Category: Nature

Yellow Fish Drains

 

Yellow Fish? In Wenvoe? We hope so, sometime in April or May. So what is this all about? The Yellow Fish campaign involves using a stencil to spray-paint yellow fish alongside street or storm drains. This UK-wide project is already underway and its purpose is to draw our attention to street drains and the need to prevent them getting polluted.

Broadly-speaking we have two sorts of drain. Everything in your household should go into foul or wastewater drains – from your toilets, baths, basins, washing machines and dishwashers. The liquid is treated at water-treatment sites and then discharges in a purer form into our rivers and oceans, but street drains are there to carry surplus water off our roads. They do not go to treatment works but discharge straight into our brooks, our rivers and our seas. So anything you put down these drains or allow to flow into them will pollute our watercourses.

So the first issue is to have a think about what you might let get into a nearby street drain. Ever washed your car using detergents or been tempted to tip that surplus bit of oil, paint or antifreeze down the drain? Or allowed litter to slip through the grille? Car wash centres are usually better because the run-off is captured or processed. If you wash your car at home consider using biodegradable and phosphate-free products which are less harmful to the environment. Take that unneeded oil to the Barry Recycling centre at the Atlantic Trading Estate.

The next issue may come as something of a surprise but a significant number of home appliances are incorrectly connected and discharge directly into street drains. Welsh Water have estimated the figure at 20% and another survey found misconnections included many toilets. Next time you dip your toe in the sea at Barry Island remember than an estimated 9% of pollution in bathing areas results from incorrectly connected drainage. If in doubt, get your connections checked.

Does it matter? If you care at all about wildlife – yes! When oestrogen gets into the water it affects the reproductive cycle of fish. Untreated sewage uses up oxygen and our rivers can no longer support insects and fish and those that depend on them like birds and mammals. And if you are still feeling a bit indifferent, remember that, if you are caught causing pollution such as with misconnected appliances the fines can be severe, running to tens of thousands of pounds. So look out for the Yellow Fish which should be appearing in the early summer. And don't worry – a chalk-based spray is used to create them which is non-toxic and will wash away with our ever-so predictable rains.

 

 

Your Tasks for March

 

Are we all raring to go as Spring really starts to kick in? The Winter was so wet and, on most days, too miserable to be bothered doing anything in the garden. Feeding the birds is probably the most I did. I was disappointed by the variety of birds at our feeders on the three days of the Big Garden Birdwatch, unlike Mrs Hoy who ticked loads of boxes. Next year I'm spending the weekend at The Wildfowl Trust Slimbridge to even things up, not that i'm a poor loser. The forced bulbs that we have in the house should be planted in the garden. Do not cut the leaves back but do take care of the root system. Buying snowdrops in the green at this time of year is the best way of naturalising them in to the garden.

The R H S things to do list for March –

1. Protect new spring shoots from wind, frost and pests.

2. Plant shallots, onion sets and new potatoes.

3. Plant Summer flowering bulbs.

4. Lift and divide large clumps of perennials.

5. Top dress containers with new compost.

6. Mow lawns on dry days.

7. Cut back Dogwood and Willow.

8. Hoe and mulch weeds to keep under control early.

9. Start feeding the fish and using the pond fountain.

10. Prune bush and climbing Roses.

While top dressing containers with new compost, look out for the Vine Weevil larvae and, if found, treat early with a pesticide. Don't delay on this or the plant will be ruined. Trim Winter flowering Heathers with shears as the flowers start to fade as this will stop them getting leggy and promote strong new growth. Cut off old leaves of Hellebores to expose the flowers. You can divide Hostas now before they come into leaf and Primulas after they have flowered. Dahlia tubers can be potted up now and, when the new shoots reach three to four inches, cuttings can be a taken. Dip the end in rooting powder and pot up and seal in a plastic bag until roots start to show. New plants grown this way will give you more Dahlias and a better display. Sweet pea seeds can be planted directly into the soil at this time of year, which will prolong the flowering season, along with the the plants you have grown on under glass. Hardy annuals can be sown in pots to give great colour to the garden and they are good for filling in any gaps you may have. The Village Show in September is a fantastic annual event in Wenvoe with some outstanding exhibits and is well attended. To keep this show running it needs some volunteers so if you could help in any way it will be very much appreciated.

Garden centres will be tempting us with all their new season young plants which are very hard to resist. Caution is needed as these plants have been grown in a strictly controlled environment so care will be needed when you get them home, especially from the cold and wind. When buying your compost check the bags are not too light as this will mean the compost is dry. It is quite difficult to get it back to the right moisture content and will mean a lot more work before you can use it. If you're buying mulch then the opposite is true – the dryer it is the easier it is to spread and it will go further.

 

Take care and happy gardening

 

 

I’m Back in Birdland

 

The last two years has taught me many things. We moved to a new house on a new estate almost at sea level without a single mature tree in sight. The only regular avian visitors were the gulls on the weekly waste collection day. Their cousins, the magpies paid occasional visits but the smaller birds were not tempted into the estate from the rail embankments in the middle distance.

