Category: Nature

Wenvoe’s Favourite Tree

Wenvoe’s Favourite Tree

Regular sightings of one or more Polecats on the wildlife cameras near the village has now confirmed that we have an established population of this rare and elusive mammal. It was once heavily persecuted and was on the verge of extinction. They were declared as vermin during Elizabeth I’s reign and the word was used to describe a vagabond.

By 1915 it was just hanging on in mid Wales and some border counties. However, it is now protected by law and making a comeback but there were only 896 confirmed sightings for the whole of the UK during 2024. Interestingly, there are no records in the last 5 years for Cardiff and Wenvoe – until now!! Most will be familiar with ferrets, but these are the domesticated version of the Polecat.

Polecats have a long history in mythology and folklore. Associated with the God Dionysus of wine, fertility and revelry fame but also the Norse Goddess Freya representing love, fertility and beauty and often depicted alongside her. They were valued by farmers and villagers for their pest control abilities, keeping down populations of rats and mice but also for their fur which was particularly warm and durable. Great to know that not only do we have a species coming back from the brink, but they can be really useful to us in helping to control our rodent population.

Successful Junior Wildlife Workshop

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Successful Junior Wildlife Workshop

A successful second Junior Wildlife workshop took place at the Elizabethan Orchard in June. Fully booked again and all who had booked turned up. The children made floral headbands, hunted for mini-beasts and enjoyed a picnic on a fine day. They found the Common Green Capsid bug and a Goatsbeard plant, both interesting discoveries. Our thanks to course organisers and leaders Angela Peterken and Claire Newland helped by Zak on the day, to the Reader family for providing facilities and Mike and Glynys Tucker for raising funds through their events. The final workshop for this year will take place in August – date to be advised.

A number of Swift nesting boxes have been installed on the farm buildings at Goldsland farm by Rhys, Lee, Lydia and Lee Burrows. Rhys will next be setting up the sound system which emits Swift calls to encourage them to investigate the boxes and to be installing some Swallow boxes.

Zak has been working with the group as part of his Duke of Edinburgh assessment. He has been doing jobs in the Community Orchard, making up wildflower seed packs and joining the Junior Wildlife workshop. Last year we helped a student doing the Baccalaureate to register her volunteering hours.

Scratch Team Shifts Rubbish

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Scratch Team Shifts Rubbish

A scratch team shifted rubbish and cut back vegetation at the bus stop on Station Road. The police turned up after reports that a group of old men had wandered out of Glen Burnie Lodge. One look at us dispelled that notion, we think our attire gave it away.

We were pleased to see Shady Williams get off a bus while we were there. Apparently his daughter had given him a smart watch to encourage more walking. He had set off early on a jaunt and ended up in Cowbridge, because the watch didn’t tell him when to stop. Being from Edwardsville originally, he had never been that far West before, so was lost. Fortunately he had his bus pass and a kind soul put him on the right bus. We realise that people were trying to be kind, when they offered to assist us over the bridge, just because we were leaning on the railings for a breather. One of the elders took it to heart and to prove his fitness ran over the bridge. We had to go back for him later when there was no one around. Nothing like an old fool.

Because of the nature of our work in public spaces, we have to comply with the drug testing protocol. Thankfully the swabs proved we all had the right drugs in our systems. Unlike those foxes, allegedly.

If we can remember, we shall rendezvous at the village green on July 14th.

Trying To Keep The Garden Colourful

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Trying To Keep The Garden Colourful

A report by Police UK suggests that thieves target properties with unkempt gardens, as it gives the impression that the owners are away. The report goes on to recommend keeping the plants in the front of the house below a metre, so you can see people approaching. The side and back should have high hedges with prickly shrubs like pyracantha or Berberis. Fences with trellis on top and a climbing rose running through it is another alternative. Gravel also makes it difficult for unwanted people to approach quietly. Keep gates locked and don’t leave tools around which could be used to help gain entry. Solar lights in paths or borders which are on permanently in the garden just show the intruder the way to the property.

Trying to keep the garden colourful throughout the growing season is always a challenge and can be expensive, so choose plants with a long flowering time like pelargoniums, begonias, dahlias and marigolds, which will give a display until the autumn with just a bit of dead heading. Roses will give you a good long season and the second flush will start this month. When taking off the spent blooms of roses don’t just remove the flower, cut it back to a leaf joint; this will keep the stems stronger and the plant looking its best.

A garden should have a compost bin, If done properly this can save you money, especially with the poor quality of what even the renowned labels are putting in their colourful bags. Don’t just throw anything in without a thought, as this will result in poor compost and you won’t bother again. Dave Jones in Vennwood uses kitchen scraps with used compost and small woody material to produce a sweet-smelling mix. Grass cuttings mixed with leaves and small woody stems will give good results if kept moist. This will create heat which will break down the material.

