In May 2023, the Vale of White Horse District Council launched the ‘Let It Bee’ campaign to increase biodiversity on council-owned land by allowing wildflowers and plants to grow on specific sites.

As part of the ‘Let It Bee’ campaign, a much larger area of the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon has been allowed to grow, as well as other district sites, including Tilsley Park, White Horse Leisure Centre, and Rye Farm.

The wildflower maze in the Abbey Meadows shows what can be done as it has been left to grow for a few years now, and has a wide variety of wildflowers, including lady’s bedstraw,  vetch, yarrow and meadow scabious.

The flowers attract various insects, including bees and butterflies.

Thanks to Clive for these pictures:

Lucille Savin of Abingdon Carbon Cutters has erected a new notice board in Rye Farm Meadow, near where the Park Run begins.

The Abingdon Carbon Cutters have received permission from the Vale of White Horse District Council to plant 1500 native trees in Rye Farm Meadow, and the board provides more information about the trees and the diverse wildlife they will support.

Lucille is frequently seen in Abingdon, assisting at plant stalls and engaging in planting and gardening activities. Here she is showing others how to make Robin boxes.

Lucille is the first female Head Gardener at Merton College, Oxford. She has transformed the College grounds with her innovative planting. She is passionate about using sustainable practices and keeping her team up to date with the latest horticultural trends.

The Abingdon ECO Fair on Saturday 13th May is just one of the initiatives of the Climate Emergency Centre in the County Hall museum basement. The intention is to make the ECO Fair an annual event. The event will take over the centre of Abingdon with 20 gazebos on the Market Place, talks in the Guildhall, bike checking in the museum undercroft and clothes repair in the museum basement.

The Climate Emergency Centre is called One Planet Abingdon because the Earth’s population is currently using up the energy and resources of Three Earth planets.  They have the idea of One Planet Living. You can ask them what that means at the ECO Fair. The alternative could be the human equivalent of the meteor off the coast of Mexico that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Thank you to Anne for this report.

There was a great turnout of 42 pickers for the riverbank clean-up on Saturday, 29th April. This community activity saves rubbish from polluting the environment or being swept out to sea and causing damage to wildlife. The event was organised by Lynne Ford of Abibinit and Anne Smart from Carbon Cutters. They were joined by Abingdon Rotary members and heralded by the Town Crier.

Kingfisher Canoe Club could not join in because of the high water level, but 3 independent canoeists collected lots of rubbish.

They collected 18 bags of non-recyclable rubbish; and 5 bags of recyclables (1 of glass bottles, 2 of cans and 2 of plastic bottles.) The prize for the most unusual object went for a plastic parrot.

They reported to local councils: places where bins would help, dumped asbestos and overflowing bins in Rye Farm carpark, fly-tipping off Audlett Drive, and a wheelchair and supermarket trolley in the river near the Abbey Brass band hut.

Abibinit plans regular litter picks in different areas of the town, the next on 2nd July. See their website for details.