Walks and a children's trail in Abbotts Barton

Dear neighbours

I hope you’re managing to adjust to this strange new world we find ourselves in. See below for some places to take a lunchtime walk and a kids’ trail around Abbotts Barton.

But first to business.  A big shout-out to the below streets who have sorted out a support system so that everyone on there has someone to turn to.

• Courtenay Road
• Colley Close
• Manningford Road
• Oglander Road
• Meadow View
• Cavendish Grove
• Symonds Court
• Colbourne Court
• Monks Walk
• Francis Gardens
• Austen Close
• Hillier Way
• Denham Close

If your street is not there but you’re intending to set up a WhatsApp group (or similar) or deliver some leaflets can you let us know?  I’ve amended the suggested postcards to include an invite to a WhatsApp group.  See attached.  It’s easier for us to administer if you can do a whole street, or divide it up between a few of you who live there, but if you can only do part of a road please still let us know and tell us which numbers you’re covering.

To all of you fantastic people who’ve offered help: the first step is to get your street covered.  If your street is done, or you’re happy to do more, keep an eye on your inbox. The next email will have a list of which streets still need to be done.  It’s so much more effective if the streets are covered by someone who lives in them so we’re holding off for a couple more days in the hope that people will come forward.

Speaking of people coming forward, a huge thank you to Clare Shaw who is coordinating the street allocations.

Now onto places to walk.  The new nature reserve, Barton Meadows, sits at the extreme northwest of Abbotts Barton.  It is reached by walking along Courtney Road away from town until you arrive at the dead end.  Walk along the edge of the field and there’s a map showing you where you can walk.  For those of you with small children, the diggers at Barton Farm make good entertainment and the trains go past regularly. What more do you need?  Well, in case that’s not enough we’ve attached an Abbotts Barton trail.  This has 14 photographs of landmarks on the estate which you have to locate and mark on the map. We wrote it a good few years ago so the photos may not be exactly the same, but we think everything is still identifiable. If you don’t have children, but need an excuse to go for a walk then it could also work for you.  It is possible to walk along the river to Kings Worthy from Abbotts Barton too, but in order to stay 2m away from anyone coming the other way one of you would need to stand in the river so that may not be the best bet at the moment.  If you’re walking around the estate do say hello to the people you meet as you go by.  It might be just what they need.

Best wishes

Lynne and Jane (Abbotts Community Group Committee)

p.s. don’t forget if you need help and you haven’t had a note through your door, you can log onto nextdoor.co.uk and put in ‘Abbotts Barton’.  There are lots of offers of help on there.  For those of you with Facebook search for ‘Abbotts Barton Community Forum’ and click the button which says ‘join’.