New Bus Pass

 

NEW BUS PASS

Concessionary Travel Pass

Have you applied for your new pass?

Transport for Wales are working with all Welsh local councils and Welsh Government to roll out new-style Concessionary Travel Cards by the end of December 2019. These cards will replace the current green ‘bus passes’ across Wales. The old-style cards will not be recognised by electronic readers on buses after 31st December 2019.

The new-style cards offer the same free travel rights and benefits as the current bus passes. The new cards are designed so that they can work as part of an integrated travel network in the future.

Advice and support with the application process is also available from your local council, Age Cymru and other community organisations. Find out where you can find help in your local area by contacting our help desk at travelcards@tfw.wales or call 0300 303 4240.

Residents are encouraged to apply online or ask a friend, family member or someone they trust to apply online on their behalf. Online applications take around 15 working days to be processed.

Paper application forms are available by emailing your contact details to travelcards@tfw.wales. They’ll also be available from your local councils. Paper copies take around 20 working days to be processed.

To apply on line go to:-https://tfw.gov.wales/ travelcards and follow the simple instructions. You will need the number of your present card and your National Insurance number to complete the application. The new card will use your present photograph unless you wish to change it, instructions are available on how to proceed

 



 

Walking Group November Programme

Walking Group November Programme

Walkers meet at the front of the Wenvoe Community Centre. If you are interested in a walk, just turn up; don’t forget your lunch on an all day walk. When transport is required we car share. Contacts for this month’s walks are: Bert-20594418, Mike 01446 742269, V’Iain 20593221, and Ian 20594573.

 

Sat 2nd Nov:- Newton Green, Nr Chepstow . 7½ mile walk.

Meet at 9.30am .Mike (OL14)

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Thurs 7th Nov:- a walk round Cosmeston Lakes and into Penarth.

Meet 1p.m. at the village hall. . Bert

 

Christmas walk & lunch Thur 11th Dec. at the Horse & Jockey. We will need the menu choices and monies by Thursday 7th Nov. walk. so that we can finalise the information for the booking.

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Sat 9th Nov:- Park Penallta Countr Park. Approx 7 miles.

Meet at 9.30am. Ian

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Sat 16th Nov;- ChepstowPark Wood. Approx 7 miles.

Meet at 9.30am. V’Iain (OL14)

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Sat 23rd Nov:- Tylcha Fach, Tonyrefail. 7¼ mile walk

Meet at 9.30am Mike (166 & 151)

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Sat 30th Nov:- 14 locks 6.7 miles walk.

Meet at 9.30am Ian (152)

 

 



 

RHS 8 tips for November

RHS 8 tips for November

  1. Clear up leaves, especially from lawns, ponds and drains.
  2. Please make sure all containers kept clear of the ground.
  3. Plant tulip bulbs for a spring display.
  4. Prune roses to prevent wind rock.
  5. Plant out winter bedding.
  6. Cover brassicas with netting if pigeons are a problem.
  7. Insulate outdoor containers from frost. Bubble wrap is good.
  8. Stop winter moth damage to fruit trees, by using grease bands around trunks.

Top tips from the Wenvoe Environment team

  1. Keep an eye on those good gardening neighbours to see what they’re up to.
  2. Build an extension to house all the new recycling bags.

Do not feed plants at this time of year as most of the nutrients will end up in water courses. Apply an autumn mulch to the likes of agapanthus, kniphofia and phygelius. Remove stakes and other supports from late flowering herbaceous perennials as plants die down for the winter and store in a dry place for next year. Helebores rarely flower at Christmas despite the common name of Christmas rose. Remove diseased or damaged leaves and encourage earlier flowering by covering with a cloche. Garden centres often sell off perennials at this time of year. They will not be looking great but if you can see past the the drab looking specimens, you will have great plants next year.

Weeds are tough and will grow when most plants have given up so if you can get onto the soil keep up with the weeding, it will all help for next year’s spring rush. Digging over the earth at this time of year exposes soil born pests and larvae to the birds and frosts. Try not to leave the soil uncovered for too long or the risk of erosion and nutrient loss will occur. Cover with a mulch if possible. Clay soils can be more workable in the autumn as they are not as hard as rock or too soft. Mulching will help to improve the structure. This is especially prevalent if you live on the Grange, where most of the top soil was stripped off before building started.

When you next plant up some containers, add a little sand (along with the small stones you put in the bottom of the pots) to the compost. This will help drainage and give more room for the root system. Petroleum jelly smeared around the top of the container will discourage slugs. Both these tips are from radio 4 so they must work.

