Category: News

Wenvoe Wildlife Group Summer Birdwatch

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

WENVOE WILDLIFE GROUP SUMMER BIRDWATCH

SUNDAY 18TH – SATURDAY 24TH MAY

Many What’s On readers will recall that they took part in the RSPB Birdwatch in January this year and the Wenvoe Wildlife Group were given people’s findings to assist us in learning about birds in the parish. The results were published earlier this year in What’s On.

We are now planning to hold our first Wenvoe Summer Birdwatch from Sunday 18th to Sunday 25th May and we really do need your involvement! You only need to give up one hour of your time during the seven days. The aim of the summer birdwatch is for us to gather more information on the birds that are in the parish and compare our summer and winter findings. This time we will be ‘going it alone’ as the RSPB organise just one UK birdwatch each year. One difference this time is that you can record any bird you see whether on the ground or in the air. This will enable us to include all our birds rather than just those that settle.

We have spread the birdwatch over a whole week to give people the best opportunity to undertake the birdwatch and avoid any days where bad weather is forecast. Many of you will recall the January weekend was terrible weather-wise. In addition, it does not get dark in mid-May until about 9.00pm so plenty of time in the evenings to carry out your birdwatch!

All you need to do is to spend one hour recording the birds you see in your garden. You record the number of each species of birds you see. So, for example, if you saw one blackbird on its own five times that counts as one. If you saw two blackbirds together at the same time that counts as two and so on.

Then please send your results to nigelrbillingham @yahoo.co.uk.or bruce7@ btinternet.com as soon as you can including your postcode and the date you carried out the birdwatch. The postcode helps us log what type of birds are in the different areas of Wenvoe. Don’t worry if your bird knowledge is limited there are plenty of identification guides online.

If you want to do more, you could carry out a second birdwatch in one of the eight Wildlife group’s sites which are listed below. This could be carried out on your own or in a small group on a day of your choosing within the above dates. Why not take a picnic whilst counting the birds? This will be the first time we have carried out a bird watch in most of our sites. If you would like to do this, please let us know which site you are interested in and we will ‘book you in’ to avoid duplication

We are delighted to say that the village school will also have one class taking part during the week.

The eight Wenvoe Wildlife group sites are:

Upper Orchid Field
Community Orchard
Elizabethan Orchard
Wild Orchard
Welsh Orchard
Goldsland Orchard
Watercress Beds
Bee Loud Glade

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. And if you want to brush up on your bird identification skills why not join the Bird Walk on Saturday 3rd May at Goldsland Farm led by Rob and Linda Nottage and setting off at 9.30am.

Crispy Filo Tart with Seasonal Veg

May is blooming marvellous!! It’s a month for lighter dishes that suit brighter days

Crispy Filo Tart with Seasonal Veg & Rhubarb Crumble Bars

Ingredients

3 tbsp olive or rapeseed oil
6-8 sheets filo pastry
50g dried breadcrumbs
100g asparagus sliced in half lengthways if very thick
2 courgettes or 300g baby courgettes sliced
6 large eggs
zest 2 lemons
small handful parsley, mint or basil (or a mixture), roughly chopped
200g crème fraîche
200g block feta cheese crumbled

Method

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and pop in a baking sheet to heat up.
• Use a little of the oil to lightly grease an 18 x 25cm tart tin.
• Line the tin with a few strips of baking parchment – this will help to lift out the tart later.
• Unfold the pastry, but keep it covered with a damp tea towel. Taking 1 sheet at a time, brush each piece well with oil, then use to line your tart tin, leaving a little pastry hanging over the edges.
• Sprinkle a thin layer of breadcrumbs between each layer of pastry as you go –this keeps the pastry crisp. When you get to the final layer, brush with a little extra oil and scrunch the edges together to create a pretty border.
• Toss the asparagus and courgettes with seasoning and the remaining oil and tip onto a baking tray.
• Place the pastry case on the top shelf of the oven, with the veg on the shelf below and cook for 10 mins.
• Remove the veg from the oven. Brush the pastry case with a little beaten egg and bake for a further 5 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crunchy.
• Whisk the remaining egg with the lemon zest, herbs, crème fraîche and seasoning.
• Lay half the veg in the bottom of the pastry case and add half the feta.

