Month: July 2025
Successful Junior Wildlife Workshop
Wenvoe Wildlife Group
Successful Junior Wildlife Workshop
A successful second Junior Wildlife workshop took place at the Elizabethan Orchard in June. Fully booked again and all who had booked turned up. The children made floral headbands, hunted for mini-beasts and enjoyed a picnic on a fine day. They found the Common Green Capsid bug and a Goatsbeard plant, both interesting discoveries. Our thanks to course organisers and leaders Angela Peterken and Claire Newland helped by Zak on the day, to the Reader family for providing facilities and Mike and Glynys Tucker for raising funds through their events. The final workshop for this year will take place in August – date to be advised.
A number of Swift nesting boxes have been installed on the farm buildings at Goldsland farm by Rhys, Lee, Lydia and Lee Burrows. Rhys will next be setting up the sound system which emits Swift calls to encourage them to investigate the boxes and to be installing some Swallow boxes.
Zak has been working with the group as part of his Duke of Edinburgh assessment. He has been doing jobs in the Community Orchard, making up wildflower seed packs and joining the Junior Wildlife workshop. Last year we helped a student doing the Baccalaureate to register her volunteering hours.
Two Months’ Worth of Reports!
Two Months’ Worth of Reports!
“Less ” by Andrew Sean Greer
This Pulitzer Prize winner was boring, uninteresting and not at all funny. So said all ten of us Page Turners. Our score was the lowest yet of one out of ten. Less was clearly not more.
However, it was lovely as always to meet up together for a welcome cuppa and exceptional bara brith and brownies. Thank you, Nicola. You spoilt us
“Frank and Red” by Matt Coyne
Frank is a widowed older man who likes to keep himself to himself. Red is a six-year-old boy who is chatty and excitable.
Frank is a gruff, ill-humoured loner since the death of his wife, Marcie, whose “ghost” does her best to cheer him along or put him straight on a few things. His house and garden are now neglected, and he’s turned his back on the world. Then Red and his mum Sarah move in next door after Sarah’s divorce
Red hates the new house, it’s tiny compared to his old house, he hates his new school, none of the kids speak to him, excluding him at playtime, and one boy in particular is a real bully. It’s no better at home, no one to play with, and then there’s Frank, the grumpy old man next door who’s really mean.
The most unlikely of friendships, but somehow, two people who are decades apart in age, are thrown together by circumstance. What follows warms the heart to see just how the relationship develops. Frank and Red are new neighbours and complete opposites.
The group felt that it was an easy read with some laugh out loud moments and was sad and emotional. There were some issues that some members found difficult to accept. Firstly, why didn’t the teacher do more about the bullying of Red which was quite obvious as the story developed. The whole group questioned whether a six-year-old would have taken this difficult journey on the underground as he was trying to reach Frank’s son or would Frank have got away with driving on the pavement (which he did) trying to reach his son.
The story was heartwarming and uplifting but had varying scores between 5-9. The final score was 7.1
Many thanks to Jill our hostess for the afternoon who provided us with delicious chocolate cake.
Full English Rice! & Microwave Cake
You don’t need an all-day breakfast menu to enjoy a full English! Rustle up this tasty rice dish, trust me sounds odd but delicious…….Follow it with a microwave pudding!
Full English Rice!
Ingredients
2 tbsp oil
1 onion
100g bacon lardons
250g mushrooms
2 tsp dried rosemary
400g tinned chopped tomatoes
200g white rice
800ml vegetable stock (made with 2 stock cubes)
100g kale
4 medium eggs
Method
Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large, deep frying pan. Chop the onion and add to the pan with the bacon lardons. Fry for 4-5 minutes, until the onion has softened. Slice the mushrooms and add to the pan along with the dried rosemary. Continue to cook for 3-4 minutes, until golden. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for a further 2-3 minutes. Add the rice to the pan and stir well until the rice is well coated with the tomatoes. Pour in the stock and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender, and the stock has all been absorbed. Add the kale and continue to cook for 2 minutes, or until wilted. Season well.
Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan and crack the four eggs into the pan. Fry for around 3 minutes, until the whites have cooked, and the yolks are still runny. Spoon the rice into four shallow bowls and top each with a fried egg.
Raspberry and Lemon Microwave Cake
This microwave cake makes a super speedy dessert using mainly store cupboard ingredients!
Try swapping the raspberry jam for your favourite flavour or try lemon curd for a zesty kick…
Ingredients
2 eggs
110g sugar
110g flour
110g softened butter
½ tsp baking powder
½ lemon zest and juice
4 tbsp raspberry jam
Crème fraiche and raspberries to serve
Method
Grease a microwavable bowl with a little butter. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and add the softened butter, flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest and juice. Beat until smooth, then pour into the microwavable bowl.
