Earlier in the year the small park, previously known as the Ock Mini Park, between the Drayton and Marcham Road was cleared, and new plants put in beneath the wall. Now the first real sign of its new identity has been become visible. The outline of a large octagon was created a couple of weeks ago…
and this week it has been filled with a MG Mosaic.
Paths, landscaping, and information boards are to be added in this collaboration between MG Car Club and Abingdon Town Council.
The Save Radley Lakes campaign may well be over. But here is Jo Cartmell – one of the protestors – with a few of her pictures of water voles.
Water Voles are, according to Jo’s twitter account, ‘the UK’s fastest declining mammal… Do not mow river/stream banks! Allow them to forage and hide!‘
There is a photographic exhibition by the Save Friends of Radley Lakes at the Abingdon Community Shop. It is a chance to help the Friends develop the lake, and also a reminder that there is a lot more to save than Radley Lakes.
It was all change, when we got home today. Two wheelie bins stood outside our door.
Our garden is not very big, and space is at a premium, but we took them in.
The leaflet said we could put our old – non-wheelie bin – out to be recycled so that will save some space. But we do now have three wheelie bins. The two new ones are green (recycling) and grey (other). The older one is brown and seems less useful now. We used to use it for cardboard and garden cuttings, but now cardboard must be put in the green one the brown one will not get a lot of use, and be rarely put out. So I’m not sure it can justify itself anymore.
I see there is a Harvest Thanksgiving service at St Nics today. Such thanksgivings are worldwide and very ancient. I expect they will be decorating the church building with baskets of fruit and food and then sharing it with those who might need it more. But not all of the harvest has been gathered in…
These apples, and about half as many again – still on the tree, are to be found by the BMX Track in South Town Parks – part of nature’s harvest that has not been picked but could well be pecked.
These elderberries were there a couple of weeks ago beside the River Ock – possibly already being brewed into wine or flavouring pies. But I’m sure enough escape to be dispersed by birds.
Nearby, Guelder Rose Berries, also known as drupes, stay on the tree longer – until the beginning of winter – when they provide birds with food.
The seeds of the cow parsley have no clever dispersal mechanism (via bird pooh) and usually fall and grow within a couple of feet of the parent plant. Lazy, but effective.