Author Archives: Backstreeter

Abingdon preparing for Queen’s platinum jubilee with dozens of flags and a jigsaw

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Jubilee flags were being put up around the town centre this morning.

Near the Town Council building, there were three of them.

A four-day celebration is at the centre of Abingdon’s plans to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. Many events will be happening at Rye Farm Meadow, some free, some ticketed. The full list, including how to buy tickets, is at https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/platinum-jubilee-2022.

At Abingdon Library, there is usually a jigsaw anybody can help with. The latest is the
Our Glorious Queen 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle where people can piece together the Queen in her many guises: young, older, regal, intrigued, thoughtful, happy and glorious; long to reign over us.

Royal Post Box Topper

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A new post box topper has arrived on Abingdon Market Place in preparation for the Jubilee.

Today was more overcast and rainy. These pictures were from yesterday when it was sunny. There were also musicians on the Market Place.

Artweek in Abingdon

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Artweeks has come to Abingdon. One venue is St Ethelwolds House.

Looking at the website https://www.artweeks.org/festival, there are twelve venues in Abingdon, and lots more in Radley, Drayton, Sunningwell and further afield.

We visited Caroline Harber and Sandra Hoeft’s exhibition at St Ethelwolds House.

The garden room also has a view out onto the garden

Today there was also a plant sale and teas.

Ock Valley dawn chorus

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Alun’s parents live near the Ock, and he ventured out on bank holiday Monday to record a dawn chorus from the Ock Valley Walk. It’s online on the Radio Aporee website.

The recording is an hour long and is a relaxing way to spend an hour or have as background birdsong. Alun took the risk of leaving the recording gear in the woods at 4:30 am while he nipped back for a cup of tea. He was a bit worried on returning because he had to search to find where he had placed them. He said standing around sniffing or rustling a coat is not good for the recording.

On the Aporee site, you can navigate the globe and listen and download recordings. Alun’s dawn chorus is available at https://aporee.org/maps/?loc=56785&m=satellite.

I walked the Ock Valley Walk earlier this afternoon. The nettles are knee-high and, at their best, fresh and light green.

Mayflies were bouncing up and down like yo yos. A few had settled.

Many birds could be heard, and a few could be seen eating insects.