Pour over the egg mixture, then top with the remaining veg and feta

• Bake for 40 mins until the filling has set. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

 

Rhubarb Crumble Bars

Rhubarb Crumble Bars

Ingredients

400g rhubarb, chopped into small pieces
100g caster sugar
200g butter
200g plain flour
170g soft light brown sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
30g rolled oats
1 medium egg, yolk only

Method

• Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6.
• Place the rhubarb into a roasting dish and sprinkle over the caster sugar. Roast for 25-30 minutes, or until the rhubarb begins to soften and becomes jammy. Strain off any excess liquid. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
• Turn the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4.
• Put the butter, flour, brown sugar and ginger into a food processor, and whisk until fine breadcrumbs form.
• Spoon half the mixture (about 300g) into a small bowl, then stir in the oats. This will be the crumble topping.
• Add the egg yolk to the remaining mixture in the food processor and pulse until a dough forms or make dough with hands.
• Grease and line a 23cm square tin with baking parchment. Press the dough into the bottom of the tin. Prick all over with a fork, then bake for 10 minutes near the bottom of the oven to dry it out slightly.
• Strain the rhubarb and discard the juice.
• When the base is slightly crisper, spread the rhubarb on top, covering the whole base evenly.
• Gently squeeze the crumble topping using your hands so it clumps together slightly, then sprinkle it over the rhubarb. When it’s completely covered, bake for 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the rhubarb is bubbling.
• Leave to cool for 15 minutes.

Wolvesnewton and Trebanog

Wolvesnewton

This was a walk, west of Chepstow exploring the Monmouthshire countryside, taking in three churches and passing the Model farm.

It was a clear sunny day, but the beginning of March and frost remained in shaded places all day. Someone had had some fun, models of a dragon, a green man and an otter were alongside a stream.

We reached Kilgwrrwg Church, the first of the day, within half an hour of setting out. It is tiny with good views. A remote rural spot even today, in times past food would have been provided by strip farming, rotating crops such as wheat and corn. Someone had compiled a folder with information on births, deaths and marriages in the Parish. Leaving the churchyard, we queued to climb over a fallen tree blocking the footpath.

Tramping over lush grassland we saw our first lambs of the season. The medieval, St Thomas a Becket Church at Wolvesnewton is a larger affair on a no through road which was the main road until 19thC. It has a medieval preaching cross and churchyard. A door on the north wall of the church (the wrong side) was sometimes called the Devil’s door and it would be left open during baptism to let evil spirits escape. It is now blocked up. A stained-glass window inside depicts child angels bringing light to the gentiles.

The model farm and folk museum, which opened in 1972 and closed after 14 years, was on our route and a few of us could remember visiting it. It displayed a vast array of items from rural life spanning the Victorian era to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. There is no evidence of it now apart from a large house, some distance from the track.

Continuing we passed a wildflower meadow, a herd of llamas, and the first frog spawn of the year. At lunchtime we spread out along a bank beside the track, and a few walked to a picnic table below us. After lunch, there was some rough ground and a steep path to tackle, quite difficult after eating. At the top, there was more frog spawn and elfin cap fungus. A pony was scratching around for food in a stony field.

St Peter’s church at Newchurch was the 3rd church of the day, the land it stands on was granted to Tintern Abbey at the time of the Norman invasion. The Bristol Channel and the Cotswolds are visible from here. The yews near the gate were planted in the early 18thC and the church is built entirely of red coarse sandstone. The octagonal font is believed to originate in the 12thC.

Near the end of the walk, a house had a plaque dedicated to Martha Gellhorn (1908- 1998) who had lived there. She was an American novelist, travel writer and journalist who is considered one of the great war correspondents of the 20th C. She reported on most major world conflicts that took place over her 60- year career. She was also the third wife of Ernest Hemingway.

