Month: September 2022

August Letters

 

My last Sunday School

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the children and Parents of Pebbles and the congregation of St. Mary’s for all the good wishes, cards and presents I received after my last Sunday School. It’s been a privilege to work with such wonderful children and their very supportive parents. I look back over the past 12 years with a huge smile on my face as I remember all the fun times we had, especially on Mothering Sunday and Christmas time. Who’d have thought the Incredible Hulk and Bat Man could be part of the Nativity! So, thank you again for being part of those memories which I shall always treasure.

 

I would like to express my sincere thanks to all our neighbours in the village for their kindness, moral support and practical help during Judy’s long illness and since her death on July 5th.

Keith Bryant

Kind Regards, Alison x

 

Here are some items of interest which appeared on the Wenvoe Community Facebook page.

Graffiti appeared on the footbridge the night of the 5th of August.

Many houses in the Redrow estate reported images of a cyclist trying car doors at 6:30 am on the 6th of August.

On the 16th August the Wenvoe Arms had cooking oil stolen from their backyard.

All these incidents have been reported to the police and some with photographic evidence and positive outcomes.

We all need to be aware of anti-social and potentially criminal incidents. Report to the police and also let Wenvoe residents know via Neighbourhood Watch and our Facebook page. We are all stronger as a strong community!

Thank you NHW

 

I think that What’s On should be politics free. Allowing a column by Andrew R T Davies is unacceptable unless you have balancing contributions from Labour, Lib Dems, Plaid and the Greens.

John

 

I would like to question the scope of our Wenvoe What’s On. As I understand it this is a local magazine for current (and former) residents of our community which, crucially, I believed was politically independent.

I was dismayed to see the Conservative party-political article written by Andrew RT Davies, in the August edition. If the magazine wishes to stray into politics it needs to be fair and equitable and I would also expect to see articles penned by the Welsh Labour Party, Plaid Cymru, Green Party etc. As the elected member of the Senedd for Vale of Glamorgan, can we expect an article from Welsh Labour’s Jane Hutt?

Waiting times in the NHS are clearly of concern; a strong, well funded and supported NHS should be the backbone of our society.

However, in my opinion, Andrew RT Davies’ article was biased and misleading and an attempt to score political points against the current Welsh Labour Senedd administration. Perhaps the Right Honourable Mr Davies, would also like to comment on the state of the English NHS where responsibility lies with the UK’s Conservative Government?

Please may I ask,in what capacity is Andrew RT Davies writing in our local magazine and as it is entitled a column, is it envisaged this will be a regular feature of future What’s Ons?

Whatever your political persuasion (or non), balance and objectivity is key to a thriving democracy.

Sue

 

You’ve probably received other messages about the inclusion of a column written by Andrew RT Davies, in the latest What’s On.

I have enjoyed many years of reading this magazine and one of the nice things about it is the absence of political themes.

If this column is to become a regular feature then surely you must find Labour, Plaid, LibDems, and Green Party members to make contributions too?

Or is the magazine going to become politicised just for the Conservative voters?

Denise Miles

 

I have always enjoyed receiving and reading Wenvoe Whats On and have appreciated the hard work that goes into producing the magazine every month. In that context I wonder if you can tell me if the Wenvoe Whats On non political and non religious policy has changed. I was very surprised to see an article from Andrew R T Davies in this months issue. It was called his column (without saying who he is) suggesting this was going to be a regular feature. The facts are that we have a labour led Senedd, a labour led Vale of Glamorgan council and a labour led AM for our area. Of course we have a local Conservative councillor. So if your policy has changed then there surely needs to be a political balance in the Whats On content.

I would prefer Whats On to remain non political as it has been for the 20 years we have lived in Wenvoe. If that’s not now the case I do think there needs to be an explanation in next month’s Whats On.

I look forward to hearing from you. Keep up the good work.

