20 cyclists left Abingdon this morning to visit a nature reserve near Sutton Courtenay and celebrate World Car-Free Day. (Car-Free Day will be on  Sunday, 22nd September 2024. So this was getting in early with being car-free.)

The 19 acre nature reserve, near Milton Park, has woodland, meadow and ponds and an Environmental Education Centre with two classrooms. The land is owned by Didcot Power Station. 55 years ago it was given to the local council as an environmental education centre to mitigate some of the damage done by building the power station. Some of the group remembered going there as children or bringing their children there for their first night away from home. That was when it had some scout-style huts on land now sold for an Asda warehouse

It is now managed by BBOWT (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wild Life Trust) and the new education centre was built in 2004.

The centre has a mix of rare and common species. The reserve has rare great crested newts. There are too many grey squirrels, which are killing trees by eating their bark. The reserve monitors for mink that eat rare water vole babies. We saw a Red Kite’s nest, and a buzzard flying. It was an enjoyable visit thanks to Clive who organised the event, and the Senior Learning Officer at the centre.

For more information or to see events at the centre, visit https://www.bbowt.org.uk/explore/discover-and-learn/sutton-courtenay-oxon.

Yesterday (Saturday), a team of volunteer mechanics offered free bike health checks in the space under Abingdon Museum. This happens under the auspices of One Planet Abingdon from 10:30 to 13:00 on the third Saturday of each month.

In the basement, in the the One Planet Abingdon Climate Emergency Centre, John Killick stands with the Biodiversity Exhibition. He offers Biodiversity tours round St Ethelwold’s Garden. Protecting and restoring land for the benefit of people and wildlife is one of the ten parts of the One Planet Living Framework. (See https://oneplanet.com/about/one-planet-living-framework/).

Another volunteer used their skills in massage to promote Health and Wellbeing, another part of the framework.

Carol had done a cooking course with One Planet Abingdon, and afterwards has made a blanket which will be raffled to raise money for the centre.

Similar to how people can send cards to people on Amnesty International fact sheets, there is a chance to send cards in solidarity with those in prison for our planet.

The footpath at the southwest corner of Thrupp Lake was muddy and impassable due to a wet winter.

A 250-meter section of the footpath has now been upgraded by the Radley Lakes Trust. Vegetation was cleared along the route by volunteers. Path sides were installed and filled with fine gravel by a contractor. The path is now being used, and the gravel is starting to settle.

On a wet day like today, the contrast between the muddy paths around and the new path is striking.

Volunteers will install a new gate and fence at the entrance off the cycleway from Abingdon.