Month: November 2022
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.
Dragon’s Back
Dragon’s Back
In spring, we talked about which walks we would like to do this year and this one was tops for me, but the summer was so hot that we saved it for the autumn. The Dragon’s Back is named after the shape of the hills which rise and fall like the spines on a Dragon’s Back and from a distance it looks like a sleeping dragon.
There is another ‘Dragon’s Back’ which runs from north to south Wales following the mountainous spine of the country. And people have been racing the route since 1992, taking about 5-6 days to cover 236 miles and ascents which would add up to twice the height of Everest!
Our walk was in the Black Mountains and more modest but still a demanding walk. We arrived at the car park on the A479, next to a pub to take the last parking spaces (there is an honesty box for payment). Unusually we were tackling the route anticlockwise to enjoy ‘an exhilarating finale on a switchback route along the crest of a long narrow ridge on Y Grib’.
We took a track towards Cwmfforest farm where we started a gentle climb which soon got steeper. Most of us took regular short breaks ‘to look at the fantastic views’ which were unfolding around us. As we climbed, we could see beyond the ridge to the west to Pen y Fan in the distance. Reaching a cairn, we followed a section of the Cambrian Way and coming round a mountain spotted Sugar Loaf and England to the southeast.
Surrounded by the awe-inspiring Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons, we were crossing moorland and bog, but paths improved by the national park and the dry summer – meant that what was normally bog was now just damp. We came to a steep section which has been reinforced with huge stones making this section easier to climb and preserving the countryside around us.
The high point of the walk is Waun Fach, (small moor) the highest point in the Black Mountains at 810m, it is the second highest mountain in southern Britain (Pen y Fan being the highest) and we felt the keen wind as we reached it. We met a group of deaf people taking a group photo. Then it was time for our group photo, and after heading downhill slightly a well-earned lunch out of the wind and looking over the next stage of the walk.
We saw a few people walking in T shirts, apparently with no refreshments or waterproof gear. But we were impressed by a family: a woman, man and two very young children were steadily climbing with the children stopping now and again to examine something which had caught their attention. The woman carried a rucksack, presumably so that the man could carry the children if it became necessary.
We continued, taking in the views of the Dragon’s Back and the distant hills. It was a perfect day for walking, not too warm but sunny with occasional cloud and the visibility was incredible; we could see the Bristol Channel, rolls of mountains to Pen y Fan and beyond to the west and the flattish landscape of the north stretching into the far distance. Gliders were being lifted by planes from a nearby airfield and then soaring on the up draughts. They mirrored a red kite which flew below us displaying its divided tail and distinctive colouring.
Now we approached the promised finale as we took in the crest of Y Grib and then dipped and climbed along the mounds of the Dragon’s Back keeping the 360O views. All too soon we were facing the last climb to Castell Dinas Hill fort. A few people opted to skirt around it but the rest of us struggled to the top. At 450 metres it is the highest castle in England and Wales and is positioned to defend Rhiangoll pass, between the market towns of Crickhowell and Talgarth. Standing there you get a sense of Welsh history and of the many people who have been there before you over hundreds of years The original Iron Age defence is reduced to stone wall ruins, outlines of ditches and ramparts. One piece of wall has an arch which it was decided was the ‘Dragon’s eye’.
A stroll downhill over a rickety stile, passing some beautiful oaks and lush grassland and we stopped briefly to look back at where we had been. A brief walk along the original track and there was the carpark with the Dragon’s Back Hotel beckoning us for a drink.
The weather had been great with no rain and the word I used on the day, for the walk and views was splendiferous – what more could you ask for? Walk 7.4miles 2100ft Map OL13
A map of any of the walks featured in ‘Footsteps’ can be obtained from ianmood029@gmail.com
Santa Fun Run
September 2022 Book Choice
“The Fortune Men” by Nadifa Mohammed
The Fortune Men portrays life in the racial, cultural hub of Cardiff’s Tiger Bay in the early fifties. It centres on the plight of a Somali man, Mahmood Mattan, who finds himself on trial for the murder of a local shopkeeper.
Mahmood is a chancer, a father and a petty criminal who is innocent of the crime, but as the local paper of the day described, “Almost within a stone’s throw in which he lived in Cardiff, Mahmood Mattan was executed…” He was the last man to be hung in Cardiff prison. Many years later, the conviction and execution of Mahmood became the first miscarriage of justice case ever investigated by the Criminal Cases Review Commission and in 1998 Mahmood was exonerated by the Court of Appeal.
Nadifa Mohammed, whose father knew Mahmood, is herself a British Somali and seems well placed to write Mahmood’s story. Nadifa manages to paint a credible picture of life and the events in the 50’s that led to the wrongful conviction of Mahmood for the murder of a white woman just because of the colour of his skin. It is a story of racism, discrimination, police corruption, conspiracy and cruelty.
The Page Turners thought it was an important story that needed telling, as racism remains an issue today, and on a regular basis there seem to be reports of miscarriages of justice when wrongly convicted people are freed.
