Month: January 2018

Cambrian Park Village

CAMBRIAN PARK

Cambrian Park retirement village is a novel and attractive housing development on the outskirts of Wenvoe just beyond Brooklands Terrace, near CulverHouse Cross. The retirement village was originally a green field site, which in 1952 became a caravan park. The site evolved and people started living there in static caravans but the infrastructure was of poor quality and site became run down.

Cambrian Park was purchased by the current owners Maguire Park Homes in 2007 and managed by Maguire Park Homes. It was then brought up to a high standard with mains water, gas and electricity.

Agnes, the Park Director, is currently project managing the development, which when complete will have 145 new owner-occupied detached homes.

The bungalow-style efficient double-glazing and energy-efficient homes range from £139,000-£175,000.The standard two-bedroom property comes with carpets, curtains, white goods…

Purchasers have a choice of fixtures and fittings or they can have their home built to their own specification.

All residents of Cambrian Park must be over the age of 50 and the estate aims to offer a safe and secure community, which is overseen by a site warden. Although many residents have second homes overseas, most have downsized and see this as their last house move.

The Park is enjoyed by mature people who want a safe home in their retirement, or singles and couples who want the security and peace of mind of belonging to a community of people of similar age, but who do not want to move to managed accommodation. As the Park is for the over 50s children are welcome but only to visit for holidays and weekends…

It is an exceptionally well kept Park and close to bus stops and convenient for shopping at the stores at CulverHouse Cross, with a bridge to Ely shops and services including a GP practice.

In addition to this residential Park, the Maguire family have several in Wales and England with plans for more. Each Park is initially project managed by the adult children of the Maguire family.

Maintenance agents and sole traders and other services providers, while not officially recommended, are nevertheless on an approved list.

It was pleasing that several residents of Cambrian Park attended the ‘Welcome to Wenvoe’ event at the Community Centre, towards the end of last year. A few residents have plots on the Wenvoe allotment site in Twyn-Yr-Odyn.

As mentioned above, further homes are being built, so happily those in Wenvoe will have more residents who may wish to enjoy the many meetings and activities published in Wenvoe What’s On. Residents receive copies of Wenvoe What’s on, with some taking full advantage of Wenvoe’s social associations.

This article was written with the kind assistance of Angus Maguire.

 

 

Ash Trees Disaster

 

Ash trees are one of our natives and are particularly common around the parish. In face we have spent 10 years trying to eliminate them from the meadow part of the Upper Orchid Field. But what would our countryside look like if they all went? This is not as unlikely as you might think. We have previously commented in Whats On about the rate of tree loss by human action what with new housing, cycle ways or action by individual householders. This is matched by a replanting record in Wales that is woefully short of the targets set by the Welsh Government. However this is as nothing compared with the threat created by Ash Dieback or Chalara, a lethal fungus first reported in Britain in 2012. In an experiment in 2013, 155,000 ash saplings were planted and only 2.5% remain disease free now. Not only is there a potential impact on the 955 mammals, birds, insects, lichens and fungi that use the trees but it will affect the council tax payer, through the additional cost of removing dead and dying trees, particularly where these overhang roads, parks or houses. And the most amazing thing is that even though it is a native species we imported 5.2 million ash trees from abroad between 2003 and 2011. Many of the pests and diseases our trees and plants are suffering from have been imported on shrubs and trees from abroad. It may be that we as consumers might have to consider asking our garden centres where the plants that we are buying have come from. Scientists are working on a variety of ways to help address the problem but timescales for developing disease-resistant strains can be measured in decades and Chalara is with us now. But, you might say, there are plenty of other types of tree around. The photo shows a veteran Sweet Chestnut tree near Cowbridge which we also have growing on Grange Park and in the woods near the Upper Orchid Field. Another killer fungus has destroyed 3.5 billion Chestnuts in the USA and last summer it reached East London, Devon and Dorset.

 

 

Spring is Just Around the Corner

 

Daffodil bulbs are well on their way, pigeons are nesting, Easter eggs in shops, moles are looking for a mate and leaving small piles of earth in gardens where there not wanted, spring must be close.It is only February I know but loads to be getting on with. If you are ordering plants or seeds from catalogues you need to get in quickly as some favourites will soon be out of stock. Planning ahead, are you going to enter the village show later in the year, if so then some special seed will give an advantage. Seed from specialist growers does cost more but we're not entering to come last are we?

Winter flowering shrubs that have that have stopped producing flowers should be cut back now as the more new growth they put on throughout the coming year the better the display.Winter flowering Jasmine is one that benefits from early pruning.

