Category: Wenvoe Wildlife Group
What An Outing !
VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT TEAM
What an outing on our first meeting of the year!
Before we got going a concerned citizen reported that suspicious activity was afoot at the church. We voted for Ian to go and investigate, as he was nearest. All ok though as the gentleman was investigating a problem with the roof. Neighbourhood Watch proved its worth.
The team then found a series of small holes on the village green. We thought at first folk had been metal detecting but as it turned out Brenig Davies and Gareth Sing Song had been settling their differences after the Christmas carol service and lost an earring in the melee. To make amends for his behaviour, Gareth collected litter all along Old Port Road.
We did plant three gifted trees, a couple of roses and some bulbs before departing. It was heart-warming to see a daffodil out on a lovely morning.
Our next meeting will be on 13th February at 9.30am by the Community Centre.
Hedge Laying Course
Wenvoe Wildlife Group
Three members of the Group attended the hedge laying course organised by the Vale Local Partnership team and found it very valuable. It was originally scheduled to take place in our Community Orchard but this was flooded so the venue was switched to Cosmeston. It is still planned to layer the hedge by our Community Orchard but this will depend on the floodwater receding.
The Tuckers Raised £1,155
Wenvoe Wildlife Group
Our thanks, as always, to the Tuckers who raised £1,155 for the Wildlife Group from the Reindeer sale. Thanks also to those of you who donated raffle prizes or bought tickets, manned or purchased items from stalls, or who helped out in other ways. One of our first purchases will be a new bench for the Community Orchard which has been missed by many of you when the first one disintegrated. Also taking place between the 11th and 15th January is a hedgelaying course at the Community Orchard. The instructor will be doing preparation work for the first three days and the course then runs on the 14th and 15th. At least three members of the Group have registered for the course which will not only pass on this ancient skill but should tidy up what has become a quite unruly hedge.
Volunteers Welcome
Wenvoe Wildlife Group
Our thanks to the Tuckers for contributing the proceeds from their sale of plant labels to the Wildlife Group. And the forthcoming Reindeer sale also involves a further generous donation which is invaluable to the work the group does. Costs the group incurs include insurance, purchase of equipment such as strimmers and contributions to the costs of cutting the Upper Orchid Field. We are always buying trees, including fruit trees and shrubs and plants that are good for pollinators. Your support is very much appreciated and if you can find the time to do the occasional hour of conservation work you would be most welcome.
The Vale Biodiversity Team
Wenvoe Wildlife Group
The Vale Biodiversity Team
At this time of year, you will see a lot of activity around our sites cutting the grass and wildflowers. The Vale Biodiversity team own a seed-harvesting machine, and this is being deployed on the Community Orchard and small meadow at Goldsland Farm. The seed will then be used to create wildflower meadows elsewhere in the Vale. They are also cutting the Lower Orchid Field which runs alongside the Whitehall Quarry access road. This has not been cut for many years and was starting to be invaded by bracken and scrub. The cut will help re-establish the wildflowers which used to include several Bee Orchids. The Upper Orchid Field is also due to have its annual autumn cut under a contract let by the Community Council.
In this month’s Nature Notes the focus is on hedgerows and it is good to be able to report that the hedge-laying course, originally scheduled for last winter, but cancelled because of bad weather, is being rescheduled for the coming winter. The two-day course is being run by the Vale Biodiversity team and will take place on the Community Orchard. Our hedgerow was planted a few years ago (see photo) but is now 2-3 metres tall. Places are limited and more information will be circulated by the Vale and will be advertised on our Facebook page.
Collecting Wildflower Seed
Wenvoe Wildlife Group
Collecting Wildflower Seed
September should see some of our sites being cut, mainly the Community Orchard off Station Road and the small meadow at Goldsland Farm. This is done by the Ecology team in the Vale of Glamorgan Council using a special machine which collects wildflower seed in the process. This is then distributed to create new wildflower meadows elsewhere in the Vale. We are currently unable to get machines onto the Upper Orchid Field as Cemex changed the locks on the access gate and we are trying to get a key. However the intention is to take some wildflower seed from here and this will be followed by the normal full cut scheduled for October. Photo shows the seed collecting machine in use last year
Funds from the Tuckers’ garden sale have been used to purchase a strimmer to be used for our orchard, the mini-meadow and watercress beds at Goldsland Farm.
Seven Green Flag Awards
Wenvoe Wildlife Group
Seven Green Flag Awards for 2022!!
This is a tribute to all involved with the community sites. The landowners – The Reader family and Vale of Glamorgan Council – make it possible. Without the land we would not have the orchards and meadows for everyone to enjoy.
Our thanks also to Wildlife Group members who help with the conservation and others who either as individuals or groups cut the grass, strim the vegetation and cut down unwanted bushes and trees, To the Scouts who plant the hedgerows and individuals who fundraise for us – a big THANK YOU.
This year promises to be our biggest crop of fruit so far. Why not visit the orchards and sample over 50 different varieties of apple, pear, plum, cherry, medlar, damson and filbert? The photo shows a Nant Gwrtheryn apple all the way from the Llyn in North Wales. This is in the Welsh Orchard. See if you can find another in any of the other local orchards at Dyffryn, Porthkerry, Peterston etc
A Substantial Contribution From The Tuckers
Wenvoe Wildlife Group
We are thrilled yet again to be receiving a substantial contribution from the Tuckers following their plant sale. This will be in excess of £800. Our thanks to everyone who manned the stands, attended on the day and spent money as well as donating raffle prizes and plants for the sale. Particular thanks to Mike and Glenys who made the whole event possible. Where would we be without them!
Dog walkers who visit the Upper Orchid Filed will have noted that the dog poo bin has been removed. When the bin was installed 10 years ago, the next nearest bin was in Grange Park. WWG members have emptied the bin ever since but as all other bins are emptied by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and bins are now also available at the corner of Walston Road, Vale of Glamorgan Council were approached to empty it. Even though payment was offered, VOGC was not prepared to help and the decision was made to remove it. We were happy to leave the bag dispenser. However, this has been abused by dog owners who have been placing filled bags in it and so this is also being removed.
Please help to keep this wildflower meadow tidy by taking your dog bags to the nearest bin and help ensure that we retain our Green Flag status. Thank you.
Last Wildflower Meadows Near Cardiff
Wenvoe Wildlife Group
Visitors to the Upper Orchid Field will have seen that the field has been cut. This is one of 
the last wildflower meadows near Cardiff so is an invaluable resource for wildlife as well as being a popular recreational location for walkers, joggers and other visitors. An annual cut is essential to prevent brambles, ash saplings and the ranker grasses from taking over. When we started maintaining the site over 10 years ago this was just what had happened and most of the slope was covered in self-seeded trees. Our contractor, John Crockford, has done a great job, particularly in controlling the brambles which had started to take over the top of the field