At Abingdon Lock a number of changes were made during the winter before last. The back drainage area was cleared and landscaped,
and a carved crocodile appeared in the ditch.
There have been further developments last winter. The lock island is beginning to look like a wooden menagerie.
A Pooh like bear has appeared next to the Abingdon Lock sign.
Not just wooden animals, but also houses for real animals have appeared.
Thanks to Ian for this report ….
Abingdon Horticultural Society held it’s Spring Show on 2 April at the Northcourt centre.
The number of entries this year were very encouraging, bearing in mind the strange growing season we have had so far. A warm, damp December and January produced breaking buds and flowers very early, then the cold, frosty and windy periods of February and March almost halted the growing of many plants. Then, suddenly, the few days of warmer temperatures tempted enough flowers to open and give us a nice selection for the show. On the day lovely sunshine persuaded many visitors to enjoy tea and cake outside.
In addition to the excellent display of plants and flowers, there were numerous entries in the domestic skills categories. Numerous exhibits of lemon curd, marmalade, buns and cakes were admired by the many visitors. The childrens’ categories were impressive, including beautifully decorated eggs, cakes and flowers.
A ‘Spring Theme’ photographic competition, held for the first time this year, attracted several high quality prints to complement the pictures of the Spring gardens competition. Sales of cheap plants, cake and honey proved hugely successful, attracting many enthusiastic buyers.
We hope the interest will be retained by our many visitors for the Autumn Show on 3rd September.
On a brilliantly sunny Saturday morning, Paolo from Brazil, wearing a Chile T shirt, kindly stood next to the Oxford United scarfs and memorabilia that are on sale in Abingdon. Oxford United Play Barnsley in the final of the Football League Trophy, at Wembley, tomorrow.
Also in town this morning were campaigners wanting to leave the European Union. There is a referendum on 23 June 2016 when UK citizens will vote on the question ‘Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?’
Then in the afternoon, when the sun had gone in, there was a crowd waiting for cyclists who had cycled from the Brecon Beacons in Wales back to Abingdon, over 120 miles, including one on a Pashley bicycle.
The event was sponsored by Breckon and Breckon Estate Agents, and Outdoor Traders, to raise money for local charity Blue Skye Thinking.
The theme of the City Daily Photo this Month on 1st of April is the ‘beauty of simplicity’.
So here is a return to a topic I did before once: It is the worn stones under the County Hall in Abingdon. Many feet have worn down the layers from the stone slab to form these contours. These slabs have also been pulled up and put down again, recently, as part of the County Hall refurbishment.
For more beautiful simplicity, click here.