With grey skies and persistent rain the cycle bit of our duathlon was abandoned BUT we were not to be defeated!!

SKIN IS WATERPROOF

The numbers at Abingdon parkrun were, unsurprisingly, a little lower than usual but that meant that the usually rather congested start flowed nicely.

The conditions were damp and muggy, and by the end we all weren't sure where the sweat ended and the raindrops began.

After a photo with the sign (did the tourism even happen if there isn't a sign photo?!?) we headed off for a very well earned hot drink and breakfast and future tourism planning.

Well done everyone for coming and special back slaps and high fives to Kieran for his 100th parkrun!

This evening we returned to Oxsrad! This time no painting was done - the reception area is looking SPLENDID, if we do say so ourselves.....

Today we were based outside clearing and widening some of their pathways which were becoming rather weedy and therefore not particularly safe for wheelchair users.

After an hour and a bit and some inventive tool use - (who knew tent pegs were so good for removing pesky weed roots?!?) we left the area looking much neater and clearer.

Well done team!! And thanks for the company on the run!

Pastures new for us this week, as we headed to Oxford Preservation Trust land in Kennington. The task was to remove ragwort before it spread further throughout the grazing land. Ragwort, whilst a cheery pop of yellow and a good habitat for some species, is very toxic for grazing animals.

Removing ragwort from this field was very satisfying, and in an hour we had almost completely cleared the land, filling 2 1 tonne builders sacks.

Our reward was water and ginger cake (thank you Hannah!) and an opportunity to go and explore Bagley Woods on our post-task run.

And for us yesterday evening that included:

• bike tyres
• buckets
• an old garden fork
• window frames
• storage drawers
• household rubbish
• wine bottles and of course PANTS!

Returning to Boundary Brook is always a joy. This time we were tasked with litter picking the edges of the nature reserve, both inside and out. It is frankly bonkers what we find on litter picks.....

After an hour and a bit we had amassed a mountain of litter ready for the council to collect, and fortified by cherries (thanks Trevor) we set off into the sunny evening for our run.

Good work team!!

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!