there pretty regularly over the last year or so, laying the gravel path, clearing bramble roots in other areas of the nature reserve, and reprofiling the pond. On Saturday afternoon our task was to prepare the ground for the next project; to build a temporary bird hide from green wood taken from around the nature reserve (a hidden spot for humans to observe birds from, not somewhere for birds to hide out). The hide will go up in the spring, but first the area needed to be de-brambled. The bird hide will be tucked on the edge of a copse with a grassland butterfly meadow in front. The brambles had been chopped down, but as regular GoodGymers will know, the roots can be extensive, and brambles are tenacious and will keep returning unless the roots are dug out.
The tool of choice for bramble roots is the Lazy Dog; expertly modelled in the photos by GoodGym Hero Rachael. 2 lazy dogs between 15 doesn't go far, so spades and forks were also added to the mix and we got to work digging out the knarly roots from all over the meadow, frog spotting as we went.
Team 2 took on the heavy lifting task of moving the green wood from around other parts of the Nature Reserve to the spot where the Bird Hide will be built. 2 or 3 GoodGymers to a log we meandered to and fro along 'our' gravel path getting a surprisingly good weight lifting work out. Anyone else got slightly sore shoulders this morning?!
Swipe through the pictures to see the Bird Hide design. It will be a self-supporting structure made from mostly Ash wood from the Nature Park, with a turf roof and viewing windows at different levels so that everyone from toddlers to the tallest adults can use it to observe the birds.
You can join Oxford Urban Wildlife Group for £5 per year and have unlimited access to Boundary Brook Nature Park. All the details are here.
As discussed while carrying logs: follow @OxThamesSewage on Twitter for alerts when sewage is being released into the Thames.
Oxford
Boundary Brook Nature Park work party
Boundary Brook Nature Park was created in 1990 when a group of community wildlife enthusiasts rescued a plot of disused allotments to carve out a wild space in the heart of East Oxford.
Featuring mixed woodland, meadow, a nature pond and butterfly glade, Boundary Brook is home to a rich variety of wildlife from birds and butterflies to frogs and foxes.
Oxford Urban Wildlife Group have asked for our help to dig out bramble roots so they can’t take hold again in the spring.
Please bring your own gardening gloves. All other tools will be provided.
The task meeting point is outside the gate to Boundary Brook Nature Park, which is on the cycle way just past Larkrise Primary School at the end of Boundary Brook Road.
Oxford
GoodGym Oxford launch run
GoodGym arrives in Oxford
Come and find out how you can do good and get fit in Oxford. Each week we'll be running to support some great charities and community groups all over the city. We'll run, complete a task, and run back all within 90 minutes. You'll get fit, help out and meet some great new people. You'll also be able to find out about all the great work we do with older people tackling social isolation and loneliness.
This week we'll be running to help sort out the store room for the pre-school at Donnington Doorstep Family Centre. The pre-school is a fun, stimulating, play-focused and welcoming indoor & outdoor setting where children are able to follow their own ideas, supported by well-qualified and caring adults.
Let's help them get their storage in order!
As we are a big group for this launch run we will also have a group heading to South Park to clear ivy from some of the Park railings. This will help improve the sightlines into the park, which will make it a safer place for everyone. We will have some gardening gloves and head torches, but bring your own if you have them.
GoodGym Oxford meets every Wednesday evening, 6.00pm, at the East Oxford Community Centre. There are toilets, changing facilities and a space to store bags while out on the run. We'll aim to leave for our run at 6:15pm.
GoodGym welcomes runners of all abilities. All our runs are backmarked and we never leave anyone behind. Don't be shy, we're a very friendly bunch.
GoodGym would like to thank the Oxford City Home Improvement Agency and Oxfordshire County Council for making GoodGym possible in Oxford.
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