Many book club members thought the writing style and language used was difficult, especially when there were many words in foreign languages that were not translated. Some felt that sentences and
descriptions were overly long and descriptive passages tedious to read. Some readers did not like the fictionalised account of this historical event and would have preferred to read a biography of Mahmood.
Everyone agreed it was an important event that needed to be told; the discussion was mainly around the telling. Have a read and judge for yourself! The Page Turners average score was 6.5!
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, red roses for love.. But for Victoria Jones it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After her childhood spent in the foster care system she finds she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. The story follows Victoria’s blossoming into adult life as she haphazardly learns to trust and be trusted, to love and be loved.
This book was well received by the majority of us. It was agreed that the effects of the care system upon young people was very well understood (the author had herself been a foster parent). Victoria’s difficulty emerging into independent life was palpable; we wanted her to succeed in life.
The history of flowers and their changing language was beautifully versed. The inclusion in the book of a dictionary of flowers and their language made for fascinating study, although there was disappointment when favourite flowers of our own turned out to have negative attributes (eg sunflower: false riches, yellow rose: infidelity) There was relief by most that the book ended on an optimistic yet realistic note. This enjoyable book scored an average of 7/10.
October 2022 News Update
October 2022 News Update
October continued to be a busy month, following on from September that saw things pick up after the summer holidays .The Harvest Festival at St. Bleddians was very well supported with the largest numbers in the congregation for some time. The sun shone and the refreshments were able to be taken outside, thanks to the hard work by Pam and Ann not forgetting Terry in the background. Vicar Lyndon was able to meet and chat with new faces as he settles in with the congregations for which he is responsible.
St Mary’s in October, we had in addition to the Sunday Eucharist services, the church was able to host, Baptisms, a Wedding and a Funeral, a good indication that after the trauma of Covid we are gradually getting back to some kind of normal. Not all things are back in place yet, such as a collection taken with the plate being handed around, sides persons are not able to bring up the Offertory as was once the practice. Vicar Lyndon has enhanced the reading of the Gospel for the day with a Gospel procession and the dismissal at the end of the service takes place at the Font in the body of the people before the choir retire to the Tower vestry for final prayers. Little touches like these help to make worship at St. Mary’s more meaningful and thoughtful of what we are about when we gather to hear the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist.
All Saints and All Souls are very important festivals in the church’s calendar, and on November the 3rd at 6.00pm a Service of Calm and Reflection will take place to remember all who have died during the COVID crisis and were not able to have the funerals they wanted, together with a remembrance of loved ones who have passed into greater glory in recent years. Names of those who wish to be read out and prayed for are requested, please use the letter boxes in the church porch or the Church Hall, with names clearly printed or hand to one of the two Wardens, Carol or Sandra. All are welcome to attend, and an invitation to non-church members who have lost a loved one are invited to be part of the service..
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY November 13th
This year after a break of three years a Community Remembrance Service will begin at 10.00am in church with representatives from organisations from the village taking part in the readings and prayers, to be followed with the Act of Remembrance at the Village War Memorial. The Vale of Glamorgan brass band will be in attendance and a procession led by the Cross bearer and choir and the congregation will be in place in good time for 11.00am. Refreshments of tea/coffee/soft drinks and biscuits will be available in the Church Hall following the proceeding, all are welcome.
A date for your diaries THE CHATTERY will be meeting on November 10th at 10.30am in the Church Hall for coffee/tea/posh biscuits and a chat of course, to catch up on what has been happening around us at home or in the world at large. It’s very friendly and informal and it’s good to come out and meet up with people you may not have seen for some time. For
some it is a warm place in these days when the weather is getting colder, a great welcome to all for the little cost of £2.00, and plenty of coffee refills plus free raffle.
A session of MESSY CHURCH is planned for November 26th with an ADVENT theme in the Church Hall. This is open all families to share some quality play time with each other and to meet up make new friends, so let’s get busy and let’s enjoy each others company.
ADVENT WINDOWS has had a good response and will take place as advertised during the dark nights of December. This is a St. Mary’s initiative for the village, Free to enter, just light up your windows when your evening is allocated, the theme can be Christmas or any alternative that will give pleasure to the onlookers, the final “window” will be at St. Mary’s on Christmas Eve..
COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE will take place at St. Mary’s on Wednesday December 14th at 7.00pm. Representatives from village organisations are being invited to take part and will follow the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and carols made popular over the years, broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge.
The JOINT CHURCH COUNCIL met on the 26th October in the Church Hall under the chairmanship of Vicar Lyndon for the first time. Apart from a “catch up” on what has taken place since the previous meeting in June, the budget for the church was discussed and approved. In accordance with Church In Wales practice each of our nine churches in the Ministry Area of De Morgannwg has to produce a budget for next year. Estimating the amount of income is a difficult one to assess, Expenditure is subject to the cost of inflation raising prices of goods and services and similarly to our own budgeting at home, the end result can be very uncomfortable in making ends meet. However, any budget is but a guide to the future and good housekeeping practises will keep St, Mary’s in good shape in the year ahead.
Thank you for reading what has been happening and what is being planned at St. Mary’s.
