Category: Nature

Apples

 

If you visit the orchards in May you should still see plenty of blossom around, the majority of the trees being apples. But what is an apple and where does it come from? The first distinction is between the crab-apple and the sweet apple that we eat. The crab is our native apple and you can often find it growing in hedgerows around the parish. It usually has spines on the branches and the fruit is small, hard and very sour. But it has been used for thousands of years by our ancestors cooked and fermented. Crab-apple jelly is still popular to make at home or buy.

The sweet apple originally came from the Tien Shan Mountains in Kazakhstan thousands of miles away and it took many centuries to work its way along the silk routes to the Middle East and Europe. If you plant the pips from, say, a Cox’s Orange Pippin you will get a variety of different apple types, many of them of little use so to get another true Cox’s you have to graft them, a skill that was well known to the Romans. You may hear people referring to hybrids between a crab and a sweet apple but this does not happen and DNA analysis of the origins of the sweet apple has found that crabs were not involved in its evolution.

Because of this great variability you never quite know what might pop up and many new varieties were chance discoveries. Claygate Pearmain (which grows in our Community Orchard) was found in a hedgerow in Surrey but once discovered grafting ensured that that tasty variety is still available to us these days. In the heyday of apple development in Britain there were thousands of varieties. Farmers would spread the mush from cider production around the edges of their fields to see what new varieties might appear and if you look out of the window of the car or train you will see apple trees growing from the cores lobbed out of the windows by passengers – there are several on the link road past Pencoedtre. These are known as ‘wilding’ apples.

Commercial orchards have little value for wildlife as the trees are kept short, grubbed up after around 7 to 8 years and sprayed regularly through the season. In a traditional orchard the trees are allowed to grow to their full size and may live for 100 years or more. These are a haven for wildlife attracting many of the species that would have been common before our orchards were destroyed, including rare beetles such as the Golden Chafer and birds like the Wryneck. In 1900 there were about 15 orchards in Wenvoe but little evidence of these remain other than in the names of some houses and streets.

So enjoy your apples whether you plant a tree or two in your garden or visit one of our traditional orchards in the parish. There is increasing evidence that the older varieties may be better for you and being locally sourced you avoid the air miles involved in shipping your fruit from other continents to your supermarket. And wildlife will benefit.

 

RHS Flower Show

Having been to the RHS flower show in Bute Park, it made me realise just how good some of these exhibiters are. To be honest, a few of the show gardens would not have come up to the standard of some of the gardens in and around Wenvoe. I have asked a few residents for some tips, if only to share the blame if things don't work out as they should. Gerry Crump, of Rectory close, always staggers the sowing of flowers and veg to prolong the the season. Most years he's still picking runner beans in October. If you can make room for a wigwam of beans in your garden its well worth it. Gerry's garden is lovely, especially with the summer bedding in place.

Another lovely garden is Sylvia Davies's which is opposite the Walston Castle as you turn in to the Village. Sylvia's tips include labelling containers of mixed up plant feed and pesticides as mistakes are costly and the use of more perennial plants to cut down on the extra work of bedding plants. Sylvia also points out that with longer days the temptation to do more is always there but remember that the garden will still be there in the morning.

Adventurer Joyce Hoy's tip for saving your plants from slugs and snails is to put slug bait or traps on prepared ground a couple of days before planting out. I would love to hear any tips you can share. I'll be manning my table at the Wenvoe Spring Craft fair on 14th May and am around the village most days.

A lot of the perennials are really starting to grow now, the taller of which will need support, especially perennial poppies and peony. Day lilies are a good bet for a dry spot in the garden. They will need a bit of room as they will eventually form clumps. That early, yellow flowering shrub Forsythia will need pruning now if you want it to keep its shape and to flower next spring.

Roses, the favourite in a lot of gardens, take a bit of looking after. The mistake I used to make was to wait until I saw an aphid or a bit of black spot, go to the Garden Centre to get a remedy and then take action. Now I spray before there is any sign of pest or disease at all and it works for me.

