Just a Quick Note – 10/05/22
Just a Quick Note
19th May 2022
The e-newsletter of the Twmbarlwm Society
CLICK HERE to download this newsletter as a PDF
Hello Folks
So here we are – well into spring – but I’ve seen a few swallows and heard the cuckoo up the Tump so maybe it’s summer already – yet it’s certainly about time I updated you on the Society’s work.
First of all let me remind you:–
The Last-Sunday-Of-The-Month Litter Pick will be – Sunday 29th May 2022
Please make your own way there and we will meet you at the car park below the Twmp at 10:30 am.
We are usually there for a couple of hours and we collect litter from the area immediately around the car park and some of us walk around the wider area to check out fences, paths etc. and effect any repairs if we are able. Tools, Pickers, Bags and Gloves will be supplied.
This is also a great opportunity to meet other members and learn more about the area and the work that the Society gets involved with.
Please make your own way to the car park at the end of Mountain Road, below the Twmp. We will provide tea and bikkies to all helpers after the pick and there will be soft drinks on offer too – or bring your own picnic if you need to.
Don’t forget – if you are taking a walk up there any day of the week for exercise, why not think about taking a rubbish bag with you to collect any litter on your way – every little helps. If you do leave any filled bags in the corner of the car park, make sure to let us know so that we can inform the council to collect it.
Please note the following amended information concerning getting to the Jubilee Beacon Event on Thursday
THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE BEACON
We will be kicking off the weekend of Platinum Jubilee Celebrations on 2nd June by lighting a beacon on top of Twmbarlwm. This is a joint event organised by Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society and Risca Town Council.
We have done this before for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and again for her 90th birthday and, as before, we are only inviting paid-up members of CTS and local dignitaries. We can’t advertise this as a fully public event because it takes place mostly after sunset and it would become a logistical nightmare to shepherd so many people around the mountainside in the dark.
The intention is to meet at the car park below the Tump at 8:30pm
Hopefully most people will be able to drive up to the car park themselves (directions can be found on our website if you are not familiar with it) and unfortunately we are unable to offer everybody a lift up the mountain – meeting at Risca Leisure Centre, as previously announced, is impractical as it closes at 10:00pm. So if you would prefer not to drive up through the lanes yourself, then please contact us by email (twmbarlwmsociety@gmail.com) and we will try to arrange car sharing – also contact us if you are able to offer someone else a lift.
From the car park we will walk up the hill to the summit – it’s only half a mile, but very steep – so please make sure you are able to tackle the climb (and descent). There will be speeches and an official proclamation read out before we light the Beacon at 9:45. The Beacon will burn for half hour or so and we will be able to see other Beacons in the distance participating in this special celebration. We will then descend to the car park guided by volunteers from local scout troops.
We hope to have enough volunteers to help us with various tasks on the night, but if you think you could help out please get in touch. It will still be daylight on the way up but dark on the way back so volunteers will be stationed to help guide people down – but it would be useful if you could bring a torch.
PHOTOGRAPHER: As most of you know, I generally do all the photography for CTS events – but I may not be able to cover the Jubilee event myself – so if there is an experienced photographer out there willing to help out please get in touch.
ARCHAEOLOGY
The bit of good news on the archaeology front is that we have received the draft report from CPAT, the archaeological contractors. I’m not going to comment on it here at the moment other than to say it is very detailed and will interest those with a good understanding of archaeology. There’s a lot of technical information in it and we want to put together a simplified version before putting it online – but it will be available to download from the website very soon.
The results are very encouraging and the archaeologists feel there are features that warrant further investigation. We are therefore hoping to be able to continue with more excavations later this year and we are continuing discussions with Cadw and CPAT to arrange future funding and plans.
Adventure Triangle and Sward Management
The last couple of e-newsletters have kept you informed of work being done under what was known as the Adventure Triangle funding scheme (the dry-stone wall, new fencing etc.) As an extension to that we, with the Commmoners and Cadw, are looking to improve the management of the landscape of the scheduled monument – the aim of this is to reduce the possibility of fires as we had in 2018 – and to reduce the damage caused by visitors to the Tump.