The author of this column will be giving (and probably receiving) advice on any subject at the Christmas Reindeer Cafe on Saturday 23rd November between 12noon and 4pm in the Church Hall so why not come along. Entry is free and all are welcome.

Take care and happy gardening

 



 

Dyffryn Paintings Conservation Project

DYFFRYN PAINTINGS CONSERVATION PROJECT

 Dyffryn House, at Dyffryn gardens is holding a paintings conservation project from the 22nd October-end of November. Visitors will get the chance to watch specialist painting conservators in action, as they repair the 3 paintings by prolific Welsh artist Margaret Lindsay Williams (1888-1960). Williams portraits are in the Royal collection , and the National Museum, Wales. Come and discover more about her fascinating life and career, and take a look at her allegorical paintings which caused quite a stir when she painted them in the early 20th century; The Imprisoned Soul and The Devil’s Daughter.

Conservators will be in the Oak Room of Dyffryn House Monday to Thursdays from 1-4pm. They will also be running conservator talks with Q&A at 1:30pm and 3pm.

 



 

Abercraf

 

Abercraf

It was a lovely sunny morning at the end of August when we set off from Abercraf in a westerly direction. We walked along the river, the sun sparkling on the water. Passing through a kissing gate we noticed that its ‘gate’ had been dumped in the bushes nearby. Soon we were passing the Rheolau Arms and walking along the road in baking sunshine. We entered woodland, appreciating the shade and walked amongst the gnarled trunks of ancient trees. It was hard going underfoot at times, as it was quite boggy with no signs of a marked path and we climbed over or through a fallen tree. We came into open countryside and then arrived at the village of Cwmgiedd.

In 1943 ‘The Silent Village’, a British propaganda short film in the form of a drama documentary was made in Cwmgiedd as a tribute to the people of Lidice in Czechoslovakia. It was a collaboration of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, South Wales Miners Federation and the people of the Swansea and Dulais valleys. Part of the film is in Welsh with no subtitles. The 36 minute film is available on YouTube – just search for ‘1943 film The Silent Village’. In 1941 the villages of Cwmgiedd and Lidice were similar mining communities, though 984 miles apart. The film depicted what might have happened to the Welsh mining village if German Fascists had occupied it. The obliteration of the Welsh community is intended to parallel the events in Lidice the previous year.

On 27th May 1942 Jozef Gabcik & Jan Kis attempted the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich and he died of his injuries on 4th June 1942. Hitler demanded retribution and on 10th June Lidice was razed to the ground. All the 173 men of the village were executed, the women were taken to concentration camps and the children herded into trucks. To this day the fate of the children is unknown, only a handful ever returned home.

In 1947 ‘Lidice shall Live’ funds were handed over to Czechoslovakia and a new Lidice rose from the ashes, a foundation stone being laid 300 metres from the original site. It was noticed that corn in a particular field grew higher than elsewhere and horses refused to work there. This was the site of the mass grave, which is now home to a memorial.

In 1969 sculptor Marie Uchytilova was deeply touched by the tragedy and made it her life’s work to create bronze monuments of every child killed in Lidice. She completed the casts in 1989 and died suddenly later that year. Her husband completed the bronzes in 2000 and 82 statues now stand proudly in Lidice, looking down the valley. In 2015 a pear tree sapling (of a pear tree that was destroyed but regenerated) was handed over to the people of Cwmgiedd. It remains a living, permanent link between Cwmgiedd and Lidice.

Walking through the village we spotted a whole hedge of rosehips. At the northern end of the village we entered Coedwig Giedd forest. We followed forestry tracks along the river Giedd, though we couldn’t see it most of the time as it was hidden by trees and below us. We rested for lunch on some large rocks most of us seeking shade, as it was 27degC.

Emerging from the forest we crossed Nant Ceiliog and some boggy ground aiming for the rocky outcrop at Cribarth. We were surrounded by untouched wilderness with no sign of man’s influence in any direction (apart from the ubiquitous wind turbines in the far distance). It was well worth the climb – unusually we had climbed gradually until early afternoon. We disturbed a frog and then a newt in the long grass and realised that normally this area was a lot wetter underfoot – thank goodness for the dry summer.

Now we turned generally south and dropped quite quickly through the purple haze of heather laden hills with a patchwork of fields in the distance. Soon we were enjoying refreshment in the Abergraf Inn.

Walk 8 miles 1400ft ascent. Map OL12

 



 

First Half Term Completed!

First Half Term Completed!

We are finding it hard to believe that we have nearly completed our first half term! They say time flies when you are having fun and that is certainly true for us in school!

