Category: Environment Group

The Wenvoe Orchid Field

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

THE WENVOE ORCHID FIELD

If you don’t know how to find the Wenvoe Orchid Field, take the footpath at the top end of Walston Road (Walston Road is the road up past the village church), at the far end the road swings sharp right down to the Walston Castle. The footpath passes the old Walston Quarry, now filled and being restored, up past the gate used by the lorries providing the ‘clean’ infill material and on into the Orchid Field.

To the left of the entrance is a display board showing the shape of the field and where the different paths lead. Climbing to the top far side of the field there is a footpath exiting the field which leads to the Quarryman’s Stone, a tribute to past quarrymen of the different quarries of the area, the recently installed toposcope and Twyn yr Odyn with it’s recently refurbished public house.

The Orchid Field. known by some old residents as the sledging field when winters were colder, and snowier, belongs to the Vale Council and is being managed by the Wenvoe Wildlife Group. Orchids and many other wild flowers thrive best in poor soil rather than enriched areas, which is why, each year, the field is cut and the material removed rather than being left to rot down and fertilize the soil. Brambles also thrive in poor soil; new shoots grow over the top of last year’s old brambles leading to some dense bushes, these provide refuge for wildlife, but hence there is a constant battle to control them rather than let them run rampant by. pushing growth back towards the perimeter of the field. Black thorn is also a problem in some sections of the field if not kept in check.

The Orchid Field working party meet monthly on the third Monday morning of the month from 9.30am onwards and is always keen to welcome anybody looking to participate in some worthwhile outdoor voluntary work for a few hours (no set working times). You do need to provide your own tools, ie shears, lopper, secateurs etc along with a sturdy pair of gloves.

The field has recently been cut, leaving areas that the machine cannot reach and require cutting by hand. Members often select a certain area to concentrate on clearing over a few months and will return on other days in the month, when they have some free time and the weather is pleasant. What can be better on a nice summer’s day in pleasant peaceful surroundings than enjoying some easy exercise in the great outdoors.

 

 

Shady Didn’t Return On Time

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Shady Didn’t Return On Time

Our first assignment of 2025 was to tackle an untidy area adjacent to the Walston Castle, identified by one of the team. A couple of traffic cones kept us a little safer from the traffic, which to be fair behaved well. You get the odd one who’s in a rush, which is like a red rag to a bull to Shady, who gets so irate and this ends up in confrontation. To keep Shady out of trouble, we asked him to put up a nesting box donated by the wildlife group, well away from any traffic. When Shady didn’t return on time we set off to find him. He was seen standing on a box, nailing the nest box to a tree, apparently for flightless blue tits. Because of the notoriety surrounding Shady, he insisted his profile be removed from the photograph

 

Very Blustery Weather

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Iery Blustery Weather

A good turnout considering the very blustery weather. The work party set about clearing the debris from the footpath on Tarrws Lane. Shady, as always, took his litter picker and was removing rubbish on the road, when a gust of wind got hold of him and he went flying past us at a rate of knots. Fortunately, Shady grabbed a tree branch.

The problem was trying to get him to let go. Big John suggested we leave him there as a windsock. Martin said we ought to wait until the wind subsided. It all ended abruptly when Ieuan found Shady’s bankcard and invited us to the pub, at which point Shady fell on him.

The team wish you all a successful 2025 and next month will be putting up bird boxes donated by Wenvoe Wildlife Group, weather permitting

 

It Soon Went Bottoms Up

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

It Soon Went Bottoms Up

What started as a full complement of eager veterans ready to clear the vast amount of detritus from the bottom of Pound Lane, soon went bottoms up. Things were going so well, until the police turned up with a warrant for the arrest of team member Gareth (Shady) Williams. Despite some not so convincing protests from the rest of the team, they put Shady in a police van. Big John took it upon himself to lay in the road to prevent the constables taking Shady away, the problem with that was, he didn’t have his glasses on and was lying down at the back of the van and they just drove off. Shady was later bailed for £5. His friend has started a gofundme page to get a legal team on the case. It stands at 90p. Charges relate to his time in France before he was extradited.