BIO-BLITZ: In the first instance we will arrange a bio-blitz of the area to establish a catalogue of all the flora and fauna – this will be a volunteer weekend with the Gwent Wildlife Trust, to identify and count the wildlife, insects and plants that inhabit the mountaintop. Keep an eye on the website for information about when we will be doing this.
A new fence will be installed on the Pegwn-y-Bwlch side of the Twmp so that livestock will be able to graze the summit to help reduce the fire burden of the undergrowth. Other temporary measures will also be put into place to reduce erosion of existing footpaths.
REMINDER: As part of this project can I remind you and ask you to remind others that bicycles should not be ridden across the Scheduled Monument (it is in fact illegal) – it might seem an innocuous activity to some, but with the advent of so many e-bikes, more and more are getting to the top and the erosive effect of their tyres on the landscape is extremely detrimental to the monument we are trying so hard to preserve.
And another reminder about the new set of gates near the car park at the entrance to the mountain track. They are there to stop the livestock wandering off the mountain and down onto the lower common and maybe even down into Henllys and Risca. We are not allowed to lock them, but those gates must be kept closed!
OTHER EVENTS
Newport Transporter Bridge
Our friends at Newport Transporter Bridge have asked me to inform you of a few events they are preparing over the summer months – I’ll put more details on our website – but please consider supporting the following:
Summer Solstice at Newport Transporter Bridge
Tuesday 21st June 7.30pm
It’s Midsummer… for us down here on Earth in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun can get no higher…. But how about going up to one of the best viewpoints in Newport to see the solstice sunset with a glorious view of Twmbarlwm Mountain in the distance, and hear a midsummer tale or two?
Christine Watkins will tell seasonal stories in the glorious gondola with the river below us and the span of the Transporter Bridge and the midsummer sky above. Then, if you have the courage, we will go up to the top of the bridge to view the sunset and listen to music from folk violinist Katie Batchelor.
We will be joined by local supporters and the Friends of the Newport Transporter Bridge providing refreshments and souvenirs plus artwork displays by students from Coleg Gwent. There will also be the opportunity to buy a bottle or two of “Arnodin’s Ale” to enjoy at home!
Book your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-solstice-at-newport-transporter-bridge-tickets-335244353887
Charity Abseil at Newport Transporter Bridge
Saturday 18th June 8.30am (first session)
£40 plus fees (entry)
Calling all daredevils, those who are up for a challenge and have a head for heights!
Climb the 278 steps to the top of the bridge before stepping out over the edge of the boom and abseiling “free-fall” 60m to the ground below.
A photographer will be present to capture your bravery as a momentum of the day!
Book your ‘seat’ here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/charity-abseil-at-newport-transporter-bridge-tickets-323171152617
KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER?
We are always looking for new members to help us further the aims of the society which are “…to research, restore and protect Gwent’s most iconic landmark, Twmbarlwm” – and in particular we are looking for members who really want to get involved and help with our work – and to bring new ideas to the table.
The Twmbarlwm Society has existed for over 10 years and so far have achieved quite a lot on the mountain and we are recognised by local councils, Cadw and other official bodies as a major influencer in environmental, and historical issues of the area.
Next year promises to be another exciting year with CTS being heavily involved in major local projects and we need people with the skills to help move these project forward including:
- the on-going progress of the Archaeological Investigation of Twmbarlwm that we started earlier this year – this is a major project managed by CTS, funded by Cadw and implemented by Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust
- work on the Adventure Triangle Project has started as described above and more aspects that involve CTS will continue over the next year.
- and with the re-opening of the Cwmcarn Forest Drive last year, the Twmbarlwm Society will feature strongly in influencing how the tourist attraction will develop – together with Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive, CTS campaigned for the re-opening of the drive and will continue to be involved with the development of the drive.
More info available on our website.
Many Regards
TERRY EVANS
Chairman Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society
Address general queries to: twmbarlwmsociety@gmail.com
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.
