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!

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 ♪

It takes a team!

Tonight we cleared an abandoned campsite near Rose Hill which has been unoccupied for a year or more.

It quickly became clear that it had been a family with little children living here. There were toys, baby clothes and nappies amongst the pots, pans adult clothing. Discarded food and drink containers, lots of sodden bedding, the tent and awning, a rubber dinghy which was being used to keep the tent off the hard ground, a hoover; it was a huge haul to get up to the ring road for collection by Oxford Direct Services.

We really hope the occupants abandoned their campsite because they found a solid roof over their heads.