In Ladygrove Meadow, off Drayton Road, the 30 fruit trees planted in February 2025 by the town council and community volunteers are in blossom.

Blossom seems to be all around the Ladygrove Meadow playpark — including lots of blackthorn in the nearby hedgerows.

Blossom can also be seen at Boxhill Recreation Ground, where community volunteers planted 20 fruit trees back in November 2020.

Ladygrove Meadow and Boxhill are part of a wider national movement. Across the UK, communities and local councils are planting orchards affter decades of decline. The National Trust estimates that more than half of all orchards in England and Wales have been lost to housing and development.

The Victoria Road bus shelter (on Ock Street) has been in place for nearly a year, having been installed by Abingdon Town Council. Unless you are in the habit of inspecting bus shelters, you may not have noticed anything unusual about it. At ground level, only a green fringe is visible — a hint that something botanical is taking place above your head.

From above, however (from nearby flats or the upper deck of the X2 bus), the roof reveals a small ecosystem. It is carpeted with vegetation, mostly sedum — a low-growing succulent that thrives in dry, sunny conditions, requires little maintenance, and does not need mowing or feeding. The plants absorb rainwater and provide nectar for passing bees.

The dry, straw-like remains of another plant suggest the roof may be quietly biodiversifying. Whether this was planned or is the work of a botanical hitchhiker is unclear, but it is interesting to discover that a bus shelter can develop a biosphere.

There are three litter bins close together in Old Station Yard, Abingdon. All three have been wrapped in blue liners and sealed with tape and carry a notice from Vale of White Horse District Council: ‘Litter Bin Not In Use. Please take your litter home with you.’

I tried looking on the VWHDC website. I did not find the reason but did find that town centre bins are emptied daily, outer town bins once a week, and others when they are around 75% full.

70% of what goes into public litter bins could  be recycled. Once mixed with food waste, liquids or dog mess, they must be disposed of as general waste.  The website says public litter bins are intended for general rubbish such as:
* Sandwich packaging
* Fast food packaging
* Disposable coffee cups
* Soft plastics and wrappers
* Bagged dog waste.