Our Reception class have settled beautifully into school life. They are busy learning to read key words and recognise sounds and numbers and we are so proud of them.

Year 1 are enjoying learning in their new classroom: their outdoor space is also completed, with a canopy for shade and shelter.

Year 5 led Worship; family and friends were invited and they enjoyed a super Harvest celebration.

To celebrate Harvest, all the children enjoyed sharing and eating delicious bread.

Year 6 led an information session on staying steady and avoiding falls – this was for the over 55 age bracket. Thank you Year 6.

As we approach half term, we will reflect on the past 8 weeks as a time of new beginnings, filled with exciting new challenges and fun times.

 



 

Great Expectations

Great Expectations

There is an expectation which has fallen on the youth of today; that we must fix the problems our predecessors have caused. Between the likes of Greta Thunberg, the climate activist who made headlines after her recent speech at the UN, and Emma Gonzalez, the powerhouse who helped organise March For Our Lives on behalf of gun control last year, and Autumn Peltier, the Native American teenager working on behalf of clean water protection, the world has seen its fair share of young activists.

But my issue is that why should they have to fight the battles which should be fought on their behalf? In the words of Greta Thunberg herself in her speech at the UN Climate Summit earlier this month, “I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you!”.

Young people are losing their childhoods trying to undo the wrongs of the past, whilst the politicians who could be aiding them are either mocking them or are watching on in astonishment. And yes. It is astonishing that at such young ages, these young women are able to change the world. But it’s not their duty to change the world. Not yet anyway. It is their duty to gain an education and to learn and be free to explore who they are. The politicians watching them with starry-eyed gazes ought to be the ones protecting them. Protecting all of us – young and old.

Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida in 2018 had to co-fund the gun-control advocacy group. Never Again MSD, had to help organise March For Our Lives and held a six-minute silence for the victims of the shooting (six minutes was the length of the shooting) before any changes at all were made. Florida Legislature finally passed a bill titled ‘Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act’ thanks to the work of Emma Gonzalez and her co-founders; but she had to be the face of a generation at just 18 years old because the politicians she should be able to rely upon refused to raise their voices.

Greta Thunberg, at aged just sixteen is a face which is so recognisable. In August 2018, aged 15 years old, Greta Thunberg started spending her school days outside of the Swedish parliament in the hopes of climate change. Soon, many joined her call to arms, with the climate strike Fridays for Future being organised soon after. Following Thunberg’s 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference, student strikes took place worldwide each week. She took a racing yacht over the Atlantic to attend the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in New York, to demonstrate the importance of reducing emissions. But at sixteen, although she is undoubtedly an icon, Greta Thunberg should be enjoying her time with friends – not worrying about the fact entire ecosystems are collapsing.

14 year-old Autumn Peltier is an internationally recognised advocate for clean water. An Anishinaabe-kwe and a member of Wikwemikong First Nation, she is a water protector who has addressed the UN General Assembly on the issue of water protection. Having been nominated for an International Children’s Peace Prize in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Peltier is known for her activism. But she’s fourteen. She was thirteen when she first addressed the United Nations. She deserves a childhood where the people who are in power are protecting the issues she is having to advocate for – it’s their job; it was never hers.

Yet these young women have all earned backlash for their work recently. Greta Thunberg was attacked for her looks – it says a lot when the only thing they have left to go after is your lack of a smile when you’re talking about the fact Earth may become unliveable soon.

A Republican congressman, Steve King, attacked Emma Gonzalez for wearing a Cuban flag on her jacket, stating, “this is how you look when you claim Cuban heritage yet don’t speak Spanish and ignore the fact that your ancestors fled the island when the dictatorship turned Cuba into a prison camp, after removing all weapons from its citizens; hence their right to self-defence”. The badge worn on Gonzalez’s jacket was adopted in 1902, fifty years before the communist take-over and has since been used by anti-Castro exiles as a symbol of patriotism.

These are young women. Young women who deserve the right to go about their teenage years in the way I was able to. We shouldn’t still be looking to them to lead the way, when politicians and world leaders should have been doing their jobs a long time ago.

Pressure is having three essays due in a week. Pressure is having to cram for exams each day of the week. Pressure is performing in a school show or being the one to score the winning try on the rugby field against an opposing school. Pressure should not be having the eyes on the world on you at all times and holding the weight of the world on your shoulders. It’s too much pressure for anyone – especially when there are adults in the world who are qualified and being paid to share the responsibility between them.

Although these young women are icons, they are also children. Their jobs aren’t to fix the world.

