It was back to school for us on Wednesday evening; giving the garden plot at St Nicholas ' Primary School a very thorough weed ahead of the gardening club getting started again next week.

A couple of years ago we uncovered the garden and polytunnel from beneath a lockdown's worth of weeds, so it was great to see that raised beds had been built and some gardening done. However, with no-one around during the school summer holidays the weeds had taken hold, so there was plenty of digging, lopping and pruning to be done.

A dozen GoodGymers made speedy progress, filling the compost bays, loading the skip (to cover the skeleton, or not to cover the skeleton? That is the question.), and enduring a few nettle stings and bramble scratches along the way. If nettle stings really do protect you from arthritis I think we must all be fully immune now.

Congratulations on your 50th Good Deeds Steve and Andy, and to Katie for reaching an epic 150 Good Deeds!

We've been doing a regular monthly session at Marston Forest Garden, and with a slight autumnal nip to the air we're anticipating perhaps one more evening session for this year.

This time we collected compost and woodchip, watered the squash plants, topped up the pond, moved some weed suppression mats, and sickled away a good quantity of bramble and nettle.

Same place next month?!

One of the first phrases Antony uttered as we arrived at Marston Forest Garden! We hadn't, fortunately he had the tools and the skills required.

It was a glorious evening to spend at Marston Forest Garden. We had various tasks - mostly involving cutting back encroaching brambles and bindweed, weeding around struggling shrubs, shoring up an enthusiastic pear tree and giving everything a good water.

We learned about the proper way to weed mares tail, how to make VERY pungent natural fertiliser (comfrey leaves and water and let it sit and brew) and the importance of snipping down cuttings for compost.

Marston Forest Garden really is a gorgeous haven and we love coming here.

Fortified by tomatoes, red currants and dates we headed off for a lively evening run - across the fields and far away.

Glorious.

This evening we had a glorious time at Marston Forest Garden. After an enthusiastic greeting from Anthony, Isobel and Oboe the dog we wandered through the site to the Medicinal Herb Circle.

The whole site has burst into bloom in the last few weeks, fruit has started to ripen, flowers popping up and the trees are thriving.

This evening we were tasked with weeding the herb circle in readiness for one of Isobel's glorious brick labyrinths. Armed with tools and fortified by watermelon and DELICIOUS flapjacks we set to work. After an hour and a bit the area looked much better and Isobel sent us into the allotment to forage for fruit and herbs.

Already looking forward to our July session!

After an 11th hour cancellation of our planned task (thanks to the task owner getting a wasp sting to the face) we headed to Marston Forest Garden instead.

The warm spring has had grass, goose grass, michaelmas daisies etc springing up and swamping the fruit trees, so we were on a mission to clear some of that and give the trees and shrubs room to breathe. We carefully worked around goji berries, seabuckthorn, plum trees and more, avoiding the Nepalese raspberries and wild strawberries. An hour made a big difference, so a good alternative task for a sunny evening!

Lovely to have a London visitor in the form of Kash.

Well done for reaching 100 Good Deeds Fred - superstar!

This evening we headed to one of our favourite spots - Marston Forest Garden. we first visited this site nearly 5 years ago to help dig out MASSIVE bramble roots and it has been gorgeous to watch it grow and thrive over the years.

The plot is now a diverse orchard with a pond, herb garden, fruit trees a-plenty and there have been some new additions recently - lavender and rose bushes.

After a mini tour of the area Isobel set us to work clearing cooch grass from around some of the younger plants and the herb circle. A surprisingly addictive activity, similar to litter picking. You just can't put your trowel down until you've done one more clump!

Fortified by watermelon and stroop waffles we left the beds clearer than when we arrived which is always a very satisfying feeling!

A gaggle of us then set off for our return run with pockets full of fresh mint - thank you for the route Cassy.

Already looking forward to our next visit!