Cook in the microwave for 3-4 minutes, until the cake has risen and is cooked through. Set aside and leave to stand for 2 minutes. Spoon the jam into a small dish and microwave for 30 seconds. Loosen the cake around the edges with a knife and turn out onto a serving plate. Pour over the raspberry sauce and sprinkle with the lemon zest.
Serve warm with fresh raspberries and crème fraiche
July Church News
July Church News
Greetings to you all from the congregation at St. Mary’s Church.
A decade ago under the guidance of our then Rector, Revd. Jon Ormrod we set out a bold plan to extend the church building with an extension on the north side of the nave, to include toilet facilities, a kitchen, storage spaces, a meeting room and a large hall to replace the ageing Church Hall, all to be accessed by an opening from the church in the north wall. At that time many churches were encouraged to make their buildings more “fit for purpose” in providing on site toilets and to offer hospitality. Little did we realise the number of hoops we would have to jump through to get the necessary planning permissions.
Our vision then was to rehouse the flourishing “Pebbles” children’s group away from the church hall to avoid crossing the road in all weathers, to the new and exciting prospect of having them all on one site and we decided to call the project THE ST. MARY’S CHURCH CENTRE.
From the outset we had to convince the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) that the need was there. Then we wanted to breech the wall of the church to allow access to the new building. Site meetings were held with the DAC, Cadw The Victorian Society and Local Authority. Our church architect produced plans, visual drawings of how the new work would look, the bills were mounting, and progress was slow. We held a public meeting in the Community Centre to test the response of the village to our plans, which was positive, if that was what he church wanted then it was their business, although there was some reservation of disposing of the church hall, formerly known as The Reading Room” gifted to the church and community by an earlier generation of the Jenner family.
The first application for planning was turned down by the DAC, Cadw and Local authority as too large and too bulky. The years pass bye, another meeting with the DAC finally allowed us to breech the wall, so a fresh outline application was made to the local authority, another site meeting was arranged and the decision many months later was “NO” our plans were still too large and would affect the historical nature of the site situated in the Wenvoe Conservation Area.
A recent meeting of the Church Council considered this rejection and great saddened to see our plans and hopes for the future use of the church so greatly diminished. However, the church council decided to proceed with a much-reduced extension. again, on the north side to provide toilet facilities and a small kitchen on the site of the present boiler house. The church hall to be retained and refurbished to make it more fit for purpose. We need your help, tell us what you would like to see to improve what we have at present. Any ideas and help to give the hall a new look will be welcome. We invite you to write down your suggestions and ideas, place them in the secure post boxes in the church porch and church hall and make our church hall more welcoming and friendly
CHRISTIAN AID APPEAL OF 2015 The final result of this year’s appeal came to £3775.26 (including Gift Aid) which is an astounding amount raised in these difficult financial times, so THANK YOU to all who contributed, THANK YOU to those who organised the various money raising events, to those who collated the figures together and did the banking. A truly wonderful response to the needs of those who are not as well off as we are. Well done.
We are now in the season of TRINITY, a turning point in the church calendar. The liturgical colour is Green for the altar frontal and priest’s vestments. Our morning services are well attended and being streamed live on Facebook are watched by many including the residents of the Glenburnie Care Home. Join in at http://www.ipcamlive.com/stmarys church
A recent afternoon concert by SIAN’S singers with a singalong of WW11 songs was greatly enjoyed and will be returning in the autumn for an encore afternoon concert. More details later.
The Church Clock has been having a rest in recent weeks, and time has stood still while we decide what action is needed to get it going. Will it TICK will it TOCK will the hours be struck. The clock was donated in memory of Capt. R.F.L. Jenner in 1880 and has kept time in the village since that time so long ago. Those living near have you missed the chimes? Would you like to see them restored? We need to investigate whether the clock mechanism can be converted to an electric winding system,like us all our volunteer clock winder is getting older and climbing the ladder might not be an option. So we thank Martin Williams and Co for their sterling efforts week by week in winding the clock up.
It’s almost holiday time, school will break for the Summer holiday soon, why not send us a postcard from somewhere you have visited. Address it to St. Mary’s Church, Old Port Road, Wenvoe CF56AL Have a safe journey and return home refreshed
God Bless and see you in church or watch on line.
Parry
Scratch Team Shifts Rubbish
VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP
Scratch Team Shifts Rubbish
A scratch team shifted rubbish and cut back vegetation at the bus stop on Station Road. The police turned up after reports that a group of old men had wandered out of Glen Burnie Lodge. One look at us dispelled that notion, we think our attire gave it away.
