There is a new exhibition on at Abingdon School.The opening was this evening. It tells the story of the part played by former pupils of Abingdon School during WW II – they appear to have taken part in most of the important conflicts. It also tells how the school was affected by the war.

There was also a very interesting lecture on the development of war graves and monuments since WW I. The chap who started it all was very disappointed to see the state of the Boer War cemeteries, and dedicated his life to making sure those who died in WW I were given a fitting memorial, even though a high percentage remain unknown. He persuaded the best architects to design monuments, and ensured no distinction was made to rank within war cemeteries.

Mark from Mostly Book was there selling the book written to tell the story of the War Grave Commission.

Pictured near the River Ock. I thought it best to leave them for any birds that may need them over the winter. I wasn’t sure they were really cherries.

Having done yesterdays post on the basis of a dog walk I got some more expert information from the people who live and breathe Barton Fields and so am rewriting it in their words, but will leave the old one in place – so 2 days with the same pictures and different words …

The Longmead Lake area and its surrounding reedbeds and ponds has been sold to a private individual who it is understood will be using the lake for angling. The lake and surrounding area were restored under the regulation of the County Ecologist and includes a number of ponds and reedbeds. This area is a haven for wildlife including Water Voles, which have declined drastically in the UK in recent years.

The tree under threat of felling is one of only 2000 to 3000 Native Black Poplars left in the UK and are UK Biodiversity Action Plan species. Members of Abingdon Naturalists Society will do their utmost to preserve this tree, which has a preservation order on it. Old and rotting trees are havens for all sorts of wildlife including rare and endangered invertebrates.

The closely mown wildflower meadow in Barton Fields has recently been sown with a wildflower seed mixture and nearly 500 plants of species appropriate to a floodplain meadow. This is part of a Breathing Places project (Lottery funded).

With the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change in five weeks time there is the chance to influence it and maybe save some trees by sending a Rainforest SOS message.