Category: Nature

Wenvoe Community Orchid Field

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Wenvoe Community Orchid Field

Once known as the Sledging Field, this meadow is now a Community Nature reserve with over 300 species of flowers, grasses, insects and birds. It is managed as a traditional meadow with an annual mowing to encourage the sort of wildflowers that are fast disappearing from our landscape.

The 5 acre field is surrounded by hedgerows and woodland and there are fine views from the higher points across the valley. On a clear day you can see Penarth and beyond that England across the Bristol Channel. There are several benches around the field, some in the sun, others in shade.

Mature trees enclose the site including Oak and Sweet Chestnut. A public right of way runs through the bottom of the meadow but you can follow any of the paths that meander around the field. An information sign near the entrance shows the different routes you can take.

In Winter look out for Ravens, Buzzards and Wood-peckers with Bullfinches patrolling the hedgerows. The bright red berries of Black Bryony still trail over the shrubs whilst rabbits and moles are in evidence.

With Spring comes masses of yellow – Primroses and Cowslips carpet the field.

From late Spring to early Autumn you can see seven different species of Orchid but the best time is June when the field is covered in several thousand Common Spotted Orchids.

Unusual plants include Herb Paris and the Spiked Star of Bethlehem. Shrews and Field Voles will be lurking in the undergrowth and Slowworms are common. Ringlet butterflies are on the field and Holly Blues on the hedges. Summer also sees a profusion of insects from small ladybirds and froghoppers through lacewings and scorpion flies to the larger burying beetles.

The Elephant Hawk Moth enjoys the big clumps of Rosebay Willowherb. Hoverflies roam
around the Brambles and pose on Fleabane.To find out more about insects and to get ideas on building homes for them visit Insectopia at the top of the field.

From late Summer the Black Knapweed which covers the meadow is host to large numbers of bees. On wet days, wander up to Molluscopolis where many of the secrets of slugs and snails are revealed. As they love damper weather you should find several different species.

How to find us.

Entering Wenvoe from the A4050 by the Walston Castle Premier Inn.

Turn right and then immediately left and follow the narrow lane to the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entering Wenvoe from the A4050 near the church.
Turn left by the church in to Walston Road, follow the road to the far end. Parking is on the road; take care not to cause an obstruction for local residents. Follow the marked footpath through the old quarry to the Orchid Field.

 

 

 

 

Want to know more?

The Upper Orchid Field is a meadow owned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and managed by the Wenvoe Wildlife Group. If you need more information or would like to help with conservation, contact us at The Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Interested in bringing a group to the field?

We have hosted visits from younger age groups such as Beavers and Cubs and can help with school visits. Students and specialists should be able to find suitable topics for research. Species lists can be found on the main noticeboard on the field.

There are no facilities on site but there are two pubs nearby, the Horse and Jockey at Twyn-yr-Odyn and the Walston Castle in Wenvoe. Wenvoe has a village shop and Post Office

 

The Foraging Season Is Upon Us

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

The Foraging Season Is Upon Us

We are reminded again of the changing weather patterns, as we witnessed the third heatwave of the year in the UK by the 2nd week of July. The long dry spells and longer wet spells are becoming the norm as highs and lows take longer to shift across Europe. We won’t alter these patterns, so must do our best to garden as conditions dictate. It is very easy to forget about what’s best to plant when visiting garden centres with the immense choice and quality. The challenging conditions must dictate how much effort we are willing to put in to keeping the plants healthy and drought free.

Growing from seed is the best option, losses have less impact on our finances. Pelargoniums are difficult from seed, as they need special conditions to germinate. Buy as plugs and bring on before planting out, these plants need little water and will flower until the first frosts with a bit of feed and some deadheading.

Herbaceous geraniums are another good drought tolerant plant, that can be cut right back after flowering and will give another display before summer ends. Most shrubs once established are quite tolerant of dry conditions. Lavender is a very good choice and thrives in poor soil. Buddleia and holly will also serve you well when conditions are tough. This year the roses in the borders have flourished. The ones in pots and containers need more water and attention. Keeping plants watered during long dry times is a task. Irrigation systems for containers and soaker hoses for the flower beds can save up to 70% on water compared to a hosepipe.

The foraging season is upon us, with blackberries and damsons the first of the summer fruits that are free. Just look out for Barry Oliver; he knows the best places. He believes that eating fruit in season has kept him young at heart. Considering his age, it seems he’s telling the truth.

