After the autumn equinox, we’re reflecting on a summer and early autumn of food, flowers, shared skills and community action across Marston. Volunteers worked extra hours to water crops during the hot, dry spell, ran hands-on sessions for families, cared for green spaces and helped young trees recover after a fire.
Below are some of the highlights and news along with our upcoming dates. New volunteers are always welcome - it’s free to take part and no special skills or gardening experience needed.
There’s more to come: See all dates and details for our events here.
Community unites to support Croft Road woodland
On 23 July a fire started among the young trees at Croft Road Recreation Ground. Residents acted quickly and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue with the City Council Parks team stopped it from spreading.
About 30 trees were damaged. Since then residents, the Council Tree Team and Marston Community Growing volunteers have watered, mulched and cared for the woodland through the drought. Many trees are expected to survive; we will keep monitoring and plan replacements if needed.
The strong local response shows how much the community values the woodland. The Oxford Mail and Oxford Clarion covered the story, highlighting the risks to dry green spaces and the impact of quick community action.
Growing through a hot, dry spell
Despite the extremely hot weather, our community spaces gave us a good summer harvest. The polytunnel at the community allotments did especially well, producing aubergines, chillies, tomatoes, basil and peppers. Across our sites, volunteers also picked currants, lettuce, herbs, courgettes, grapes and other seasonal crops.
The drought made careful watering and healthier soil vital. We cleared paths, improved access, fixed equipment and tested ways to retain moisture. This autumn, we will add more mulch and organic matter to boost soil fertility and help the beds withstand future heat and drought
Over the past seven years, abundance, setbacks and adaptation have also shaped Marston Forest Garden. In a new blog on our website, Antony Melville looks at shifting weather and wildlife, and the successes and surprises that have shown what grows well, what struggles, and how the garden finds its balance.
Family sessions and National Garden Scheme support
A Community Garden Grant from the National Garden Scheme, backed by the Julia Rausing Trust, funded compost, seeds, tools (including pruning shears and children’s gloves), and perennial plants and herbs for the raised beds. It also paid for two family-friendly workshops at Northway Community Centre - one on flowers and one on herbs - where people planted, tasted, made things, and learned together, strengthening links between the centre and our growing spaces. Our next events (details to be confirmed at the time of writing), will focus on resilience and shared skills: drought-tolerant planting, mulching, and volunteer training in pruning and scything
Celebrating Mother Earth in the Forest Garden 💚
The Forest Garden has been resting after a prolific 2025, yet July–August still yielded onions, redcurrants, beans, damsons and grapes. Clover now carpets the Celtic wheel. We learned scything, making hay-mulch piles for insects and soil.
At our third Be With Nature session we found stillness—crickets, birdsong and scents of mint, sage and roses. Freed from their desks, a group of young eco-leaders from The Swan School had fun running through the forest and exploring, delighted to find tiny metallic-blue beetles in the mint.
In July we welcomed Coral Herencia and Felipe Navarrete of the Cuidemos Paraísos Foundation (Chile). Over 25 people gathered under our Father Oak for an Andean Mother Earth ceremony. The ritual deepened many people’s sense of wellbeing, gratitude and belonging.
“Rituals create a vital space for belonging... The grounding heightens reciprocity with the living world and each other.” — Coral Herencia
We are deeply grateful to Coral for sharing this practice so generously. The Cuidemos Paraísos Foundation is raising funds to protect the native forest and waters of Palguín in Chile.
Explore Marston on foot 👣
From the community allotments and forest garden to Northway’s growing space, the community wood and orchard, our new roundwalk connects seven places where neighbours are growing food and caring for nature. Thanks to Catherine for putting the route and guide together. Follow it at your own pace and discover the stories behind each stop.
Explore the Marston Community Growing roundwalk on our Resources page here.
A shout-out for our new name
This summer we changed from Marston Community Gardening to Marston Community Growing. The new name reflects what we do now: growing food, skills, confidence, habitats and connections across Marston. Featured in the Replenish newsletter, the name may be new but our core remains: local people sharing time, tools and knowledge to care for our neighbourhood.
Join us this autumn and beyond
There are many ways to join in, whether you’re experienced, a beginner, or just curious. Sessions are friendly and practical. Come for as much or as little as you like.
Marston Community Market - Saturday 3 October, 10am to 1pm, Mortimer Hall. We’ll have two stalls there selling vegan ice cream, kimchi, plants and seeds. Visit us and say hello, buy something or donate a plant.
Scything session and winter social — Sunday 29 November, 10.30am to 3pm. A practical scything session, followed by a well-earned social at the Victoria Arms.
Wassail — Sunday 17 January 2027. Save the date; more details to follow.
For all Forest Garden, community allotment and special Northway session dates, check our events calendar on the website here.
Also, our partner Low Carbon Marston runs regular events:
Giving Garage & Community Larder: Saturdays, 9:00–11:00, Marston Eco Hub, OX3 0PR
Marston Repair Café: email repairmarston@gmail.com for details
Marston Wombles: monthly — email marstonecogroup@gmail.com to join the WhatsApp group
General enquiries: lowcarbonmarston@gmail.com (ask to join their community WhatsApp)
And we work with Northway Together, which has a new Tuesday Walking Group & Breakfast Club:
Meet outside Northway Community Centre, Tuesdays at 9:00 for a guided walk, then stay for breakfast until midday. Our herbs, spinach and chillies are used in the breakfasts
Could you help us?
Thanks to everyone who watered, planted, harvested, organised, photographed, wrote, shared, or just came along this summer.
Marston Community Growing is run by volunteers and needs help with many tasks: joining a growing session, bringing a friend, helping at events, taking photos, sharing news, or doing behind-the-scenes organising.
No regular commitment and no gardening experience needed.
To get involved or take on a small plot, pop by to a session to find out more, or email us at info@marstoncommunitygrowing.co.uk.
Stay connected 🔗
See events, news and volunteer opportunities on our website or follow us on our social media links below.
See you soon! 💚