During the walk we had seen celandine (common name pilewort as the roots look like piles), primroses, daffodils and crocuses at the carpark. Before long we were at the nearest pub sampling delicious beer and tea. Walk 7m 1100ft. Map OL14.

 

Trebanogn

This was a bit of a surprise to most of us, Trebanog sits above Porth, and we parked there to avoid a 300ft climb. This was early April but as we got out of the cars a cold, keen wind cut into us, and we all added layers to our clothes. The surprise was the extent of the greenery up here given the large population of the valleys.

People had used stones from an old wall to create tall cairns in places. We could see the whole of Porth and even parts of the Rhondda valley. We were walking on old coal tips and found ewes with their lambs spread over a large area.

About half of us decided to add a little extra to the walk by climbing an easy short distance to a trig point. That was all very well but the steep descent through bracken was a challenge, and we were glad to get back to the rest of the group.

As we walked, Eleri a 13-year-old made up the plot for a story based on our journey, only time will tell whether it makes the pages of What’s On.

Many birds were spotted including the first swallows of the year, skylarks, buzzards, a kite, crows and ducks on a pond. We even saw another herd of llamas.

Drinks at the Cross Inn near Llantrisant rounded off the day nicely. Walk 7m 800ft Map OS166.

“The Horse Boy ” by Rupert Isaacson

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“The Horse Boy ” by Rupert Isaacson

This book is a true story of a family who embark on an epic journey across Mongolia. The author, Rupert Isaacson and his wife Kristin had one child who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. As their son, Rowan, grew older, the couple struggled to deal with and manage his severe tantrums and meltdowns, and in the book, they describe their feelings of anxiety, depression and exhaustion dealing with Rowan’s challenging behaviour but also their overwhelming love for their son. They consulted many doctors, trying to get therapies and strategies to help Rowan progress but were unsuccessful in finding any that had a lasting effect.

Rupert noticed that his son had a strong connection with horses and that horses had a calming effect on him. Rupert decided to find an alternative source of healing for Rowan and after extensive research, found that in Mongolia, the Shamans, who practice interacting with the spiritual world through trances for the purpose of healing, had a reputation for healing children with neurological symptoms.

Rupert is a journalist and arranged for a film crew to accompany the family on their travels across the country and to document their meetings with the Shamans and the healing ceremonies they participated in. This documentary financed this epic journey, and Isaacson records it all for this book.

Our book group agreed that the author had impressive literacy skills and wrote in detail; one member really enjoyed the descriptions of Mongolian history, the cities and the vast, beautiful countryside that the family covered in their quest to meet the healers. Concern was raised in the group about the rituals that Rowan and his parents all endured as part of the healing process, and we had a long discussion regarding whether this had a positive or negative effect on the family and Rowan’s symptoms. Many of the group said that although the author described the journey in great detail, this led to chunks of repetitive dialogue and the book became a challenge to read. This was another book that split the group in their feelings towards it. If you have an interest in alternative healing therapies and in particular the autism spectrum or want to know more about Mongolia and the Shamans, this may be a book for you to read.

Report from the Hub May 2025

WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Report from the Hub

May 2025

New books are in the Library again!

You are Here, David Nicholls : Marie and Michael find themselves alone on the most epic of walks and on the precipice of a new friendship

Long Island, Colm Tobin : “It occurred to him that he really wanted to ask if she had thought much about him over the years”

The Life Impossible, Matt Haig : A beautiful novel full of life affirming wonder and imagination.

Mr Einsteins’ Secretary, Matthew Reilly : Hanna Fischer is catapulted into a new and extraordinary life, as a secretary, a scientist, a sister and a spy.

The Sience Factory, Bridget Collins : A delicately woven novel with an utterly original premise, it ensnared me from the very first page.

Children’s Fiction

The Case of the Poisonous Pigs, Nick Sheridan : Three unlikely detectives, one big mystery.

Report from the Hub

Along with the other Vale libraries and Community Libraries, our Hub has been designated a warm space, so come on in for a warm, coffee and a chat.

Our monthly leaflets are available in the Hub for a full monthly list of activities.

