The Environment Agency and Vale of White Horse District Council have built a flood wall at St Helen’s Mill in Abingdon. It will reduce flood risk to homes at St Helen’s Mill and help to keep the access road to the car park open.
The last picture I have of St Helen’s Mill flooding was 7th January 2014. It could now be the last.
Walking back from a meeting at Preston Road Community Centre this evening I spotted a toad on the pavement near the Old Saxton Arms – just there on the pavement in the rain.
Earlier I had seen a hedgehog crossing the road, and taking a long time doing it, sniffing for insects at it went. I don’t usually see live hedgehogs on the road.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
(cntd.)
People have just marked the centenary of the start of the Battle of Passchendaele (or the 3rd battle of Ypres) that lasted from July to November 1917. The battle was for control of the ridges south and east of the Belgian city of Ypres in West Flanders. Passchendaele lay on the last ridge east of Ypres.
In the Abingdon (Borough) Roll of Service one entry also mentions Passchendaele.
Private William John Hearne, 37a Bath Street, 2nd 2nd London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers (presumed killed Passchendaele, Oct. 26, 1917).
There is a faded poppy stuck to the middle of the road sign in Ypres Way in Abingdon. The first picture of wild flowers is from Barton Fields in Abingdon.
Into August, the month when a lot of people go away and there is not so much happening in Abingdon. To dispel that impression three different people have sent me things happening in August.
Wednesday, August 2 – MANCUNIA – Music At The Unicorn, Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon.
Tim O’Connor, a singer-songwriter based in France; Andy Dinan, twice All-Ireland Fiddle Champion; and Maartin Allcock, internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist who has played with the likes of Fairport Convention, Robert Plant, Cat Stevens and Jethro Tull, have joined forces to form MANCUNIA.
Also on 2nd August from 4pm – 8pm there is an open garden at Stonehill Community Garden. They are currently working on half an acre, producing fruit, vegetables, eggs from their hens and honey from their bees and want groups or individuals to get involved. See www.stonehillgardens.co.uk
Weekly volunteer days every Wednesday 10am – 4pm, everyone welcome.
Then ten days later on August 12th is the annual Rugby 7s competition at Abingdon RUFC. Starts 11am.