Black Lives Matter Protest in the Abbey Park

Black Lives Matter
There was a demonstration in the Abbey Grounds this afternoon in support of the Black Lives Matter movement worldwide. People attending were given a leaflet with Protest Etiquette. They were also posters at the entry asking people to wear masks, and keep to the 2 metre rule.

The event was peaceful and well organised and involved a lot of speeches, poems, songs and some chants. At one point everybody took to one knee for a few minutes in memory of George Floyd, whose death under the knee of a police officer in the USA started this worldwide protest.

The experience of speaker after speaker involved having been treated unfairly because of skin colour. One speaker said All Lives Matter, and Black Lives Matter too. It is sad that we need reminding in 2020.

Ducklings and Cygnets

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Ugly Duckling
We went for a quiet walk this evening in Abingdon and saw some swans and cygnets.
Ugly Duckling
A little further along were some ducklings with mum and dad not in sight.
Ugly Duckling
A cygnet became the hero of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy story Ugly Duckling. It was seen by the other birds and animals on the farm as an ugly little creature and suffered abuse as a result.
Ugly Duckling
Then at the end of the story the duckling is shocked when the beautiful swans welcome and accept him, only to realize by looking at his reflection in the water that he had been, not a duckling, but a swan all this time.
Ugly Duckling
Reading the Abingdon Taxi driver’s column in the Abingdon Herald this week, cygnets have suffered at the hands of humans who took pot shots at them with air guns.
Ugly Duckling
The ducklings will eventually find their dad and mum. Dad has started to moult and loose his fine colours.

So called ‘Non Essential’ Shops to re-open from Monday June 15th

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Non Essential
The so called ‘non essential’ shops have permission to open from June 15th.
Non Essential
The shops have all been certified as ready to open after working out their social distancing, and cleaning measures.
Non Essential
Opening hours will be less than usual in many shops.
Non Essential
The almost three months closure of businesses has meant they had to look, during the closure, to online sales, deliveries, or pick and collect.

The list of those businesses allowed to open include:

  • Betting shops
  • Charity shops
  • Clothing shops
  • Gift shops
  • Mobile Phone shops
  • Art galleries

Not all shops in these categories will want to open immediately.

Hairdressers, beauty salons, pubs, and restaurants will have to wait until at least July before they open. They involve closer contact.
Non Essential
There is a one way system on the Market Place – managed by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, but not in places managed by other authorities or companies.

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.