Follow the Sustrans Cycle path, past the Science Park and Barton Meadows, and it eventually goes past some old gravel lakes. Some have already been filled in with fly ash from Didcot Power Station. But two at the far end, near where the Cycle Path emerges in Thrupp Lane(pictured here), are still intact as thriving lakes.

Since these two lakes are now about forty years old and fairly mature habitats they are important to Wildlife.

There is a lot of local anger that the largest will soon be fenced off, and pumped full of sterile fly ash. A long campaign and a huge petition has failed to stop RWE NPower. Oxfordshire County Council has allowed the planning application.

These pictures are of Thrupp Lake. I was down there this morning. There were flocks of long tailed tits. There were also many water birds.

In the same week as allowing the filling with fly-ash, the County designated the Lakes a County Wildlife area – a day or two too late to effect their planning colleagues.

Notices like this, are there, presumably to warn RWE NPower .

Yesterday the Save Radley Lakes campaign held an autumn fair in the Guildhall to raise money to help pay legal bills.

Adam Guillain was doing a very animated book reading at Mostly Books. If you are not six, or don’t have a six year old child, let me say: Adam writes and tells adventures about Bella Balistica who gets all over the world. Most recently she had a footballing adventure in Brazil.

Adam’s books were on display in the window, together with lots of Roald Dahl books. They fit well together as Adam works as writer in residence at the Roald Dahl Museum.

We are used to all sorts of book readings and book signings in Oxford, but now at Mostly Books it is also “happening” in Abingdon. Lets hope that it is the start of great things for both them and the Book Store who have a book signing in two weeks time.

HRH Princess Anne landed in this helicopter at Abingdon School at about 10:30. She was there to unveil a plaque commemorating their 750th anniversary.

After about an hour there she travelled the mile to town in this car.

Many small troops of school children walked to town from the different schools. Thameside, pictured in the centre, brought along about thirty pupils.

But St Nics had a starring role, singing the “Bun Throwing Song.” Princess Anne is watching on.

She then went to talk to the singers. That is Peter Green, the Mayor next to her. And then for about twenty minutes she went round the Market Place meeting school children and community groups.

Princess Anne joined the Mayor on the steps of the Guildhall for “God Save the Queen.” Then the church bells of St Nics began ringing, and the second bun thow of the year started. Here are the Town Councillors launching the buns from the roof of the County Hall.

There was a good crowd, trying to catch the 450 buns.

And lastly here is one of the buns. The letters PR stand for Princess Royal.

The consultation process has begun with an exhibition inside the Guildhall today, and it was greeted with torrential rain outside.

These people are particulalrly worried by the map, because their house in Drayton is close to the perimeter.

There were about 15 boards round the room, but all the crowds gathered round this conceptual map: interested in what it might look like.

At the exhibition Thames Water were really trying to put the case why a new reservoir is necessary, not get too much into the detailed design.

The Campaign for Rural England and Green Party have come out saying it just is not necessary. Thames Water should plug leaks first, instead of destroying four square miles of Oxfordshire Countryside.