We were pleased to see Shady Williams get off a bus while we were there. Apparently his daughter had given him a smart watch to encourage more walking. He had set off early on a jaunt and ended up in Cowbridge, because the watch didn’t tell him when to stop. Being from Edwardsville originally, he had never been that far West before, so was lost. Fortunately he had his bus pass and a kind soul put him on the right bus. We realise that people were trying to be kind, when they offered to assist us over the bridge, just because we were leaning on the railings for a breather. One of the elders took it to heart and to prove his fitness ran over the bridge. We had to go back for him later when there was no one around. Nothing like an old fool.
Because of the nature of our work in public spaces, we have to comply with the drug testing protocol. Thankfully the swabs proved we all had the right drugs in our systems. Unlike those foxes, allegedly.
If we can remember, we shall rendezvous at the village green on July 14th.
Trying To Keep The Garden Colourful
THE VILLAGE GARDENER
Trying To Keep The Garden Colourful
A report by Police UK suggests that thieves target properties with unkempt gardens, as it gives the impression that the owners are away. The report goes on to recommend keeping the plants in the front of the house below a metre, so you can see people approaching. The side and back should have high hedges with prickly shrubs like pyracantha or Berberis. Fences with trellis on top and a climbing rose running through it is another alternative. Gravel also makes it difficult for unwanted people to approach quietly. Keep gates locked and don’t leave tools around which could be used to help gain entry. Solar lights in paths or borders which are on permanently in the garden just show the intruder the way to the property.
Trying to keep the garden colourful throughout the growing season is always a challenge and can be expensive, so choose plants with a long flowering time like pelargoniums, begonias, dahlias and marigolds, which will give a display until the autumn with just a bit of dead heading. Roses will give you a good long season and the second flush will start this month. When taking off the spent blooms of roses don’t just remove the flower, cut it back to a leaf joint; this will keep the stems stronger and the plant looking its best.
A garden should have a compost bin, If done properly this can save you money, especially with the poor quality of what even the renowned labels are putting in their colourful bags. Don’t just throw anything in without a thought, as this will result in poor compost and you won’t bother again. Dave Jones in Vennwood uses kitchen scraps with used compost and small woody material to produce a sweet-smelling mix. Grass cuttings mixed with leaves and small woody stems will give good results if kept moist. This will create heat which will break down the material.
Since he’s been on a meter Gareth Williams of Greave Close has been using the washing up water on his lawn, with the unexpected result of killing the moss in the grass and not hurting any wildlife in the process.
New potatoes with runner beans is a favourite dish of many people and this month they will be harvested at the allotments, along with strawberries and raspberries. If the weather is inclement this month, this can bring blight to the potatoes, especially if they’ve been planted too close together with no room for air flow. At the first sign of blight remove all the stalks and destroy. Do not put in the compost. Dig up the potatoes straight away and they will be fine. Any ground cleared now will have cabbage and kale planted along with some potatoes which will be ready for Christmas dinner.
Take care and happy gardening.
High Winds And Grey Skies
Wenvoe Community Litter Pick
WENVOE COMMUNITY LITTER PICK
The next litter pick will be from Saturday 19th July. Filled bags will be collected, along with your black bags on the 25th July from your home or usual col-lection point.
You can litter pick at anytime and anywhere within the community within these dates I will again dis-tribute and collect pickers, gloves, bags, etc
If interested in participating, please either text/what’s app me as soon as possible on 07724827496 or email at info@russellgodfrey.co.uk.
Christian Aid Week 11th To 18th May – The Results!
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 11TH TO 18TH MAY – THE RESULTS
This year we have been really excited by the response to Christian Aid Week. We had concerns that our target of £3,000 (including gift aid) may be beyond what was achievable in one week. How wrong we were!
This year you joined in with the challenges, gave your time and donations. These included:
- Donation envelopes circulated throughout the village, which were returned to the designated collection points accordingly raising £1604 (including gift aid).
- The Sponsored silence challenge for adults with some undertaking this in Gwenfo library raising £482 including gift aid.
- Gwenfo school raising the sum of £700.95 (including gift aid) by taking part in the sponsored silence and a non-uniform day. A truly magnificent effort.
- The Cake, Cake, and More Cake event was as popular as usual, raising £422.17. I am sure the calorie intake in the village that day was also raised!
- Sully contributed by collecting donations and selling hanging baskets raising £411.14.
- The collection at the Maundy service of £145 was donated, and
- An additional £10 donations brought the total to £3775.26 (including gift aid)
And so, many thanks to all the envelop deliverers, bunting and poster hangers, photocopiers, those keeping silent and the teachers who helped in the school, the bakers and those who served refreshments, those who cleared up and the counters of all the money raised. We couldn’t have done it without any of you.
Also, remembering all of who gave cakes or money, or came and took part in the events.
Thank you,
Jude Billingham