Month: May 2021

A Wenvoe Forum

A WENVOE FORUM

Considering Today and Tomorrow

Please can you help?

Following a call out issued at the beginning of March a small group of like-minded people have met on Zoom to create a think tank or forum to bring together the ideas and aspirations of the village.

We have lived through a sometimes strange and troubling year or more, with the path through to an acceptable existence alongside Covid still a bit un-clear and a pressing future need for a rebuilt and changed economy that takes account of climate change and environmental issues. However, throughout all, the Wenvoe community has proved itself caring, resourceful and in good spirit and well up to the job of helping to create that future in a very positive way.

The future belongs to all of us and particularly to the younger residents, families, children and young people who will be living with the consequences of plans, decisions and actions taken now for the rest of their lives. It’s important that everyone feels able to have a say in shaping the plan.

A “Considering Today and Tomorrow” may sound a little grand, but be assured a grand plan is usually made up of lots of small actions.

So how can you contribute your ideas and help to see them come to life.

1.The group would be delighted to have a few more individual members so that it is more representative of the whole community. If you are a family with children, a young person, the owner of a local business or any resident of the village, with an hour to spare every 3 weeks or so the please contact us –

e-mail:  gareth.stone1@btinternet.com

2.The forum is keen to build on the very strong community groups and networks that already exist. We don’t want to duplicate what is already happening but to plug any gaps. Sharing information and ideas is the key. Individual members of the forum could link directly with your group or you could put forward a representative. Please make contact via e-mail gareth.stone1@btinternet.com

3.We have already discussed lots of ideas and would love to know whether you think we are on the right track.

We have created a very short 2 minute on line survey – please fill it in there:-

4.We want to hear from people of all ages so several members of the household can each complete their own survey.

 

We want to hear your ideas too, please send them to gareth.stone1@btinternet.com

Thank you, we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

 

 

Teacher Adventures: School Trips

Teacher Adventures: School Trips

“Would you like to accompany 30 children to Madagascar on their French language trip?” asked the French teacher at the school I was working at in Kenya.

“Oui, merci,” I replied, rapidly recalling my GCSE francais! The French teacher assigned to the trip was ill, so fortunately for me, I was drafted in as a last minute replacement.

Two weeks later, 30 very excited students gathered at Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi, for the flight to the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo. The trip was an opportunity for the students to practise their French (both Malagasy and French are both official languages of Madagascar) and to experience a different culture and way of life. Madagascan culture is renowned for its colourful fusion of influences drawn from seafaring Borneans and Bantu Africans, Arabic and Tamil traders, and French colonisation (unlike the British colonisation in Kenya).

Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 250 miles off the coast of East Africa. Madagascar is the world’s second-largest island country and the nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world) and numerous smaller peripheral islands. We were to be based in a hotel on the east coast of the island. Days were planned to include French lessons in the morning, followed by a swim and snorkelling in the Indian Ocean or swimming pool; excursions were organised for the afternoons to allow the students to experience some of the historical, cultural and artistic attractions of the island.

The students loved visiting the capital, Antananarivo, known locally (and considerably simpler) as Tana. They had the opportunity to admire the beautiful colonial architecture in the old Haute-Ville area of the city, visit one of the art galleries and museums and to spend their money in the open air market stalls at Analakely. Other trips were planned to see the truly alien landscapes of the limestone karsts in north western Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park and the Avenue of the Baobabs, where 25 baobab trees over 100 feet tall are strung out along the Tsiribihina dirt road.

Undoubtedly the highlight of the trip was the visit to see the lemurs. As a result of the island’s isolation from neighbouring continents, Madagascar is home to various plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Approximately 90% of all plant and animal species found in Madagascar are endemic. There are many bizarre and wonderful creatures to be seen on the island, but lemurs are the creature most closely associated with Madagascar. The students, and staff, were thrilled to find and see these charismatic primates in the forest and their saucer shaped eyes were peculiar, but strangely endearing. All agreed they were an amazing, very special sight.