Lily bulbs can be potted up now and place Dahlia tubers in a light warm place to encourage them to sprout before planting out, be careful not to let them dry out. Root cuttings of perennial Poppies can be taken. At the end of the month cut back the stems of potted fuchsias that are under cover and put in a warm place to promote new growth. Keep dead heading winter pansies, they will go on for a long while yet.

Hardy annuals can be sown in pots and will be good for filling in gaps throughout the year if you stagger the sowing, also wildlife love them. A tip from the RHS, when weeds start to grow then its time to sow hardy annuals. Sweet peas sown now and put in a cold frame will prolong the season along with the autumn sown ones that can now be potted up.

The lawn may not be looking at its best this time of year but edging will need to be done and grass cut if you can possibly get on to it. If you delay the first cut to long it will become difficult to manage. Keep sweeping those worm casts away. Turf can be laid now if ground conditions allow.

We are fortunate to live in what the Police say is a low crime area but we must not become complacent. Don't leave machinery and tools on view, put a good lock on garden buildings. It only takes a minute for a thief to relieve you of anything not locked up. Shed alarms are a good cheap deterrent.

This is the time of year when we might be thinking of some major changes to the outside area. If your going to need contractors to help with the work now is the time as their books are not as full this time of year. Get at the very least two quotes and do not be pressured into any contract. To find good people can be challenging, the best way is to speak to people who have had work done. Please do not accept offers from people who come knocking at your door, you may get lucky but newspapers are full of stories about work not completed and over charging.

Need to know more about gardening? then the environment team is for you. They meet on Mondays usually twice a month and help keep Wenvoe looking good. The team includes amongst others Trevor Ieuin and Brian, these gardeners have loads of knowledge and its free. Take care and happy gardening

 

 

January’s Book Choice

 

This month we all read a book of our own choice.

Coming ‘Highly Recommended’ were a variety of novels:

‘The Dry’ by Jane Harper.

‘And the Mountains Echoed’ by Khaled Husseini.

‘Nutshell’ by Ian Mcewan

‘Such a Long Journey’ by Rohinton Mistry

‘The Devil in the Marshalsea’ by Antonia Hodgson

Also, ‘Eggs and Anarchy’ by William Sitwell, a bio-graphical story of Winston Churchill’s cabinet in World War Two, was recommended, as was Barack Obama’s autobiography.

Finally Penelope Lively’s non fiction ‘In the Garden’ comes recommended for those gardeners who also love literature.

Virginia Wolf next month. Quite a change!

 

 

Winter Activities

 

Following on from all the activity in church over the celebration of Christmas, the month of January has seen the church settle in to a quieter time as we bring ourselves into the New year of 2018, and the plans we are making for the year ahead. 2017 was a continuing year of progress in the life of the church, and we intend to make 2018 another year we can be pleased, to look back on.

At a recent meeting of the Parochial Church Council (PCC), Vicar Jon gave a summary of his welcoming to the parish of Bishop June, who visited as part of her progress around the diocese, getting to know the different parishes of her diocese. This was very informal and the day ended with the Bishop meeting all the churchwardens of our six churches, where the discussion was how she saw the way forward and equally how the wardens saw their roles in supporting the clergy in making the church more proactive in the years ahead.

The other main item under discussion was the receiving of the Quinquennial Inspection (QI) report. This report is a very thorough statement of work needed to be carried out over the next five years. The PCC resolved to appoint the inspector Richard Dean as our church architect to oversee the works he has highlighted as most urgent. We will shortly see work beginning to remove the concrete channelling on the south side of the nave and chancel, to be replaced with a “French drain” to cure the dampness which is spreading up at the base of the walls. Other immediate work will be on the roof of the tower, dealing with slipping slates, drainage problems and vegetation infestation. This work will amount to some £12,000 pounds which will be met from the Building Fund.

Plans for the annual Christian Aid Appeal are well in hand and will be launched in the parish with a “Big Breakfast” in the community centre on the morning of Saturday 12th May 2018, more details to follow later.. The usual house to house collections will take place during the following week.

Announced at the meeting was the plan to change our present Ministry Area status to that of a Rectorial Benefice. Apparently as a Ministry Area we are not a legal entity recognised by the Church in Wales, so we cannot apply for any loans we might need, however as a Rectorial Benefice we have that legal status restored and parish are now working to adopt that model as in Barry and Penarth, In essence we would carry on much as we do at present, keeping our own church council, our own bank account, and will give us the flexibility to adapt and develop things as we may need to in the future. All PCC’s have to approve these plans once they have been formulated, with the new status coming into effect in early 2019.

As already announced, a Public Meeting hosted by the Wenvoe Community Council and St. Mary’s Church will be held in the Community Centre on February 8th 2018 at 7.pm. to discuss the possibility of the Community Council purchasing the Church Hall. Full details of the reasons why we need to sell the Church Hall…can be found in the January edition of “What’s On”.