Since he’s been on a meter Gareth Williams of Greave Close has been using the washing up water on his lawn, with the unexpected result of killing the moss in the grass and not hurting any wildlife in the process.

New potatoes with runner beans is a favourite dish of many people and this month they will be harvested at the allotments, along with strawberries and raspberries. If the weather is inclement this month, this can bring blight to the potatoes, especially if they’ve been planted too close together with no room for air flow. At the first sign of blight remove all the stalks and destroy. Do not put in the compost. Dig up the potatoes straight away and they will be fine. Any ground cleared now will have cabbage and kale planted along with some potatoes which will be ready for Christmas dinner.

Take care and happy gardening.

Average Age Brought Down To 75

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Average Age Brought Down To 75

A small but robust team of four, turned out to clean up at the junction of Old Port Road and Walston Road. With the average age brought down to 75 with the young Martin in attendance, this was the lowest turnout since May 8th, 1945. The team in those days mainly consisted of Italian POWs. On the day Churchill announced the end of hostilities in Europe, the Italians, residing at Wenvoe Castle, feared they would be repatriated and absconded to open ice cream parlours and cafes, from Barry Island to North Treorchy. All but one disappeared that day. The other poor fellow left in a fright just as new year approached. A local lady dragged him into some bushes where to his surprise a branch swung back and knocked her wig off. He was last seen running up the Tumble towards Dover. (True)

Hedgerows Are Invaluable

Hedgerows Are Invaluable

You can stand anywhere in the village with a view of the countryside, and you will see hedgerows. Along Port Road, Old Port Road and around the school as well. You could be forgiven for thinking they are common and unthreatened. Yet since 1950 the UK has lost 118,000 miles of hedgerow. This is what the Woodland Trust says:

Hedgerows are invaluable. Who doesn’t love seeing a hedgerow, brimming with blossom and alive with pollinators? Thousands of species depend on hedgerows for food, shelter and moving through the countryside. Hedgerows are also extremely beneficial for the land, reducing soil erosion and flooding, storing carbon, extending growing seasons, providing shade, sustaining pollinators and providing natural pest control. Over 500 plant species, 60 species of nesting birds, hundreds of invertebrates and almost all our native small mammal species depend on hedgerows. Many are ancient landmarks, some of the oldest and steadiest semi-natural features in our landscape.

The Wildlife Group, with the help of the Woodland Trust, WWG members and groups such as the Scouts, have planted new hedgerows which you can see on the Community Orchard, around the Goldsland Orchard, the Bee Loud Glade and Cae Ysbyty. These are increasingly full of fruit and berries such as Rowan, Damson, Guelder Rose (see photo), Hawthorn and Wayfaring Tree. But we need more if wildlife is to flourish so if you have sufficient land, a large garden, farm, smallholding or even allotment areas, consider planting a hedge. They cost little and in the right circumstances you can get free trees from the Woodland Trust.

Take Time To Sit And Enjoy

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Take Time To Sit And Enjoy

Hope you are all pleased with your gardening efforts so far this year. As June kicks us off into the main flowering season, especially with geums and the first flush of the roses, don’t forget to try and take time to sit and enjoy it when you can. People who are patient will always get good results. May was so warm that Silvia Davies had planted out her summer bedding by the middle of the month. It’s probably best for all of us to follow her lead as she really does know her stuff. Pelargoniums that were bought as plug plants and kept under glass until the end of May, then planted out, will flourish and give us colour until the end of September. Lupins are coming into their own now. If you bought some that were grown by Barry Oliver, they would have been brought up in what is known locally as Barry time, meaning they will take a while to be at their best but will form a lovely display and with a little care will last for ages. If you haven’t cleared the mess left by forget-me-nots, then you will now be inundated with this annual next Spring.

Mulching the bare soil will help retain moisture and if it’s put on a couple of inches thick will slow weeds down considerably. The dry weather had certainly stopped the slugs’ movement, but as soon as we have rain, they will be out in force so be on the lookout. Beer traps work wonderfully even if they are a bit messy. If you are thinking of planting a climber on a boundary, put it on the north side of the garden. Putting these on the south side, means that your neighbour will be enjoying the blooms.

Allotments at Twyn Yr Odyn have never looked so good according to the old folk (Bernard & Colin). This is a great effort from the allotmenteers, especially the new folk. A lot of effort will now go into protecting the crops from pests and diseases. The police team up there put their runner beans in early. This isn’t against the law, but you do have to be careful of cold nights, high winds and young rabbits, who have no respect for authority. Rabbit stew and beans will give you all the energy you need to keep on digging, according to Gareth Lewis.

