Category: Environment Group

Chosen By ‘Help the Aged’

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Chosen By ‘Help the Aged’

The team had a special task today, cleaning around the memorial in preparation for Remembrance Sunday. We were chosen by Help the Aged to try and include some folk who find mixing difficult. Mr Williams (in the tabard) was felt most welcome, along with his carer, Dr Martins (yellow coat). All went swimmingly until a vehicle went past a little too fast. This resulted in Mr Williams chasing it as far as the pub to berate the driver. The carer said that his patient had been knocked over so many times it had left him a foot shorter and with a dislike of thoughtless motorists.

Team elder, Ieuan, will be laying a wreath on behalf of our group. Being a young lad at the outbreak of WWII, he has many memories of the shenanigans that went on in Wenvoe at that time and with a bit of persuasion could even give a talk on this. There may be lawyers involved if some of the families descendants are still around.

This band of good folk will meet on the 8th December to swap our prescriptions. It’s loads better than exchanging presents, as you never know what you’re going to get.

Wishing everyone a lovely Christmas, especially those who help us home after our meetings.

It Was A Cow’s Nest

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

It Was A Cow’s Nest

Our aim this month was to clear the bamboo in the Community cemetery.

While working amongst the dense undergrowth the team discovered what was thought to be some sort of nest. Our British bird expert Martin Snr took a look and failed to identify the object. Apparently Martin’s expertise only covers birds in the Sun newspaper. Thankfully, Ieaun had seen a similar version, only with glass bottles at Topindu farm as a youngster, it was a cows nest. These are a rare sight, although the cow is a common animal in these parts, to find a nest is astonishing. We knew it hadn’t been there long as all the cartons were in date. The Ministry of Agriculture told us to leave it well alone and work elsewhere.

Problem we had was that Gareth had already helped himself to a semi skimmed. He has a long history in the family of devouring rare specimens, turtle poached in milk is one of his favourites. His father scoffed the last dodo!

We took the cut bamboo to the Twyn Yr Odyn allotments, thinking they’d be glad to have them. Nicola & Barry dismissed our wares, saying their beans grow so big they tie them to the mast. They must be American beans.

We will meet on 3rd November to tidy up at the memorial in preparation for Remembrance Sunday on the 9th.

Hit & Toddle

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Hit & Toddle

The team had been put under pressure by the residents (Brenig) of Clos Llan Fair, to tidy up the entrance adjacent to the church. We always start our work after the school run, so as to avoid the heavy traffic. The men did not factor in the younger element running late for nursery. Two of these little terrors came hurtling down the road, with the one in front mounting the kerb and pinning Hapless Gareth to the floor.

The culprits toddled off into the church and hid. As luck would have it, we had a medical man in our midst, but it wasn’t dentistry poor Gareth needed. So, with shock setting in the medic gathered all of us together and took us back to his home for refreshments.

October 13th is our next time out. We can guarantee that it will be well away from any danger (the cemetery).

The Gang Master Pockets The Money

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

The Gang Master Pockets The Money

Hallelujah! The team have been struck a couple of blows by Age Concern. Firstly, we have been questioned over the viability of using people past their sell by date. Secondly for taking defenceless folk away from their loved ones to complete arduous tasks whilst the gang master pockets the money.

None of this was found to be true when the team was infiltrated by two undercover local government officers. As you can see from the photograph, they stood out like sore thumbs. Steve and Tony, they called themselves. The investigation concluded that the oldies were better off working and keeping well, rather than using up valuable space in care homes around the area.

This month the boys tidied up around the fringes of the Walston Castle, plus tidying up the roundabout in Greave Close. A kind lady supplied cold drinks and Gareth’s wife Sue gave us tea and biscuits when the work was done. Tony and Steve were so impressed by the comradeship, that they decided to join us in the future. We appreciate all the goodwill that comes our way. Being able to remember who was at the last meeting, has become a bit of a challenge, but when we meet up it’s like making new friends.

Our next gathering on September 8th will be at the entrance to Clos Llanfair. Big John will bring his favourite tool.

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

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.

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)

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.

Keeping The Village Tidy

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Keeping The Village Tidy

On an overcast morning, a depleted team of six helped tidy up the rose bed on the village green. These folk have stayed loyal to their task of keeping the village tidy since 1988 when the group was formed, with the Rev Bernard Johns as chair. In those days the team was made up from pillars of the Community, clergy, doctors, councillors etc. Nowadays it’s kept alive by what can only be described in some cases as ne’er do wells. Best not to delve too deeply, especially Shady and of course, Big John who has missed two outings because of tennis apparently but we in the team know that the only court he’s familiar with has a judge and not an umpire. Racketeering is his forte. He has only gone missing since Trump announced tariffs.

For those not on remand, we will meet again on 14th April by the Community Centre

 

Shady Suffered From Cabin Fever

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Shady Suffered From Cabin Fever

Inclement weather along with colds and mothers not letting the boys out, stopped the teams work this month. Shady suffering from cabin fever, ventured out with his litter picker. While out, he saw 50p in a drain and wouldn’t let it be. Having got in to retrieve it, a motorist who Shady had reported previously for doing 21mph through the village, spotted him and put the cover back on.

Distraught, Shady phoned us. We got the cover off but had difficulty getting him out because he wouldn’t let go of the coin.

Grateful? Not a bit of it. He lambasted us for not turning up for work because of a little rain. If Big John hadn’t shown compassion, we would have put him back in.

The village green is our next task on Monday 10th March – whatever the weather brings

 

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