Pre-loved fashion event at the Guildhall

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There was a pre-loved fashion event at the Guildhall today put on by One Planet Abingdon.

Outside in Roysse Court were a number of stalls selling pre-loved clothes. There were also rails of pre-loved clothes in the Magistrates Court.

The event included a ‘Wear It Out’ Sustainable Fashion Show in the afternoon, and the Roysse Room was set up for that.

Upstairs in the Abbey Room there were lessons on repairing and patching clothes, how to make and use natural dyes, turning T-shirts into bags, art displays, and other information.

In the Bear Room a group were doing crochet.

In the foyer were displays, including a creative chart titled ‘Why talk about sustainable fashion?’

1. The amount of clothes being produced is increasing
* Fast fashion brands are producing twice the amount of clothes today than in 2000. (Earth.org)
* The average consumer now buys 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago. (Earth.org)

2. Fast fashion is hurting the planet
* Textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined. (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2019)
* The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. (Morgan McFall-Johnsen (2020))
* Buying just one white cotton shirt produces the same amount of emissions as driving 35 miles in a car. (WRAP)

3. Sustainability isn’t built into the system
* Less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new clothing at the end of its life. (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2019)
* Half a million tons of plastic microfibres are dumped into the ocean every year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. (World Economic Forum)
* Of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills (Earth.org)

4. It’s time for change
* Extending the life of clothes by just 9 months of active use would reduce carbon, water and waste footprints by 20–30% each. (WRAP)
* 75% of consumers believe that sustainability is important and one-third are willing to choose brands that help environmental and social improvement. (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)

What can we do?
* Reduce the number of clothes you buy (love what you have).
* Repair clothes you already own so that they last longer (keep your favourite jeans even after there are holes in them!)
* Find creativity in visible mending (make your repair a personal work of art.)
* Buy quality garments that last (feel good and look good).
* Buy pre-loved (saving clothes from an early exit to landfill).
* Get savvy about synthetic fibres (mixed fibres are hard to recycle, aim for biodegradable).
* Help put pressure on government (support campaigns by Transform Trade, Oxfam and Wrap).

Fallen Branches and Young Tree Loss in Abbey Meadows

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Thanks to Tim for his observations about tree damage from June 4th.

There are contractors in Abbey Meadows again today removing branches and boughs that have fallen, or are at risk of falling, from poplar trees alongside the river. This is not the first time recently that work of this kind has been carried out in the area.

The breaks do not appear to show obvious signs of rot or disease. The explanation given by Tim is that recent periods of very wet weather followed by warmer conditions have contributed to stress in some trees, affecting branch strength. Poplar is a relatively fast-growing hardwood known for being lighter and more brittle than many native species.

Poplar timber is used for a range of purposes, including matchsticks, packaging materials, plywood, and baskets, and it can be processed into thin strips for various light construction uses.

Tim suggests this illustrates some of the pressures that more variable weather patterns can place on certain tree species.

Meanwhile, other newly planted trees are dying, possibly due to a lack of sufficient ongoing care after planting.

A walk along the lane from Rye Farm Car Park

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A walk along the lane from Rye Farm Car Park offered two very different moods: yesterday evening brought clear light and sunshine and a rainbow, while today’s visit came under grey skies after rain.

After the car park, there is a huge field on the right that appears to be planted with beans, possibly broad beans. The dense green crop stretches across the whole field.

On the left, beyond Rye Farm Meadow, is a smaller meadow where the grass and wildflowers grow tall. There stands Kingfisher Barn, in its grounds.

The web-spinning caterpillars that have stripped hedges along this lane in some recent years seem less widespread this summer – so far.

Beyond the bean field is a meadow filled with sheep. Their baaing could be heard from some distance. Close-up baas range from low growls to high-pitched bleats. Most of the sheep were grazing, but a few had stretched their necks through the square-wire fence,

or used the fence as a ladder to reach the more luxuriant leaves above.

Opposite is another meadow where piles of logs lie among the grass, the trunks of trees that were cut near the River Thames earlier this year.

Yesterday there was a rainbow.

Today there were slugs after the rain.

Ten Days to Go: The Mayor of Ock Street Election

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With just ten days to go until the Mayor of Ock Street election on Saturday 20 June, a display in the window of FatFace profiles the two candidates.

They are the same two candidates who contested last year’s election, but their roles have been reversed. Last year’s Mayor is now the challenger, while last year’s challenger is the incumbent.

The big question is whether they will swap positions once again when the votes are counted. Pictured is Rob, the outgoing Mayor, congratulating Harry, the incoming Mayor, in 2025.

Rob Charlton
Aged 52, Rob is a lecturer at Abingdon and Witney College and was elected Mayor of Ock Street in 2024. He moved to Abingdon on his boat because he needed somewhere to moor, and more than 20 years later, he is still here! Uniquely, he has been lead dancer for both Abingdon Traditional Morris sides and would like both sides to continue because Abingdon loves a good rivalry. Rob created the last original dance in the Abingdon repertoire for the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, first performed at the Abingdon bun throwing in 2012. He can also be heard playing fiddle, mandolin, and other instruments during processions and music sessions.

Harry Knight
Aged 76 (last week), Harry is an Abingdonian by adoption and was first elected Mayor of Ock Street in 2014 – a position he has held several times since. He moved to Abingdon 52 years ago and joined the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers in 1976. For many years, he lived and worked on Ock Street as a funeral director. He is one of the side’s melodeon players and has held the office of Bagman for some time. He was Lead Dancer the last time the Morris performed at the Royal Albert Hall and still enjoys “Constant Billy,” the most energetic Abingdon dance. His son, Daniel, has also danced with the side.

Residents of Ock Street (and its side streets), along with members of the Morris sides, are eligible to vote. But anybody can watch.

The day will also include dancing throughout the day by The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers and two guest teams:  Oxford City and University, and Summertown. The election result will be declared soon after 4 pm at the Brewery Tap.