The cobble-layers are having a good 2007 in Abingdon. Not only is the Market Place getting re-cobbled, but also this corner next to St Helens Church has been given a new clean set of cobbles.

This once neglected spot was overgrown with weeds until a few months ago, now look at it: drizzled with wood shavings.

A-Plan Insurance is a place for people who prefer to deal with their insurance brokers face to face rather than trust moneysupermarket.com, kelco, or confused.com on the internet.

The building at 3 High Street was hidden in scaffolding much of last year, but now we can all see that it is a fine-figure-of-a-building.

There were crowds in the Abbey Meadows this weekend enjoying the open air pool and the water jets. There were queues at the ice-cream kiosk, and Waitrose was busy at lunchtime, selling out of those serve yourself salads.

Elsewhere in Abingdon there was a steady flow of cyclists going past Radley Lake. The lake is likely to be drained and used as a dumping ground for ash from Didcot Power Station. A lot of the trees have already been destroyed, and native birds like kingfishers have gone.

But these locals are still putting up a fight (my dog joined them for the picture). They have been trying to stop RWE nPower by proving that the Lake has been used recreationally (that is like a Village Green) for at least twenty years, and they would be glad to hear from more witnesses. The Radley Lake public enquiry begins again on 20th June.

Most people get to the Radley Lakes along this cycle track.

Most people drive to Tesco along the Marcham Road. But there is an alternative scenic route which begins on Mill Road.

In the distance Tesco can be seen beyond this overgrown, little used footpath…

where wild roses have taken over.

On one side of Mill Road are ‘set aside’ fields

Cross over the River Ock and a wheat field stretches towards the Tesco store.

The scenic route follows the meanderings of the River Ock. (Orpwood Drive can be seen on this shot.)

Then the path leaves the river and takes you round a shady track

until Tesco appears through an opening.