Open Air Pool is not open yet

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Thankyou to Daniel for this view of Abingdon’s Abbey Meadow open air pool.

The L-shaped pool had a £1.3 million refurbishment and was back open in 2018 and 2019 and very popular.

Like other open air pools it did not open in 2020.

The White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre is open, as is the Hinksey open air pool, in Oxford, but the opening date for the Abbey Meadow pool is yet to be announced.

So we are trying to be patient.

Meanwhile the play area is open and very popular and people have been using the space of the park.

There has also been a litter bug detective trail.

River Ock during close season

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The River Ock is a stream that flows along the Vale of White Horse, mostly through fields and villages, but for the last half mile, before flowing into the River Thames, there is a shady tree lined walk between the houses of Abingdon called the Ock Valley Walk.

There was a heron near the walk today.

The close season for catching fish in rivers runs from 15th March and until 15th June and has ten days to go. This allows the fish to spawn in relative safety and protect fish stocks.

The close season does not apply to herons. This one was waiting patiently, standing still and relying on stealth, quick reactions, and excellent eyesight to catch its next meal.

The bushes and trees along the walk are at their finest in early June. The leaves are fresh and green. Birds are singing in the canopy.

Birds sound so close but, most of the time, they stay well hidden from my not-so-good eyesight.

There are places where the fish can be easily seen in the fast flowing shallows, heading upstream.

They could be feeding on what they can filter from the water. The adults might even be spawning. The heron is at a safe distance away.

Whats on (Flyers and Windows)

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Helen sent me a flyer for the next big litter pick on 26th June. Thankyou to Newcomer for the important comment on the topic yesterday.

26th June is the same day as The Big Splash Open Day at the Abbey Buildings ( 10:00 am until 12:30 pm), where there will be dancing, live music, theatre, historic tours, and free refreshments.

Diana sent me an invitation to the Abingdon Artists Summer Art Exhibition which starts on Monday at St Helens Church, with original paintings, artwork and cards for sale.

The Abbey Cinema is open and features: Nomadland, the winner of the Oscar for the best film; The Father, the film about dementia in which Antony Hopkins won an Oscar; Euro 2020 football, including England v Scotland on 18th June; and family shows.

In the Oxfam Shop there is a reminder that June is the month to celebrate the LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, other) community and a chance get better at EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) of all people who get picked on for looking different.