We were 3 of 743 finishers at University Parks Christmas Day parkrun! A chilly but lovely start to the day ❤

This evening, we returned to Meadow Lane playground to continue our support for the NaturEscape transformation project. We split into two teams to tackle the next tasks. The first team worked on clearing the mesh fencing with bolt cutters, enjoying the satisfaction of completing a job we started last time! By cutting back the fencing and clearing overgrown foliage, the play space has been opened up, allowing children to run freely between the trees. The second team transferred woodchip from below a defunct zip line to a log circle, instantly making the area look more magical and inviting. We learnt that the technique for clearing the woodchip was to ‘scrape not dig’’! We scraped up the woodchip and transported it back and forth in a wheelbarrow. Joe provided some great tips, including to always point your empty wheelbarrow in the direction you’ll travel once it’s full, saving you from maneuvering a heavy load! We were pleased to have Chris back with us, and to warmly welcome Rab for their first session!

The weather was a suitable metaphor for this evening's session; warm summer sunshine interspersed with heavy downpours. Up on Hinksey Hill, with wonderful views of the dreaming spires, we were exposed to all the weathers. Our task was digging / pulling up ragwort in collaboration with our friends at Oxford Preservation Trust.

It's a fantastic plant for wildlife, with yellow flowers beloved of bees, butterflies and moths, and it provides a home for over 200 species of invertebrates. Yay. It can also kill horses and other livestock. Boo. Seven of us dug and pulled, including Chris on his first GoodGym session. Together, we extracted enough deadly stems to fill a builders' bag.

The rain nearly missed us but we were treated to a lovely rainbow as we shouldered out tools and set off home.