Take care and happy gardening

An Incredibly Successful Plant Sale

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

An Incredibly Successful Plant Sale

After an incredibly successful Plant Sale run by Glenys and Mike Tucker, the Group benefited from a donation of £2,132. Our thanks to all who supported the event, bought raffle tickets or plants and other produce, donated takings from their tables or just had a cup of tea. This helps to ensure we have sufficient funds to purchase benches, plant trees, refurbish noticeboards and sponsor youth workshops and school projects. We are most grateful.

Most people will have heard that vandals burned down the noticeboard/bee hotel on the Community Orchard. We shall be replacing it, but this will take a few months of planning and design. Meanwhile we shall be installing a smaller noticeboard near the planters, thanks to Martin Thomas.

Green Flag judging took place in May, and the judge was shown round by Sue Hoddell and Nicola Harmer. Fingers crossed for a good result.

The second Junior Wildlife Workshop takes place on 8th June. These tend to be heavily oversubscribed but a third will be planned for August.

If you are walking around the Orchid field meadow you might notice that a small area has been cleared of bracken. Please help us by stamping on and pulling any bracken you see at the side of the path. Even better come and help our small team next month. Thank you.

Shady, Had Gone Up The Pipe

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Shady, Had Gone Up The Pipe

After clearing the waste from the front of the Community Centre and the planting of flowers by big John (it will of course be his fault if they don’t bloom!) we were woken by the sound that resembled a jammed hoover. The sight that greeted us was a road sweeper operative trying to remove an object from the suction hose on his vehicle. After dashing to help, we recognised the blue hat in the gutter. Yes, poor Shady, whilst litter picking had gone up the pipe. Upon his release, he was inconsolable. The ignominy of a litter picker being picked up by a road sweeper, left him on his knees. Even when reunited with his hat, he refused to move. The Community Council are going to give him a hi-vis jacket. Our next work party will be on 12th May.

Wenvoe Wildlife Group Summer Birdwatch

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

WENVOE WILDLIFE GROUP SUMMER BIRDWATCH

SUNDAY 18TH – SATURDAY 24TH MAY

Many What’s On readers will recall that they took part in the RSPB Birdwatch in January this year and the Wenvoe Wildlife Group were given people’s findings to assist us in learning about birds in the parish. The results were published earlier this year in What’s On.

We are now planning to hold our first Wenvoe Summer Birdwatch from Sunday 18th to Sunday 25th May and we really do need your involvement! You only need to give up one hour of your time during the seven days. The aim of the summer birdwatch is for us to gather more information on the birds that are in the parish and compare our summer and winter findings. This time we will be ‘going it alone’ as the RSPB organise just one UK birdwatch each year. One difference this time is that you can record any bird you see whether on the ground or in the air. This will enable us to include all our birds rather than just those that settle.

We have spread the birdwatch over a whole week to give people the best opportunity to undertake the birdwatch and avoid any days where bad weather is forecast. Many of you will recall the January weekend was terrible weather-wise. In addition, it does not get dark in mid-May until about 9.00pm so plenty of time in the evenings to carry out your birdwatch!

All you need to do is to spend one hour recording the birds you see in your garden. You record the number of each species of birds you see. So, for example, if you saw one blackbird on its own five times that counts as one. If you saw two blackbirds together at the same time that counts as two and so on.

Then please send your results to nigelrbillingham @yahoo.co.uk.or bruce7@ btinternet.com as soon as you can including your postcode and the date you carried out the birdwatch. The postcode helps us log what type of birds are in the different areas of Wenvoe. Don’t worry if your bird knowledge is limited there are plenty of identification guides online.

If you want to do more, you could carry out a second birdwatch in one of the eight Wildlife group’s sites which are listed below. This could be carried out on your own or in a small group on a day of your choosing within the above dates. Why not take a picnic whilst counting the birds? This will be the first time we have carried out a bird watch in most of our sites. If you would like to do this, please let us know which site you are interested in and we will ‘book you in’ to avoid duplication

We are delighted to say that the village school will also have one class taking part during the week.

The eight Wenvoe Wildlife group sites are:

Upper Orchid Field
Community Orchard
Elizabethan Orchard
Wild Orchard
Welsh Orchard
Goldsland Orchard
Watercress Beds
Bee Loud Glade

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. And if you want to brush up on your bird identification skills why not join the Bird Walk on Saturday 3rd May at Goldsland Farm led by Rob and Linda Nottage and setting off at 9.30am.

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