The sun is here, but make the most of it (From Witney Gazette)

The sun is here, but make the most of it

9:30am Wednesday 25th July 2012 in News By Debbie Waite, Features writer

THE county may be basking in sunshine as temperatures hit the late 80s, but forecasters are warning people not to get too comfortable on their sunloungers.

While the good weather looks set stay around for the next few days, the Met Office has warned temperatures will again drop in Oxfordshire with the possibility of rain at the weekend.

June was the wettest for 150 years, the dullest for 100 years and coolest for two decades.

Rainfall across England and Wales was about 157mm or 230 per cent above normal.

Despite the forecasts, event organisers and attraction bosses are determined to keep a sunny disposition.

Charlbury Riverside Festival was postponed due to bad weather in June, when torrential rain forced organisers to cancel for the first time in the event’s 16-year history.

But organiser Andy Pickard says he is confident this weekend’s festivities, which should attract thousands of people, will be full of great music and sunshine.

He said: “Sun makes a huge difference to a festival like this and we are hopeful this will be a fabulous weekend with lots of families coming along too because the school holidays have started.”

Milletts Farm in Frilford, near Abingdon, is famous for holding the world record in growing the first Maize Maze back in 1997.

The crop has created 3.73 miles of pathway and covers eight acres.

But until the last couple of weeks the crop, which likes plenty of regular warmth and sunlight, was the shortest it had ever been at this time of year.

Thankfully, a big growth spurt, brought on by the recent hot weather, means the maize should be up to 5ft by launch day this weekend.

Over at Hinksey Pools yesterday, the popular sun spot was full to capacity by early afternoon, with people queuing to get in.

And Oxford Punting had large numbers of boats out on the Thames yesterday, but it followed a June when most of its fleet was in dry dock.

A spokeswoman for the company, which has operated from Magdalen Boat House for more than 60 years, said: “June was tough, but safety is everything and we could not let boats out when the water was so high and fast.

“Thankfully the warmer weather is bringing people out.”

Paulien Dijk, from Holland, soaked up the sun at Christ Church. She said: “We are hoping the weather will say fine so we can visit some of Oxford’s great parks.”

And G&Ds, which has ice cream shops in Little Clarendon Street, St Aldate’s and Cowley Road in Oxford, has been asking customers to suggest new summery flavours for them to create.

General manager Tom Corcoran said: “We have petition books and if someone suggests a flavour and it gets 30 signatures we will create it alongside our 70 regular flavours. “So far this has resulted in raspberry and chocolate chips, a summery Pimms Sorbet and even avocado ice cream.”

A 10-day forecast

 

• The next couple of days will remain hot with temperatures in the mid-80s (28-30C), but on Saturday temperatures will drop back down to 66F (19C) and there will be some chance of rain, with thunderstorms expected on Sunday.
• Next week the temperatures will remain lower than expected for this time of year – between 17 and 19 degrees – and it will be cloudier with the occasional shower.