This morning, along the wilder edges of the Abbey Meadow, blackberries were ripening. On one side of a bramble bush, beside the cycle path, people were picking and tasting as they went — “That one’s lovely!” “Ooh, that’s sour!” “We’ll need a stepladder to get those.”

Across the other side of the brambles, near the long grass, there were plenty of juicy blackberries. Wasps flew past the firmer ones, drawn to fruit that had gone soft and squishy.

Ladybirds were also out in numbers on the berries (I though they ate aphids). Bluebottles and other flies landed on blackberries, and blackbirds flew to pick off the ripe fruit.

Where wild clematis threaded through the brambles, a Gatekeeper butterfly rested, its wings frayed at the edges.

And in the wildflower circle, bumblebees were busy on the scabious, bumbling from flower to flower in search of nectar.

Children played in the playground nearby.

We are into another hot spell in Abingdon, and the grass in the Abbey Gardens has faded to the same sandy colour as the path.

The Indian Bean Tree, with its oversized leaves and exotic flowers, has just finished its brief flowering. The trees are still green and contrast to the dry grass below.

Canna lilies are beginning to flower, rising above the snapdragons in the formal beds.

In the wilder corners on both sides near the hotel, there’s a drift of taller plants and flowers that insects clearly prefer to the formal beds.

Staff were preparing the Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool in Abingdon for an early opening for the current heatwave. This weather-dependent trial opening is the first – others may follow, depending on conditions and staff availability.

Better UK, who manage the pool, are offering this early opening at no extra cost to Vale of White Horse District Council. Booking times are available on the Better UK website. The first sessions run from Thursday, 19 June to Tuesday, 24 June 2025.

The Abbey Meadow splash pad and kiosk — also operated by Better UK on behalf of the council — opened at the end of May. Full seasonal opening of the outdoor pool begins on 19 July to coincide with the school holidays.

Councillor Andy Crawford, Cabinet Member for Leisure Facilities, said: ”This is such welcome news – and I’m sure it will be positively received by everyone who looks forward to enjoying the pool in the warm weather.”

Thermal covers are in place overnight to allow the water to be warmed and retain the heat.

Thank you to the Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) for this press release.

The Abbey Meadow outdoor pool will open before the school summer holidays on Saturday, July 22nd. The pool will be open daily alongside the park splash pad until the start of September.

The kiosk, which is already open, has new and improved furniture.

Vale of White Horse District Council, which owns the site, agreed in 2021 with its leisure contractor GLL that the pool would open for a six-week season over the summer, the busiest time of year.

Cllr Debra Dewhurst, Cabinet Member for Leisure Centres and Community Buildings at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “The pool is popular during the school holidays, but it is costly to run, and we have to balance this with the vital services we manage in the Vale.

We continue to look into ways in which we can save energy and running costs.”

Bookings for the pool will open for members and season ticket holders 7 days before the pool opens and 5 days before for non-members. It is advised that visitors book before they arrive via the Better UK app or website.