Abingdon Weir looks fully open as high flows of water from Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire make their way along the River Thames by Abingdon.
The River Thames has risen dramatically over the past 24 hours. After breaching the bank near Abingdon Bridge, much of the water now bypasses the usual route, flooding the cricket field instead of curving around by St Helen’s Church.
Not only the cricket field but also the football ground finds itself underwater as the unbound River Thames takes over.
Some cars have been caught out by the sudden inflow of water to Rye Farm Carpark.
The water has risen to submerge the step of the stone building used by West Waddy Architects. Their flood gate shows the water level. It is still below the level reached in January 2024.
Yesterday, I praised the flood wall’s success in safeguarding St Helens Mill. Today somebody was pumping water over the wall away from the mill.
At sunset, the floodwaters look calm, reflecting the sky and trees near the Abbey Meadow pool.
But the river itself is anything but calm, overflowing the path to Abingdon Weir.
Category Archives: food
Solar Farms and Organic Farming representatives on Bury Street Precinct
In the Bury Street Precinct on Thursday, were a group seeking support for a proposed solar farm near Cumnor. The Cumnor Parish Council has voiced its opposition, citing concerns about the industrialization of the Greenbelt, the impact on the area’s natural beauty and character, disruption to public rights of way, agriculture, and ecological balance.
The representatives of the company wanting to build the solar farm say it will counter climate change by helping the shift away from carbon energy and so help the VWHDC is their action on the climate emergency. They said the land could still be used for sheep grazing. The consultation period is closed, and I was not sure of the benefit of getting people to sign a list of ‘benefits’ at this stage. The planning application on the VWHDC Planning portal has reference ‘P23/V2624/FUL’.
Meanwhile, Riverford Organic Farmers had their regular stall where people can sign up for organic vegetable and food boxes.
Organic farming relies on natural methods for pest control and fertilisation and is attractive to consumers who are able and willing to pay a premium for naturally produced food.
The River Thames Floodplain near Abingdon (yesterday and today)
Yesterday, you could just about walk the Thames path if you were careful and wore wellies.
The sun was shining, and there were some picturesque views.
One lot of new trees in Rye Farm Meadow was underwater.
Today, the River Thames has a muddier look. Walking along the river bank, even with wellies, would be unwise.
A notice at Abingdon Lock warns people of human sewage and hidden obstacles.
One of our local drone experts was taking pictures from Abingdon Bridge and from Abingdon Lock to be shown on his Facebook site, called fly4fun.
The water level was still rising near Abingdon Lock at 14:15. See https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/station/7073
Abingdon Community Fridge and Larder
Abingdon Community Fridge will be at Hadland Road Community Centre on Saturday from 10:30-11:30. Just turn up armed with your mask and bags.
This is helping us as a community to save food waste. There is no membership fee but lots of helpful volunteers trying to get the food to you before it is wasted. (Also Monday 5 – 5:30 pm and Thursday sessions 1 – 2 pm.) Occasionally there is not enough waste and the session is called off – maybe that is good thing. You may have to check Facebook to be sure at other times.
There is also Abingdon Community Larder at Trinity Church Hall on Friday 2 – 4 pm. They are part of https://www.sofea.uk.com/, providing food that would otherwise go to waste to people at a reduced cost. For this you pay a small membership fee. Members are not means tested, and generally people join to get low cost food of high quality.