Our relationship with Aston’s Eyot goes back a few years and, arriving on a warm May evening by the river, we could see the results of our many earlier endeavours. Ruth from the Friends of Aston’s Eyot welcomed us with tools ready and a clear plan for the evening’s work.

We split forces for maximum efficiency: one team weeded around the wildlife pond GoodGym had helped create, giving its edges some much‑needed breathing room, while the rest of us took on a fresh front in the never‑ending nettle campaign. The patch was new, but the story was familiar: nettles determined to reclaim paths, sting ankles, and generally assert dominance.

Our weapon of choice was one of humanity’s oldest tools: the scythe. This ancient innovation allowed early farmers to harvest standing upright rather than stoop over sickles—no doubt prompting a collective scythe of relief. It’s still the most effective tool in wildlife‑rich spaces like Aston’s Eyot, where its quiet, precise, environmentally friendly sweep is far better suited than anything with an engine.

We made short work of weeding around the pond and opening up another stretch of path toward the Cherwell. The war on nettles and other weeds is never won at Aston’s Eyot, but Oxford GoodGym is always ready for the next skirmish.

Tonight we headed to a brand new GoodGym location - Cuttleslowe Greenhouse. This lovely community space helps people connect with nature, food, and each other. After being closed for a few years, it’s finally being brought back to life. On a bright spring evening, we got to play a part in its reopening.

Our task definitely leaned toward the gym side of GoodGym. We shifted heavy piles of garden waste across the site, including some very large branches. Over the evening we experimented with every possible method - wheelie‑bin shuttles, dragging or carrying sacks, and even the occasional overhead branch lift. We also rescued some compost to be reused in the greenhouse’s raised beds. Before heading home, we picked up some great souvenirs: postcards about the project and packets of seeds to grow at home. Among the gifted seeds were peas, calendula, and basil.

We’re already looking forward to returning to the greenhouses in future tasks!

Welcome to Goodgym Jacqueline! We're so happy you could join us this evening!

This evening we returned to the Meadow Lane playground project. Headed up by the amazing Usha, the project aims to transform the current playground into a more vibrate open and green play space for the community, encouraging children to make dens, explore nature and run free!

We have visited the playground a couple of times before and it is quickly becoming a favorite because we get to revisit our childhoods and BUILD DENS!!!!!

Today's structure was nothing short of amazing - surely classes as a one bed in a central location with good transport links to the city centre.......

A group of us also tackled the pesky metal fencing which is getting trickier to remove as we get to the parts where the trees have claimed the fence as their own. With bolt cutters,saws and determination we managed to clear another huge section.

Last but not least, grass was cleared and soil turned over for an incoming wild flower patch. Everything is beginning to take shape wonderfully!!

Welcome Goodgym Miguel, Nathanail and Genevieve. Thank you for coming and I'm really sorry about the map confusion!!

If you go down to the woods today be careful of what you may find; from sofa cushions and mugs to old record players and once loved plastic Christmas trees, our trusty litter pickers won’t leave much behind (Except perhaps Fred – who for a short time we did think had been traded in for our litter-y haul!)!

Between the picking there was chatter aplenty, floral celebrations for Joe’s 50th good deed (in record time too!), a team attempt for a baby squirrel rescue and much enjoyment of the sunshine.

As the task ended we collected & admired our haul, and noted where to come back for another go (or three) – keeping our green spaces enjoyable and litter free as we can.

And as the sun was starting to set a mob of red T’s could be seen disappearing off into the distance, after deeding well, time to get fit and check on the goodness seeded around the city!