Thank you to Elizabeth for this picture of the bridge being replaced at the town end of the Ock Valley Walk. The work happened yesterday. Elizabeth says she is delighted, as will be many other people, that the much loved walk is open again after a long closure.
The previous bridge was vandalised and closed almost six months ago.
As every year there is a crescent of daffodils over the River Thames from Abingdon.
Another flower that frequents the wet area under the trees is the Snake’s Head Fritillary.
New signs have recently appeared over the river saying there is three days of free mooring for boats in Abingdon-on-Thames. Cars get two hours free parking in the council carparks.
The Abingdon Artists Spring Art Exhibition 2018 is open at St Nicolas Church from April 9th – 14th (10.00 – 4.30 most days and late night Wednesday until 7.00).
Entry is Free but you can splash out £1 on a raffle ticket to win an original pastel ‘Seascape’ by Christine Russell. Runners up prizes are Art Materials and chocolates.
The Abingdon Artists have a programme of talks and demonstrations throughout the year; they also have a Tuesday afternoon group at Christchurch where people bring their own projects to work on; and a Friday morning sketching en plein air group.
More information at www.abingdonartists.org.uk. There will be more art as part of Oxfordshire Art Weeks for the Abingdon, Didcot & Blewbury area from the 19-28th May 2018.
A lot of preparation went into the Thames at War event, and quite some effort cancelling the event, including the Dunkirk flotilla. It would have been very good.
Instead, on Sunday, we did one of the Treasure Trails from the internet. We have already done Wallingford (sunny) and Headington (freezing cold). The Abingdon-on-Thames Treasure Trail (wet) route took us down familiar roads. In West St Helen Street where we live there were two clues. A rain-blurred letter meant we read Flood and Fire instead of Blood and Fire and we just could not find that clue.
We visited Abingdon Lock on Sunday 8th April to get three of the clues. There were a few people out walking.
I know one Abingdon person who joined the Oxfordshire Home Guard as a result of the Thames at War event, and put a lot of effort into getting kitted out properly. He will be hoping that it can be put on at another time. But the Oxfordshire Home Guard are likely to be at the Abingdon Air and Country Show on May 6th.