The Official Wenvoe Homepage
WENVOE QUILTERS
We are a group of ladies who are passionate about Patchwork, Quilting, Crochet, Knitting and much more.
We meet on a Monday 9.30am – 3.30pm. Why not pop along and have a look at what we are making and maybe join us.
We meet at Wenvoe Community Centre. Alternatively, telephone Linda Edwards – 02920 593679
Local author, Cathy Farr is hosting another Creative Writing Day on 10th July in Dinas Powys.
Following the success of previous workshops over the last two years, Cathy will be welcoming budding writers to spend the day enjoying a host of practical writing activities that really will get those creative muscles going.
The sessions are inspired by the workshops and tutorials that Cathy attended when she was doing creative writing as part of her degree with the Open University. After achieving a 2.1 honours, Cathy has spent the past eight years developing her own teaching material as well as writing novels, and regularly hosts writing workshops in the Vale, as well as in schools.
‘The day is ideal for people who are interested in doing some creative writing but don’t really know where to start,’ says Cathy, author of six novels for children and adults. ‘You don’t have to be planning to write a novel; some people come simply to have a go at doing something a bit different.’
Cathy with her Irish
Wolfhound pups – the
breed that inspires her
writing.
Cathy’s main aim in these workshops is to give people the chance to let their own imagination do the work and to have some fun, too. Positive comments from people who have attended previous workshops include: ‘It was enjoyable, fun and really interesting. Your teaching methods enthused us all I think, they certainly did me, along with the wonderful character you brought to it, that is Cathy Farr!’
Cathy gives as much constructive feedback as possible during the day, which means that places are limited so early booking is advised. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, 10th July, 10.30a.m. to 3.30p.m. in the Lee Hall at the Parish Hall in the centre of Dinas Powys and the price is £45 including tea and coffee throughout the day. For more information and to book your place contact Cathy at cathy@bitebooks.co.uk or on 02920 511031.
Hay: A wonderful day was had by all. A few members of the group had booked ahead for festival events, but the others enjoyed looking around the festival stalls before enjoying a beautiful day shopping in Hay and nipping into a tavern or two for refreshments. Everyone agreed that this has to be an annual event.
Sat July 13th Cheddar Gorge (see advert page 11) and Sat Nov 30th London Trip. £22. Book your seats early to avoid disappointment.
The Village Show is organised by the library and all proceeds from the show will go to its upkeep. It’s going to be a fun event with lots of fun activities. More details to follow. You’ll find a copy of the schedule and the rules in the library so start making, cooking and growing.
Sharing experiences: Each month we’ll be inviting people to share memorable experiences of places they have visited. Your contributions are welcome.
Hay: We arrived in time for a coffee before listening to Rosie Goldsmith’s interview with Victoria Hislop on the launch of her new novel ‘Those that are Loved’. This is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship. We were intrigued by the amount of research Hislop puts into each of her novels and will be ordering her new book from the library.
A quick lunch before our next event: Inside Brexit – The Story, The News, The Spin. Three journalists Katya Adler, BBC’s Europe Editor, John Crace, The Guardian’s parliamentary sketch writer and Simon Jenkins, former editor of The Times, and now a columnist gave us insight on the coverage of Brexit. They gave a candid and fascinating discussion on Who said what, what they meant, what they didn’t say, and why it might not matter for another 50 years. Or how it might bring down reputations, governments and economies.
Our final event was an interview with Ian McEwan on his new novel Machines Like Me, which takes place in an alternative 1980s London. Marcus du Sautoy, author of The Creativity Code: How AI is learning to write, paint and think questioned McEwan on how artificial intelligence will confront us with the fundamental question: what makes us human? Another two books to order from the library. Can’t wait for next year.
The Marianne North Gallery, Kew Gardens. Marianne North travelled solo to some of the world’s most remote jungles and forests. On her return from these travels she produced more than 800 botanical painting which are housed in her gallery at Kew. The gallery was completed in 1892.
