Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council has obtained 30 fruit trees for planting in Ladygrove Meadow (the meadow near the Ock Bridge on Drayton Road). The planting took place yesterday, with community volunteers helping to plant and secure the trees using hessian ties and wooden stakes.

The event was organised by Abingdon Carbon Cutters, with support from the council’s Outdoor Team and Councillor Tom Greenaway.

The newly planted trees include apple, pear, cherry, hazelnut, and plum. Previously, some fruit trees had been planted nearby in what seems to be unofficial planting.

In addition to the orchard, the Town Council’s Outdoor Team has planted a new hedge around a gas relay station next to the orchard.

A tree has been planted near the Ock Valley Walk, close to where a large chestnut tree was recently felled. I believe the new tree is a Liquid Amber.

The tree is dedicated to Peter Green who did as much as anybody to make the Ock Valley Walk what it is today. Four Liquid Amber trees were added as part of the Market Place refurbishment during Pete’s year as mayor. They were about the size of this tree and have grown into fine sturdy trees which have a brilliant and long-lasting autumn colour.

Michael says, ‘These willows outside Waitrose had branches overhanging the footpath but isn’t this taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut?’

Pollarding willows in the summer is not as common as in the winter when they are dormant.

The plane trees along St Helen’s Wharf have their branches pruned back to almost nothing every few years, but they don’t seem to mind and slowly grow back. From time to time, their roots crack and lift the asphalt pavement until the council notices and marks the offending roots

and gets them pruned and covered with fresh tarmac. But they will be back.