Tonight we returned to Ovada, which is a non-profit arts organisation with a gallery, studios and education space.

The GoodGym team helped to clear their outdoor space, including the car park. Together we took on tasks like litter picking, sweeping, raking, weeding, and pruning. We could really see the difference after the task, creating a much clearer space!

A particular highlight of the evening was a young passerby spotting a mannequin outside Ovada, and deciding they really wanted it. After checking in with us and the Ovada team that it was OK, we were entertained watching him cycle away with a large mannequin (named Quentin) tucked under his arm!

The lovely team at Ovada even offered us an amazing meal to enjoy with them afterwards. Thank you Ovada!

This morning we helped with the next stage of the NaturEscape project at Meadow Lane playground.

Armed with shovels and wheelbarrows and ably assisted by some kids who were using the playground we peeled away lots of turf to create some flowerbeds. The turf was then used to make more planting areas. Waste not want not!

We all came away feeling like we'd had a very effective upper-body work out!

We'll be back in October to spread topsoil, mulch and sand and get some plants in the ground!

This evening we headed back to Aston's Eyot for what will be our last session of 2026 until the spring. Completely understandable as it was getying very gloomy by the time we finished, the evenings are drawing in!

This session was a follow up to our thistle removal a couple of weeks ago and involved tackling more of the pesky prickly things.

The name of the game today was improving access so armed with a variety of tools including hoes (insert school-boy snigger), we lopped branches, scythed nettles, hoiked out thistle roots and created a HUGE pile for compost/minibeasts/creepy crawlies. The pile had to be compacted a bit and it was VERY satisfying to WACK it with a big stick!

Well done team! I think it's time to dig out the head torches and charge up my mini flood lights.

Autumn is coming.

Sunday morning saw 5 GG's return to Marston Forest Garden to help clear their pond area. We temporarily had to seek shelter from the rain but rewarded by two of the waterlillies coming into bloom whilst we were there. The lovely cake from Isobel also helped!

Mrs S asked me to cut back some large brambles and a shrub that were overhanging her back garden walls from a neighbour's house. She said that it was making her anxious looking at them and not being able to tidy them back and she was too nervous to ask the neighbours to tidy it from their side. So I was able to tidy them back and dispose of the branches and also trim and cut back her shrubs for her. The grass still needs a trim but she has an electric mower and feels that this can wait until she is feeling able to do a little bit herself or get a friend to help. She was very happy with the results and we enjoyed a cup of coffee and a chat afterwards. I am always interested to hear about Mrs S's life in India before she came to the UK.

We love a well planned task at Oxford GoodGym, and super organised host Meg had made us a to do list. Denny Gardens is still a work in progress, though one colourful plot shows what can be achieved.

First, tip 3 huge bags of (mainly) brambles from a previous working group over a very spiky fence. Then refill the bags and repeat. Next, pull back the membrane we'd de-weeded and dig out the weed roots underneath. Refill the bags and tip them over the spiky fence. Finally, re-cover the cleared section with the membrane, Bethan improvising with a wooden cudgel to bang the pegs in. Resourceful!

Good work everyone!