Category: Nature

Haiku Competition Result

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

 

Red Kite flies blue skies 

Brown rabbit runs green meadows

Colours of Springtime

This was the winner of our Haiku competition and the creator was Paul Thomas. Thanks to all of you who responded.

Many of you visited the Tuckers plant sale which raised over £1,000 for the Wildlife Group. Our thanks to everyone who donated raffle prizes, bought plants and other items on the day and donated their change. Particular thanks to Gordon and Elizabeth Jones, Eric White, Mary Lucas, Bethan Darwin, Joyce Hoy, Judy McDonald, Michelle Morgan, Leslie Sherard and Justine who

manned stalls gave donations or donated items for sale on the stalls. And not forgetting the two without whom none of this would have happened – Mike and Glenys Tucker. Watch this space for updates on how the money is being spent.

And a final thank you to Ann Daniel who donated a bench. This has been refurbished and repainted by Mervyn Greenwood and now sits in the Goldsland Orchard which is rapidly becoming a very popular spot to sit and take in the views.

 

 

Village Gardener Tips for June

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Stella Gardening Tips for June

Tips from Heulwyn Davies of the cherry tree garden.

  1. Grow more veg in pots, it’s so easy and tastes better than flowers.
  2. Think of the future and put in some raised beds.
  3. Sow pansies for Autumn flowering this month.
  4. Gardeners will always share their Knowledge, just ask.
  5. If you’re planning to purchase a greenhouse. Get the biggest you have room for, as they soon fill up.

 

Brian & Sandra Jones of open garden fame. Best practice.

  1. A little often is a good way to keep the garden looking nice.
  2. Forward planning will cut down on wastage.
  3. Do not plant out until temperatures are right and constant.
  4. Keep a diary along with photographs.
  5. It is so important to label everything.

 

There is still plenty of time to plant out your summer bedding. If you are in any doubt just check on Mr Crump and Mr Williams of Rectory Close as they are well known for getting it right. It is always better to wait until conditions are suitable. The same goes for vegetables. Although some veg are tolerant of poor weather others, especially runner beans, are not. A later planting time will save you a lot of work protecting these plants and you are guaranteed a better crop. You should by now have some empty trays and pots, so it’s time to sow Polyanthus, Primrose and Pansies in the greenhouse and outdoor sowing of Alstroemeria, Canterbury Bells, Sweet William and Wallflowers for strong plants next year. Make sure you get rid of leftover Forget-me-Nots before powdery mildew takes hold as this can affect other plants. Cutting back alchemilla mollis, Geranium and Heuchera if they start to look raggy, new growth will soon come back.

One of the hardest infections to halt in the veg garden is potato blight. This is an airborne fungus type disease that attacks the foliage, then the tubers, it will also affect tomatoes. Wet and humid conditions bring it to the plants and once there it is near impossible to manage. Brown marks on the leaves are the first sign and it spreads rapidly. Good air circulation can help prevent infection, so please leave at least 30 to 40cms between each tuber when planting. Do not leave any potatoes in the ground when clearing as the disease can infect the following season’s crop. Early and blight resistant varieties are the best option.

The Sexton at the church has been conducting trials on different compost bins to establish which produced usable compost in the shortest time. The type which sits on a cradle that you turn weekly was, by a long way, the most efficient.

The plant sale in Vennwood at the start of May went really well. Luckily for me Sue Williams of Wenvoe Wheelers was on hand to prevent the Village Gardener selling weeds as flowers to unsuspecting customers.

Take care and happy gardening.

 

 

Orchid Field Working Party

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

ORCHID FIELD WORKING PARTY

Work continues on removing the overgrown brambles at the top of the field. The two biggest piles of cut material have now been burnt and the areas left to regenerate.

The next meet will be Monday, 17th May from 9.30am. If you want to join us please bring your own tools and thorn proof gloves

 

 

Theft Continues To Be A Problem

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Whilst we are making progress on several fronts, theft continues to be a problem. In the first incident on the Upper Orchid Field, three newly-planted trees were stolen. The individual chose the trees they were taking carefully and replaced the spiral rings and bamboo supports so that it would look as if nothing had been removed. The pattern of theft suggests that this could be the same person who took plants from a front garden on Old Port Road recently. In the second incident on the same field some logs which had formed an impromptu picnic area have disappeared, again presumed stolen. As with other similar incidents, the police have been notified.