In two months of late autumn at the Redrow Grange in Wenvoe there has been a return to the good old days. First to show were a pair of pied wagtails flitting on and off a neighbours roof taking insects in flight and then swooping away to another perch. My favourite garden bird the Robin struts his stuff on the eaves of the garage staking his territorial claim, then hopping and skipping along the fence and shrubs picking up seeds and grubs. His companion is little Jenny Wren, as small as the tip of my thumb, but neat and fast. Shy, yet cheeky enough to explore the potted shrubs on the patio particularly the Christmas fir even though smaller than the smallest bauble.

On my dog walks there are more wrens dipping in and out of the hedgerow above the Close while chaffinches and blue tits skip away from branch to branch in front of me and close in behind me reclaiming their territory. Our dog often pulls at the lead desperate to go play with the blackbirds that skit about at ground level.

In the bit of woodland near the garden centre I often hear the ratatat of a woodpecker and am fairly sure from odd glimpses that it is a lesser spotted. And I have also seen a creeper picking off insects as it hops upside down on the trunk. Too far away to be sure it’s a tree creeper.

The skies over Wenvoe were busy in October with echelons of geese flying southeast and honking away. Now it’s jackdaws and the occasional buzzards but my binoculars were too well stored to get in time to see the Ravens in January.

This all seems quite ordinary. But our time in the Quays has made me appreciate these everyday sightings.

 

AyJay

 

 

 

Vale Wildflower project

 

We were delighted to be offered £356 by Waitrose in Cowbridge and this will be used to buy wildflower seed for planting on our existing sites. We also hope to give away small packs of seed at the Craft Fair and Open Farm Sunday. If you voted for us with your green tokens, many thanks. And if you missed out on that, don't worry as you will have another chance, this time at Waitrose Barry during March. Look out for the Vale Wildflower project. Not only do we plant our own seed but we distribute to many other groups including the Vale Council and those who look after Old Hall Gardens in Cowbridge. We continue to clear the undergrowth around the watercress beds at Goldsland Farm (see photo) and have started planting the new orchard. The pace hots up with Spring coming so there is always plenty do if you would like to come and join us.

 

 

February Meeting

 

After so many rainy Mondays we managed to have a meeting in February. The roses on the village green were pruned and the window boxes a.t the community centre were prepared for the next lot of plants. These boxes are in need of replacement and we are considering getting plastic troughs which will be more durable than the wooden ones. It was decided that the azalea should be planted on the village green. That has now been done and the shrub was already in bud. Thanks again to the donor. Next meeting on March 12th.

 

 

Ash Trees Disaster

 

Ash trees are one of our natives and are particularly common around the parish. In face we have spent 10 years trying to eliminate them from the meadow part of the Upper Orchid Field. But what would our countryside look like if they all went? This is not as unlikely as you might think. We have previously commented in Whats On about the rate of tree loss by human action what with new housing, cycle ways or action by individual householders. This is matched by a replanting record in Wales that is woefully short of the targets set by the Welsh Government. However this is as nothing compared with the threat created by Ash Dieback or Chalara, a lethal fungus first reported in Britain in 2012. In an experiment in 2013, 155,000 ash saplings were planted and only 2.5% remain disease free now. Not only is there a potential impact on the 955 mammals, birds, insects, lichens and fungi that use the trees but it will affect the council tax payer, through the additional cost of removing dead and dying trees, particularly where these overhang roads, parks or houses. And the most amazing thing is that even though it is a native species we imported 5.2 million ash trees from abroad between 2003 and 2011. Many of the pests and diseases our trees and plants are suffering from have been imported on shrubs and trees from abroad. It may be that we as consumers might have to consider asking our garden centres where the plants that we are buying have come from. Scientists are working on a variety of ways to help address the problem but timescales for developing disease-resistant strains can be measured in decades and Chalara is with us now. But, you might say, there are plenty of other types of tree around. The photo shows a veteran Sweet Chestnut tree near Cowbridge which we also have growing on Grange Park and in the woods near the Upper Orchid Field. Another killer fungus has destroyed 3.5 billion Chestnuts in the USA and last summer it reached East London, Devon and Dorset.

 

 

Spring is Just Around the Corner

 

Daffodil bulbs are well on their way, pigeons are nesting, Easter eggs in shops, moles are looking for a mate and leaving small piles of earth in gardens where there not wanted, spring must be close.It is only February I know but loads to be getting on with. If you are ordering plants or seeds from catalogues you need to get in quickly as some favourites will soon be out of stock. Planning ahead, are you going to enter the village show later in the year, if so then some special seed will give an advantage. Seed from specialist growers does cost more but we're not entering to come last are we?

Winter flowering shrubs that have that have stopped producing flowers should be cut back now as the more new growth they put on throughout the coming year the better the display.Winter flowering Jasmine is one that benefits from early pruning.

Lily bulbs can be potted up now and place Dahlia tubers in a light warm place to encourage them to sprout before planting out, be careful not to let them dry out. Root cuttings of perennial Poppies can be taken. At the end of the month cut back the stems of potted fuchsias that are under cover and put in a warm place to promote new growth. Keep dead heading winter pansies, they will go on for a long while yet.

