Last Sunday at Trinity Church in Abingdon, the service was led by Philip Nalpanis of A Rocha UK, a Christian environmental charity that supports churches in caring for the environment.

Philip explored some of the biblical reasons why Christians should care about the environment. He also echoed Pope Francis’s words that destroying the environment is a sin.

Although Philip does not come from Abingdon, he had heard of the Abingdon Carbon Cutters, and had some some practical (One Planet Abingdon type) ways of expressing care for the environment:
* Reduce consumption and buy only what is needed.
* Repair things rather than replacing them.
* Borrow or share tools and equipment.
* Support environmental groups and take part in local conservation projects.
* Campaign for stronger environmental policies, including writing to MPs.
* Pray regularly for the environment and talk openly about environmental issues.

Trinity has already been awarded a Bronze Eco Church Award under A Rocha’s scheme. All Saints Church is on a similar journey, while Our Lady and St Edmund often have posters highlighting their environmental campaigns. Different churches in Abingdon are finding their own ways to care for the planet.

Thanks to Tim for the photograph showing the recent harvesting of the cricket bat willows beside the Sustrans cycle path to Radley Lakes.

Andrew, who owns the land, planted the willows around 15 years ago and has now harvested the first crop. The trees had grown to more than 60 feet tall and are expected to produce around 40 cricket bats each once the timber has been seasoned. That is about 720 bats from the 18 trees.

It is a crop with a long-term plan. 24 more willows will be planted in December, already around 16 feet tall, and are expected to grow quickly with the water table close to the surface. They could add around three inches in girth each year and should be ready for harvesting around 2041.

Meanwhile, the other part of the field, planted at the same time with a variety of trees, continues to develop into woodland. The bendy branches from the willows will be used as a dead hedge along this woodland. Other branches, have been taken by the contractor for chipping.

Thank you to Ben for these pictures of the new defences at Albert Park.

Ben says: “Following last week’s invasion, concrete barriers have now appeared at all the entrances — and on one of the paths, possibly to prevent a pincer movement on the bowls club.”

I won’t show all of Ben’s pictures. Revealing the full defence plan would only help an invader’s reconnaissance.

The barriers show the park is taking security seriously. But who would have thought that 13 caravans and a collection of other vehicles would seriously consider taking over a public park during a school holiday?

Members of Abingdon Cuts Plastic, part of Abingdon Carbon Cutters, were in the Market Place this Friday encouraging people to take part in Plastic Free July by making a simple pledge to reduce their use of single-use plastics.

Visitors were invited to choose one small change to make. Suggestions included carrying a reusable water bottle or coffee cup, buying fruit and vegetables loose rather than wrapped in plastic, or swapping cling film for reusable containers.

Other ideas included trying shampoo bars, choosing paper-wrapped toilet rolls, using refill stations for household cleaning products and switching to plastic-free tea bags or loose tea leaves.

The group highlighted that household cleaners such as washing-up liquid, laundry liquid and toilet cleaner can be refilled locally at the refill station at Oxford Wood Recycling.

The aim is to reduce plastic waste and keep unnecessary plastic out of rivers, seas and the wider environment. If you look at the campaign website ( https://abingdoncarboncutters.org.uk/what/abingdon-cuts-plastic/ ) you will see it was first launched in 2018, thanks to Anne Smart, and they are giving it a new push. There is an up to date 2026 Plastics leaflet under the campaign website.