Community woods and orchards
Community Woods and orchard activities run year-round in several locations, with tasks that change with the seasons.
Read about the OXSRAD Community Copse, Orchard Triangle Community Orchard, and New Marston Rec Community Wood, below.
Everyone’s welcome
No experience needed, and activities are guided so you can join in safely and comfortably.
You might help with:
Tree planting and aftercare (winter planting, watering and checking young trees)
Habitat care and conservation (paths, light woodland management, nature-friendly improvements)
Walks and woodland skills (occasional sessions like coppicing, pruning or guided walks)
Planting and caring for trees
Planting and caring for trees is a big part of our work in Marston. We even hold an annual winter Wassail to celebrate our trees. We work with the trees team at Oxford City Council to make sure we plant the right tree in the right place, and volunteers help with planting days and ongoing care.
Since 2018, volunteers have planted 800+ trees in and around Marston. Tree planting is
also a great community activity for health and wellbeing - outdoors, hands-on, and a simple way to meet people and do something for the future.
Our native trees and fruit orchard
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![A leafless tree with white bark and many twisting branches against a bright blue sky.]()
Silver birch
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![Close-up of green leaves on a tree branch with sunlight filtering through.]()
Beech
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![A large green tree with a partly cloudy blue sky in the background, and some people and objects visible at the base.]()
Oak
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![A close-up view of a green hazelnut husk hanging from a tree branch with green leaves surrounding it.]()
Hazel
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![Close-up of white flowers with dark stamens on green foliage.]()
Hawthorn
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![Close-up of white blossoms on a branch with a bee collecting nectar.]()
Blackthorn
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![Red berries hanging from a branch with green leaves, blurry background with light bokeh.]()
Rowan
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![Three ripe apples hanging from a tree branch surrounded by green leaves]()
Apple
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![A green pear hanging from a tree surrounded by green leaves.]()
Pear
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![Close-up of a branch of a blueberry bush with multiple ripe, dark blue blueberries hanging from the branches among green leaves.]()
Plum
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![Red cherries hanging from a branch with green leaves in the background.]()
Cherry
OXSRAD Community Copse
A strip of native woodland trees in New Marston, planted and cared for by local groups working together.
What it is: A community-planted copse of native trees, created in 2022
Where: Near Marsh Lane, New Marston
Who helped plant it: Local groups including New Marston Primary School, Oxford City Football Club, OXSRAD, Oxford Hindu Temple and Northway Together
Orchard Triangle Community Orchard
A small community orchard and edible green space between New Marston and Summertown, open for everyone to enjoy.
Where: Marston Ferry Road. Access near Raymund Road, close to St Nicholas Primary School.
Who manages it: Owned and managed by Old Marston Parish Council
What’s growing: Fruit trees and hedges planted in 2018 by our volunteers and children from St Nicholas Primary School. You’ll find apple, pear, plum, cherry and fig, plus blackberry and raspberry canes and rhubarb.
How to get involved: Want to help care for the orchard? Become an Orchard Triangle Guardian - Contact us to find out how.
Tree planting in Marston: This Oxford Friends of the Earth video shows local residents, students, Oxford City Council and community volunteers working together to plant hundreds of new trees in Marston during National Tree Week 2019 - part of a wider campaign to double tree cover across Oxford.
New Marston Rec Community Wood
A thriving woodland around the football field and playground at New Marston Rec.
In 2020 we brought together Oxford Friends of the Earth, Oxford City Council’s tree team and local volunteers to plant 600+ native trees here - with 120+ people joining in. Tree-mendous!
Where: Croft Road, New Marston
Join in
Get in touch to find out more or just come along to one of our next events.