God bless and peace
Parry Edwards
We Have Enough Volunteers
ADVENT WINDOWS 2022
We Have Enough Volunteers!
The great news is that we have enough volunteers to go ahead with the Wenvoe Advent Windows! We have some regular volunteers who have readily joined us again with plans already for this year. It is very encouraging that we have new people who are joining us for the first time. We have lost some and our thanks go to Sandra and Brian Jones, who have moved out of the village, who not only provided windows but also helped in the planning and organising. They will of course be coming to view what we achieve this year.
We start on 1st December at 29 Venwood Close at 5pm, where Mike and Glynis Tucker will host us. On the same evening the telephone box will again have a story decorating the windows with special interest for those young in heart. You will need a torch for this as there is no electric supply there. We will conclude on 24th December at St. Mary’s Church with an input from Gwenfo School.
There will be a map of the village with information about all the windows in next month’s Wenvoe What’s On, with pointers where maps can be obtained elsewhere in the village.
Many thanks to all those who have volunteered. For any other information contact Jude Billingham 07516112897
Tips From Two Lady Gardeners
THE VILLAGE GARDENER
Tips From Two Lady Gardeners
This month’s tips are from two lady gardeners
Firstly Angela from Larchwood.
- If we can expect summers to be dry in future, then pelargoniums and bedding begonias are going to give good displays as they have thrived during 2022.
- A lot of shrubs have fared badly this past year, but pyracantha has survived the drought, plus it’s good for protection against intruders and it provides good cover for small birds.
- If you have camellias in pots, try to give them some shelter from easterly winds.
- Get your Tulips in the ground this month.
- A tea light placed between two bricks topped with an upturned terracotta pot will keep your greenhouse free from frost.
Betty on Walston Road
- If you need to keep plants like pelargoniums but have no cover for them, bring them close to the house on the South side if possible.
- Tie up tall conifers to prevent them spreading in high winds and possibly snow.
- Try to cover any bare soil with mulch or any permeable material to prevent erosion.
- Lift pots off ground to prevent water logging.
- Be extra careful when around the garden in wet weather, because if you haven’t got nosey neighbours, you could be out there for hours if you fall.
The growing season seems to have been long this year with the summer bedding lasting well into October especially the pelargoniums which only really stopped when heavy rain flattened them. Dahlias are still flowering in sheltered spots and the roses don’t know what season they are in. We would normally have cut back everything by now. Some gardeners leave their perennials to die back naturally, saying that this protects the crown of the plants from frost, while others clear away the dying stems which exposes hidden weeds and pests and then mulch the area. The one thing you have to do at this time of year is keep raking the leaves off the lawn, a thankless task but one that needs to be done regularly to prevent dead areas forming. Ponds should be covered by now or leaves will sink and if there is a lot of them and you have fish the bacteria won’t be able to break them down fast enough and will reduce oxygen levels and a build-up of ammonia, which is toxic to fish. If netting is difficult to put in place, then a floating pond skimmer may be the answer.
November is prime tulip planting time according to those who know. They also say you should plant the bulbs three times their own depth and if not sure plant deeper which should guarantee that they flower for more than one year.
Ivy is one of those plants that divides opinion as it can get out of control and is very difficult to get rid of once established. It’s main saving grace is the fact that it flowers late providing the bees with a late harvest and the berries keep the birds fed well into winter. Blackbirds, especially, are very fond of them. If you can hold back before pruning the wildlife would appreciate it.
Work on the allotments is slowing down. With Autumn planting done the ground is being readied for Spring by weeding and covering with manure. Then in late Winter the ground will be covered to warm up the soil and an attempt to stop weeds germinating. You will see some of the allotmenteers in parks collecting leaves to make compost and leaf mould which will take a year before it’s ready to use. Leaf mould is the ideal growing medium for bulbs and when you see what garden centres sell bulb compost for it makes good sense to produce your own for free.
There is a chance that the village will have an open garden event next year, so if you would be interested look out for information in What’s On and on the Wenvoe community support group.
Take care and happy gardening
Childhood Memories – A Poem by Zena Ball
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
What freedom we had when I was a child
Compared to nowadays.
We were allowed to roam about at will,
And even ride our bikes on the roads.
When we were little and days were sunny
Our Mother and her friend would meet
Their purses were empty and they had no money
But loved taking us out for a treat.
We would visit the Drope half a mile away
Where we could all picnic and play.
Mother made sandwiches and took some pop
And we would all have a lovely day.
The field was quite large with a river close by,
And a railway viaduct
We would wave to the trains as they went by,
And the drivers and guards would wave back.
We played rounders and shouted until we were hoarse,
And even the Mothers joined in.
Together with others that happened to be there,
Enjoying the afternoon sun.
We would swim in the river to cool ourselves off
The water was clean in those days.
We would dive from the bank and cross on the log
And from the bank pick the daisies.
A tributary stream into the river dull flow,
With water as clear as a bell.
When we were thirsty we just cupped our hands
And drank as if from a well.
As the evening approached and the sun went down,
We would wend our way home to our Dad.
The lane seemd so long as we daudled along,
With Mother carrying all the bags.
Zena Ball