However most of our news is positive as residents and visitors continue to enjoy the orchards and other sites. The blossom on the various fruit trees is coming along and should be spectacular during May. Two new ponds have been installed, the larger one 750 litres. We have received over 100 plug plants of native wildflowers (locally sourced) and these will be planted in Cae Ysbyty, a small patch of a field near Goldsland Farm. Hospital Fields were very much a part of traditional Welsh Farming where sick cows could graze in a species-rich field, many of the plants acting medicinally. Some of our new plants include Birds Foot Trefoil, Betony, Vipers Bugloss, Cowslip and Wild Thyme. We shall be litter-picking on our 10 sites at the end of May as part of the Keep Wales Tidy initiative – Spring Clean Cymru. Green Flag judging has been affected by Covid and will now take place in June.

 

Oak Apple Day

Oak Apple Day

Saturday 29th May is Oak Apple Day so don’t forget to celebrate our wonderful oak trees. Take the time to admire them, give them a hug, write a poem about them or paint or photograph them. If you have children, make sure they can identify an oak with its very distinctive leaves and its acorns. You won’t have to go far to find them as they are in the school playground next to the pavement.

So what is Oak Apple Day all about? When Prince Charles (the Stuart one!), who was eventually to become King Charles II, was being pursued by the Parliamentarians (Roundheads) he hid in an oak tree near Boscobel Hall in Staffordshire. The oak is still there and is known as the Boscobel Oak. Those who supported the restoration of the monarchy would wear a sprig of oak and if you did not you might have your bottom pinched – so, Wenvoe – beware! The day also became known as Pinch-Bum- Day. It is celebrated in many places with processions and the drinking of beer and eating plum pudding. The nearby Battle of St Fagans in 1648 between the Royalists and Parliamentarians was probably the largest battle ever to take place on Welsh soil. There are an estimated 467 pubs in Britain called the Royal Oak, most featuring an Oak Tree, Prince Charles or a Crown and some with Parliamentarians prowling in the vicinity. It is possible that the Royal connections took over a much earlier pagan tradition.

There are two native oaks in Britain. The more common around here is the Pedunculate or English Oak – Quercus robur. Then there is the Sessile Oak – Quercus petraea – which is more frequently found in the North and West of Britain, often on higher ground. To tell them apart, the English Oak has its acorns on stalks, the Sessile Oak has them attached directly to the twig. But, as always, just to make things awkward, the two species do hybridise. An impressive total of 1,455 Sessile Oaks have been planted recently in Whitehall Quarry. There are many types of non-native Oaks planted in our Parks and larger Gardens including the Turkey Oak.

But what is an Oak Apple? It is a gall, that is a malformation in the bud, leaf or twig of a tree caused by tiny wasps or fungi. The common gall on Oak is the Marble Gall – this is hard and looks very much like a Malteser. Many people think these are Oak Apples but they have only appeared in the last couple of hundred years and need Turkey Oaks to be around as part of their life cycle and they were only introduced to Britain in the 1700s. The Oak Apple is much less common and is only very occasionally seen around Wenvoe. It is much larger than the Marble Gall – up to 4 centimetres across and is soft and spongy. One very similar to the one shown in the photo was found near Goldsland Farm. If you come across one, do let the Wildlife Group know as they can then be recorded. In the meantime, celebrate your Oaks and wear your sprig with pride!

 

 

Star Gardening Tips for May

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Stella Gardening Tips for May

Alex Cooper’s tips from the force

  1. Edge the borders to keep them neat and tidy.
  2. Don’t sow all your veg at once , spread them out to prolong the harvest season.
  3. Pine needles make a good mulch for camellias rhododendrons and azaleas.
  4. Leave a hoe by the back door to remind you of weeding.
  5. Check your soil PH so that you only purchase plants suitable for your soil type.

