Southern Town Junior Parkrun: Up and Running

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Volunteers were working for some time with the parkrun organisation to set up a junior parkrun in Abingdon’s Southern Town Park. The first successful run was on Sunday 7 July 2024. This Sunday was the eighth event so it is well established.

Junior parkruns are for children between the ages of 4-14. They are 2km long and taking part is free and all junior parkruns start at 9am on Sunday mornings. There is information about taking part and registering and volunteering at https://www.parkrun.org.uk/southerntown-juniors/

The event is also supported by Healthy Abingdon. Thanks to Dave from Healthy Abingdon for the pictures from his page: https://healthyabingdon.org.uk/news.htm#parkrun.

Flood Storage and Fruit Trees near Chaunterell Way Playground

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Flooding has been a problem near the River Ock in South Abingdon. A few homes were flooded earlier this year. To help, a container has been placed near the Chaunterell Way Playground. It holds equipment to help people during floods. This equipment can be quickly given to residents if needed. (By equipment I think we are talking sandbags, but it may include a flood barrier.)

Around the Chaunterell Playground, about a dozen fruit trees have also been planted. These include plums, pears, and apples. (They are £7.50 each or two for £12.)

Where are all the Male Ducks?

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Tim has observed a decline in the male duck population at the bridge by the open-air pool. He has observed this over the past few weeks. Among all the ducks he cannot see a single duck with full male plumage.

He has also observed that duck feeding is less frenzied than a few weeks ago.

He has observed that all the mature ducks have female plumage and a few of the juveniles seem to be growing male plumage but no mature males are visible.

Tim suggested some explanations for this decline in the male duck population:

Habitat Loss: Changes in the surrounding environment might have driven male ducks to other places.
Disease: A disease outbreak specific to male ducks.
Hormonal Factors: Pollutants in the water could be affecting the hormonal balance of ducks, leading to males becoming female.
Leisure: Male ducks have migrated to a more exciting location now the breeding season is over.

Somebody out there may be able to help.

From Malt to Flats

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Located in The Vineyard in Abingdon, The Old Maltings was originally built, as the name suggests, for malting.

In 1999, the building was converted into the offices of Sovereign Housing Association, who manage most of the social housing in Abingdon. The building had open-plan office spaces, meeting rooms and car parking beneath. But Sovereign have moved their offices from Abingdon and it was sold.

Recent planning approvals have opened the way for it to become residential. The existing Maltings at the back is set to be converted into 21 residential flats under planning applications approved a year ago in 2023. There are pending applications to construct two new houses in the former car park and a 5-bedroom House with Multiple Occupancy at the front. The last plan will remove the external staircase, lift, and canopy. This will maximize the amount of housing and reduce the amount of car parking and change the front which the developer described as ‘unsightly later additions’.

Public comment on the proposals have closed. A final decision has not been made, but some of the work is progressing.