Looking ahead in these dark days of Winter. February is the month for birthdays in our house. The next Faith in Film night at the Rectory is on 3rd February at 7.30 pm. Remember the public meeting in the Community Centre on the 8th February at 7 pm.. The Chattery meets in the church Hall at 10.30 am on the 8th February. Do you look forward to the postman dropping a card through your door on the 14th St. Valentines Day. Pancake Day on the 13th followed by Ash Wednesday on the 14th. (The beginning of the season of Lent) then the Quiz in the Community Centre on the 17th at 7.30pm.

The season of Lent is often called the “spring cleaning of the soul in readiness for Easter” there are opportunities hear and take part in discussions on the Lenten theme.. see the notice board in church and also the weekly newsletter and “Connections” parish magazine.

Thank you for taking your time to read about what’s happening and the plans for the month ahead…every one is welcome to St Mary’s at the times of services and also when Jon has his “Open Door” in church.

Parry Edwards

A GREAT LITTLE PLANE

As the Royal Air Force celebrates its Centenary a series of tributes have appeared, saluting the planes which made the service great– the Lancaster, the Hurricane and the renowned Spitfire which was named the single greatest weapon of the Second World War, claimed by those who flew her to be the perfect flying machine

The Spitfire captured the imagination of the public and all over Britain villages, towns and businesses would set up a “ Spitfire Fund” to raise the nominal £5,000 to buy a plane in their name. One such village was our local Michaelston-le-Pit. Norman Merrett, a Spitfire pilot from the village, had gone down with his plane in 1940. His father wrote these words to Lord Beaverbrook, Minister for Aircraft Production, “These tragic circumstances have served only to strengthen the resolve of this small community. I want you to accept the enclosed cheque for £5,000 from the village of Michaelston-le-Pit”.

 

 

Vegetable Side Dishes

 

Vegetable Side Dishes.

Fennel Gratin

4 large fennel bulbs pinch grated nutmeg 1 large clove of garlic, finely chopped 200ml double cream 50 / 75g parmesan cheese, grated

Heat oven 180C. Trim the fennel tops, then cut into wedges. Boil in salted water for about 5-6 mins, drain well. Arrange the fennel in an ovenproof dish, season with salt and fresh ground pepper. Sprinkle with the nutmeg. Stir the garlic into the cream and pour over the fennel. Top with the parmesan and bake for about 20 mins until golden. Serve with fish and boiled new potatoes.

Pasta with Garlic and Greens

1tbsp olive oil 3 leeks. finely sliced 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped 250g leaf spinach 200ml double cream 400g orecchiette or other short pasta 50 / 75g blue cheese crumbled

Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the leeks and garlic and gently soften for about 10 / 15 mins. Stir in the spinach for a few min to wilt

Add the cream, stir and remove from the heat. Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling water. Drain well, return to the saucepan, then stir the leak sauce into it. Serve with the crumbled blue cheese on top. Serve on it's own or with chicken.

Spicy Cauliflower

1tsp turmeric 2tsp hot paprika 4tbsp vegetable oil 50g fresh ginger, grated 2tsp cumin seeds 1 large cauliflower head, cut into florets coriander leaves to garnish

Make a loose paste combining the turmeric and papri-ka with 4tbsp of water. Heat the oil in a large pan or wok and fry the ginger and cumin seeds until they re-lease a fragrant aroma, about 30 secs. Add the turmer-ic and paprika paste and cook for a further 30 secs until most of the water has evaporated. Turn the heat down low, tip in the cauliflower, mix well to coat. Cover with a lid and gently cook for about 15 mins, until softened, stirring now and again. Remove the lid, increase the heat and cook for a further 5 /10 mins until completely tender. Sprinkle over cori-ander to serve. Serve along side any grilled meats and savoury rice.

 

 

Wildlife Group AGM

 

A good turnout of 29 attended the Wildlife Group AGM in January. It is encouraging that so many residents are willing to turn out to ensure we have a quorum when other much larger groups often fail to get this level of support. It is also worth noting that a third of our members come from outside the parish including Barry, Penarth, Dinas Powys, Cardiff and even Clydach Vale. The meeting was followed by a talk by Linda and Rob Nottage who are so knowledgeable about the local wildlife and have an amazing array of photographs to complement what they have to say. In an increasing era of specialism it is nice to listen to people who like Darwin or Attenborough can see the broader picture. Our 5 Green Flag applications have been submitted, the newest being the Wild Orchard at St Lythans so we have plenty to do to get that ship-shape before judging takes place. During January we were one of the three nominated charities at Waitrose in Cowbridge but we only heard during the first week of the month so could not forewarn readers of Whats On. However if you did cast any green tokens in our direction we are most grateful. The money will go towards wildflower seed which we hope will result in our best ever year for wildflowers. Some patches we planted last year were disappointing with little or no seed germinating – we shall not be using that supplier again. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook or, better still, join us.