 

Near the end of our week’s stay, our idyllic routine was severely interrupted. In Madagascar, the combination of south eastern trade winds and north western monsoons produces a hot rainy season with frequently destructive cyclones. Unfortunately, tropical cyclone Kamisy coincided with our visit. Kamisy was considered the worst tropical cyclone to affect northern Madagascar since 1911 and winds reached up to 105 mph. Throughout Madagascar, a total of 68 casualties were reported, and 7000 buildings were destroyed, including 1020 schools and 450 hospitals. Following the storm, emergency food and medical supplies were supplied to the nation from French rescue missions.

For our Nairobi students, a cyclone was a novel, and frightening experience. Confined to the hotel they could watch from the windows of their rooms as the trunks of trees were blown to 45 degrees, as the sea was whipped up to a frenzy, as the sand billowed uncontrollably along the beach and as the swimming pool water was thrown against the dining room windows. Lights flashed on and off as the electricity supply was interrupted and hotel staff were unable to arrive at or leave the hotel as roads were covered with fallen trees.

We were confined to the hotel for the final 2 days of our trip. We could not travel across the island as roads were blocked. The pool was out of bounds due to damage caused by the cyclone and the landscape in the gardens of the hotel had changed completely: debris from trees was scattered everywhere and some trees swayed perilously after the storm.

A change of programme was necessary. French lessons continued in the morning and in the afternoons it was my responsibility to provide entertainment…..Fortunately I had packed some dance tapes and spent the afternoons teaching an assortment of dance routines to very eager, enthusiastic and excitable students, who soon forgot they should have been enjoying the delights of Madagascar! The high spot was, remember this, FLASHDANCE…the routine was repeated innumerable times, in pairs, in trios, in fours, as a mass dance….all that was missing were the leotards and leg warmers!

After 2 days we were allowed to leave the hotel to travel to the airport. We could see the destruction caused by the cyclone as we travelled through the countryside: buildings destroyed, houses without roofs, vegetation uprooted. It was a gloomy, depressing sight. We had some wonderful memories of Madagascar, but also realised that the people who lived on this beautiful island sometimes had to endure, at times, some very unforgiving, harsh conditions.

 

 

Union Flag At Half Mast

News for May

The flying of the Union Flag at half mast, on the church tower, was a signal that we were joining in with the country, on hearing the sad news of the death of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. In church, prayers were offered for HM the Queen at the loss of a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, and we also included in our prayers the loss of loved ones all over the country to the ravages of COVID-19, at whose passing, funerals were held under strict covid rules. May they all rest in peace and rise in glory.

The church has been open for Eucharistic worship on Sundays and Wednesdays, under the strict covid rules, where places have to be booked in advance, and bookings often exceed the numbers allowed. It is hoped that the next Government announcement on May 17th will allow a greater relaxation of the rules and some kind of a NEW normality can be introduced, so we wait to hear.

THE TOWER.- Mention was made in last month’s “What’s On” of the security tape placed around the base of the tower to prevent public access, as the mortar infill was falling due to the severe frosts we have had in the month. Steeplejacks were engaged to scale the tower and report on the condition of the fabric; their report is very worrying. There is extensive degradation of the mortar infilling of the stones and the church architect was made aware of the report. The repair work must be put in hand as quickly as possible, using lime mortar which can only be applied in frost free conditions. This will mean scaffolding around the tower, and once tenders have been received, the work carried out before the winter is upon us. At the present moment our Building Fund, is limited as we have already accepted estimates for the redecoration of the interior of the nave and chancel ceiling. This work will take place during the early part of May and the church will have to be closed for all worship, due to the scaffolding erected etc. within the building. We will not know the costs involved for the tower repairs, until the tendering process has been completed, faculties have been applied for, and grants may well have to be sought to carry out the work. A public appeal is also being considered as this unexpected work is beyond the finances of the church. We acknowledge with thanks how church members have responded to maintain St Mary’s during the past year, the contributions made to the building fund by the 200 club over the years has funded the normal maintenance work needed on a Grade II* building. We appeal to all who value the presence of the village church, to respond in some way to keep the church building in good and fair condition. Any contribution you are able to make will be most welcome and gratefully received.

