JQN 18-01-2016
Just a Quick Note 18th January 2016
Dear Member
This is the first Quick Note of 2016 so Happy New Year to you all.
There’s not a lot to re-cap over the Christmas period as the weather has been so horrible.
Our Xmas Excess Walk went ahead and a dozen hardy souls turned out in atrocious conditions to walk from Pontywaun to the top of the Tump where a couple of us were doing a litter pick and waiting to serve up the mulled wine and mince pies. There’s few photos for you to check out on the website.
We had another walk scheduled before Christmas over at Penyrheol which was called off due the weather conditions – however, that walk has been re-scheduled to take place this coming weekend (see below).
As you might know we have been forging links with the Commoners Association, after all they are responsible for much of the area of Twmbarlwm and Mynydd Maen and their aims, like ours, are to protect the landscape and to rid the area of anti-social behaviour and illegal off-roaders. They have serious problems with off-roaders on the Penyrheol side of the ridgeway and we are in the process of working with the Commoners and CCBC to get various barriers and landscape repairs in place, all across the commons.
This work will include:
- placing boulders across unauthorised tracks,
- infilling some of the worst eroded scars on the hillside,
- clearing gorse and self-seeded fir trees,
- installing new signage,
- making all access points to the Common more secure
- and other minor improvements
This is following on from all the work we did with the Welsh Government Grant we received two years ago and we anticipate over the next couple of years that there will be a great deal of volunteer work to be done. So please look out for these announcements and check out the website occasionally.
We are also working on organising some interesting talks – Chris Barber has agreed to do a talk for us on his research and ramblings around Gwent and Les Murphy will tell us everything we ever wanted to know about Commons, what are they? What are you legally able to do on them? – dates for both these events are yet to be confirmed.
If any of you know of anyone who would be willing to give us an interesting, illustrated talk then please let us know – it doesn’t have to be history, it could be any subject as long as it has some loose connection to Twmbarlwm or the ethos of our society.
EVENTS
Sunday 24th January 2016 – 10.30am
PENYRHEOL – WALK AND TALK
How many of you knew that the north east extremity of the Twmbarlwm ridgeway is also a Grade 2 listed Cadw Scheduled Ancient Monument, but unlike the iron age hill fort on the Risca side, Penyrheol gets its status due to the industrial heritage to be seen there.
Les Murphy, The Commoners Association Chairman, resident of Penyrheol and expert on the history of the locality will lead a walk around the area and will point out the historical facts as we go. The distance and route will depend on what Les and the group decide on the day.
This will be a great opportunity to learn more of the historical heritage to be found on our doorstep – and to see the similarities that are faced on that side of the ridgeway.
We will meet at the Mountain Air car park at 10.30 – click here for a link to the location on Google Maps – or I can offer a lift to 3/4 people, please contact me. If anyone else is able to offer a lift please let us know and we will pass the information on.
Please remember to wear sturdy shoes and clothing to suit the terrain and weather conditions and ensure you are able enough to tackle some of the slopes here which are quite steep.
There is more information about this walk on our website – www.twmbarlwm.co.uk
Monday 25th January 2016 – 7.00pm
FRIENDS OF CWMCARN FOREST DRIVE – PUBLIC MEETING
At Cwmcarn Workingmen’s Club
Come and join the Friends for Cwmcarn Forest Drive for their official launch and public meeting on the subject of the re-opening of the Forest Drive to the public. We will be joined by local and regional Assembly members and representatives from Natural Resources Wales. NRW will update us on the progress of their work to remove infected larch from local plantations.
This will be a very important meeting for anyone interested in keeping this local attraction open for the enjoyment of future generations. The society has already made great inroads into making NRW realise that the Forest Drive is much loved by the local community as well as attracting visitors from far and wide – but we need you to show your support by attending this meeting to air your views. We are on the verge of losing this amenity all together please stand up and be counted.
You can catch up with the Societys’ progress on Facebook (click here) and there’s a recent article on the Argus website here – http://bit.ly/FoCFDArgus
Sunday 31st January 2016 – 10.30am
LITTER PICK AND VOLUNTEER WORKDAY
Just a quick reminder that the last Sunday of the month is our regular Litter Pick and Volunteer Day.
As usual please meet up at the car park on the common below the Tump at 10.30am.
Apart from a litter pick other jobs needing doing include fence post repairs, steps and footpath repairs, but I am unsure if we will have the materials to do any of the the latter this weekend.
We’ll have most equipment needed but please remember to wear sturdy shoes and clothing to suit the terrain and weather conditions. We also dish up a plentiful supply of tea, coffee and biscuits.
This will also be an opportunity for you to meet up with other Society members and to see what the mountainside looks like now that most of the forest below the Tump has been cut down.
Those who follow our Facebook page or the “Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive” page are also invited to consider becoming “paid-up” members and/or take part in our projects – if you know any of them please pass this on.
I also repeat my request for persons who might have special skills or knowledge to help run the Society or assist with our projects, to get in touch
Getting to the Twmbarlwm car park
For the Events starting at the car park on Twmbarlwm, if you would prefer to have a lift there please get in touch with me at the address below and I’ll try to arrange transport for you – or if you are able to offer transport to others also let me know. There are maps and descriptions how to get there on our website – under the menu tab “Location”
These details are posted on our website and on FaceBook – but if you know of anyone who is interested but don’t get their news through the internet – could you please let them have a copy of this message.
Many Regards
TERRY EVANS
Chairman Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society
Address general queries to: twmbarlwmsociety@gmail.com