Nige

 

Hazel Nut Brownies

Hazel Nut Brownies

Box of 16 Ferrero Rocher chocolates

250g pack salted butter, plus extra for greasing

250g golden caster sugar

225g light muscovado sugar

100g cocoa powder

4 large eggs

100g SR flour

85g chopped hazelnuts

4 tbsp hazelnut liqueur [Frangelico or Disaronno]

Unwrap the chocolates, place on a tray and pop into the freezer. Heat oven to 180C fan. Lightly grease and line base and sides of a 21-22 cm square tin with parchment. Put the butter, sugars and cocoa into a large saucepan and gently melt together, stirring regularly so the mixture doesn’t catch. Once the sugar granules have just about disappeared take off the heat and tip into a large bowl, scrape out with a spatula and leave to cool for 5 mins. Use a whisk to beat the eggs one by one into the mixture. When they are completely incorporated and the mixture is smooth and shiny, stir in the flour, hazelnuts, and liqueur. Tip the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 35 mins. Remove the tin from the oven and use a cutlery knife to mark out 16 squares on the top of the brownies. [Don’t cut through it’s only a guide] Using a spoon to push a little dent into the centre of each square and add a frozen Ferrero Rocher chocolate into each dip. Return to the oven for 3 mins, then remove and cool completely. Once cool, cut into the 16 squares

 

Creamy Sausage Cannelloni

Creamy Sausage Cannelloni

[Half term one for the kids ]

1 tbsp oil

1 large onion, chopped

pack of 6, quality sausage, squeezed out of their skins into chunks

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

300ml double cream

2 tbsp wholegrain mustard

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

small pack basil, leaves shredded

8 sheets fresh lasagne

125g ball mozzarella

Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion for about 3 – 4 mins over a medium heat. Add the sausage chunks and cook for another 5 mins to brown all over. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min before stirring in the cream, mustard, chilli flakes and seasoning. Cook for another 2 mins then stir in the basil. Heat the oven 180C fan. Divide the sausage chunks and some sauce between the lasagne sheets and roll each one up. Arrange in a casserole dish, spoon over the remaining sauce then top with the mozzarella. Bake in the oven for 20 mins until the pasta is cooked and the mozzarella gooey and crisp at the edges

 

My “Antiques Roadshow” Moment

MY “ANTIQUES ROADSHOW” MOMENT

This is a tale of serendipity perseverance and self-confidence. In 1988 while rummaging around a second-hand furniture shop in Canton I came across a copy of “South”, Sir Earnest Shackleton’s account of his fateful 1914 Trans Antarctica Expedition. It had a very attractive cover and having read bookshelves full of books on Travel and Exploration in my teens I knew a little about the expedition. I bought the book for the princely sum of 50p. Although the Trans Polar expedition failed it became one of the greatest tales of heroism and survival in the history of Polar exploration. The Endurance became trapped in the ice, was crushed and eventually sank. The tale of how Shackleton managed the rescue of the whole crew without loss is a great read especially the account of the incredible 800-mile voyage across the Southern Ocean in a small boat.

 

I hadn’t noticed at the time, but the book turned out to be a First Edition albeit a second impression. I was intrigued by the inscription on the flyleaf which read

“To Vince from those who appreciate his worth and villanies” (sic)

And signed J G McIlroy and F Wild

Research showed that Frank Wild was second in command to Shackleton and McIlroy was the expedition surgeon. Further detective work revealed that “Vince” referred to crew member John Vincent. Vincent had been recruited as Bosun but because of his aggressive behaviour Shackleton had demoted him to Able Seaman. He was one of only a few members of the expedition that was not awarded the Polar Medal. This explained the reference to his “villanies”. I deduced that this volume must have belonged to him. Because of this provenance it occurred to me that this book might be of value to a collector of Polar memorabilia but for me it became part of my small collection of first editions.

Some years later I faced up to the fact my book collection would likely end up back on the shelves of some charity shop or even the skip. It was time to cash them in. Cue The Antique’s Roadshow coming to Cardiff. After queuing for an age, the specialist book expert declared that my book was not a first edition because it was a second impression. It was quite interesting because of the inscription but he didn’t think it was worth much. I was convinced that he was wrong, but he was the expert. So, disappointed, the book went back to my bookshelves.

Fast forward to this year, 2022, the centenary of the Shackleton Expedition. There was a massive amount of interest in the press and media which peaked when the wreck of the Endurance was found largely intact on the floor of the Weddell Sea. Much was written about the expedition and especially about the epic 800-mile rescue voyage of the small boat, “The James Caird”. By this time, I knew that John Vincent the original owner of my book, had been one of the five members of Shackleton’s crew on this voyage. I figured that there would never be a better opportunity to find a buyer for the book.

This time I emailed a few auction houses specialising in rare books. Most resulted in lukewarm interest, but one responded quite excitedly and suggested that I include it in their July auction. They put in an estimate of £1000 to £1500. Bingo. I was right. It was quite a valuable find.