One of our ‘Page Turners’ visited recently and was totally fascinated by the floor to ceiling exhibits. Well worth a visit.
Annual ECALM initiative: The ‘Every Child a Library Member’ project aims to introduce library membership at key stages throughout the early years. On 11th June we invited 27 year 4 pupils from Wenvoe School for a talk by ex-teacher and volunteer Alina Trigger. The session included a brief introduction to the Dewey system, a quiz, and a goodie bag for each child.
Did you know that everyone in the UK is entitled to join their local library at birth? If you live in Wenvoe and have a child who is not yet a member, don’t miss out. Just call in to see us during open hours, bring proof of your address and your child’s details. Online registration is quick and easy, and you can walk away with up to 10 books which your child can borrow for three weeks.
Readers’ recommendations: We are asking readers to let us know whether they have particularly enjoyed a book that they can recommend to other readers. We are putting these recommended books on a separate shelf in the library for the attention of other borrowers. This initiative is really popular so please let us have your suggestions.
Pop-up Book Stalls: We continue to hold our successful pop-ups. Look out for us outside the Village Stores over the next few months with a selection of good-quality donated books at reasonable prices. All proceeds go to keeping your library open.
Book donations: Many thanks to those who have donated books. We are grateful to receive good quality books. We can always collect your books if you find it difficult to drop them off at the library.
Book Bags: We have some lovely grey canvas book/shopping bags for sale in the library at £5 each.
Clwb Clonc – Our Welsh conversation group continues to go from strength to strength. Learners and first language Welsh speakers who want to practise their conversational skills can join us for an informal chat. Weekly meetings are held on Mondays in the café at Pugh’s Garden Centre at 11 am, and at 7pm on the second Thursday of the month in the bar of the Wenvoe Arms. Croeso i bawb
Queen’s Birthday Honour for Abi Reader of Goldsland Farm
Many people living in Wenvoe have been talking to the What’s On Team about the worthy MBE honour bestowed upon Abi Reader, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Abi farms with her parents John and Jennifer, and her uncle, Robert, at Goldsland Farm. The MBE recognises Abi’s services to farming.
As well as managing a herd of 180 Holstein Friesian and Dairy Shorthorns, Abi is the vice chairwoman of NFU Cymru’s Dairy Board, Glamorgan NFU Cymru county chairwoman, part of the Welsh Dairy Farm Innovations Group, the Wales TB Eradication Board, Cattle Vaccination Board and an AHDB Dairy Ambassador. She hosts Open Farm Sunday and writes in the Farmers Guardian.
Abi is also recognised for creating ‘Cows on Tour’ and travels around the country with her organisation, educating children and young people about food and farming.
With the added involvement in activities to raise money for the farming charities RABI and the DPJ Foundation, Abi is a worthy recipient of this honour. Congratulations, Abi!
The What’s On Team were delighted to receive this letter of congratulation from Ann M. Jones:
‘Very many congratulations to Brennig Davies who won the Crown at this year’s National Urdd Eisteddfod – the largest Youth Festival in Europe – which was held in Cardiff last month. The adjudicators were unanimous in their praise of the winning entry. Brennig, who was educated at Ysgol Sant Curig and Ysgol Bro Morgannwg in Barry, is at present reading English at Oxford. His feat testifies to the success of Welsh Medium education in the Vale of Glamorgan. Readers of ‘What’s On’ are familiar with the monthly column contributed by Brennig’s twin sister, Tirion – who is studying Journalism at Cardiff. We, the villagers of Wenvoe, are very proud to have a National Winner living amongst us and we all hope he continues with his writing. Llongyfarchiadau mawr, Brennig’.
It gave us the opportunity to get in touch with Brennig and to read more about his entry in the prose competition at the National Urdd Eisteddfod.
Writing under the pseudonym Fleur De Taf, Brennig’s work was described by the judges as ‘brilliant and original’ and in a highly competitive field they chose ‘an author who is confident enough in himself not to need verbal fireworks. We went for one that unsettles. We went for a maturity that left us wanting more.’