I have just read that now is the perfect time to divide daffodils. Dig up the clumps and pull apart by hand, trying not to break off roots and leaves, and re-plant at the same depth.

Look after those tender young plants. The temptation to put them out may be great but they will need to be hardened off by putting them outside in the day and back under cover at night. When all risk of frost has passed, put them into beds and they will soon catch up. Sadly the Tulip tree, positioned at the front of the Community Centre, had to be taken down as it had outgrown its space. This should be a reminder to us all when considering the positioning of larger plants. It's not just about the damage they may cause to structures in the future but they can be expensive to remove. Wenvoe has lots of lovely large trees but in my experience they look a lot better in other people's gardens. If you're tempted by the lovely Acers in Garden Centres, they do suffer from wind damage so a sheltered spot is ideal.

Last thing, if we do have a dry spell don't skimp on the watering, especially near to the house where ground can be drier. Happy gardening

Grade ll Listed Barn

 

 

Goldsland farm has a great story to tell. A working farm of around 200 acres producing milk with a herd of 180 mixed Holstein Friesians and Dairy Shorthorns and regularly winning awards at the Vale of Glamorgan Show, such as Best Holstein Exhibit and First, Second and Third in the Best Dairy Cow category (2016). It is farmed by Abi Reader who was Welsh Woman Farmer of the Year in 2016. The farm has a viewing platform above the milking parlour and regularly receives visits from school parties and other groups.

But there is also plenty of history. Excavations at a nearby cave in the woods revealed the 5,000 years old remains of humans along with a flint saw blade and other tools. One of the barns is a Grade ll listed building dating from the 1800s and described as a larger than average early to mid 19th century barn from the age of agricultural improvement. Around the same time watercress beds were introduced, fed bys. The three sections could be split into different habitat types, possibly one of mainly open water, a second with water plants and the third reeds. Two benches have been put in along with a noticeboard and large bee hotel.

With the help of money from Tescos a Nature Trail is being created which takes you from fields to ponds, to woods via a sunken lane, to meadows and finally an orchard. The orchard will consist of old varieties planted traditionally, many dating from Victorian times and including a variety we have not planted before, Gabalva, a cooker from Cardiff. We also have a couple of appropriately named Holsteins. Some Perry pears are being grafted for the autumn. The wildflower planting will include a small meadow and raised beds with annual arable flowers.

Also in the pipeline is a project to create a series of reed-beds to process slurry from the farm. The outflow will be much cleaner water and this will help to improve the water quality in the Goldsland Brook which runs through the farm and the Weycock River which the brook feeds. It also creates yet another habitat which should benefit wildlife in the area.

A Public Right of Way runs through the farm and if this has whetted your appetite to see more the farm opens its doors to the public on Open Farm Sunday which takes place on Sunday 11th June. This popular event which attracted 2,000 visitors in 2015 gives an opportunity for everyone to see the farm in action, to watch the cows being milked and for children in particular to get close up to animals. For more information about the wildlife and history projects, contact the Wenvoe Wildlife Group.

 

 

 

 

What to do in April


This is the time of year when everything starts to grow. Weeds will be the first to shoot up, they are a good indication of spring. The RHS spring show is in Cardiff on the 7- 9th April and is well worth a visit if only to get expert advice from gardeners who really know how it's done.

It's now time for the first lawn treatment of the year. Whichever one you buy make sure it has mosskiller in it as this past few months' weather has been ideal for moss growth. When cutting your grass early in the season please do not cut too low as this can weaken grass growth and encourage moss. Aerating a lawn is a good idea as it helps with drainage, prevents soil compaction and allows nutrients in and air to circulate. There are various types of aerators on the market but the hollow tyne ones are better. It takes a while but is well worth the time and effort. Roses now need their first feed of the year. There are many brands of rose feed to choose from and all do the same thing. Take care to follow the instructions as too much feed will produce weak, leggy growth which will not hold up the blooms.

