Fallen Tree

The dead tree on the green has fallen in the night because of the wild weather.  The council workers arrived in the morning on Longfellow Drive as its obstructing the road, and which will be closed for the clearance.  A neighbour's car had a very lucky escape.

Thank you Jill for the photographs.

Stonehill Community Gardens

More and more people are looking to grow their own fruit and vegetables and we are very lucky to have some wonderful projects in our area.

In 2015 Edible Abingdon (contact carbon.cutters@gmail.com) started growing produce for the community on a strip of land in Abbey Meadow between the Ice Cream kiosk and the river, and this year they expanded to grow vegetables and herbs using old-style recycling bins in a wonderful sunny site beside Old Station House.  It has been a great hit with residents, and the public, who are encouraged to pick the produce and have really enjoyed the fresh vegetables.

Edible Abingdon's aim is to encourage more people in the community to grow some of their own food, to show that lots can be grown in small spaces and to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by eating less imported food.  Growing your own produce is good for you, there are more nutrients in fresh food, it's cheap, all you need are seeds and compost, and it's fun and children see where food comes from.

Stonehill Community Gardens is just off the Drayton Road down Oday Hill, and they are creating a vegetable garden and holding garden-themed events.  It is a garden for everyone and it is open every Wednesday from 11 till 3 for everyone keen to be outdoors, to learn and share skills and make friends.

 More information from Rachel at info@stonehillgardens.co.uk 

Tesco path cracks

It has been noted that cracks have started to appear in the newly laid path that runs to Tesco by the river Ock.

Accounts

The TFLRA accounts for 2015 / 2016 have been examined by an independent examiner and are available for viewing if anyone wishes to.

Gardening - the Garden in Autumn 2016

Martin Gulliver writes - As the weather turns cooler, plants will slow down but there should still be plenty of colour.  Go out and buy some perennials that are in flower now and you know you’ll have colour this time next year.

There will also be plenty of winter bedding available now – pansies and violas especially.  They make very good hanging basket plants too.  Most hardy bedding should last until the first frosts.  Clear fallen leaves from beds and lawns and compost them.  Put them in a plastic bag, pierce a few holes in it and by next year you should have valuable leaf mould!  Raise permanent containers off the ground to aid drainage, and wrap tender ones in bubble wrap or fleece.  Other perennials can be cut back and split up now.  Discard the older central part and plant out the fresher outside growths.  Leave seed heads on plants as they provide valuable food for birds ... and can look decorative when frosted.

Some light pruning can be carried out - mainly just to keep larger shrubs in shape.  Those that you normally prune in spring, eg roses and buddleia, can be cut back by a third to prevent them loosening their roots in the wind, before the main pruning next year.

Lost Key

A key has been found on the Masefield Crescent playing field.  It is very easily distinguished, so will be obvious who it belongs to.  Please contact 12 Masefield Crescent to identify it.

Gardening - Summer 2016

Martin Gulliver writes - What you do this summer depends very much on the weather - it would be nice to sit back and enjoy the garden, but being British we know that rain and sun will combine and the garden will burgeon, so...

• Keep on top of weeding and deadheading.  With the latter, as a general rule cut back to a lower bud(s)
• Trim the lawn regularly – little and often is best. If we get a hot spell and it goes brown, don’t worry – it will recover.
• Sow more salad crops if you are that way inclined...a few seeds once a fortnight will ensure a regular supply.
• If you have a greenhouse, keep it well ventilated. Water the floor in the mornings to keep the air humid and prevent red spider mite. 
• Keep containers well watered, especially hanging baskets.  In holiday time bring them all into the shade while you are away – they will survive with one or two watering in the week.

As perennials flower and fade, cut them back hard and you should get a second flush of growth.  Herbs can also be trimmed to keep them tidy, and the trimmings can be dried or frozen for future use.

Good Neighbours Scheme

The North East Abingdon Good Neighbours Scheme now covers the whole of Abingdon and they are always looking for new volunteers to offer help and support to elderly, vulnerable and isolated people in their own homes.  Tasks include shopping, gardening, collecting prescriptions, light housework and befriending. If you can offer any amount of time from an hour a week upwards, your help will be very welcome. to find out more, call 07956 019611 or email gns.nea@gmail.com.  You can also visit the Good Neighbours website at www.neagns.co.uk

Tesco River Path update

The Vale District Council have confirmed that they will arrange for the removal of the broken down barbed wire fence along the newly refurbished river path to Tescos.   We reminded them that there was a danger to children or dogs running over the barbed wire where it was lying on the ground, especially now that the path is used even more.

A Walk on the Wildside - Butterflies & Moths

With the warmer, sunnier weather my partner and I look out at our garden from different perspectives.  He tuts at the size of the buddleia and how it is taking over the garden.  I look at it and sigh at how many butterflies and other insects I can count in one go.  He is happy to humour me.  When the weather is calm and hot, take time to look for these essential pollinators when out and about.  I have been amazed at the variety of species I have spotted along the hedgerows around the fields of Mill Road.  Last year I took part in the Butterfly count http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/  and logged the species I spotted in one hour (15^th July- 7^th August 2016).  I was impressed with the number of people who had logged onto the website in our area.

You could make some ‘moth candy’, to get your children interested.  What you need is ; a big pan, a jar/pot, spoon, thick paintbrush, torch, brown sugar, treacle, fruit juice, water and cola.  Heat the ingredients in a pan on a low heat, stirring constantly until everything has dissolved, adding more water if it looks like sticking.  Stir until the ‘moth candy’ is thick and gooey.  When it has cooled, put it in a jar and using the paint brush add it to various objects around the garden; walls, tree trunks, fence posts or even an old sheet/towel or rope on a washing line.  When it is dark, go out with your torch and you hopefully will be amazed at the variety of moths.

Moths and butterflies are part of the order Lepidoptera, which means scaly wings.  Fossil records show moths date back to 140 million years and butterflies 40 million years.  Moths tend to be more plump and robust bodies and when at rest most keep their wings spread flat or folded like a tent over the bodies, whilst most butterflies fold their wings straight up above their back.

The local Wildlife Trust has lots of exciting children’s events in the summer including a Happy Valley picnic (8^th May), Oxford Festival of Nature (1 -14^th June) and Night Time Safari ( 10^th June).  Visit bbowt.org.uk/whats-on, for the full list of events.

Finally Dry Sandford nature reserve is a great place to spot butterflies and other insects around the ancient fossilised rocks that were once under the sea. You could even pop into the local pub afterwards to sample their ‘local nectar’.

By Max the Wildlife Watcher