Came the day of the sale we watched online. Lot 66. It seemed to take ages to get to it, but too excited to risk missing it we had to watch from the beginning. The bidding opened with a commission bid of £2600. Wow! then, £2800, £3000, amazing. … and finally, as the hammer came down, £4000. Take a breath.  Time to break out the Prosecco. I just knew that a book with such a provenance had to be worth a lot to someone and I was proved right. There are so many societies and Polar organisations, one of them surely would have valued it. Success!

I don’t know who bought my 50p find. I like to think that it went to somewhere like the “Scott Polar Research Institute” and that someday I would be able to see it again. In truth, it’s a bit sad. Of course, the £4000 was exciting and was very welcome but it just vanishes anonymously into a bank account and is forgotten whereas figuratively speaking, the gap on my bookshelf remains. I miss it.

But now the blood is up. Next to go will be my first edition of Bruce Chatwin’s “In Patagonia”. I know this is worth a couple of bob. Then my major project is to convince some art gallery that my original but unsigned Fauve oil painting of Collioure is genuine and worth in my estimate upwards of £2,000,000. I was right last time. I’ve got a lot of work to do.

Alan Williams

 

References:

The John Caird   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_of_the_James_Caird

The Scott Polar Research Institute
Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge » Our present

Original film of the expedition
In cinemas: South: Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Glorious Epic of the Antarctic (1919) | BFI

Re-enactment of the Boat Journey
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3742938/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

 

Danger And Uncertainty Or Creative Energy?

Considering tomorrow today

Danger and uncertainty or creative energy?

In a speech in Cape Town in June 1966, Robert F Kennedy said: ‘There is a Chinese curse which says ‘May he live in interesting times.’ Like it or not we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also more open to the creative energy of men than any other time in history.’

We are again living in interesting times:-

  • The consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is pushing up the cost of living throughout most of the Globe
  • The supply of energy, particularly to highly industrialised Europe, has been shown to be insecure and there is a real chance that this winter may bring power cuts and restrictions
  • The Covid pandemic has left “Governments” internationally with fewer resources to provide public services or support its most vulnerable population groups, and one suspects that SARS-CoV-2 isn’t done with us yet!
  • In the UK inflation is at its highest level since the 1970s and forecast to rise. Coupled with other factors we face an Economic scenario that has no precedent with no tried and tested roadmap to improvement
  • The “Climate” has thrown up some extreme weather events as if Gaia (Earth Goddess) is reminding us we must act to protect her.

 

Potentially depressing isn’t it? But please read on as we can together, hopefully take steps along the “creative energy” path to a climate friendly and more mutually prosperous future.

In recent decades in Britain natural gas has been at the heart of both energy generation and domestic heating. With growing awareness of the need to develop more renewable energy sources policy interventions appeared, e.g. the purchase of solar panels for provision of household electricity was made viable but as the policies began to achieve their effect, interventions were withdrawn and investment in solar at the domestic level had a much longer term payback. Currently however quite suddenly the sums have changed again and interest in alternative energy is once again picking up.

  • However several elements of the process create barriers to decision making:-
  • Technical detail of equipment is unfamiliar to many
  • Schemes are set up differently so it’s hard to compare
  • Some householders have not been made properly aware of the impact of such installations on resale of the house
  • The market is now growing quickly and there isn’t a big cohort of reputationally reliable providers
  • Some apocryphal horror stories abound and pitfalls can be hard to see.

 

The same could be said for the installation of heat pumps to replace gas central heating

The community could actively help each other with some of these issues particularly through sharing their own experiences. Without getting into the legal minefield of making commercial recommendations or technical specifications those who have already installed alternative energy systems could share stories of what went well and what disappointed them, what they would have done differently, and report on whether they actually got the amount of electricity they were promised etc. The information would be invaluable to those making difficult decisions. Even buddying up with someone else who is also considering an installation to talk things through could be helpful.

The Forum is exploring how it can facilitate this process. If you have experienced the purchase and installation of a solar panel scheme or a heat pump that you are willing to share in conversation or as an anonymised written case study, we would like to hear from you. Please e-mail gwenfo.forum@ gmail.com; your e-mail address will go no further without your permission. You may be able to help someone else get on the road to a more climate friendly future. We look forward to hearing about your experiences good or not so good.

……………………….………………

We will be at the Village Show on 10th September, please do come and see us. There will be a stand with information, competitions, art activities for children and an opportunity to tell us what you think about Wenvoe and its future.