Dilys Jenkins gardening knowhow

  1. Water plants early in the morning.
  2. Mulch the top of pots with bark or stone to aid water retention.
  3. Planting runner beans this month will produce the best crops.
  4. Make sure you level the soil in trays before planting seed as all good nursery people do.
  5. Grow sunflowers in partial shade. They will grow taller searching for the light.

The Chelsea chop is a method used by nurseries after the London show to rejuvenate their perennial plants. Many perennials flop by midsummer, rudbeckia, helenium and sedam can be cut back by half, resulting in a bushier plant that will flower slightly later. Gwen Williams of the walled garden uses this technique every year to give a longer lasting display.

Dahlias and canna lilies can be put outside now. Cut back aubrieta, alyssum and candytuft to encourage new flowers. clear away forget-me-nots to prevent over seeding. Tie in shoots of rambling roses, lay the stems horizontally to produce more flowers and side shoots. Lift and divide clumps of daffodils. Tulip bulbs take a bit of work to keep every year. First snip off the flower as it fades then allow foliage to die back, lift the bulbs and dry on newspaper, store in a cool dry place ready to plant out in the Autumn. Keep the sweet peas climbing by tieing in the shoots. Be sure to feed container plants every 2 to 3 weeks. Take cuttings of fuchsia and softwood cuttings of sage. Deadhead lilac as flowers fade; to do this wait until you see the two shoots below the faded bloom start to swell then snip off the flower just above.

At this time of year most of the ground on vegetable gardens and allotments are covered in new growth. Keep sowing peas and carrots every few weeks to prolong the harvest season. Take the tips off your broad beans once the pods start to form to prevent blackfly. If you can bear to do it, take the blossom off your newly planted fruit trees so that they can establish properly during their first year. Keep raspberry canes tidy by pulling up shoots that are too far away to tie in. If you’re using netting to protect your crops please secure it properly to prevent any wildlife becoming trapped. On the off chance that you’re wondering what to do next on the veg plot, just have a look at the allotment of Colin Thomas. His book on high altitude allotment gardening is at the publishers.

When the garden centres opened in the middle of March, people were chomping at the bit to buy plants. We then had a cold spell over Easter where the plants bought, which had previously been kept in warm temperatures before, were now exposed to cold northerly winds. To add to the plants’ demise the first minister told people they could now go on holiday within Wales. With good, dry (albeit cold) weather forecast, the poor plants didn’t stand a chance. So back to the garden centre to line their pockets.

Take care and happy gardening.

 

 

A Gorgeous Spring Morning

ENVIRONMENT GROUP

On a gorgeous Spring morning, a full squad tackled the front border at the Community Centre with unbound enthusiasm, spurred on by the return of Derby John, whose wit and raconteur has been sorely missed of late. We had a gentleman come along to see if he might join us in the future. Apparently he has a lot of experience with Age concern and thinks he will fit in quite nicely.C

Our next meeting will be on Monday 10th May at 9.30am, where we shall attempt to rejuvenate the entrance to the footpath at the top end of Walston Rd. On a personal note the team make it the best hours work for me of the month.

 

 

Impressive Bonfires to Come

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Visitors to the Upper Orchid Field will have noticed that the piles of bramble and brash are getting even larger as more areas are being cleared. There will be some impressive bonfires once the piles have had a chance to dry out. New trees continue to be planted including Small Leaved Lime, Black Poplar and Beech. Wildflower meadow mix seeds are being scattered on the charred surface where old bonfires have burned. Trees previously totally or partially hidden by vegetation are now seeing the light of day again and these include Hornbeam, the Chequers Tree, Wild Pear and Crab-apple. A spectacular Hawthorn should hopefully display its impressive blossom soon – we often think of these as mainly hedgerow plants but given the opportunity they can grow quite tall.

