Today they were chopping down the big hedge that has grown up in front of Abingdon and Witney College to reveal the refurbished building behind.

Thanks to Helen and Craig for separately letting me know.

Craig said “You might want to get down to Abingdon College this morning – those hideous conifers are coming down!“.

By lunchtime, when I got there, it was nearly all gone.

At the far end of the Wootton Road in Abingdon a “Beware ! Uneven Footway” sign has appeared near Abingdon and Witney College.

Chestnut tree roots growing under the footway have cracked and lifted the pavements creating a trip hazard.

An oak tree was planted in Albert Park in commemoration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Felicity Dick, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Oxfordshire, planted the tree.

The spade used was loaned by Abingdon School and is the same spade used by Mrs Thatcher and The Princess Royal and others.

Albert Park is owned by the Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon, the charity founded in 1553. The current Master of Christ’s Hospital, Lt Col Andrew Douglass, said a few words to honour the occasion.

(Thanks to Iain for the report)

This group of Ash Trees on the other side of the River Thames look wonderful at the moment on their soft blanket of fallen leaves.

But no ash tree however big or small is safe. National new stories say that the Chalara fraxinea fungus, which causes leaf loss and crown dieback and leads to the death of ash trees, has spores borne on the wind and could soon blow our way. So I have started treasuring the ash trees while they are still with us. More ash tree pictures in the spring.