12 GoodGymers were up bright and early for a task at Boundary Brook Nature Park. We split into two groups to tackle raking, and digging for our old nemesis - the bramble root.

Boundary Brook have won a grant to plant some different species of grass and create a 'living library' for people to come and learn about them. Hopefully there will now be room for more grass and less bramble!

There was plenty of random conversation about the horrors of children's tv, how we could probably have our own GG band by now, and all about badgers (How big are they? How do you catch them? Just how accurate is the Animals of Farthing Wood?).

We also had congratulations for Louise on her 100th task!

November Autumn/Winter clean at the Oxford Mutual Aid.

This month we moved crates and racking in the lower central part of the main hall to clean that area. The ever-intrepid Ben scaled a ladder to sweep many years of accumulated cobwebs off the end window. Add to that the regular kitchen clean, fridge scrub and fresh-food check, and we made light work of our monthly 'spring' clean task.

I slightly mis-sold this task, as instead of clearing ground for hedge-planting we ended up clearing the workshop corner of the South Oxford Adventure Playground and filling the skip with all kinds of interesting objects.

Muscles and spatial awareness were both tested as we played skip-tetris in order to fit in an organ, a table football, a very heavy piano component, a large metal cupboard, loads of wood, broken chairs, rotten pallets, concrete fence posts etc etc.

Our post-task coffees were well-earned!

The C S Lewis Nature Reserve is a hidden gem on the edge of Oxford, connecting to Shotover Common. It is managed by BBOWT volunteers.

One of the biggest challenges, particularly since the surge in outdoor activities during the COVID lockdowns, has been encouraging people to stick to the footpaths instead of wandering freely through the nature reserve. The volunteers have built barriers from fallen wood and put up signage explaining why it is important to stick to the path, but people dismantle them and rip up the signs. This has meant damage to the delicate woodland habitats, including trampling bluebells.

Our task yesterday was to hammer in sturdy stakes either side of the wooden barriers to make them stronger and more permanent, and then to build them up further with fallen wood and bramble cuttings. Some of our team weeded and cleared nettles from around hedgerow saplings, and then we all reconvened to cut back brambles to extend a woodland glade area.

A very productive session.

Welcome to GoodGym Artur!