Newsletter
Welcome to our newsletter page — 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.
October 2026 - A summer of growing and community action
Catch up on a summer of harvests, family workshops and care for Marston’s green spaces, including the community response to the Croft Road wood fire. Find out what’s coming up and how to get involved.
Seven years of Marston Forest Garden: what we’ve learned along the way
Seven years after the first trees and bushes were planted, Antony Melville reflects on how Marston Forest Garden has survived frost, drought and extreme heat — and what its successes, failures and surprises have taught us.
Marston community rallies to save young woodland after summer blaze
When fire broke out at Croft Road Community Wood during July’s drought, residents, firefighters, the Council’s Tree Team and local volunteers from Marston Community Growing rallied to save the young woodland. Around 30 trees were damaged, but many are expected to survive.
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 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 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, 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
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!