As a sign that church worship is returning, a wedding is planned to take place in May,

This will be the first wedding for over a year. The number of guests is limited, and of course receptions cannot take place in doors. Jon has a number of other weddings planned during the year, which have all been postponed due to the covid rules. Baptisms cannot be held at present, but as the covid situation improves, relaxation of the present rules could well be relaxed, as we strive to make the NEW normal the way ahead.

The annual Church Vestry Meeting has taken place on ZOOM with all officers and members of the PCC voted into office for the remainder of the year. This will be the last PCC meeting in the parish of St. Mary in Wenvoe. As from January 1st 2022 the PCC will be reformed as the Devolved Church Council (DCC) when we become a part of the NEW MINISTRY AREA of “de Morgannwg” bringing together nine churches merging as one grouping, whose mission is to bring the love of Christ to our communities. This will mean a change of status as a self governing parish. It is over 900 years since parishes were formed following the Norman Conquest, and when we merge we will be parishioners in the wider Ministry Area. This will entail a new Electoral Roll of church membership, a bringing together of all the individual church finances. For this year it is a work in progress, with Zoom meetings taking place with representatives of the nine churches trying to find a common ground within the ministry area.

The Christian Aid Appeal

“Making Steps Matter”

This year’s Cristian aid appeal was launched in church on the 4th Sunday of Easter, in readiness for our LOCAL CHALLENGE of counting and sponsoring the many steps we take during the day in our normal lives. Sponsorship forms can be collected from the church porch or Springfield Stores , Donations and results can be given to Rev. Jon Ormrod or posted through the church letter box. So let’s get walking and giving.

We continue to support the Barry Food Bank with collections from the church porches of Wenvoe and Sully churches on Thursday mornings. The need for food banks is greater than ever and contributions can be left in the church porches during the week. All food items gratefully received, especially requests for tinned potatoes, 100gram jars of coffee, treats for children, men’s toiletries, and tinned meats. Many thanks to all who donate on a regular basis.

Keep well, God Bless

Parry Edwards

 

 

Oak Apple Day

Oak Apple Day

Saturday 29th May is Oak Apple Day so don’t forget to celebrate our wonderful oak trees. Take the time to admire them, give them a hug, write a poem about them or paint or photograph them. If you have children, make sure they can identify an oak with its very distinctive leaves and its acorns. You won’t have to go far to find them as they are in the school playground next to the pavement.

So what is Oak Apple Day all about? When Prince Charles (the Stuart one!), who was eventually to become King Charles II, was being pursued by the Parliamentarians (Roundheads) he hid in an oak tree near Boscobel Hall in Staffordshire. The oak is still there and is known as the Boscobel Oak. Those who supported the restoration of the monarchy would wear a sprig of oak and if you did not you might have your bottom pinched – so, Wenvoe – beware! The day also became known as Pinch-Bum- Day. It is celebrated in many places with processions and the drinking of beer and eating plum pudding. The nearby Battle of St Fagans in 1648 between the Royalists and Parliamentarians was probably the largest battle ever to take place on Welsh soil. There are an estimated 467 pubs in Britain called the Royal Oak, most featuring an Oak Tree, Prince Charles or a Crown and some with Parliamentarians prowling in the vicinity. It is possible that the Royal connections took over a much earlier pagan tradition.

There are two native oaks in Britain. The more common around here is the Pedunculate or English Oak – Quercus robur. Then there is the Sessile Oak – Quercus petraea – which is more frequently found in the North and West of Britain, often on higher ground. To tell them apart, the English Oak has its acorns on stalks, the Sessile Oak has them attached directly to the twig. But, as always, just to make things awkward, the two species do hybridise. An impressive total of 1,455 Sessile Oaks have been planted recently in Whitehall Quarry. There are many types of non-native Oaks planted in our Parks and larger Gardens including the Turkey Oak.