Our meeting for December has yet to be confirmed as there could be more arrests from our group if Shady starts squealing under interrogation. If you think you might fit in with this bunch of outlaws, please let the Godfather know.

 

Merry Christmas you filthy animals.

 

A New Recruit

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

A New Recruit

 

We as a team are happy to announce a new recruit. Martin, son of long-term member Ieuan (pictured), joined in the tidying of the village green in preparation for remembrance Sunday. As with all our team they come with an Achilles heel. Martin being a bicyclist has more than one. This restricts his ability to communicate unless he’s riding two abreast down the middle of a road. He wouldn’t have his picture taken unless he was stood by someone

Now that we have two members below seventy, our insurance allows us to work 500 metres from a defibrillator instead of 50.

Our main source of inspiration, Gareth, turned up late with an excuse that was so unbelievable, we can’t repeat. But his arrest is imminent.

The good men which may not include Gareth, will meet at the triangle of Pound Lane on Remembrance Day. We will remember them

Plans To Recruit Pillars Of Society

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Plans To Recruit Pillars Of Society

While on a routine cleaning up of Clos Llanfair. The team were approached by an official from the home office, who informed the men of government plans to recruit pillars of society into a sort of local volunteer force to help quell some of the unrest in the country. As soon as the gentleman started speaking, Gareth Mainwaring (front of photo) piped up and told the official of his past war record and said that he would lead the men. No uniform or weapons will be issued. The task force would have to verbally calm any situation with the troublemakers. Gareth has a known ability to be able to wind up a sloth, so will have to stay at a safe distance or rioting will prevail.

If we remain in one piece, we will meet at the junction of Pound Lane and Walston Road on 14th October

 

£1000 For Wildlife Activities

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

£1000 for wildlife activities

After another very successful Village  Show organised by Mike and Glenys  Tucker, we were delighted to receive just  under £1000 For Wildlife  Activities. Our thanks to all  who supported the occasion  and made individual  donations and, not least, Mila  and her Lavender sachets.  These events have enabled us  to repaint, refurbish and  rebuild noticeboards, clear  vegetation, buy tools and  create the school Wildlife  patch amongst many other  things. Without them we  would struggle to retain our 7  Green Flag Awards. Well  done all round!

Litter Picking

LITTER PICKING

Arlo and Will helping to keep the village tidy, by litter picking with their mum on Station Road. This isn’t a one off as they are often to be seen helping out. LITTER PICKING

Next litter pick;- week commencing 4th October with filled bags collected, along with black bags, on 11th October. Bags and pickers available . Please contact Russell Godfrey 07922 588924

 

An Average Age Of 82 Years

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

An Average Age Of 82 Years

With an average age of 82 years, this small band of brothers turn out each month to help keep Wenvoe a place to be proud of. This outing was aimed at keeping the village green area neat and tidy. They were so engrossed in their tasks, I had to call a halt to proceedings as it was time for their medication. The gentle soul in the picture was doing his best to get run over, by not facing the traffic and refusing to wear his hi vis jacket. ‘We didn’t have shiny coats in the war’, he said. The handle of the broom is 2ft 6ins, just to give you an idea how hard it would be for drivers to see him. We’ll meet again at Clos Llanfair to refresh the entrance on 9th September

 

Not Our Best Time

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Not Our Best Time

Not our best time. The group had received some criticism of their work on social media last month. Only then to report that some of the team, who are members of the silver foxes had been eliminated from a Cary Grant look a like contest in Treherbert, because they didn’t meet any of the criteria. Hearing the anguish, Sian, a neighbour informed the sobbing old folk that a George Clooney resemblance gala was being held in Tenby during the Autumn, she assured them that a podium finish could be in their grasp.

Well, on hearing that good news the team worked like dervishes and cleared the flower bed in front of the Community Centre. While Gareth collected litter with a spring in his step. One absentee today was big John, who broke his foot while skating in preparation of playing Cary Grant in the bishop’s wife.

Our next meeting will be at Gareth sing songs house for tea and biscuits and to sweep his drive. Or tidy at the roundabout outside his property on the glorious twelfth

 

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