The EA catchment map for the River Ock shows how it is enlarged through the influence of a dozen or so brooks including: Sandford Brook, Frilford and Marcham Brook, and Childrey Brook. Those brooks have winded their meandering way through villages and agricultural fields, under bridges and over weirs until flowing between the houses at Abingdon and into the River Thames .
The Introductory Steering Group Meeting of the River Ock Catchment Partnership was held recently comprising members of local nature, wildlife, flood societies and the Environment Agency and chaired by the Freshwater Habitats Trust.
SAFAG (South Abingdon Flood Action Group), with Malcolm Moor, as chair were invited to share their ideas for introducing flood control measures through selective planting and creating retention ponds to hold back floodwater throughout the catchment.
Grants are available to landowners from the Forestry Commission for creating woodland which meets certain criteria, including the recently added objective of reducing downstream flood risk.
I love how Alastair has developed this site. It’s an asset to the town and the man’s eyes and interest couldn’t be bought
It’s not a political site, though some have tried to their own purpose.
I’ll be back when it’s the right time.
Meanwhile, I’m on AbingdonFirst.
That’s a beautiful photo Backstreeter.
All these ideas sound like good ones and probably those that our ancestors used to protect their towns. I hope that the whole country can benefit from the matching of modern materials and old principles rather than throw up too many hands in defeat.
@newcomer, that is where Alistair gets it right. He raises issues, but int a subtle way. As opposed to Abingdon First which is a little more, how should I say, “in your face”. Both have a place, and I am very glad both are in place. They do complement each other in their own ways.
You’re right, James, Alastair does a brilliant job with this site. It’s an absolute asset to the town and I can’t think of anyone who makes a greater contribution to Abingdon. Someday a trip to The Palace, I think.
Unfortunately, it has been the only ‘unofficial’ way to access a large audience in the town and Alastair has held it all together through some turbulent episodes. It got to the point where I felt I should stop posting, at least as much and on certain subjects, on the site.
Abingdon First is there to a different purpose and I don’t think it’s the finished article yet. I’ve successfully submitted an ‘opinion piece’ and I know the guys are looking for more contributions from people who feel passionate about an issue which they consider needs a wider circulation. They do like sources if ‘hard points’ are made. It’s not a closed shop and I think they would take informative pieces from councillors … even you, Iain.
As you imply, there’s room for both site’s to coexist in harmony. Both sites should be about the town and the people who live here. I suppose Abingdon First is more about helping to make sure that the latter don’t have the wool pulled over their eyes by people who think they know better.
Thank you for your recommendation Newcomer, and thanks for your Guest-writer piece, very interesting and thought provoking. Unfortunately we have had no responses from any Councillors, or members of the ISIS project, or even the Guildhall committee, to any of the articles on there, even though we have asked them for their point of view. (Maybe they just haven’t stumbled upon Abingdon First yet?)
We do think that Backstreeters blog is fantastic, and we thank him for the article that got our site to the notice of so many people in one day. We are also not looking to compete at all, as James said, there is room for both and we hope we can compliment each other. (Indeed Backstreeter, if there is ever anything that you feel is too political or controversial for the Blog, then please contact us).
interesting map, albeit some of these streams are not Ock catchment. Is there a better one you can post or refer us to?