The allotment folk have had a busy time with the extra watering. This effort has paid off with a bumper harvest, the best of which may hopefully be entered into the village show. Some are a bit shy of showing off their produce while harvesting. Mike always asks Paula to hold up a sheet to protect his veg from prying eyes when digging up his produce. The allotments have been well tended this year according to the old folk, Colin & Bernard.

Twyn Yr Odyn leg end Gareth Lewis will leave no stone unturned in his quest to gain an advantage with his tomatoes. In July he took some seedlings to a Slayer concert to get them blessed by the band. Unfortunately they confiscated them at the security gate, believing them to be something that only grows in attics under strong lights. Please enter the village show on September 6th and show what can be produced, to encourage others to start growing.

Take care and happy gardening.

This Village, A Place to Cherish

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

This Village, A Place to Cherish

We are only a few old souls, who give an hour or so each month, and are determined to keep the village a place to cherish. Ieuan (pictured) is an old Wenvonian who rarely fails to give up his time to help out. He’s cutting the hedge around the memorial, so pedestrians have a better view when crossing.
One member in particular gives us grief with his tales from the resistance. To be fair he never turns up without his litter picker and collects on the way to where we’re working. On this occasion he stumbled upon a canister of laughing gas outside the vicarage. Upon inspection, he inhaled and started to make sense, which we knew wasn’t right. Worried, we contacted his carer, Alex. By the time he’d got to us Shady was back to normal and chasing speeding motorists.
Our next gathering will be in Greave Close on 11th August where Sue will provide refreshments

Trees, All Is Not Well

Trees, All Is Not Well

 

Walk past the top of Walston Close and you will see, next to the pavement, this magnificent tree – a candidate for Wenvoe’s Favourite Tree – although you may well have your own nominations! It is Eucriphia Nymanensis and it is covered head to foot in blossom with an attendant army of bees taking in the pollen and nectar. We are fortunate in the village to have a range of interesting and mature trees. Those of us struggling in the hot spell will have appreciated our mature trees, not least in and around the Village Green. Trees, as we know, keep us cooler, absorb carbon and help our sense of well-being.

However, all is not well with the regular cutting down of trees which are seldom replaced. Examples of losses in the last couple of years include a Walnut in Station Road, Tulip Tree outside the Community Centre, Weeping Silver Lime in Gwenfo Drive, Loquat near the library and Balm of Gilead Poplar in the churchyard. There may be reasons for their removal but what reasons can there be for not planting a replacement?

Things look a bit brighter in Grange Park where the Vale Council have planted several trees to replace losses and on the Village Green and small patch of land outside the Church Hall there have been individual plantings and trees donated by residents. The Wildlife Group have planted around 150 fruit trees in the orchards and on the perimeter of the Upper Orchid Field around 30 native trees have been placed over the last 15 years.

How do you feel about our trees and is it now time, as some are suggesting, for residents, councils and businesses to take concerted action to reverse the trend? As Persian singer/songwriter Sina Shahbazi sings in his song, Protect The Trees

From the roots to the sky

Their spirit will rise

A beacon of hope

When nature cries

Let’s honour the trust

For the ones yet to be

A legacy green

As far as we see

Protect the trees

Protect our home

Together we stand

We’re not alone

The Sites Are In Tip-Top Condition.

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

The Sites Are In Tip-Top Condition.

Activities this month included strimming the Welsh Orchard, continuing to clear the Upper Orchid Field and working on the Community Orchard. We attended the Playing Fields Open Day but had very few visitors to the Community Orchard – not surprising as the weather was pretty miserable. The willows on the Community Orchard are due to be cut back at the end of the month but they will continue to provide a screen at the northern end of the orchard. Most of the fruit seems to be doing well and the Shepherds Bullace is already being harvested by enthusiastic jam-makers. We still get asked where the orchards are so you can pick up a leaflet showing their locations from the Tuckers’ noticeboard dispenser outside 29 Vennwood Close.

We were delighted to hear that our 7 sites had all passed the Green Flag assessment. Another independent vote of confidence in the quality and accessibility of the nature reserves. Thanks are due to the members of the group, landowners and residents who aim to keep the sites in tip-top condition.

 

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)

1 2 3 4 5 … 43