Plant Swap 2017

For all Tithe Farm and Ladygrove gardeners!! For the 3rd year running there will be another Plant Swap this Saturday 20th May on the driveway at 39 Masefield Crescent between 3pm and 5pm, come rain or shine.  Bring along your extra plants, surplus seedlings or spare cuttings and be ready to 'swap' - all for FREE!!

Accounts 2016 / 2017

The TFLRA accounts for 2016 / 2017 have been inspected by an independent examiner and are available for viewing for anyone who wishes to.

Neighbourhood Watch - Policing Update May 2017

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

The Neighbourhood Team have been receiving reports of ASB in the park at the end of Chilton Close.  In particular, one group of young people were gaining access to a private garden, throwing things into this area and intimidating the resident who lives there.  The members of the group have all been successfully identified by the team, and have been visited at home and spoken to along with their parents.  A young male will be issued a Youth Restorative Disposal (YRD) after committing Arson at the same park.  The YRD acts as warning and is an agreement between the offender and the victim that they will not behave like this again, and often includes a recompense for the crime.  If the agreement is broken by the offender and the behaviour continues then they can be arrested.  A YRD is considered the first level of intervention from the Police towards a child who starts to commit crime.

Shoplifting

PCSOs Ali Blood and Susie Shepherd have increased their high visibility patrols in the town centre shops after a rise in reports of shoplifting.  Several potential offenders have been deterred after being stop checked by the PCSOs, after attempting to conceal items.  Offenders brought to justice

• A male was arrested after interfering with a vehicle which was parked on Victoria Road, Abingdon on Wednesday 19th April.  Enquiries and ongoing at this time and the male has been released under investigation.

• On Sunday 7th May, two males were arrested for possession with intent to supply drugs, after a report of drug dealing on Thornhill Walk, Abingdon.  Both males have been released under investigation whilst further enquiries are completed. If you see any suspicious behaviour that you wish to report, please phone 101 or 999 in an emergency.

• A male, aged 31 from Abingdon, has been arrested and charged with exposure.  The male was arrested following a report he had indecently exposed himself on Tuesday (9/5) on the Ock Valley River Walk.

Neighbourhood Policing / Scam Events

Over the last month, PCSOs Susie Shepherd and Ali Blood have spent time speaking to several groups about neighbourhood policing and scams.  The PCSOs were invited to the Trinity Evergreen club, the North Abingdon WI and the Abingdon Macular Group.  If you would like the neighbourhood team to come and speak to a group you are part of, please contact them on the below email address or call 101.

Future Events

Abingdon neighbourhood team will be on duty at the annual ‘Fun in the Park’ event on Saturday 3rd June between 11.00am - 3.00pm in the Abbey Gardens.  Officers from the Special Constabulary will be in attendance at ‘Music in the Park’ on the same day, between 5.00pm - 10.00pm.

Contact us if you want any advice or would like to contact the neighbourhood team you can call us on the police non-emergency number 101 or if it is an emergency then dial 999. You can also contact us via email: AbingdonTownNHPT@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.  Please note this email address cannot be used to contact Thames Valley Police to report crimes or for any urgent matters.  To view information on your neighbourhood team visit the Thames Valley Police website at: www.thamesvalley.police.uk

Receive free local crime alerts and crime prevention advice by registering at www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk today.  This allows anyone who signs up to choose what updates they receive and how they would like to receive it.  The Thames Valley Police Twitter account is kept up to date with what we are up to; please follow us @TVPSouthandVale

Stonehill Community Garden - May News

Welcome to our Spring Newsletter!!  The garden has really been taking shape over the last few Wednesdays, thank you to all our fantastic volunteers for their involvement and hard work.

Planting Plan - We currently have a central path up the centre of the garden, with beds of varying shapes on either side of the path.  Longer term, the central path will be paved for accessibility, with raised beds on either side of the path.  For this season we have created beds in the ground to enable us to plant as much as possible.  The fruit cage will remain and we will try various experimental growing method: growing in straw bales, mushroom growing, Hugelkultur raised bed, trialling bio-dynamic planting times.  We are currently fund raising for the costs involved in making our garden accessible, and consulting people with different access needs.

Please feel free to give us feedback on any of our plans.

Crops growing this year - globe artichoke, asparagus, runner beans, french beans, broad beans, beetroot, broccoli, savoy cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, courgettes, gooseberries, kale, onion, peas, potatoes, radish, raspberries, rhubarb, salad leaves, sorrel, squash, strawberries, sweetcorn, turnips, edible and non-edible flowers.

Plant Donations Needed - Do you have any spare of the following?  Rhubarb, gooseberry bushes, jostaberry bushes, loganberry bushes, globe artichokes, asparagus, strawberries.  Please let us know if you do, and / or feel free to bring any down on a Wednesday 10am - 4pm.

Events over Spring

• 17th May - Demain Film Screening - 6pm open garden, 7pm film showing, 9pm film discussion, 10pm finish.  A film showing community initiatives that are helping change the world.  £3 donation - no need to book.  Refreshments available.

• 31st May - Family Day - 11am - 2pm.  Pizza, (self-watering) poly tunnel building, meet the chickens.  FREE to attend and take part (pizzas small charge).

• 10th June - Introduction to Permaculture Course - 10am - 4pm.  £10.  BOOK!!

• 25th June - Roundwood Timber Building - 10am - 4pm.  £30 per person including pizza lunch.  BOOK.

Abingdon Green Gym Visit and How Your Team Can Contribute - We had a visit from Abingdon Green Gym on Saturday 22nd April and they worked like demons!!  We were so impressed by their achievements in 3 hours, and their willingness to help.  Thank you so much.

If you have a Corporate Volunteer hours to use up this summer, consider coming to Stonehill to help us - we need people power and you get to enjoy a day outdoors, within nature and learning new skills.  Contact us here to enquire.

We hope to see you at the garden soon - we are open every Wednesday 10am - 4pm.