 

 

The Internet and Social Media

 

Growing up in an age of social media makes it all the more sad when people abuse their followings. Recently, a YouTube personality named Logan Paul uploaded a vlog where he was walking through Suicide Forest in Japan. I’m sure many of you would have heard by now about the disappointing video, as he and his friends appear to find a body in the forest. I must say that despite for the most part being raised with technology and social media, I am consistently aware of what I post, who it might offend and why I’m doing so. It baffles me then, that someone with such a following – a following of young people I might add, would be so ignorant to others’ emotions that they would film a dead body, and upload the video in which they move closer and closer to the body with their camera; a body of a man who has suffered some form of hardship so terrible it drove him to suicide. It honestly disgusts me how you could be so ignorant to then turn the camera on to yourself and begin to speak about mental health as though it is a matter you care about. Once you have filmed someone who has possibly suffered a mental health disorder (and film them with no remorse) and further have the hypocrisy to beg others to check their own mental health, you are not an ‘influencer’. You have given yourself over as someone who cares more about the amount of people who watch your videos – not those who do. Even though you have blurred the man’s face out (to comply with YouTube’s new rules by the way; YouTube, you too made a big mistake with not reviewing this one) it does not blur the hurt his family must feel, having you, Logan Paul, edit and yet still upload such a video.

As I said, I am the generation raised with the internet and social media. I was thirteen when I got my first social media profile, but even then and even now I think about everything I post. Every outcome, every reaction. If I were a YouTuber, I’d do exactly the same, because people seem to look up to YouTubers. They have found fame in the digital age and should be respectful that their voice is important. Many take this responsibility and use it wisely to speak about matters close to their own hearts; such come to mind are people like Gabbie Hanna, Liza Koshy, Lilly Singh, or Carrie Hope Fletcher, Giovanna Fletcher and Joey Graceffa who take responsibility for their online following and use it to raise awareness on important topics.

It baffles me how someone like Logan Paul (and for that matter, his brother) can understand their demographic is young people for the most part, and yet still disregard their emotions in order to gain ‘views’. My attempt is not to be ‘preachy’ but to ask why? How has a hobby for so many, and a career for millions, become for the sole purpose of feeding some people’s narcissistic tendencies? Logan Paul has argued in his original apology that he did not upload the video for ‘views’ because he claimed “I already get the views”. His ignorance overshadows that of incredible people truly trying to enlighten and empower young people; take Meghan Rienks, a YouTuber who also hosts her own podcast as a sort of sister/agony aunt to young girls. She is using her own influence and comedy to provide help and guidance for young girls; her videos are fun and uplifting, and most importantly – she thinks about the way her video will be perceived before she uploads it!

Logan Paul’s video is inexcusable in my opinion; it was not a live stream which would be unable to be edited. He had walked through the forest, and made the decision himself to film the man. He later went home and edited said video. He had all of the time whilst editing to easily come across the massive fault in his video; many continue to support his video and claim it to be “raising awareness”, and find it acceptable, seeing as “he did blur the face”. Which, you know, makes it okay? Nope.

At almost eighteen years old, having run my own blog since I was almost sixteen, I know what it is to review and have to think through your content before you post. Why then can’t Logan Paul, who has been on this Earth longer than I have? Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.

By Tirion Davies

 

 

Enjoyment of the Night Sky

 

I have been pleasantly surprised by ‘proper’ dark evenings and nights. So many of the places I have lived had city lights or Street lights close enough to tone down the crispness of a starry, starry sky. Here I enjoy the last evening time that I let our dog out into the garden. If dry and clear, I step onto the patio and admire the night sky. Slowly I will relearn the location and names of the main constellations. For now I can look straight up and spot the W of Cassiopeia. It is November, so I must wait for Orion the Hunter and his two Dog stars to come fully into view. I have to say that I lack the imagination of the old stargazers who found star patterns 6that depicted animals, insects and all sorts of shapes.

In contrast, I called walk our dog early in the morning and watch the sun lift over the A 4050, sometimes shining straight in my eyes as if the surface of the road is an artificial horizon. Sometimes an orange or pink hue suffuses the sky before the sun breaks the spell. Sometimes the light is a broad swathe of grey through an early mist. This morning the sun set of sparklers on the frosted grass.

And later, in early December, on the coldest morning to date, the sky was incredibly clear. Before our walk, the dark allowed the stars to sparkle and the ‘plough’ to point it’s way to the north star. Shortly after, during our walk, Alfie and I were treated to an ice blue sky where four planes criss crossed the firmament with vapour trails the colour of Clogau Gold.

AyJay

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