Pictured here at the Crowning Ceremony, Brennig had this to say: ‘I’m really proud to have won the Crown this year, as it’s been a great way of keeping in touch with my ‘Welshness’ during the time I’ve been away at university, and it feels particularly special because the Eisteddfod was so local. Thank you to everyone who’s been so kind and supportive, and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to write more in the future!’
Visitors to the Upper Orchid Field may have noticed that we are beginning to see the return of the Oxeye Daisies. People who remember the field over 50 years ago often comment on the fact that Oxeye Daisies carpeted the slope. They are still only there in small numbers but hopefully we can expect to see swathes of them in future. They can spread through a creeping underground rhizome but we shall try to help them spread by scattering seed from other plants in the vicinity.
They are commonly referred to as Dog Daisies but have many other wonderful names such as field daisies, Marguerite, moon daisy, moon-penny, poverty daisy and white daisy. They are good for bees and other insects as they produce a lot of pollen. We haven’t tried this and are not recommending it but sources say that the leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, the young shoots added to soups and salads and unopened buds pickled like capers.
These flowers have been largely driven out of our meadows with the use of herbicides but are quick to colonise road-side and motorway verges which tend to be unsprayed.
Planning updates
Th following application have been approved.
The tenders received for the new library exceed the available funding for the project. Possible removal of non-essential works and internal modifications are being considered in addition to other cost saving
options. Hence no work will proceed at the Community Centre at the present time.
Childrens Playgrounds:- The Grange Park designs and tenders have been received by the Vale, consultation with the Community Council will be held within the next few weeks and it is anticipated the new installation should be completed by early autumn. The Twyn-yr-Odyn play area design is approved and awaiting the return of tenders.
A proposal document on possible boundary changes for the ward were discussed. These suggestions will be forwarded to other Community Councils involved in this scheme before any formal proposal is submitted to the Boundary Commission.
A plan to limit parking along the northern section Old Port Road during school start and finish times is being considered with the aim of reducing traffic disruption and increased safety to children. Any such scheme could be ignored by certain parents and hence would require enforcing if it was not to prove pointless.
Complaints have been received about the use of Chapel Terrace, Twyn-yr-Odyn. This is a private road and hence not the responsibility of the Highway authority. Possible solutions were proposed that would hopefully alleviate the situation.
The Council have appointed Claire Harlow as the new Clerk to the Council. She will take up her new post in July.
Planning
• 13 Goldsland Walk. Conversion of existing garage into a storeroom and study. No objection
• 64, Burdons Close, Wenvoe Conversion of existing garage to habitable space. Garage is integral in the house. No objection.
• 48, Gwern Close, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff Convert garage to extra living room. No objection.
• 56, Heol Collen, Culverhouse Cross Proposed double storey set back side extension and single storey lean to extension to rear to provide enlarged living space, office area and additional bedroom. No objection.
• Trehwbwb, St. Lythans Road, St. Lythans Installation of a 12 panel / 4KW solar PV system to land south of property. System to be ground mount No objection.
• Hamston Fawr, Dyffryn Proposed extension to first and second floor south elevation to include en suite/dressing room in loft space and balcony at first floor level. No objection
• McDonalds Restaurant, Valegate Retail Park, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff Refurbishment of the restaurant with minor alterations to elevations to include extensions totalling 37.8 sqm. Replacement drive thru booths with the addition of grey cladding and a section of new shopfront with associated works to the site. No objection.
• Land at Sutton Farm, A4226 Five Mile Lane, Barry Construction of a concrete hard standing to allow visiting HGVs to turn and leave the site in forward gear plus appropriate gates at the entrance. Required due to new road construction, supported.
• The Old Rectory, 10-12, Old Port Road, Wenvoe. Residential conversion of the Old Rectory and coach house, demolition of out buildings and structures, and associated works including the construction of a new residential coach house, and parking – 12 Units. Due to the this application being submitted just before the Council meeting it will be considered at a future date.
