Only somebody who has been following this Abingdon Blog for a very long time might remember Parts 1 – 4.

In 2006 I started to photograph 3 young trees on my regular dog walks to watch their progress
from winter 2006
through Spring 2006
through Summer 2006
and back to winter of the same year.

It is time for an update…

Tree 1 is flourishing on the Ock Valley Walk and can be seen in the centre of this picture. Its tree guard has been redeployed to another younger tree.

The second tree looks to be doing OK …

but from another angle can be seen that its mate is developing into one of those interesting – not quite upright – trees.

The final tree from Part 1 – 4 did not survive but has been replaced by another tree, with much better protection.

I see from the Abingdon Diary that this is the week when the Swan Upping comes to town. It is also end of school term and there are the start of holiday activities including free swimming for under 16s in the Outdoor Pool. But one thing is different from previous years. There will be no caterpillars infesting the Spindle Tree near the Crown and Thistle. It got cut down last year, and this year there is a new, replacement, tree.

That Spindle Tree will be missed – particularly by those caterpillars.

The Christmas Tree in the Information Centre in Old Abbey House had been near perfect and hardly dropped a needle, but like many other trees it was taken to the Market Place today …

where it was reduced to chips and taken away to be used as mulch.

This festive season began in a fairly normal way. There was a light frost when the Christmas Trees appeared for sale at Peachcroft Farm, direct from the grower.

Last weekend, All Saints Methodist Church held a Christmas Tree Festival. There were about 20 trees, including one from the Abingdon Writers.

Thanks to Jan for these pictures. She said the Police tree had blue flashing lights! The festival raised £400 for charity.

With only a week to go to, St Nicolas Church decorated their tree.

The Market Place Christmas tree now looks totally splendid – covered in snow.