Here is our June newsletter containing reports on recent and future events plus updates on progress with projects and regular maintenance activities. We are also keeping up to date with some local planning matters, so we have updated our latest position on those items.
Since the launch of the book in March, we have been pleased to see how well sales have gone. To date, over 250 copies have been sold.
Copies are still available in Abingdon at the Bookstore, Mostly Books and the Museum. The book is also available at the Radley village shop or to order via our website.
After 20 years since the start of the campaign to save Thrupp and Bullfield Lakes, the organisation Friends of Radley Lakes (FRL) has now been formally dissolved. The achievements of the FRL, initially saving the lakes and subsequently working to improve the area, have led to the beautiful wildlife area we know today.
Bird Walk
In April, Ian Elkins led an excellent bird walk at Thrupp Lake on a lovely spring morning. We saw over a dozen different birds including Cormorants, Black Headed Gulls, Coots, Great Crested Grebes and a Grey Heron.
We also heard the first Cuckoo of the season, always a joyous sound of spring, many familiar garden birds and also some less familiar ones such as a Garden Warbler, Goldcrest and a Reed Warbler.
Lakes and Cakes
Our annual summer event will take place at Thrupp Lake on the afternoon of Sunday 6th July from 2pm to 4.30.
We will have entertainment from local musicians, Ben Heaney and Daniel Culing. David Fraser will be showing off some mini-beasts from the lake, John Killick will lead a plant walk and Ian Elkins will lead a bird walk.
Refreshments will be available serving tea and coffee plus, of course, lots of lovely home-baked cakes.
As in previous years we have been very grateful for donations of home-baked cakes and we are asking again for any bakers who would be happy to provide a cake for the event. Please contact us by email to info@radleylakestrust.org if you are able to provide a cake or if you are able to help with the refreshments on the day.
If you are cycling from Abingdon, then Abingdon Freewheeling are kindly organising rides to the Lakes on a traffic-free route, if you would like to go in a group this would be great way to do it. More details available here.
Abingdon Marathon
As in previous years we will be providing marshals on Sunday 19th October, so save the date and if you are able to help and be marshal at this event then please let us know by email to info@radleylakestrust.org.
For all our events please refer to the events page for the latest up to date information.
Barton Fields Wetlands
We are making good progress with the planning phase for a new large pond and to extend the meadow to surround this pond.
Small boreholes have been created to study the hydrology of the new pond site. These have shown that the groundwater was about 40 cm below ground level despite a very dry spring. This is promising for the retention of a sufficient depth of water in the new pond. Our next step is to seek the required approvals for our plans.
Footpath Improvements
Our project to improve the section of footpath along the northern edge of Thrupp Lake towards the wooden bridge in the northwest corner is now complete. Thank you to our contractor, Smallwood Landscaping, who made excellent progress and completed the work ahead of schedule. The new surface may take a little time to fully compact down and we will continue to check it over the coming months to see how the new surface settles.
Barton Fields
A mixture of cornfield annuals has been sown each year in two plots in Barton Fields. A seedbed is prepared in autumn by rotavating and raking to remove coarse grasses prior to sowing. The native annuals include Common Poppy, Cornflower, Corn Marigold, Corncockle and Corn Chamomile. These wildflowers used to flourish in cereal crops prior to the widespread use of herbicides. They have done particularly well this year after a poor performance last year. One of the plots is located beside the Barton Fields Hub in front of the two benches where it serves as an attractive foreground to the view of site beyond.
The nectar and pollen from these abundant flowers are loved by bees and butterflies, and the flowers are much admired by passers-by.
Cornfield annuals beside the Barton Fields Hub
In the fen habitat at the western end of the site, a floodplain meadow has been created and is now being extended by scything, strimming and digging-out of nettles.
Proposed Mineral Extraction (ROMP)
Ecological surveys continue to be an issue and further submissions are expected. We will continue to keep up to date on the progress of the application and submit appropriate responses when required.
Radley Community Picnic
The Trust will have a presence at this community event to be held at Gooseacre playing field on Sunday 29th June, 12.30 to 2.30. More details of the event are available here.
Radley Primary School Fete
The annual school fete is taking place at the school on Sunday 13th July from midday until 3pm. We will have a presence again this year.
Trustees
The Trust is run by a Trustee Board who meet quarterly to review and progress the Trusts activities. If you would be interested in becoming a Trustee, then please contact us by email to info@radleylakestrust.orgto arrange an initial discussion.
TVERC ‘Noticing Nature’ Event
The Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre have organised an event at Barton Fields on Tuesday 22nd July at 10am. Further details are available via their website.
The Trust now has over 220 Friends. If you have not already joined, do become one. It is free, and ensures you are kept in touch with everything and can come to all events. And the more Friends we have, the stronger our grounding in the community and our ability to influence events affecting the Lakes. Just fill in this simple form.
We remain much in need of income for essential day-to-day expenses. There are several ways you can help us.
Online donation. This is very simple and HMRC will add gift aid for us. Payments can be one-off or regular. Just use the button below.
White Horse Community Lottery. Every time you buy a lottery ticket and select RLT as your chosen good cause, you are helping our finances. Click here.
All financial help, however small, is greatly appreciated. Many thanks to those who have already donated and to those who now plan to do so.
You can read more about the Trustee Board here. If you are able to help with some of the work that makes RLT tick: for instance helping at our events or with maintenance activities, just get in touch.