Earth movers on North Abingdon fields

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Building Work
It looks like building work is about to start in the fields to the north of Abingdon. The earth movers are making a road to take lorries from the Wootton Road.
Building Work
There is no sign of the south facing slips roads on the A34. They are funded by this building work to try to prevent Abingdon’s local traffic getting worse.
Building Work
Here is a picture of the Drayton Road in South Abingdon at the weekend, where housing was put in without road improvements.

Reflections on Ock Street

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Illusions
Cars turn from Ock Street into Stratton Way, and are reflected in the shop window glass.

I stood watching until the traffic lights changed. The liquid amber trees can be seen beyond in The Square.
Illusions
The Town Council have not yet said publically what form the remembrance ceremony will take. The big light-up poppies have been installed. Wreaths from the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII are still there at the war memorial.

Church under Covid-19.

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Church under Covid-19
At Trinity the building was reopened for church services six weeks ago, after ensuring a Covid-19 risk assessment was in place.

People are socially distanced, and sanitise their hands on the way in, and mostly pre-book. Everybody registers. People wear face covering, and do not sing the hymns but listen and watch videos of hymns, or listen to the piano.

The service is only 45 minutes rather than an hour. The sermon, prayers, and readings are not very different.  But because people are wearing face coverings the preacher does not get the same feedback.

Before the lockdown people would stay around chatting for up to another hour after the service, but now leave within minutes.
Church under Covid-19
This week was harvest. There were displays of flowers, and a few fruit and vegetables. Normally there is a procession during the first hymn as people bring up tins and packets of rice and pasta to be given to a homeless shelter or Asylum Welcome. This year people donated money so that produce could be brought on their behalf for Asylum Welcome.

At Trinity, service sheets with sermons are sent out beforehand to people who are not able to attend. Other churches stream their services.

Drayton Field – Permissive access ending on October 31st 2020

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Drayton Field
Daniel sent me a picture of a notice that has been put up at the permissive entrances to Drayton Field.

DEFRA’s Environmental Stewardship conservation scheme is run by Natural England, a government body. The scheme pays landowners for conserving the environment. In the case of this field it meant that the meadow grass and flowers were allowed to grow, and people were permitted to walk round the field.
Drayton Field
After it became permissive, gates were put in at the bottom end. There were also maps and information about the permissive access.
Drayton Field
Most people access the field from a gap in the fence from Masefield Crescent Play Park.

Before access became permissive, the fence was continually being mended and broken down. It would probably take a developer building houses on this field to stop dog walkers. This field is not in the local plan so there is not immediate chance of this.
Drayton Field
The most interesting feature of the field is the small wood at the south west corner.
Drayton Field
There are good views from that corner. You can see the Old Gaol and St Helen’s Church.
Drayton Field
A recent change is that the Morland Gardens estate can be seen to the east.
Drayton Field
Another recent change is that Drayton village is visible to the south.

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council have identified this field as a possible site for a new cemetery.