Category Archives: animal

Not on the pitch

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Boxhill Rec
At Boxhill Recreation Ground there are three football pitches used by the boys, and girls, of St Edmunds Football Club.
Boxhill Rec
Round the pitch area are four dogbins, the highest concentration of dogbins anywhere in Abingdon.
Boxhill Rec
There are also three notices – including this one next to the Workhouse wall – requesting

“DOG OWNERS
PLEASE EXERCISE YOUR
DOGS AROUND THE EDGE
OF THE FIELD
DO NOT USE THE PITCH AREA”

But before every match or practice the pitches need to be cleared of dog pooh so the children can play football there.

A lot more to save than Radley Lakes…

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Friends of Radley Lakes
The Save Radley Lakes campaign may well be over. But here is Jo Cartmell – one of the protestors – with a few of her pictures of water voles.

Water Voles are, according to Jo’s twitter account,  ‘the UK’s fastest declining mammal… Do not mow river/stream banks!  Allow them to forage and hide!‘
Friends of Radley Lakes
There is a photographic exhibition by the Save Friends of Radley Lakes at the Abingdon Community Shop. It is a chance to help the Friends develop the lake,  and also a reminder that there is a lot more to save than Radley Lakes.

Abingdon Horse Show 2010

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Abingdon Horse Show 2010
This horse show is an annual event and takes place on Rye Farm Meadow, next to the River Thames.
Abingdon Horse Show 2010
The Abingdon Horse Show was started in 1974 by local clubs but as people have got older responsibility has transferred to the Berkshire Downs Riding Club who have been in full charge for 4 years.
Abingdon Horse Show 2010
They now run a large and varied event with six different arenas. Three arenas are for show jumping at different levels.
Abingdon Horse Show 2010
The other arenas are for ridden showing or leading by hand showing.
Abingdon Horse Show 2010
It was a hot day and those not taking part could laze in the sun.

Swan Uppers in Abingdon – 2010

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Under a Royal Charter, the Vintners’ Company (in red) and the Dyers’ Company (in blue), two Livery Companies of the City of London, have a part ownership with Her Majesty the Queen of the mute swans on the River Thames.

In the distant past swans were a royal delicacy.

Nowadays they don’t get eaten but if caught, the Vintners and the Dyers ring the swan’s feet on the Queen’s behalf, aided and abetted by animal experts from places like Oxford University .

The week long census ends at Abingdon Bridge…

where a toast is made to their patron the Queen. The actual time they will arrive in Abingdon is unpredicatable. Last year Culham Lock was not working and they were delayed. This year they made good time, found the swans with the six Abingdon born cygnets near the Marina, and finished at around 5 PM.

They did not catch the swan with the two cygnets seen in last weekend’s blog.

Everything is unloaded on Naggs Head Island before they go to one of the local pubs for a few more drinks.