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.

EMBS is a not-for-profit community college teaching English and Maths to Asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants in Oxford. They have many students from Ukraine and Afghanistan at the moment, but also students from all over the world. Alongside English and Maths lessons they aim to help students grow in confidence, gain employability skills, and be part of a friendly community where they can learn how to navigate life in the UK.

Our task at EMBS involved working in the adult building, sorting and tidying stationery, putting up displays, and laminating signage and teaching resources. It employed our creativity (display design), height (thanks for taking down all the high up photos Matt!), fulfilled our need for order (tidying stationary), and soothed us with a methodical process (Henry is the king of laminating).

Since it was a gorgeous evening we got our 'gym' element with a lovely run up to the task past Florence Park, and back via Iffley village and the river, as well as climbing the stairs to the 2nd floor to reach the classrooms.

♪ Just a sprinkle of rain can't stop us now ♪
♪ We're off to a nature park, no need to frown ♪
♪ We'll pick up litter and clear the grass ♪
♪ Nothing can dampen our spirits, it'll be a blast ♪

♪ The rain is falling, but we don't mind ♪
♪ We'll put on our raincoats, we're one of a kind ♪
♪ We'll gather together, our bags and gloves in tow ♪
♪ And head out to Boundary Brook, let's go, let's go! ♪

♪ The rain is pouring, the wind is strong ♪
♪ But we keep moving, all evening long ♪
♪ We pick up litter, glass, and metal too ♪
♪ We're making a difference, and that's what we'll do ♪

♪ The grass is long, but we don't fret ♪
♪ We grab our tools, and work up a sweat ♪
♪ We clear the pond area, revealing hidden gems ♪
♪ And keep going strong, until the session's end ♪

♪ The rain keeps falling, but we don't stop ♪
♪ We're determined, until the very last drop ♪
♪ And with every bag filled, we feel a sense of pride ♪
♪ Knowing that we're helping the environment to thrive ♪

♪ We finish the session with a sense of accomplishment ♪
♪ Feeling like we've made a positive development ♪
♪ We take a moment to appreciate the beauty around ♪
♪ And vow to continue our efforts to keep it sound ♪