All
spray and feathers as two squabbling mute swans collide
on Orchard Lake,
08
February 2011
April
2011
A
stunning display of Wood
anemones in bloom in Radley Large Wood,
07 April 2011
May
2011
Spirit
in the Sky
The
iconic shape of an Avro Vulcan MkIIB made a rare appearance
in the Oxfordshire skies around Abingdon on the afternoon
of 8th May.
In a unique event lasting just 10 minutes, Vulcan HX558,
one of only 3 surviving Vulcans and the only one capable
of flight, put on a spectacular display for this year's
Abingdon Air Show. This particular aircraft retired
from 33 years of RAF service in 1993. It was subsequently
acquired by enthusiasts who embarked upon an ambitious
restoration project that was to last 15 years and cost
over £7M. With generous public support and Heritage
Lottery funding, the plane was eventually returned to
airworthiness in 2008 and subsequently named "Spirit
of Great Britain". Nevertheless maintaining
and operating such a large and complex aircraft within
a highly regulated environment is demanding and expensive,
and remains very dependent on continuing public support.
Despite being a potent symbol of Britain's one-time
Greatness, the plane's long-term future is not fully
assured and public display appearances are limited,
so those who saw it on Sunday were privileged to have
done so. (More info at www.vulcantothesky.org
)
June
2011
Summer
Serenity, Thrupp Lake
A tranquil scene at this lakeside setting. Meanwhile
the proposed new Radley Wetland Centre at Thrupp Lake
is not having quite the smooth ride through the planning
process that was anticipated. However the issues raised
promise new hope that some of the long-standing problems
afflicting this area may finally get sorted out.