But what is an Oak Apple? It is a gall, that is a malformation in the bud, leaf or twig of a tree caused by tiny wasps or fungi. The common gall on Oak is the Marble Gall – this is hard and looks very much like a Malteser. Many people think these are Oak Apples but they have only appeared in the last couple of hundred years and need Turkey Oaks to be around as part of their life cycle and they were only introduced to Britain in the 1700s. The Oak Apple is much less common and is only very occasionally seen around Wenvoe. It is much larger than the Marble Gall – up to 4 centimetres across and is soft and spongy. One very similar to the one shown in the photo was found near Goldsland Farm. If you come across one, do let the Wildlife Group know as they can then be recorded. In the meantime, celebrate your Oaks and wear your sprig with pride!

 

 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

OFF THE SHELF

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This month’s book was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Two stories are entwined into the main character of Kya, who grows up in the 50s in the marshes of North Carolina. Her mother walks out on her abusive, alcoholic father leaving her youngest child Kaya and her siblings in his care. One by one her siblings leave. There is a short period when her father tries to care for his young daughter, but he soon returns to his drinking and gambling, he abandons Kya leaving the seven-year-old to fend for herself in their remote shack. Ever resourceful, Kya becomes self-sufficient by growing her own vegetables and picking and selling mussels to local trader Jumpin’ and his wife who take her under their wing. Despised by the ‘respectable’ people of the nearest village where she is known as the filthy ‘marsh girl’ Kya keeps to herself and avoids going to school. Finding her mother’s water colours Kya paints the flora and fauna of her surroundings. Although illiterate Kya has become a knowledgeable naturalist. As a teenager she becomes friendly with Tate who teaches her to read and write. Kya goes on to write illustrated books on nature and becomes a popular writer. The second part of the story involves Chas a wealthy spoilt boy who takes advantage of her. The story ends with a surprising twist.

It’s difficult to believe that this brilliantly crafted story is the author’s first novel. It rapidly became a bestseller and is about to be made into a film. It transported us to a different place and time, and we were gripped by the poignant struggles and triumphs of this little girl. Most of us thought it was one of the best books we had read and gave it 9/10 points.

 

 

Star Gardening Tips for May

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Stella Gardening Tips for May

Alex Cooper’s tips from the force

  1. Edge the borders to keep them neat and tidy.
  2. Don’t sow all your veg at once , spread them out to prolong the harvest season.
  3. Pine needles make a good mulch for camellias rhododendrons and azaleas.
  4. Leave a hoe by the back door to remind you of weeding.
  5. Check your soil PH so that you only purchase plants suitable for your soil type.

Dilys Jenkins gardening knowhow

  1. Water plants early in the morning.
  2. Mulch the top of pots with bark or stone to aid water retention.
  3. Planting runner beans this month will produce the best crops.
  4. Make sure you level the soil in trays before planting seed as all good nursery people do.
  5. Grow sunflowers in partial shade. They will grow taller searching for the light.

The Chelsea chop is a method used by nurseries after the London show to rejuvenate their perennial plants. Many perennials flop by midsummer, rudbeckia, helenium and sedam can be cut back by half, resulting in a bushier plant that will flower slightly later. Gwen Williams of the walled garden uses this technique every year to give a longer lasting display.

Dahlias and canna lilies can be put outside now. Cut back aubrieta, alyssum and candytuft to encourage new flowers. clear away forget-me-nots to prevent over seeding. Tie in shoots of rambling roses, lay the stems horizontally to produce more flowers and side shoots. Lift and divide clumps of daffodils. Tulip bulbs take a bit of work to keep every year. First snip off the flower as it fades then allow foliage to die back, lift the bulbs and dry on newspaper, store in a cool dry place ready to plant out in the Autumn. Keep the sweet peas climbing by tieing in the shoots. Be sure to feed container plants every 2 to 3 weeks. Take cuttings of fuchsia and softwood cuttings of sage. Deadhead lilac as flowers fade; to do this wait until you see the two shoots below the faded bloom start to swell then snip off the flower just above.

