We've seen orchard triangle through from the beginning of the project - turning out in the winter a few years ago to clear the brambles and other vegetation which had grown out of control and covered the footpath through, and then coming back regularly through the summer months to care for the fruit bushes and trees.

Last night's task was weeding around the fruit bushes along the fence line, then laying cardboard around each plant, mulching with woodchip, and giving them a thorough water. The cardboard and woodchip should help with water retention, and give the plants the best chance of thriving despite the dry weather.

After giving all the fruit bushes some tlc we still had a little time in hand, so were able to weed a stretch of hedge line and remove the guards from the saplings there, and also spread woodchip on top of the cardboard along the footpath entrance to help keep the vegetation at bay along the right of way.

We had a post-task trip to the Up in Arms since this was likely to be a last task for both Suzy and Sam who are both moving away from Oxford. Good luck in your new cities!

Aston's Eyot is a delightful nature reserve tucked off the Iffley Road. It is owned by Christchurch College but the Friends of Aston's Eyot rent it for the princely sum of £1 per year and are tasked with its upkeep.

This evening we were greeted by Ruth and she explained our task. Some young hedgerow plants and wild flowers have been being nibbled by the deer who live in the reserve. We were to make the fencing around them a bit higher and sturdier, trimming and tidying as we went. Hopefully the deer won't be able to leap over the new, higher fence!

Armed with stakes, bamboo, cable ties and various tools we set to work and soon had built a handsome enclosure, hopefully ensuring a better outcome for the young plants.

There was also a bit of nettle scything to be done, because what is a visit here without scything?!?

The return run was glorious, along the river and across the lock. An excellent way to celebrate Global Running Day!

South Oxford Community Centre is a new task location for us. We're always happy to help Oxford's community centres, so when we received the call for help in their courtyard garden we accepted the task straight away.

We started our session with a topical ice-breaker question: "what do you wish AI would/could do for you?" Answers ranged from the altruistic (solve the global climate crisis) to inspired (call customer services lines for you). Then on to the task...

Despite the bulk bags of compost not arriving we had plenty to do - we did lots of weeding the edges of the courtyard, pots, planters, and the long border. We then topped up the compost from some smaller sacks, watered, and topped off with shredded bark. Meanwhile Ben and Trev built a compost bay, and a few of us moved the picnic benches so that they could be used more easily.

We were grateful for cold drinks and chocolate biscuits as refreshments, and had a lovely run along the river before and after.

We'll be back in a few weeks to finish the job once the elusive compost arrives!

Welcome Matthew and Oliver - good to meet you both.

About last night....

• We shifted 18 boxes of horse manure up and over the railway bridge and into the Hogacre Common orchard.
  
• We hauled 5 boxes of wood chip from Hogacre wild wallow into the orchard (to mix with the horse poo).
  
• We shovelled and carried a builders' bag of top soil from the Oxgrow community garden into the orchard (also to mix with the manure).
  
• We watered every bed in the community garden - the warm weather makes for thirsty plants.
  
• We dug over a couple of beds in the community garden polytunnel ready for planting, but saved the wild chamomile.
  

We also had a lovely run to the task along the river, dodging spectators and rowing coaches watching the Bumps races. On the way back we took Electric Avenue, which was new to many, recce'd next week's task location, and waved to the wild swimmers in Hinskey lake.

It was a lovely evening full of sunshine and exploration - Hogacre is a hidden corner of Oxford which many hadn't been to before.