To join our Facebook group, please ‘friend up’ with the Gwen Fo account @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1 and then jon the Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402

Some further information and updates, blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/

Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, which are normally held 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. E-mail gwenfo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to join.

 

A Key Plant For Wildlife

A Key Plant For Wildlife

 

It features in John Constable’s famous picture, The Hay Wain. It made an important and powerful wand in the Harry Potter stories. Its pith has been used by watchmakers for many years. Its flowers are used to make a rural ‘champagne’ and the berries a jam and wine. Cultivars can be seen in many Wenvoe gardens. And there is much, much more we could write about this small tree which, if you have not already guessed it, is Elder.

In the Hay Wain you can see a small tree growing by a wall on the edge of the cottage and this has been identified as Elder, emphasising its importance to country folk. Herbalists used it – in the 16th century, Gerard recommended its seeds for those who were too fat. It was often planted close to cottages as it was believed to ward off the Devil but may also have helped because its ability to absorb water might have reduced the incidence of damp.

It is a key plant for wildlife, the berries consumed by more bird species than any other native tree although mammals tend to avoid them. It is second only to Ash in the number of Bryophytes (mosses and lichens) it supports. However, you should not see it in any of our orchards except for the Wild orchard. It is believed to inhibit the growth of sweet apples, plums and pears etc. so the recommendation is to avoid having it growing there. Our Wild orchard is made up of native trees which have co-existed with Elder for thousands of years and you will see Elder there growing alongside Crabapple, Wild Cherry, Wild Pear and Bullace.

Unspectacular and easily overlooked, Elder is a key plant in our countryside both for wildlife and for its rich cultural history. For more on this topic try articles by Jeff Ollerton e.g. British Wildlife vol 33, no. 6.

 

Advent Windows 2022

We are inviting you to take part in lighting up your windows this Advent 2022 following the last two successful years.

The Advent Windows 2022 will encourage us all to wrap up warm and get out to view the windows throughout December. There will be a new window to see each night leading up to Christmas Eve when of course there will be all 24 on display.

This community fun event will run from the 1st-24th December, with the final window at St. Mary’s Church. We would like you to take part; there is no entry fee, it’s not a competition and adults and children can be involved.

How it works: – We need a minimum of 24 participants to decorate their windows. Participants will be allocated a date when they will light up their window for the first time and continue lighting up each day until 24th December. For those of us viewing the windows this will mean every day from 1st December a new window will be lit up to go and see so that by 24th December there will be 24 windows to view.

The windows can be designed and constructed from any media including lights, mobiles, cut outs etc. They can be as simple or technical as your artistic tendencies take you. They can be internal or external displays as long as they involve decorating your window. All the displays should relate to Advent / Christmas and can be humorous, artistic or topical. During previous years there was a great variety in size, contents, both humorous and stately, some with a modern portrayal and others of traditional designs.

The windows will be lit from 5 – 9pm each evening.

Each house participating will be asked to

– display a number corresponding to the date their window is ‘opened’ to differentiate it from other residents who will have their own Christmas decorations.

– keep their window a surprise as far as is possible before the designated revealing evening

If you want to participate you need to:

 live in a house that has a window (upstairs or down) that can clearly be seen from the street without people coming onto your property

 be happy to keep the window illuminated each evening after it is ‘revealed’ until December 24th

 

We are aware that many people give their time and money to support a host of different charities. If you would like to put a charity box outside your house you would be most welcome. Just make sure you empty the box each evening.

For more information ring: Glenys and Mike Tucker: 07922 109721 or Jude and Nige Billingham: on 02920594708 or 07516 112897.

Please let Jude Billingham know by October 16th that you want to decorate your window by supplying your name, address, email address, telephone number, and any preference you have about dates by email (judebillingham@yahoo.co.uk) by telephone, or text.

Please be aware that in agreeing to participate you are also agreeing to have your address identified on the windows map that will be made available so people can look for your window. No names or email will be shared without your permission

This is a St. Mary’s initiative for the whole community

August 2022 News Update

August 2022 News Update

After many trials and holdups our new priest The Rev. Lyndon Hutchison-Hounsell and his wife Chris finally made it to the Rectory on the evening of the 8th August after a gruelling journey from London, Ontario Canada. They were welcomed with many useful gifts to help furnish their home as well as messages of welcome and greetings. It has been heart-warming to see the response from all over our three churches to make them feel at home in Wales and that they are among friends. Before Vicar Lyndon can take any services in our churches he will have to be licensed by the Bishop, and this hopefully will be in September at a date yet to be announced. He is anxious to meet as many people as possible and has been around the village, with visits to St, Mary’s, the Wenvoe Arms, The Hub and other places, so please make yourselves known to them.

