This evening we returned to the oasis that is Barracks Lane Community Garden. We did the usual Goodgym flashmob effect - trimming back brambles, weeding, sorting plant pots, moving bulky rubbish, sprucing, composting etc etc.

We left the garden looking cleaner and tidier than when we arrived. And we had the splendid treat of not one but TWO dog pals on the task - dogs make everything better.

The main thrust of this report however is to celebrate our area activator; the amazing Anwen.

Today she reached the awesome milestone of 500 good deeds. These include litter picks, foodbank shifts, library and prescription deliveries, race marshalling, gardening, tree care, bulb planting, the list is endless. She also creates a welcoming and safe space for us, allowing us to be ourselves, providing a listening ear when needed or a pep talk! She selflessly makes her community a better place and brings us all along for the ride, for which we are endlessly grateful.

With the help of AI and Katie we have the following ditty in celebration of QUEEN ANWEN.

Anwen, gentle soul,
Spreads kindness with every step,
Good deeds, her heart's goal.
Furry friends adore,
Anwen, a cat person true,
Purrs bring her much joy.
Swift as a gazelle,
Running with grace and power,
500 deeds done.

We split into a litter picking team and a bramble digging team at Boundary Brook Nature Park.

Team bramble did excellent work digging out tenacious bramble roots in a wildflower area to allow/encourage greater biodiversity.

Team litter headed to an area on the edge of East Ward Allotments which the Oxford Urban Wildlife Group have recently agreed to look after. The plot is awash with litter so we made a start on clearing it...glass panels, tracksuits, sacks of household trash and all.

Thank you to Mark and Oxford Direct Services for arranging to collect the litter so promptly when we realised the pile was getting out of hand!

Oxford Urban Wildlife Group website is here.