Primroses were already in bloom on the field in mid-March. April will see the Cowslips follow on and these will be part of a Europe-wide survey. Starting in Estonia the survey looked at the two types of Cowslip – Pin and Thrum – and how they compared in terms of numbers. Distinguishing the two types is not difficult with a bit of guidance and children as young as 4 or 5 took part and proved they were well up to the task. You can download an ‘app’ and record the results. If you know of anywhere that has cowslips which you can access you can do your own survey. For more information, contact the Wildlife Group who will also publish the results of the Upper Orchid Field survey in What’s On.

We have taken delivery of a number of items funded by the Vale of Glamorgan’s Local Nature Partnership including a water butt, pond, bee hotels and plug plants. The latter are for a range of native wildflowers such as Betony, Birds Foot Trefoil, Southern Marsh Orchid and real rarities like Shepherd’s Needle. We also now have a Moth Trap which will help to remedy a section of wildlife which we have done little work on to date. We continue to keep searching for signs of otters in the parish and we now know from an ecology survey carried out at Dyffryn Gardens that they have been present there.

 

 

Invasive Bamboo Defeated

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

On a lovely crisp Spring morning the gang set about the bamboo in the community cemetery. Cheered on by walkers, we soon made short work of clearing it. I believe some of the team who worked hardest had noticed how quickly the cemetery was filling up and were worried about the spaces left for internment. On Sunday 7th March a few residents did a litter pick. The efforts of people like this help to keep Wenvoe a nice place to live.

Our next meeting is on Monday 12th April at 9.30am outside the Community Centre. If you would like to be as fit as this team, then join us.

 

 

Gardening Advice for April

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Gardening Advice for April

Tips from Mair Jones of Brynheulog Nurseries:

  1. Divide hostas before they come into leaf.
  2. Apply slow release fertilizer to your flower beds.
  3. Trees are wonderful, but not just outside your window. Check on their final size before buying.
  4. Invest in a water butt.
  5. Grow some carrots in a pot; lovely foliage and so sweet to eat.

Craftsman Eric White on what to get right this month:

  1. Pinch out the tops of sweet peas to make more substantial plants.
  2. Always read the label on plants so you don’t put it in the wrong place.
  3. Make sure your young plants are kept watered. Otherwise it is just a waste of money and effort.
  4. If purchasing a new implement make sure the handle is the right size for you.
  5. Golden rule. Do not walk past a weed, or the next time you see it, it will have produced offspring.

Do not be fooled by April. We can still have cold nights that will ruin all your hard work of raising tender plants. Just try to be patient, they will soon catch up. Planted up hanging baskets will come on tremendously well in the cold frame or greenhouse. Show gardeners like the late Kenny Condick would never put a hanging basket outside until June. Perennials, which will eventually need support, should be staked early and tied in as they grow. Protect fruit tree blossom with fleece if there is any sign of frost in the weather forecast. When mulching around the trees make sure to keep it away from the stem. Forsythia will still be in flower this month and one of the loveliest displays is at Church Rise, on

the left hand side just after where the shingle starts. This plant needs to be cut back just after flowering as it produces flowers on this year’s new growth. A great time for planting annuals direct to the soil where they will need just a bit of thinning out as they emerge. Mark where you sow these as they could be mistaken for weeds. Lawns will start to look good now after a feed and weed. This is a good time to sow grass seed on any bare patches.

Leaving the EU has created an opportunity for British nurseries to step up to plate. They have known about this situation for quite some time and although the choice may be a little diminished, there is no excuse to put up prices on what is available.

From this month on, there will be people offering garden services. Some will be okay but others will disappoint, so please be careful. If you need help it’s better to have a friend or neighbour recommend someone. British Soil on Station Road will give you advice on the best way forward. For general gardening advice, the best place to find it is at the Twyn yr Odyn allotments. You will never meet a friendlier bunch. They have a wealth of knowledge ready to share – especially Sue and Barry.

On Saturday 1st May from 10.00am, there will be a plant sale at our home in Vennwood Close. Covid regulations in place at that time will be followed. Some friends and fellow growers from the village will be joining us to peddle their best flora. Please ask for advice on the day, with the likes of Joyce, Brian and Sandra, Bruce, Gordon and Ann in attendance. It will be like Gardeners Question Time.

Take care and happy gardening.

 

 

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