Just a Quick Note – 25/01/2019
This is a copy of the eNewsletter sent out to all members on 20th September 2018
The e-newsletter of the Twmbarlwm Society
Hello Folks
LITTER PICK
Let me just get this reminder in at the top of the newsletter – this coming Sunday, 27th January is our monthly LITTER PICK and Volunteer Day. Meet at the car park below Twmbarlwm 10:30am. – Tools, Pickers, Bags and Gloves will be supplied – but more importantly tea and biscuits will be provided for everyone who helps out.
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS
I know we are a few weeks into new year – but I wish you all a Happy New Year anyway.
After a bit of a break from society work over the Christmas period we are now getting back into the swing of things and planning for the year ahead. And we are hoping it will be a busy year on Twmbarlwm and that many projects we have had on the back burner will now start to come to fruition – due to the announcement that Caerphilly CBC and Torfaen CBC have received European funding for a joint project called the Adventure Triangle.
The Adventure Triangle which takes in the mountain ridge running from the A467 Hafodyrynys – Pontypool road to Twmbarwlm. It will implement proposals identified in the Twmbarlwm and Mynydd Maen Scoping Study prepared for the two councils in 2015 together with works on the Mon Brecon Canal.
This is a separate project from the other project you may have heard about in the media, The Tourism Gateway Project. from which Cwmcarn Forest is receiving funding. The Gateway Project is funded by the Welsh Government and is targetting nine key tourism sites within the valleys region and seeks to link them to ‘improve and enhance the tourist experience in the valleys’. Two of the gateways are within Caerphilly CBC namely Caerphilly Castle and Cwmcarn Forest Visitor Centre. We suspect the latter is linked to the reopening of the Forest Drive.
So far as the Society is concerned the main proposals in the Adventure Triangle project are the development of ‘physical links and key connections between Cwmcarn and Torfaen over Mynydd Maen and Twmbarlwm’ and the expansion of the ‘tourism facilities at Cwmcarn Forest Drive’.
To put it simply the idea is to encourage more people to make use of the mountain ridge for recreation by linking the common and Twmbarwlm to the Cwmcarn Visitor Centre and Forest Drive and to Blaen Bran. Cross common cycling, horse riding and walking routes will link Blaen Bran and Cwmcarn.
Trustees of the Society have met with council officials to discuss how the project will be implemented and also discuss ideas for the Society’s involvement. We have a long list of CTS projects that has been on the agenda since our inception and hopefully this new funding will help us achieve some of those aims.
The projects include everything from landscape repair to erecting new signs and we will be calling on a great deal of volunteer help in the months ahead. So please watch this space for further information and regularly check out our website and Facebook page.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday 27th January 2019
LITTER PICK AND VOLUNTEER DAY
10:30am
Last Sunday of every month is our Monthly Litterpick and Volunteer Day – meet at the car park below Twmbarlwm 10:30am.
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 – but more importantly tea and biscuits will be provided for everyone who helps out.
This is a great opportunity to meet other members and learn more about the area and the work that the Society gets involved with.
If you prefer not to drive up the mountain yourself we can often arrange pick ups at Risca Leisure Centre at 10:15am – please contact us to let us know if you would like a lift or indeed if you could offer others a lift.
Saturday 2nd March 2019
SPRING WALK AROUND THE FOREST DRIVE
10.30 am from Cwmcarn Visitor Centre
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FRIENDS OF CWMCARN FOREST DRIVE
Join us for a walk, led by Rob Southall, along the full 8 mile route of the Cwmcarn Scenic Drive.
Enjoy the fine mountain scenery and glorious views of the Carn and Ebbw Valleys.
Meet at the entrance to the Lower Car Park of Cwmcarn Forest
Drive Visitor Centre at 10.15am. We will leave at 10.30am and should return to the Visitor Centre around 2.30pm
It’s FREE to join us on this walk – but any donations to either society would be greatly appreciated.
Please ensure you are capable of completing the walk and wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the terrain and weather conditions.
Wednesday 20th March 2019
THE LEGENDARY BOWMEN OF GWENT
7:00pm Crosskeys RFC
An illustrated talk by Jeremy Bosanquet of Tracks Through Time
This talk will trace the fascinating history of the Longbowmen of medieval Gwent & South East Wales and our noble men at arms, from Abergavenny in Norman times, to Monmouth’s Henry V and the Battle of Agincourt in 1415!
Entry is FREE to members or £3.00 to non-members (you can become a member of CTS for £10 on the night if you wish).
Drinks available at the Bar ~ A raffle will be held on the night
All proceeds go towards the work of Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society
More info available on our website.
Friday 19th April 2019
THE GOOD FRIDAY HOT-CROSS BUN WALK
10:30am and all day long – TWMBARLWM
Again there will be an organised walk for this annual tradition – we’ll post more information closer to the date.
BOOKS FOR SALE
We have been donated quantities of a couple of books by local authors for us to sell and raise money for the society. One is “Western Valley Walks” by Ralph Collins which we sell at just £2.50 – and the other book is “A Year on a Brecon Farm” by Haydn Llewellyn Davies for £5.00.
CLICK HERE or go to the ‘shop’ tab on our website for more info.
Many Regards
TERRY EVANS
Chairman Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society
Address general queries to: twmbarlwmsociety@gmail.com
