From Acacia to Topsport: World Cup Flags Around Abingdon

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The 2026 World Cup, taking place across the USA, Mexico and Canada, got underway for England this evening with a Group L match against Croatia in Dallas. The tournament has already brought some colour to Abingdon, with a few local businesses displaying England flags in support of the Three Lions.

The Blue Boar has England flags, Union Jacks, and a Brazil Flag. Inside there are a lot more flags.

Sue Ryder has a large England flag inside the shop and World Cup signs in the window. These are mixed with their Fathers Day display. Fathers Day is on Sunday.

Topsport has one window dedicated to England / football and another featuring throwing rings. Inside, all 48 competing nations are represented by their flags.

With England’s World Cup campaign now underway with a convincing  4–2 win over Croatia,  more flags could begin to appear around Abingdon, in addition to those left by  ‘Operation Raise the Colours’.

Sailing Club Revamps Website

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I had a message from Paul at Abbey Sailing Club, in Wilsham Road in Abingdon.

The club have recently revamped their website. It is at https://www.abbeysailingclub.co.uk/.

They are a small and very friendly club, and although primarily focused on sailing, they also have members who enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, open water swimming or just picnicking and socialising at their clubhouse on the banks of the River Thames in South Abingdon.

They welcome new members all year around. Their easy to navigate website has photos and videos of sailing activities, to help give a feel of what our club has to offer members.

(The pictures here are ones I took in 2019 when the Sailing Club had a ‘Have a Go day’)

Abbey Gardens: wildlife-friendly drought-tolerant plants

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The new planting scheme in the Abbey Gardens ornamental beds is now beginning to fill out. Recent rainfall, together with a layer of mulch, has helped get the young plants established.  Earlier this spring, perennial plants were introduced as part of a move away from traditional seasonal bedding. The scheme, developed by the Grounds Maintenance and Climate and Biodiversity teams at VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council), replaces short-lived annual displays with longer-lived, drought-tolerant planting designed to support wildlife and improve resilience and reduce maintenance.

The plants, supplied by a local Oxfordshire nursery, were selected for both their hardiness and their value to pollinators. Species include alliums, asters, anemones, coneflowers, field scabious, catmint (shown above), thyme, and verbena.

Thames Path Relay Walk Passes Through Abingdon

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This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Thames Path National Trail. The Thames Path stretches for 185 miles from the source of the River Thames in the Cotswolds to Woolwich in east London.  To celebrate the anniversary, a month-long relay walk is taking place along the Trail in partnership with Drinkable Rivers. The relay is carrying a baton (made from an old way marker carved with an acorn – the emblem of the trail).

The baton arrived in Abingdon on Friday evening when Philippa Saunders of Pipsticks Walks handed it over to Sue Heathfield, who was leading Saturday’s walk.

Saturday’s section was Stage 9 of the 24-stage relay, covering approximately eight miles. Before setting off, the group gathered at Abingdon Bridge to receive instructions for the day ahead. Among the information shared was that ice creams could be purchased at Culham Lock.

Thanks to Wendy for the photograph of the baton arriving in Abingdon.