At this time of year most of the ground on vegetable gardens and allotments are covered in new growth. Keep sowing peas and carrots every few weeks to prolong the harvest season. Take the tips off your broad beans once the pods start to form to prevent blackfly. If you can bear to do it, take the blossom off your newly planted fruit trees so that they can establish properly during their first year. Keep raspberry canes tidy by pulling up shoots that are too far away to tie in. If you’re using netting to protect your crops please secure it properly to prevent any wildlife becoming trapped. On the off chance that you’re wondering what to do next on the veg plot, just have a look at the allotment of Colin Thomas. His book on high altitude allotment gardening is at the publishers.

When the garden centres opened in the middle of March, people were chomping at the bit to buy plants. We then had a cold spell over Easter where the plants bought, which had previously been kept in warm temperatures before, were now exposed to cold northerly winds. To add to the plants’ demise the first minister told people they could now go on holiday within Wales. With good, dry (albeit cold) weather forecast, the poor plants didn’t stand a chance. So back to the garden centre to line their pockets.

Take care and happy gardening.

 

 

The Weird And Wonderful World Of Democracy

THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF DEMOCRACY

When you rock up at the community centre to cast your vote in the Senedd Cymru elections, you might come across people exercising their right to vote for the very first time. Not everyone welcomed the idea of extending the vote to 16 year olds, but the Welsh Government hope that this move will encourage young people to engage with the political process. An estimated 33,000 foreign nationals can now also take part provided they meet certain legal and residency requirements. Our politicians of course, will be looking to attract voters both old and new. All told they will spend more than £1 million, encouraging us to turn out and especially to vote for them.

Things have moved on quite a bit since democracy first got going in 5th century Athens, when women, slaves and foreigners were excluded. We took some time to catch on to the idea of democracy. Until the Reform Act of 1832 certain ‘rotten boroughs’ in the pockets of rich landowners, elected two Members of Parliament even though there were few or even no actual voters. Dunwich in Suffolk, which as a result of coastal erosion had almost fallen into the sea and Old Sarum in Wiltshire, which consisted of two or three houses, were classic examples. This situation was even more absurd when you consider that until 1832 new industrial towns like Manchester with a population of 60,000, did not have a single MP.

In the rare event there was a properly contested election those who could afford to stand came up with some cunning plans to make sure voters turned up and voted for them and it wasn’t just in Britain. In 1758, George Washington, then a young candidate for the Virginia House of Burgesses, bought a huge round of drinks on Election Day. Washington spent his entire campaign budget — £50 — on 160 gallons of liquor served to 391 voters. The custom of buying votes with booze was perhaps not surprisingly a British tradition imported to the American colonies. In Wales we had one of the finest examples. A celebrated contest took place in Carmarthenshire in 1802 between James Hamlyn Williams and William Paxton. The election was said to have cost Paxton a total of £15,000. This included 11,070 breakfasts, 36,901 dinners, 25,275 gallons of ale, 11,068 bottles of spirits, 8,879 bottles of porter, 460 of sherry, 509 of cider and gallons of milk punch. The contest became known as ‘Lecsiwn Fawr’ (the Great Election). In spite of these efforts, Paxton was defeated and spent two years settling his debts! Things are a bit different today and in some US states such as Utah, buying any alcoholic beverages on the day of the election is actually prohibited. Indiana recently abolished this rule, but they have their own interesting take on elections where the sheriff is called to haul you out of the voting booth if you take too long – reckoned to be a maximum of three minutes.

A record $14 million was spent by the candidates during the 2020 US presidential election campaign. In the UK the spending limit for each candidate standing for election as an MP is £8,700 plus 6p per registered parliamentary elector. The current Senedd Cymru elections will cost our politicians a pretty penny. In 2016 even the Monster Raving Loony Party spent £8,808! This may not have gone down well if it was in Ohio where they have a clause that prohibits idiots from voting — no, really. It reads, “No idiot, or insane person, shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector.” Some US voters recently went so far as to suggest that this clause should apply to presidential elections as well!

 

 

 

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