Albert Park at Sunset – remembering Albert and Coal

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Albert Park at Sunset
I went out for a walk round Albert Park. The light from the setting sun caught Prince Albert above it all. There were people out for walks, and families playing.
Albert Park at Sunset
One of Abingdon’s greatest monuments is of a German Prince, admired and taken to heart by Victorian Abingdonians. They shared with Queen Victoria’s grief and created a civic memorial.

Prince Albert died at the age of 42. He had become known as a reformer in causes such as educational reform and the abolition of slavery worldwide. He was instrumental in the the Great Exhibition of 1851. The statue was finished in 1865.
Albert Park at Sunset
Facing Prince Albert is the Church of St Michael and All Angels Church – finished in 1867.
Albert Park at Sunset
Trinity Church, nearby, was finished in 1875.
Albert Park at Sunset
In Victorian days smoke rose from chimneys. The chimneys in Park Road are memorials to the age of coal.

Rainbow at sunrise over Private Land

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Rainbow at Sunrise
I was returning from work on my bike (having gone a day early by mistake). The sun was rising over the Thames beyond Oday Hill and the sky was overcast and orange.
Rainbow at Sunrise
Rain was beginning to fall, and over the old dog walking field a rainbow formed. Since the start of the year, notices have appeared to say this field is Private Land. Before that there were notices to warn that it was being closed for dog walking.
Rainbow at Sunrise
Soon a full rainbow had grown.
Rainbow at Sunrise
My phone could not get all of it in at once and so here are two pictures – combined. The houses of Masefield Crescent are at the end of the rainbow.

Abbey Fishponds – January

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Last year there was a monthly picture report from Barton Fields. This year I hope to visit  Abbey Fishponds every month.
Abbey Fish Ponds
The main entrance is from the Radley Road. There are three other entrances, and houses surround the area.

Abbey Fishponds is a local nature reserve managed by the Earth Trust, and looked after with the help of local volunteers. Marjorie White was warden for many years.
Abbey Fish Ponds
A brook runs the length of the nature reserve. The area gets its name from the earthworks that people once thought damned the brook to make fishponds for the monks of the Abbey.
Abbey Fish Ponds
I believe the brook is otherwise known as Radley Park Ditch, and begins its short journey to the River Thames above Radley College. It is culverted for a short way before Radley Road and reappears in Abbey Fishponds.
Abbey Fish Ponds
There are two paths that cross in the middle. One follows the brook from northwest to south east. The other cuts across and joins the Radley Road opposite St Peters Drive. Another small stream from that direction ends in the brook.
Abbey Fish Ponds
There are also a number of ponds – some permanent and some seasonal. January is wet and the main path is very muddy at the moment, and almost a pond itself.
Abbey Fish Ponds
The main areas are meadow, reedbeds, sedge beds and woodland.
Abbey Fish Ponds
There are piles of wood, left to rot, where some of the trees had been recently cut. On the logs I managed to photograph this blackbird near some ivy berries. A robin pecking for bugs in the wood was too quick for me to photograph. There is a lot of birdlife.

Bread lorry lost in Abingdon

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First Day Out
The Abingdon one way system continues to confuse drivers from other places. On the High Street a lorry stopped to ask directions.
First Day Out
Meanwhile on the Market Place the Christmas decorations had been taken down and were about to be taken away for another year.

Along Bridge Street there were police cars and ambulances near the Old Gaol. In other times I might have gone to have a look.
First Day Out
But today I seemed to be following a bread lorry. It was now stopped near Waitrose and a local man was giving clear directions to help it find the Co-op.

The UK Bread Marketing Report says the lockdown has provided opportunities to the bread industry. More people are making their breakfast and lunch at home and could be using bread.