There were a lot of Eco stalls on the Market Place today. It was a chance for everybody to play with a worm on the BBOWT stall tray. Worms make great compost. The central tray includes some of the starting ingredients, including dry bread, that can make compost. The BBOWT volunteer said bread is OK to use for compost so long as the bin is out of the way of rats.
Among all the familiar groups there was a new group called ‘Friends of Radley Lakes’. As you can see it is the old familiar ‘Save Radley Lakes’ reborn. Their aims are to work with the Northmoor Trust in caring for Radley Lakes. That includes things like fundraising for special projects, litter picks, controlling Himalayan Balsam…
Meanwhile some visiting Morris Dancers were passing through Abingdon and the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers joined them for some dances under the County Hall. I caught up with the Mayor of Ock Street, and the Mayor of Abingdon afterwards. Apparently I did not get all my facts completely right a couple of days ago. But I was speculating – a rare slip. It is more a case that the two groups are starting to have some more friendly exchanges. Best way to start any process…
Ex Mayor, Peter Green, was having a tough time making himself heard – trying to announce the Eco Day on the Market Place – because the Bells of St Nics kept ringing for weddings.
Eleanor Dangerfield was in charge of the Green Gym Stall. Like the newly formed Friends of Radley Lakes the Green Gym are known to wage war on Himalayan Balsam. Come to think of it… So did Peter Green who used to lead teams of volunteers destroying Himalayan Balsam on the Ock Valley Walk. He led the way.
My second wife ran away with Himalayan Balsam.
An unfortunate exception from the photos is the cycling stall. I spent a while talking to the bloke running it and I thought it was exceptionally well done, with walking/cycling maps centred around the local schools. We all remember the recent fatal accidents, but might think that bike safety is boring, boring …. it isn’t
I like the new name for the town!! The transposition of those two letters gives a whole new feel to the old place!
Yes, Peter did lead the way. Just for newcomers, the Ock Valley Walk was absolutely inundated with Himalayan Balsam. I remember one occasion pulling up for an hour or so and I only moved around a few feet. It was terrible, but there is still a lot of it around, so the more people who help the Green Gym eradicate it, the better. There is loads of it higher up the River Ock, certainly around Marcham.
Re: Himalayan balsam.
Sorry to miss the Eco-Day.
From research done by BTCV in Lancashire and paying close attention to the effects of gravity on water, if you know there’s himalayan balsam upstream and the seeds float downstream, it might be most effective to tackle the upstream infestation first.
Hope this hleps.
Evening Rob,
Patlon explained to me the battle-plan against the Himalayan Balsam on the length of The Ock running through The Town. He, and his compadres, are more than aware of the problems floating downstream from Marcham and the likes. He would be able to explain it in greater technicolour, but I think there might be access problems to some of the land upstream.
Why not combine this and the previous posts subject? Instead of the the Mayor throwing them self out a plane they could do a charity balsam clearance? The more that’s picked, the more they raise for charity?
All the councillors could get involved, they could get a bonus for each shopping trolley removed.
Raising money for charity and improving the ecology of an area – everyone’s a winner.