By Tirion Davies

 



 

Christmas Scout Post

Christmas Scout Post

Christmas is coming! Wenvoe Scout Group are once again taking part in the Cardiff and Vale Scout Post. The stamps, are now available at 30p each. Please buy your stamps locally, this helps support the 1st Wenvoe Scout Group. See the advert below for local stamp availability, post box locations and the areas covered by the Scout Christmas mail service.

The last day for posting this year is

Monday 2nd December.

WHY NOT LEND A HAND

The Scout Post requires adult support to carry out the majority of work involved. Each evening of the sorting week we need people to help sort cards into the different local areas. Our sorting office is set up in the Community Centre leisure room. We also require somebody to go to Llandaff each evening to exchange the sorted mail with the other participating scout groups and collect the mail for the Wenvoe area. By the end of the week with all our local mail sorted into roads we require deliverers. We are responsible for mail in Wenvoe, Brooklands area, Twyn-yr-Odyn, St Lythans, Dyffryn and The Downs. It is at this stage the whole family can lend a hand with a short walk in the area. Maps are available.

We will be sorting at the Community Centre at the following dates and times

Saturday 30th Nov. @ 7.00pm

Sunday 1st Dec @ 7.00pm

Monday 2nd Dec @ 7.00pm

Tuesday 3rd Dec @ 7.00pm

Wednesday 4th Dec. @ 7.45pm

Mail exchange starts on Saturday 30th November and continues until Wednesday 4th December. Delivery of the mail starts on Saturday 7th December.

If you would like to lend a hand with any of the activities involved please contact Martin Williams 20593345 or e-mail wenvoescoutgroup@gmail.com, Ian Moody 20594573 or Jane Fenton-May 20593221 or any leader connected with the scout group. Those who have assisted in the past have found it an enjoyable experience.

NOTE – The Scout post covers Cardiff and most of the Vale but does NOT extend to Beddau, Bridgend, Castleton, Church Village, Coychurch, Efail Isaf, Kenfig, Llantrisant, Llantwit Fadre, Marshfield, Miskin, North Cornelly, Ogmore & Garw Valley, Pencoed, Pontyclun, Porthcawl, Talbot Green, Tonteg which are all outside our area and hence we are sorry but we cannot deliver them.

 

 



 

When Did You Last Plant A Tree?

When did you last plant a tree? With November 30th being Tree Charter Day and the Woodland Trust planning to plant 35,000 trees on that day alone, here is a chance for you to consider what you can do to help.

Why bother? As the Woodland Trust says ‘as well as absorbing carbon, trees help to deal with the effects of climate change, stemming flooding, reducing pollution, sheltering livestock and nurturing wildlife’. So whether you are a farmer, councillor, run a business or have a large or small garden, this is for you to think about. And whilst big trees are great, even the smallest garden can accommodate an Amelanchier, Clerodendron or Acer. Alternatively you can sponsor the planting of a tree via the Woodland Trust. Jody Scheckter, ex Formula 1 racing champion who now lives in the UK says ‘A house without a tree is just a building site’. To back up his words he has planted 130,000 trees and 8 miles of hedgerow.

On the positive side some Wenvoe residents have applied for and should shortly be receiving packs of trees from the Woodland Trust. The Government has pledged to reach ‘carbon net zero’ by 2050 which could mean planting 30 million trees a year. Cornwall Council has pledged to plant 80 square kilometres of saplings with £1.7 million committed for the first phase. South Gloucestershire Council will be planting up 1,400 parks, verges and other green spaces with 14,000 broad-leaved trees. 2 million saplings will be planted in the Northern Forest north of Leeds thanks to a collaboration between Leeds City Council and the Environment Agency. It would be good to read in What’s On what the Vale of Glamorgan Council are planning on doing.

You will be hearing more in the coming months about the Environment Wales Act which is increasing pressure on government bodies, including Community Councils, to take account of biodiversity. But we have seen (and reported in What’s On) that there can be a huge difference between the pledges and commitments and actual delivery. England and Wales are woefully behind their own existing tree-planting targets and whilst we have praised Scotland for planting more than all the other UK countries combined we have now realised that these are mainly conifers and their own planting of broad-leaved trees is minimal.

This is a major issue for the decades to come and it is worth noting the words of Greta Thunberg who has considerable support from the youth of today:

‘You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you’.

So gardeners, teachers, publicans, quarry operators, farmers – here is an opportunity to make a difference. Plant a tree and (as the Welsh Government advises) if you cut one down, replace it with 2 or 3 new ones.

 



 

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