If your lavender plants are starting to get a bit woody now is the time to take cuttings from new growth. Pick a stem without a bud, cut to finger length and strip off lower leaves before dipping in rooting powder [this will help germination but also stop cuttings rotting] and place in 3'' pots of gritty compost to help drainage. Remove any cuttings that start to look sick in order to prevent spread of disease. This technique can be used for most softwood cuttings.

Pot up dahlia tubers and begonia corms and keep in a frost free place as this will encourage growth making them ready to plant out when all risk of frost has gone. Birds are nesting now so if you can resist taking the shears to hedges and shrubs all the better. It will also keep us all on the good side of the wild life group. Feeding birds all year round is a must as they depend on well stocked tables but at this time of year loose peanuts left on bird tables are taken back to nests with young who choke on these whole nuts. Peanuts kept in bird feeders don't cause this problem as they have to be broken up for birds to retrieve.

It is true that as you get older you appreciate things more. Passing through the village in March there was a definite sense of well being at the sight of the spring flowers in bloom. The daffodils around the park and church were beautiful and the great display of crocuses on the village green were a joy to see.

 

Happy gardening!

 

 

March Activities

 

A lovely morning in March and a good turnout for our team. We split the group with one half spending time at St Lythans pump area which was badly overgrown and 4 green bags were filled with debris – brambles, weeds etc. and more is waiting to be collected by one of us.

The other half of the team were busy forking the rose bed at the community centre.

Our next meeting will be on April 10th at 9.30 a.m.

In the meantime suggestions from the community as to possible future work for the team can be left for consideration in one of the What’s On boxes.

 

 

 

 

 

Silent Spring ?

The End Game?

No thrush sings in the garden now,

No blackbird looks to bully the thrush

And no swifts shrill above the town,

No kestrels hover over the motorways;

No cheeky sparrows fly up when a car goes by

And no skylarks sing above the barren meadows.

The martins abandoned their nest under the eaves years ago

Early predictions have come true:

'Silent Spring' is here;

There is 'No Room for Wildlife'

What do we have instead?

The roar and unhealthy smell of the motorways,

Green fields, quiet lanes and woods turned into 

Fly-tips, housing estates, business parks and recreation grounds.

Trees and plants stressed or dying in summer heat and drought.

Collectors begging us to 'Save the Children'

For what? A world destroyed by their elders?

Soon, we too will be gone, 'Gone with the Wind' –

Unless …?

 

This poem by Derek Gould was printed in the BBC Wildlife Magazine

 

 

 

 

 

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Easter Egg Hunt and Clean-up

 

 

We are doing the Easter Egg Trail again this year so from Good Friday why not take the youngsters up to the Upper Orchid Field to follow the trail and answer the questions. Take your completed form to the Wenvoe Village Shop – the first 30 correctly completed forms will earn you an Easter Egg or similar. Thank you to Kam and Punna for supporting this event for the third year.

With our Tesco’s money we have installed two benches at the watercress beds at Goldsland farm along with a noticeboard and bee hotel. We have placed 4 hedgehog 'homes' around the orchards to help these rapidly declining animals. Why not put one in your garden? – they cost between £20 and £30 and come with full instructions on what to do. They are not just for hibernation but can be used all year round.

 

 

More nest boxes are being put up along with insect homes and also butterfly boxes. All of these can be bought for around £3 or £4 each and are in local shops. With 5 ponds to keep an eye on we now have pond-dipping nets, trays and magnifying glasses. This is a great activity for children so if you are interested in learning what to do either with children in your family or as part of group activities run by the Wildlife Group, please contact us. We shall be arranging training sessions in the coming months.

