Community free space and Community window display

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The former Samuels shop in the Bury Street precinct has been transformed into a community free space. It is organised by the Friends of Abingdon Civic Society and allows community groups in Abingdon to showcase their activities.

The space opened during Heritage Open Weekend and some of the heritage displays still remain, such as the Abingdon Artists’ Historic Buildings, and aerial photographs of Abingdon.

The Abingdon Carbon Cutters, are in the shop this week, pressing apples and pasteurising apple juice using apples brought in by Abingdon residents.

On Saturday, Abingdon PCSO’s were also in there, and have left a display on keeping yourself and your property safe.

Another shop window in Abingdon has been used for a community display since September. Madrina are a charity who help young people who could not otherwise afford it, to go to their school or college prom.

Parking suspensions for Abingdon Michaelmas Fair

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Parking suspension signs have appeared along the route of the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair. This year, parking suspensions have also been extended to East St Helen Street and West St Helen Street, where residents have always been allowed to park during the fair in previous years since they are not on the fair route.

Vehicles parked in suspended areas may be removed, and owners charged a recovery fee. According to a letter to residents from Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, residents can park in West St Helen Street Car Park from 8am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm, but not from 10am to 4pm without paying.

The fair will take place on 9 and 10 October 2023. The parking suspensions will be in place from 08.00 on Sunday, 8 October, until 9am on Wednesday, 11 October.

Abingdon Naturalists AGM

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Thank you to Tony for this report.

Richard Lewington, world-famous illustrator of butterflies and bugs of all sorts, is also President of the Abingdon Naturalists Society, and he gave a talk on Wednesday titled: “50 years as a Wildlife Illustrator … in 30 minutes”.

He spoke of his early years as a child wandering through the fields of North Abingdon, collecting birds’ eggs (now strictly forbidden) and sketching the insects he found. Later, when he became famous, he illustrated many field guides to butterflies, moths, damselflies and dragonflies, caterpillars, oak trees and other insects. He also designed British Royal mail stamps, and during his work, he met many important people like Sir David Attenborough. He showed a picture of his daughter Alex, next to an oak tree on the village green, planted from an acorn when she was born 33 years ago, and one of his granddaughter Florence, with an oak tree, planted from an acorn from Alex’s tree, when she was born 9 months ago. Abingdon Naturalists are lucky to have such a distinguished president. Steve Stevens was re-elected chairman at the meeting.

More about the Society at https://www.abnats.org.uk

More about Richard at https://www.richardlewington.co.uk/

River Ock – September 2023

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This morning there was a Little Egret in the River Ock by the Brewery development. They are identifiable by their white bodies, black beaks and legs and yellow feet. They are smaller than the Great White Egret, which is almost the size of a heron.

This robin was near Meadowside, where a fallen tree acts as a perch. There are lots of berries at the moment, so the birds are well-fed at this time of year.

This is the point where one path leaves the main path as the main path follows the lower stream, and the secondary path follows the looping upper stream.

This is the halfway point of the Ock Valley Walk, where there is an overflow weir from the upper to the lower stream and where there is a wide pool. A lot of the time during the summer there is no water coming over.

The sun and shade gives a striped and mottle effect here where the path rises to that weir bridge.

Further along, some bracket fungus growing in semi circular shelves from a tree trunk.
Further out of town, this is the view from the bridge by Mill Road looking back over the fields towards the Ladygrove estate.

In remembrance of to Peter Green, who did a lot of work to help make the Ock Valley Walk what it is today.