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.