News & Updates

Here you’ll find news and updates from Marston Community Growing, a volunteer-led community gardening group in Marston, Oxford. This is where we share what we’ve been up to, what we’ve learned, and what’s coming next.

Expect short posts about recent sessions, seasonal highlights, upcoming events, and local partnerships.

If you’re looking for practical “how-to” guides, head to our Resources page.

Featured
July 2026 - Long Hot Summer in Marston
July 2026 - Long Hot Summer in Marston

A hot and busy summer update from Marston Community Growing, with news of our new name, logo and website, summer snapshots from our growing spaces, hot weather gardening tips, and upcoming events across Marston.

Be with Nature: connecting to stillness through Nature
Be with Nature: connecting to stillness through Nature

Be with Nature is a gentle series of guided nature-connection sessions in Marston Forest Garden, inviting people to slow down, notice the living world around them, and experience quiet reflection, stillness and a deeper relationship with Nature. Sessions have taken place over the summer, with more dates planned — check the events calendar for upcoming opportunities to join.

Marston’s community gardeners sprout a new identity
Marston’s community gardeners sprout a new identity

Marston Community Gardening has become Marston Community Growing, with a new name, logo and website.

The new identity reflects our focus on food growing, forest gardening, orchards, trees and caring for shared green spaces in Marston. It also celebrates everything that grows from this work — skills, friendships, confidence and community connection.

What is a forest garden?
What is a forest garden?

What is a forest garden, and how does one work? This guest article by Jo Milton offers a gentle introduction to edible layers, perennial planting and some of the unusual plants growing at Marston Forest Garden.

May 2026 - Growing season in Marston
May 2026 - Growing season in Marston

There’s an old saying: “Cast ne’er a clout till May is out,” which means don’t put away your warm clothes too early in spring. But it looks like spring has now properly arrived!

Resources

Check out our resource hub, where you will find practical guides, step-by-step project plans, seasonal planting calendars, troubleshooting tips, downloadable templates and community workshop materials designed to support gardeners of all levels; whether you’re starting a new plot, improving soil health, encouraging wildlife, or running a local growing group, these resources offer clear to help you grow successfully and sustainably.

Learn more
Two people are planting seedlings in small containers filled with soil on a white table outdoors. One person is holding a small green seedling, and the other person is assisting. There are gardening tools and planting labels on the table.