 

Reminder: The Library no longer takes second hand jigsaw puzzles, books or magazines due to lack of space.

Please remember, that with increasing reliance on technology, we are happy to assist with accessing information on-line. Help is also available from Citizens Advice, Age UK and One Stop Shop.

Look out, coming soon. Easter Chicks and Dinosaurs (with chocolate egg) at a cost of £1.50 each

Our Library’s Spring Raffle will take place in May 2025 – watch this space!

 

Future Activities

 Cuppa with a Coppa – will meet on a Wednesday in April 2025 at 2 pm in the Hub TBA

 Wellbeing Group – will meet on a Friday in April 2025 between 2 pm and 3 pm in the Hub – TBA

 Our talk in May is ‘Wonderful things about bees’ by Professor R Rickard. Tickets will be available after Easter in the Hub.

 

Very Early Notice

Hay Festival 2025 dates: 22 May – 1 June 2025

Programmes have been sent for so will be available in the Library for perusing. Keep watching for further information in What’s On.

 

 

Wildlife Junior Workshop A Great Success

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Wildlife Junior Workshop A Great Success

Our first Wildlife Junior Workshop for 7-11 year olds was a great success. Held at the Elizabethan Orchard, it was fully booked and all who booked turned up and enjoyed a sunny session, labelling the fruit trees, painting pebbles and toasting marshmallows. Our thanks to the organisers for making it happen and to Robert Reader who owns the land for facilitating it. Forest School leaders Angela Peterken and Claire Newland of Wild Thymes thoroughly enjoyed working with the local children, helping them to connect with all the natural wonders in the Orchard. For more ideas on connecting children to our natural world take a look at their Facebook page, Wild Thymes. Our second workshop takes place on 8th June.

If you fancy brushing up on your skills at identifying birds why not join our Bird Walk which takes place at Goldsland Farm on Saturday 3rd May starting at 9.30am. Led by bird and wildlife experts Rob and Linda Nottage, the walk will cover 2-3 miles and take in a variety of habitats including fields, orchard and Watercress Beds. Accompanied children welcome as long as they can walk a few miles. No dogs please as we shall be going into sensitive areas, and this is a working dairy farm.

Visitors to the Community Orchard on the Playing Fields will have been dismayed to find our noticeboard and bee hotel have been burnt to the ground by vandals. A police report has been made with the incident number 2500116669. If you saw anything suspicious on the evening of Friday 11th April at the Playing Fields please contact the South Wales Police

 

 

Pull-Up The Forget-Me-Nots

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Pull-Up The Forget-Me-Nots

Before anything else, pull-up the forget-me-nots, to stop heavy self-seeding and reduce spreading next year. They look awful if you allow them to die back. Treat roses for black spot at the first signs of this disease. Tie in the climbing roses as they put a spurt on, also support the bush roses in readiness for the expected heavy and numerous blooms. Prune the spring flowering shrubs as soon as their blooms fade, to allow for good seasonal growth and flowering next Spring. Trim back the aubrieta after flowering to encourage a second bloom.

Take cuttings of pelargoniums and fuchsia as they will propagate easily at this time of year. We have a nationwide problem with fuchsias at the present, because of fuchsia gall mite. Removing affected parts helps but this is not a cure. Some gardeners have given up on them.

We all know how tiresome weeding is, but it has and always will be an absolutely essential activity. The planting up of hanging baskets is a job for May. These displays will always do better if you can keep them in a greenhouse or covered up at night until the end of the month.

Watering is becoming an increasing problem as we are having longer dry spells, using the washing up water will have no detrimental effect on plants. Placing water butts alongside down pipes, will help enormously towards saving tap water use.

On the allotments, gardeners are busy trying to keep up with the new season’s growth. Barry H has been watering every day to keep his well tendered plants healthy. On another plot first year apple trees are having the blossom removed to strengthen the young trees, which will give a better harvest in the coming years.