Hardy annuals can be sown in pots and will be good for filling in gaps throughout the year if you stagger the sowing, also wildlife love them. A tip from the RHS, when weeds start to grow then its time to sow hardy annuals. Sweet peas sown now and put in a cold frame will prolong the season along with the autumn sown ones that can now be potted up.

The lawn may not be looking at its best this time of year but edging will need to be done and grass cut if you can possibly get on to it. If you delay the first cut to long it will become difficult to manage. Keep sweeping those worm casts away. Turf can be laid now if ground conditions allow.

We are fortunate to live in what the Police say is a low crime area but we must not become complacent. Don't leave machinery and tools on view, put a good lock on garden buildings. It only takes a minute for a thief to relieve you of anything not locked up. Shed alarms are a good cheap deterrent.

This is the time of year when we might be thinking of some major changes to the outside area. If your going to need contractors to help with the work now is the time as their books are not as full this time of year. Get at the very least two quotes and do not be pressured into any contract. To find good people can be challenging, the best way is to speak to people who have had work done. Please do not accept offers from people who come knocking at your door, you may get lucky but newspapers are full of stories about work not completed and over charging.

Need to know more about gardening? then the environment team is for you. They meet on Mondays usually twice a month and help keep Wenvoe looking good. The team includes amongst others Trevor Ieuin and Brian, these gardeners have loads of knowledge and its free. Take care and happy gardening

 

 

Wildlife Group AGM

 

A good turnout of 29 attended the Wildlife Group AGM in January. It is encouraging that so many residents are willing to turn out to ensure we have a quorum when other much larger groups often fail to get this level of support. It is also worth noting that a third of our members come from outside the parish including Barry, Penarth, Dinas Powys, Cardiff and even Clydach Vale. The meeting was followed by a talk by Linda and Rob Nottage who are so knowledgeable about the local wildlife and have an amazing array of photographs to complement what they have to say. In an increasing era of specialism it is nice to listen to people who like Darwin or Attenborough can see the broader picture. Our 5 Green Flag applications have been submitted, the newest being the Wild Orchard at St Lythans so we have plenty to do to get that ship-shape before judging takes place. During January we were one of the three nominated charities at Waitrose in Cowbridge but we only heard during the first week of the month so could not forewarn readers of Whats On. However if you did cast any green tokens in our direction we are most grateful. The money will go towards wildflower seed which we hope will result in our best ever year for wildflowers. Some patches we planted last year were disappointing with little or no seed germinating – we shall not be using that supplier again. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook or, better still, join us.

 

 

Rain Stopped Play!

 

Our January meeting had to be abandoned due to severe weather. To the gentleman who donated a very large azalea to be planted out in the village, let me assure you it is being well looked after, but again the weather has been against us but as soon as possible it will be planted, probably on the verge opposite the bottom of Pound Lane. We will try for another meeting on 12 February.

 

 

Prepare for Spring

 

Happy new year everyone.

I hope you're enjoying all the gardening goodies you were given at Christmas as, once people know that you're interested in horticulture, it's guaranteed that future presents will include items connected to the garden.

It might be difficult to get motivated when you're still fighting your way through sweets and the extras you bought or baked just in case a bus stopped outside your house over the New Year. As we know time waits for no one and there is plenty to be getting on with. The R H S has a top ten of things to do in January:-

1. Recycle your old xmas tree by shredding it to use as mulch

2. Clean pots and greenhouse ready for spring.

3. Dig over any vacant plots.

4. Disperse worm casts on lawn.

5. Inspect stored dahlia and begonia tubers for drying out and rot.

6. prune apple and pear trees.

7. Start forcing rhubarb, covering with a large upturned pot.

8. Plan your vegetable crop rotation for the coming season.

9. Keep putting out food and water for the birds.

10. If you have a peach or nectarine plant now is is the time to cover it with polythene to protect against peach leaf curl.

Broad beans can be sown now in pots and put in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse.

Sow lettuce, brassicas, spinach and salad onions indoors for extra early crops. Onion seed can be planted if you have a heated propagator.

Trees and shrubs can still be moved now as long as the ground is not frozen. Bare root plants can still be put in now. With the weather so changeable please make sure that any stakes and ties are as they should be. Wind rock can ruin shrubs and trees. If we have snow we must not let it build up on shrubs if we can help it as branches can break which will invariably spoil the shape of the plant. Wisteria can be trimmed now, cut back to 2 or 3 buds but avoid cutting any flower buds. January is the last chance to sow seeds of native trees and shrubs that need frost to germinate.

Summer bulbs and seed potatoes will be available to purchase from the middle of the month, just be careful and keep them safe from frosts. Cut some of the old leaves off hellebores to expose the flowers.

Having watched Blue Planet 2 and seen the devastation caused by plastic on marine life, I will be making it my duty to always have a bag on me when I visit a garden centre as we do when supermarket shopping. It’s just a pity that all pots and trays are plastic. It comes down to economics and unless governments pass legislation this will continue, but anything we can do will help.

Have a happy New Year. Happy gardening.

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