Barton Fields in June

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Barton Fields in June
Barton Fields, cared for by the Abingdon Naturalists, has lots of flowers during June – particularly on the side near the cycle path.

There was a light rain today as we walked round, and meandered a little. The weather has cooled since the blue skies of April and May.
Barton Fields in June
Bramble flowers are a good food source for honey bees and bumble bees.
Barton Fields in June
There is one area in particular where the soil has been prepared for wild flowers and where the colours are vibrant.
Barton Fields in June
Elsewhere wild flowers grow in the grass.
Barton Fields in June
There are so many different sorts of grasses and other plants.
Barton Fields in June
In among the ground cover and hidden by the bushes are butterflies and birds. Some birds can be heard but not seen. Then occasionally you are rewarded with a clear view of a bird – in this case a pheasant.

What’s Streaming in Abingdon

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The last event
The posters in the window of Oxfam, Abingdon are like a time capsule on what was just about to happen before we went into Coronavirus lockdown and all public events stopped.
The last event
The What’s On section on the Town Council site has a cascade of cancelled events.
The last event
Two days ago the June 2020 Town Crier, published by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, and Round & About Magazine dropped through the front door together.

Round & About had no Idle Ramblings about forthcoming community events, and the Town Crier had no What’s On.

We could do with a What’s Streaming in Abingdon to find – in one place – the streamed concerts and church services, virtual jumble sales, Zoom fitness classes and Instagram art exhibitions.

The last newsagent

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The last newsagent
The last dedicated small newsagent in Abingdon has closed. That makes 4 closures in the last year.

It was on Northcourt Road, near a Co-op supermarket that also sells newspapers. Newsagents have been closing down across Britain with competition from supermarkets and petrol stations. Many people now get their news online.

WH Smith continue to operate and sell newspapers and magazines, and much more besides.

Building Work and Face Coverings

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Developments and Face Covering
There has not been a lot of building work at the front of the new Ock Street retirement flats during the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

What has changed during that time is people’s perceptions of what they value. Our town centre garden may be small but it has been a blessing during the sunny days when we were staying at home. The parks and green spaces around Abingdon town centre were another blessing.
Developments and Face Covering
The Fairacres Phase 2 development has continued during the lockdown and most of the metal structure is now in place.
Developments and Face Covering
Lidl are coming but I have not heard what businesses will follow.

The long term impact of the pandemic on businesses is unknown. In the short term there will be a greater need for social distancing in stores. Online shopping, and click and collect became more important during the lockdown.
Developments and Face Covering
PPE has become an everyday term. The advice on wearing face masks and coverings has changed. PPE allows trades people to work in people’s houses, and will be a way to open up smaller businesses. Face coverings will become compulsory for people using public transport in England from Monday 15 June. More and more people are wearing face coverings in Waitrose.

Paul Smith’s thought for today is Black Lives Matter … https://www.abingdon-st-helens.org.uk/TFTD/Paul_Smith_2020_06_09_TFTD.mp3.