The latest edition of the Ministry Area “Connections” magazine was available during August and a copy has been placed at The Hub in Wenvoe, during the library opening hours. Lyndon wrote a letter for the magazine as follows

“Hello, De Morgannwg Ministry Area!

It is such a pleasure to be able to say hello and I so look forward to getting to know all of you. I’m sure you’re curious about who I am and, of course, you will get to know me over the course of the next few months, too. As an introduction, here’s a little bit about me and my wife, Chris.

We’ve been married for 33 years. We have lived in various locations in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba. My family is from Newfoundland. We have two adult children, Thomas and Emma. Thomas is studying architecture and has a passion for sustainability. Emma is an artist who enjoys working with textiles – especially knitting.

Chris and I love to travel. We spent two months in Italy in 2012 and four months in the UK in 2019. We enjoy visiting holy sites and places where other pilgrims have walked before. We are looking forward to spending many hours on the trails of the Wales Coastal Path and Brecon Beacons. We hope to share those walks with many of you.

We also enjoy music and dancing, reading historical and mystery novels, and local food and drink. I enjoy singing and playing some guitar. Chris enjoys knitting and researching her genealogy. We are looking forward to being introduced to cricket, rugby, and football, (as spectators) and would like try our hand at bowls and croquet.

I have been a professed member of the Third Order of the Society of Saint Francis for more than 20 years. There’s lots to talk about but suffice it to say this means I have a keen interest in caring for the earth and those in need.

I was ordained priest in 1993 so I’ve been at this for a while. But that’s not to say I don’t have anything to learn. I most certainly do and I look forward to

continuing my spiritual formation alongside the good people of De Morgannwg Ministry Area.

Peace and many blessings,

Lyndon

During the month of August our church services have been led by visiting priests and we have been enjoying the varying styles of worship they bring to the church. Being a holiday month we always expect a downturn in attendances with people away on holiday, but the number of worshippers has been very encouraging, and things can only improve once Lyndon is able to officiate and establish the normal pattern of services in our churches.

Work on the tower is progressing now at a faster rate than before with the mortaring gang applying the lime mortar as quickly as the weather conditions allow. The recent hot sunshine dries the mortar out too quickly and causes cracks, delaying the final mortaring to be applied. So hopefully the work will be completed in September, the scaffolding, removed, the clock restarted, and the ground around the tower cleaned up in time for the Harvest Festival and BYO picnic in the church grounds to meet up with our new priest. So watch for the announcement on the church notice boards and the community pages.

The Rev. Kevin Barry, our former curate will be licenced to the East Vale Ministry Area on Sunday 4th September at Llancarfan church at 6.00pm and members of our three churches will be there to support him and to acknowledge the time he spent with us. Our best wishes and prayers go with Kevin and his family for this next stage in his ministry in the Church in Wales.

We supported the Christian Aid “East Africa Hunger Appeal” with retiring collections at our Sunday services. “After the worst drought in 40 years millions of people across East Africa are facing the threat of famine and dying. With the war in Ukraine causing global food prices to rocket, we are facing crisis on crisis. Due to climate change many families are now homeless, identified as displaced” Faced with a situation like that we have no option but to try and help with whatever money we are able to raise to ease their situation especially in the provision of water purification kits, dispersing animal feed and medicine. Christian Aid is supporting over 300,000 people and more help is needed. Thank you to all who supported this appeal in our churches.

Looking ahead we are planning a number of events to meet up with our new priest during September. They are all in the planning stage and no firm dates have been agreed at the time of writing, so keep your eye on the notice boards in church and on the weekly newsletter.

Thank you for reading this, the very latest news from St. Mary’s and we invite you to join with us during the month as we celebrate a new chapter in the life of the church here in Wenvoe. God Bless.

