July 2026 - Long Hot Summer in Marston
Sweet peas on the allotment
It has been a hot, busy and very productive summer so far across our growing spaces. Since the end of May, volunteers have been watering through dry spells, sharing harvests, caring for young plants and finding small ways to help each other keep things growing.
The hot weather has brought some challenges - especially for soft fruit and thirsty crops - but the steady care behind the scenes has really helped. We’re looking at how to make watering and access easier, including trialling better options where watering cans or barrels are not practical. We are also in the process of clearing paths, repairing our wheelbarrow and shed roof, relocating some plants and keeping the usual summer jungle under control.
Thank you to everyone who has turned up, watered, weeded, harvested, donated plants, moved things, fixed things, run stalls, shared produce or kept an eye on a neighbour’s plot. It really is community growing in action.
💚 Thank you Jude for the amazing shed tidying! 💚 Thank you Willow for leading recent gardening sessions with young people! 💚 Thank you Chris for designing new signage at the Forest Garden! 💚 Thank you Catherine for creating Google Map pins for all our locations!
💚 Thank you Jude for the amazing shed tidying! 💚 Thank you Willow for leading recent gardening sessions with young people! 💚 Thank you Chris for designing new signage at the Forest Garden! 💚 Thank you Catherine for creating Google Map pins for all our locations!
New name, logo and website 🎉
You may have already seen that we have a new name: Marston Community Growing. We’ve updated it to reflect a clearer focus on the growing and nature work at the heart of what we do: food growing, forest gardening, orchards, trees, habitat care and shared green spaces across Marston.
Some of the wider sustainability projects that grew alongside us — including Marston Eco Group and the SESI Refill Station at the Marston Eco Hub — are now continuing through Low Carbon Marston.
Read more about it in our press release.
Alongside a new logo, we’re also delighted to share our new website, which we’ve worked on with Ryan Quarterman of Future Human Design Co. It has more photos, clearer project information, and easier ways for newcomers to learn what we do and how to get involved.
Our social media handles on Facebook and Instagram have also been updated to reflect the new name. Keep following us, or get in touch at our new email address - info@marstoncommunitygrowing.co.uk - with any feedback or ideas - we’d love to hear from you! 💚
New signage
Many thanks to Chris Moffatt for designing this beautiful new signage, which you can see when visiting the Forest Garden!
Summer snapshot
At Marston Forest Garden, we enjoyed a peaceful Be with Nature session, slowing down to notice the flowers, insects and summer life all around us. GoodGym volunteers also joined us for an evening of weeding and compost shifting — making a huge difference to the garden.
At our monthly Gardening Together sessions, regulars and new faces got stuck into weeding, watering and sowing. We’ve been picking currants, lettuce and herbs, followed, as ever, by refreshments and a chat. Produce from the allotment also made its way to the Giving Garage and Community Larder.
Our Marston Community Market stall last month was full of plants, seeds, seasonal crops and homemade vegan ice cream, including flavours made with allotment ingredients.
Thank you to everyone who helped grow, share, carry and collect - especially in the hot weather! ☀️🥵💚
☀️ Gardening in hot weather ☀️
With another heatwave happening this week, please take care of yourself. A shorter, gentle watering visit still helps the plants while avoiding heat exhaustion!
Water early or late if you can, focusing on seedlings, new plants, containers, greenhouses and the polytunnel. Water at the base of plants, and add mulch where possible to help soil hold moisture.
Bring drinking water, wear a hat, take shade breaks, and avoid heavy work during the hottest part of the day.
Upcoming events
🌿 Land Ceremony Event in Marston Forest Garden
6:30 pm on Wednesday, 8th July
📍Marston Forest Garden, (Court Place Farm Allotments, Oxford OX3 0PP)
A midsummer celebration to give thanks and hope. We are honoured to welcome Coral Herencia and Felipe Navarrete from the Cuidemos Paraísos Foundation in Chile to join us in celebrating the land and our community of land stewards, growers and ecological activists in Marston and the wider Oxford area.
Enquiries: beckybuell@outlook.com
Regular gatherings
Click on the links below to find Google Map locations 📍
🌳 Forest Garden Work Gatherings
10:30 am, 2nd Sunday of the month + summer evening sessions - 6:30 pm until dusk, last Wednesday of the month (May–August)
📍Marston Forest Garden (Court Place Farm Allotments, Oxford OX3 0PP)
💚 Gardening Together
2:00 pm, last Sunday of the month
📍Marston Community Allotments (Court Place Farm Allotments, Oxford OX3 0PP)
🪴Northway Arts & Gardening Café
Pop-up sessions across summer
📍Northway Community Centre & Gardens, OX3 9RF
Low Carbon Marston events & contacts
🍅 Giving Garage & Community Larder
9:00 am - 11:00 am, every Saturday
📍Marston Eco Hub, OX3 0PR
🚮 Marston Wombles
Once a month. Contact marstonecogroup@gmail.com to join the WhatsApp group for updates
Repair Café
Contact repairmarston@gmail.com for information
General enquiries
Contact: lowcarbonmarston@gmail.com