Protecting crops is a demanding and essential task especially with young plants and early cropping varieties. Netting is efficient but must be done diligently to stop birds being trapped inside. Mice seem to be the hardest to overcome, they will without doubt eat your strawberries the night before you’ve decided to pick them. Young runner bean plants are a magnet for pests. Other than having 24- hour security, you just need a bit of luck. All the effort is always worthwhile and that’s shown by the folk who love their plots.

Come along to the Tucker’s VE80 Wartime Plant Sale on Saturday 10 May in the Church Hall. Buy some lovely plants, try some wartime recipe food and dress in clothes of the era. And of course, buy raffle tickets in aid of Wenvoe Wildlife Group.

Take care and happy gardening

Christian Aid Is 80

CHRISTIAN AID IS 80

 

Christian Aid is 80 this year. It all started after World War II when people were coming to terms with losing loved ones or supporting those who were injured. The country was financially in a difficult position and rationing was still widespread. Even so, a group of people recognised the need of others, especially the millions around the world who were homeless and rootless. It was here that Christian Aid was born. In that first-year people raised £26,000, equivalent to 1 million pounds in today’s money.

Since then, Christian Aid has responded to many emergencies, and their work has expanded. The organisation works with partner agencies in many countries who share their values and aims, and gives help to all people regardless of age, faith, gender, nationality or race. Staff and volunteers at home and abroad have Hope. “We believe in the unstoppable power of Hope and that with Hope Change is possible”. Hope is central to this year’s challenge, describing achievements, needs, and ‘Hopes’ of people in rural communities in Guatemala.

In Central American Guatemala has the largest population of 17.6 million. It has an indigenous population of 43%. 55% live in poverty. 1 in 2 are malnourished. Human rights defenders are often criminalised.

Within a small community in the Alta Verapaz area, in the Northern Central Area of Guatemala we find Aurelia living in a community suffering from drought and land exploitation. The water hole nearby has dried up and they have to walk 3 miles there and back twice a day. What crops they managed to grow failed in such dry conditions. Congcoop a partner with Christian Aid has undertaken work with residents in the locality. It is here Aurelia gained ‘Hope’. She undertook various training including, knowledge and skills in agriculture working against climate change, chocolate making, and pricing and marketing skills to enable her to sell her goods. She shared this knowledge within her community and together they also learnt of solar hydration and water collection.

To raise money for similar projects during Christian Aid week (11th – 18th May.), we will be:

  • distributing donation envelopes
  • undertaking sponsored silences challenging adults, and children in Gwenvo school (look out for adults undertaking their ‘silences’ in the library on Monday 12th May)
  • leading the assembly in school explaining to the children what they are raising money for, and,
  • holding the annual ‘Cake, Cake, and Cake’ event in the Church Hall on Saturday 17th May from 10.00am until 12.00 midday. Coffee/tea and cakes to eat or to purchase to take away.

 

We look forward to seeing you during the week.

Jude Billingham

 

April Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

April Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

 

Wenvoe WI met for their monthly meeting on Thursday 3rd April. The speaker on that occasion was Mrs Brenda Webster – a professional piano accordionist. Brenda gave us a history of the accordion, which originated in France and Italy in the mid nineteenth century. The instrument underwent many modifications in both shape and function before the final production of today’s modern instrument. Brenda gave us a delightful demonstration and soon had us all singing along to her skilful playing.

The next meeting of Wenvoe WI will take place on Thursday 1st May, at 7.00pm in the Church Hall. This will be the annual AGM when we will welcome Mrs Claire Atherton our WI Advisor. Mrs Atherton will preside over the inauguration of the new Committee for 25/26, as well as conduct a ballot for the next President.

Mrs Janet Young has decided to step down from the role of President and Committee member, as also has Mrs Jean Woodman from the Committee. Both have served Wenvoe WI since the revival of our meetings after Covid.

There is a special date for the diary: on 1st May from 10.00am until 12 noon, Wenvoe WI is holding an open Coffee Morning. Entry charge is £3 to include a hot drink and a cake. There will be a tombola stall and a raffle. Much of the proceeds will be donated to Ty Hafan – our charity for this year. All are ensured of a warm welcome.

We wish all readers and villagers a Happy Easter.

Jan Young (President)

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