Parry Edwards

 

International Friendship Day

CARERS WALK

With International Friendship Day designated by the UN as 30th July, it was wonderful to celebrate it with the Carers walk around Barry Island. Everyone needs friends, including Carers, and it was lovely to see everyone mingling, chatting and just enjoying themselves. Did the walkers find time to admire the pristine Whitmore beach, the Burnet moths or the cliffs at Jacksons Bay….maybe not, but being with, and enjoying the company of friends is part of the joy of this walk

Llanharan and Caerwent

 Llanharan

Parking at Llanharan station we headed uphill at the High Corner pub, turning right along a terrace to a large field. We walked through wood-land and passed a Christmas tree farm emerging onto open moorland. Out from the cover of trees, we realised it was raining and donned waterproofs; most of us didn’t have waterproof leggings and our trousers were soaked and dried several times.

Somewhere not far from us were the wind turbines that are visible from the A48 and M4, but low clouds hid them although we could hear the whooshing sound of the blades. We stopped for lunch under a few trees which had grown from a hedge and one of the turbines momentarily appeared only to disappear again

Continuing we came to Caer rocks, known locally as the Cariad stones, because of a carving in the slabs, ‘Dduw Cariad Yw’ which can be seen from below even on such a cloudy day. It translates as ‘God is Love’ and is said to have been inscribed by a zealous preacher from Tonyrefail in the early part of the 20th century. There is also a story that in the 1920’s a collier from Thomastown (near Tonyrefail) carried his daughter here daily to sit with him as he carved. She was suffering from tuberculosis and as he carved, she breathed in the fresh air. When he finished his daughter was healed. On a clear day there are good views, not today.

One person took a track back towards Llanharan whilst the rest of us continued along the ridge. When it was time to descend, we were confronted by a sea of waist high bracken interlaced with hidden brambles, the footpath was nowhere to be seen. A few aborted attempts to get through it were made including one which followed a dried-up stream for some way before we had to admit defeat and retreat back uphill to join our friend on the track.

The weather was clearing, and we admired rain drops on spiders’ webs and gloriously coloured heathers. The track was so narrow we had to breathe in deeply to allow a car to pass.

The final stretch was through Brynna woods where we spotted a clump of well camouflaged orchids. Walk 6miles 1000ft Map 151

 

Caerwent

We parked at the Roman site of Caerwent, a good-sized free carpark which was not full even on a warm August weekend. This is just inside the west gate of Venta Siluran, a Roman town founded shortly after the Romans’ conquest of South Wales in 75AD. The town became the tribal capital for the Silures and had its own town council. Sitting astride the Roman Gloucester to Caerleon road, it was the largest civilian settlement in Wales covering 44 acres. Initially buildings were wood but by 200AD public buildings, shops and houses were stone. A defensive stone wall and ditches were added later and the Roman town wall that still encircles modern Caerwent is the best preserved in Britain.

Pound Lane has a huge fig tree at the corner and the layout of a number of buildings can be seen on the ground. We visited the Church of St Stephen and St Tathan with its rotating lychgate. Inside there are roman sculptures which were uncovered in 1900 and 1911 during building works, 4 blocks show floral motifs, and one has a bird on a leaf. An exposed, framed section of the floor has a Roman mosaic.

The footpath from the churchyard led us across a field planted with maize which came well above our heads and was planted so close to the path that the large leaves slapped at us as we walked through – one person even cut their lip. It seemed to go on forever, but eventually we emerged and stepped over a stile to a road.

The route took us across an abandoned golf course where the grass was crisp from lack of rain and we climbed over an electric fence with no isolators but were able to temporarily disconnect the batteries.

We spotted lots of centaury growing in patches and a row of liquidambar trees, unusual and decorative. An old rabbit hole had been colonised by bees with the distinctive honeycomb pattern easy to see. At Slade Woodland we learned that more types of wildlife live in the first 10 metres of a woodland ride than in the rest of the woodland as it creates a more open and sunny space

After crossing a field where a large herd of black cattle followed us, we were soon back in Caerwent and skirting the Roman remains again.

The walk was across a mixture of grassland, crop fields, roads, and woodland where we sheltered for lunch. It was a hot sunny day and where roads had high hedges it was even hotter; in the open there was a breeze at times. Luckily all the crops, apart from the maize at the beginning, had been harvested so it was relatively easy underfoot. Walk 81/4miles 500ft Maps 154 and OL14

Note: At this time of year, footpaths may be overgrown, and it is a good idea to carry a pair of secateurs (and maybe gloves). Brambles, nettles etc. can block paths and stiles are frequently impassable. Even with secateurs we had to take a diversion on the Caerwent walk. And the bracken was so dense on the Llanharran walk that we had to retreat and take a shortcut.

 

 

1 2