The Weir Walk opens. St Helens Wharf waits

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The weir path is open again, after a few days, and the notices have been updated to confirm this. It looks as though it was closed only as long as necessary for safety.

Meanwhile, the road by St Helen’s Wharf remains shut, but progress has been made: the new yellow plastic gas main has been laid, and the trenches have been backfilled. There are just a few inches left at the surface, waiting to be finished with tarmac.

So one route has returned to normal, the other is a work in progress but should be finished soon.

Where Snowdrops Grow Naturally

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You can make a visit to some fine snowdrop displays in Oxfordshire during February. The nearest are probably Kingston Bagpuize House, where the gardens open on selected days, and Waterperry Gardens, with more than sixty different varieties spread through the gardens and along the riverside walk.

But you don’t have to go far to find masses of snowdrops. Walking across the Ock bridge on Drayton Road, it’s worth looking over the side. Below, along the riverbank, is a spread of snowdrops that don’t appear to have been planted or tended. They have grown where conditions suit them.

Bury Street Precinct Changes Approved

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Plans for changes to part of Bury Street Precinct were approved on 28 January 2026.

The application (P25/V0236/FUL) includes the demolition of existing kiosks and the erection of two new kiosks, a café seating area, a larger business, new benches and planters, a sculpture, and public art.

Planning officers concluded that the proposals would improve the appearance of the area. While the scheme involves the removal of a tree, officers judged that the overall benefits would outweigh this harm.

Since the planning application was submitted, there have been further changes within the area affected. Jhoots Pharmacy closed in August 2025, and the company subsequently went into administration nationally. Allied Pharmacies has since acquired many former Jhoots sites and plans to bring them back into operation.

Opposite the redevelopment area, 24 Bury Street, formerly the H. Samuel jewellery shop, is being subdivided into three separate units (24A, 24B and 24C) with individual entrances.

River levels remain high on the River Thames around Abingdon

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River levels on the Thames around Abingdon remain high this week, with flooding of low-lying land.

In places, flooding appears to be coming up from below, with a high water table leaving the ground saturated even where the river has not visibly spilled over.

While levels are beginning to fall, the ground is now saturated, and levels could rise again if further heavy rainfall arrives upstream.

The weir gates now appear to be fully open. This may explain why the weir walk was closed in advance as a safety precaution. The closure removes a well-used circular route.