Category Archives: River ock

Unprecedented Flooding hits South Abingdon in 2024

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The rainfall in Abingdon between Saturday 23rd November and Sunday 24th November was 48.3 mm, with the heaviest fall of 5.5 mm between 6 pm and 7 pm on Sunday.

The Vale of White Horse, where the River Ock and its tributaries converge, may have had even heavier rainfall. The flooding peaked at 1.48 meters between 3:30 AM and 9:15 AM on Tuesday, November 26th. This is higher than the flood levels of September and January. The unprecedented three floods in a year are due to climate change, where once-in-a-century events are becoming more frequent.


The flooding in Mill Paddock looks more severe than September 2024, but less severe than the January 2024 flood, which was exacerbated by the flooding of the nearby River Thames.

The road flooding in Healey Close is worse then September and January.

The flooding on Chaunterell Way appears to be as severe as it was in September.

This area, including parts of Nash Drive and Orpwood Way, is the most severely affected.

Medlicott Drive has road flooding, and some residents have sandbagged their driveways.

With Chaunterell Way flooded, this road became the only way out of the estate. To prevent water washing towards garages and houses, residents patrolled the road to slow down traffic.

On the other side of Drayton Road, there is road flooding, and possibly property flooding in Tower Close.

The River Ock has also flooded the gardens in Meadowside.

The demolition of the footbridge and construction of a wall near St. Helen’s Mill has so far protected it from flooding. However people upstream are still looking for solutions as their lives are devastated by flooding again.

Ock Valley Walk Resurfacing work

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After recent floods, the Ock Valley Walk became muddy and uneven. But Abingdon Town Council are on the case. They are using up to £21,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy (developer funding) to improve the path. They began digging out and levelling the worn path and installing wood edging, staked down at intervals.

The self-binding sand has been unloaded at the far end of the path, which is looked after by the Vale of the White Horse District Council, and a dumper has been brought in to carry the loads. Workpeople are using a tamping machine to level and compact the sand between the wood edging.

After being left to dry and settle, there is a first-class track.

River Ock in Abingdon – December 2023

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The Ock Valley Walk is muddy at the moment. It looks like a cross-country course with the ground churned and the path spreading as people try to avoid the mud.

Birds are easier to see now that the leaf cover has gone.

This may be a dunnock (Hedge Sparrow).

Long Tailed Tit.

There is a tunnel through some very thick bushes and a hide facing the river. It was out of sight until now.

There are also places where litter is now revealed including a dump from some travellers that was not evident before. I saw two town council staff looking at it and they said they’d have to take a lorry down.

There are lots of squirrels along the Ock Valley Walk.

Also more ducks than at other times during the year.

The river is high and sandy looking from all the sediment. It is raining again heavily this evening.

River Ock in Abingdon – November 2023

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With the fall of the leaves, the spire of St Helen’s Church can be more easily seen from the Ock Valley Walk.

There are a lot of small birds, mostly tits, flitting about in the trees, or dangling and hopping about between twigs. They are far more visible now that most of the deciduous trees have lost their leaves.

The heron is a common sight along the stream, often hopping onto the bank when approached.

I was recently photographing a deer when I noticed a kingfisher perched on a branch on the opposite bank. Unfortunately, it was gone before I could focus my camera.

A piercing whistle above the Ock Valley Walk often signals a Red Kite, which can be spotted perched in the high branches and will take flight when startled.

Earlier in the year, ten alder tree saplings planted by Abingdon Carbon Cutters, beside the River Ock, were mowed down by the new lessee of the field. The Vale District Council, the landowner, obtained an apology and a commitment from the lessee to replace the trees, which has now happened.

The bushes and vegetation along the River Ock, although reduced, provides valuable habitat for wildlife.