 

 

 

Members of the Group helped out with a litter-pick in Barry in an area known as Tree Tops, near Holm View Leisure Centre. Over 120 bags of rubbish were collected in just under two hours. Clearing litter is not just about making places look better. Many animals both wild and domestic suffer or are killed by plastic bags, cans, glass jars, plastic can holders, rubber bands and balloons. Whilst Wenvoe has nothing like the litter problem that some areas have, we still have litter and it only takes one misplaced item to maim or kill a hedgehog, bird or your cat or dog. It is great to hear that the Community Council are considering the issue of litter-picking and we look forward to joining an event in the parish in the coming months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lichens are fungi

 

They are all around you as soon as you step out of the house – on your roof, on the pavement, on the trees, the walls and the fences. Yet most of us do not notice them. They grow where little else can, slowly but steadily. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes – flat and round, scaly and shrubby. They are, of course, lichens. Lichens are fungi that behave like plants because they have little green algal cells inside them. Together they form the lichen body. The algal cells make sugar and give it to the fungus. In return the fungus shelters them from excess sunlight and water loss.

 

The easiest to find are those on the pavements. All those white or yellow blobs or stains are lichens. Some look so like chewing gum that they are called the Chewing Gum lichen. Or take a close look at the trees behind the library which sport a great variety of them. And what use are they? You might have heard that reindeer eat lichens but did you know that they are also eaten by humans, used in medicine, cosmetics and dyeing and making litmus paper? They can help prospectors looking for precious metals and will be contained in your sprinkling of Garam Masala. So next time you slap on your Brut or Eternity, or anoint yourself with Estee Lauder or Yves St Laurent, thank the humble lichen.

The Wildlife Group are preparing a Lichen Trail round the village which will be downloadable from the website so if you see members lying on the pavement or examining the gravestones with hand lenses that will be the reason – you do need to get up very close to them to appreciate their colours, the tiny fruits that many of them will be growing; even the spores that help to identify the different species. If you are interested in getting to know more about them, do contact the Wildlife Group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Lythan’s Pump

 

 

The team met last month to discuss possible future projects and I have been approached to consider looking at the pump near St Lythans Church which is in need of attention. I’ve been up to have a look and indeed the area is sadly neglected and overgrown. I remember being involved in a clean up, but that was years ago. At our next meeting which will be on March 13 we will meet at the Community Centre and I suggest that some of the team visits the site to start clearing the area while others prepare the ground at the Village Green for new shrubs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garden 7th Cavalry has Arrived!

Firstly, a big thank you to Trevor for all the good work he has put into his column over many years. Trevor is still available for advice as there is no substitute for experience.

Gardening, whether it's a postage stamp or at a country house, is well known for lowering stress levels. It's easy to get involved, especially in Wenvoe, with allotments, wildlife group, environment team (under Trevor's watchful eye) and, of course, the produce show in September. It's a well known fact that Gardeners love to share their knowledge. So here we go, first bit of advice, if you can get on to your lawn at this time of year, brushing off the worm casts is a must as weed seeds attach to the little mounds causing more weeds than you can shake a stick at.

If you haven't already, cut the dead flower heads of hydrangeas just above first bud or to a lower bud if the plant is outgrowing its space.

Start to grow seeds on the kitchen windowsill and cover seeds and compost with vermiculite to stop the annoying fungus fly laying eggs We are all tempted by the seed and plant catalogues that come via magazines and through the post, but beware that these young plants may be smaller than you expect and will not be hardened off. If given the right care they will be worth the effort.

You should, by now, be chitting [getting them ready to plant] your early potatoes by putting them in open egg boxes in a sunny, frost free place until stalks are shooting. Basic stuff, but I still need to be reminded. Also, plant some peas in pots and keep in a sheltered spot as it is so worth trying to get them to grow early . Eat them straight off the plant – they are truly lovely.

Before the gardening season takes off, there's lots to get ready. Seed trays and pots need to be cleaned, make sure all hand tools are fit for purpose, mowers need to be serviced and if you have a greenhouse it needs to be cleaned with disinfectant.

Did you get an Amaryllis at Christmas? If so when flowers start to fade cut them off but leave the stalk and leaves. Feed and water sparingly and when foliage has died back keep in a cool place ready for next year.

One last thing, I recently put some chive seeds in a pot, sealed in a clear plastic bag, on the kitchen windowsill and they were up in 8 days.

 

Happy gardening!

 

 

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