Sunday 23 December 2012

Walk off the Christmas Dinner

City and County of Swansea have launched a pamphlet with map inside.
Three Park Walk  Coedbach Park 1.   Lougher Foreshore 2.   Parc Williams 3.
For more information contact the Countryside Access Team 01792-635230 countrysideaccess@swansea.gov.uk




Tuesday 18 December 2012

Blog Update December 2013

Here is a picture taken at our stall at the Green Fayre Launch showing the map of Coadbach with all it's different tree species, we are so lucky to have over 37 varieties in the Park as well as the long established oaks with the lovely native bluebells growing underneath then.

And here is a  reminder that we did get some flowers blooming last  Summer despite all the rain!


A big thank you to all our members, supporters and friends and for the achievements we have done in the Park this year. Next year we will have more colour in the Park as we have planted over 400 crocus, daffodil and tulip bulbs and hopefully a lot less knotweed .

We will not be having a monthly meeting in December so our next meeting will be on the last Thursday in January 2013 that's the 24th  January at 7.30pm in the Pontarddulais Cricket Club.

Have a Happy Christmas, a Healthy New Year and let's hope for less rain in 2013.
Best wishes to everyone.

Tuesday 27 November 2012

Next Meeting

Hi Everyone

Adam Mason City & County of Swansea Community Parks Development Officer is coming to our next meeting this Thursday 27th November 2012 Pontarddulais Cricket Club at 7.30pm.
Hope to see you there.


Monday 22 October 2012

October Meeting

As usual we are holding our end of the month meeting at the Cricket Club Pontarddulais.
On Thursday 25th October Start time is 7.30

We are looking to recruit some more members to the group so please feel free to pop along and say hello.

Friday 5 October 2012

Knotweed (Before Treatment)

Here are some images of the Knotweed problem.

This growth is by the lower football field and it shows how dense and the height the knotweed is. (Over 9ft). 

This area used to be used to stage a community bonfire on Guy Fawkes Night back in the 70's early 80's.

And somewhere in here is an old abandoned car.




Monday 1 October 2012

Press Release



PRESS RELEASE
“Knot Free”

Thanks to a £10,000 Tidy Towns Community Led Grant from the Welsh Government the Friends of Coedbach Park have been able to appoint Hortech Contractors who will be on site shortly starting the process of getting rid of the Japanese Knotweed in the Park.  A spokesperson for the group said  "We know it is going to be a battle to get rid of the Knotweed completely but this grant is going to make a big difference to the park which is a much valued and essential community asset”.
The Tidy Towns grant supports community action in delivering practical local environment quality improvements . Christine Thomas, Secretary of the Group said that it is wonderful news to have this support from the Welsh Government. The Friends Group over the past 2 years have been working with Keep Wales Tidy, Environment Wales, the Woodland Trust and the City and County of Swansea in the Park making small improvements by planting bee friendly flowers, a new hedgerow and laying woodchip paths through the woodland area. Japanese Knotweed is such an invasive species that if it is not controlled it just takes over killing all the native species of plants and so it is essential that we get rid of it from our Park”.
The Friends Group welcome new volunteers and meet on the last Thursday at 7.30 in Pontarddulais Cricket Club.

For more details please contact Christine Thomas Secretary via email milgi@talktalk.net or phone 07890416892 or visit our Blog http://friendsofcoedbachpark.blogspot.com

Friday 31 August 2012

Countryside Connections Events

Last week we posted some upcoming events to be held by Countryside Connections. Due to a mix up the wrong poster was given to us.
So here is the corrected version.
Please click on the poster to enlarge image.



Tuesday 28 August 2012

Tennis in the Community



 This is the last week the free sessions are running on                           Wednesday and Friday 2pm-4pm. 

Thursday 23 August 2012

August Meeting

The next meeting for the Friends is August 30th 7.30 Pontarddulais Cricket Club.

Monday 23 July 2012

Next Meeting


NEXT MEETING

THURSDAY 26TH JULY AT 7.30PM

PONTARDDULAIS CRICKET CLUB


AGENDA

Knotfree Project
Tennis in the Community
Countryside Connections
Volunteering with Friends of Coedbach

Summer Play Scheme

A Message from Pontarddulais Partnership.


Don't forget our FREE Summer Play Scheme this week at Dantwyn Park (Monday - Friday) between 1pm-4pm.
Next week, 30th July to 3rd August (Monday - Friday) we move on to Coed Bach Park between 1pm-4pm and continue there from 6th to 10th August.
All children 0-14 are welcome (under 8s must be accompanied by an adult). Scheme is run by fully trained and qualified Play Workers supported by volunteer play workers.
Don't forget NATIONAL PLAY DAY at Coed Bach Park on Wednesday 1st August - come along and have some fun, join our Balloon Race, tennis drop-in, Swansea Youth Bus, arts and crafts, climbing wall (weather permitting), Dragon Sports, Library Service, representatives from the Rail Life campaign (formerly the No Messin' campaign) promoting safety on railway lines), the Women's Institute will be providing cakes and refreshments. THIS IS A FREE EVENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING LOTS OF YOU THERE.



We at FOTP also invite you to take some time out and enjoy a little visit to the park and enjoy the sunshine (if it lasts)


If you have a dog please ensure that you pick up any dog poo and place it in either a litter bin or a dog poo bin located at the Coed Bach Entrance by the Football field traffic roundabout or the Glasfryn entrance.


Also if you are using the new pathways through the 2nd woods (from behind the swings to the rugby club car park or to the show field) please pick up your dog mess or litter as a lot of time has been spent laying the pathways for all to enjoy.


Please also do not light any fires as this damages the wildlife within the park.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Meeting 12/7/12



A letter from Helen Grey Countryside Connections Officer.


Let’s meet up on Thurs at 7:30pm at the Cricket Club.
This will be to discuss the elements of your park development plan that I could potentially assist you with.
Also, I would like to discuss you maybe applying for a grant from Countryside Connections – there is a lot of interest in the funding and a limited amount left.

There may be a match on but we can be squeezed in.

Hope to see you there.

Tuesday 3 July 2012

Pontarddulais Carnival 2012

Here are a few pics from our (VERY WET!) exploits on Saturday 30th June 2012 at the Pontarddulais Carnival.

Our lovely Stall.


The Tombola.

Even the local School lollypop lady lent a hand :-)


Us taking shelter

For some reason Christine thought we needed a bit more rain so performed a rain dance.


Thursday 28 June 2012

28/6/2012


This letter is to bring you up to date with what’s happening in the Park and with the Friends.  We have booked a stall at the local Carnival which is being held on Saturday 30th June in the Park where we will be giving out information about what the Friends have been doing and running a Tombola to raise funds. If you have any items to donate for the Tombola you can drop them off with me or bring them along to our next monthly meeting in the Cricket Club on Thursday 28th June at 7.30 when we will be getting things organised for the stall.

The Survey of the natural habitats in the Park is nearly complete.  Thanks to the grant from Environment Wales and the grant from the Pontarddulais Town Council we were able to engage Barry Stewart & Associates. When we get the results, we will be producing a bi-lingual summary to inform the community of what we have in the Park and we will also be having an open meeting to invite members of the community to come along and discuss their ideas for the Park.

Also, in keeping with our Constitutional aims of helping to maintain the Park and with the support of C. C. Swansea we have successfully applied for a grant from the Welsh Government Local Government Quality Branch Tidy Towns Project to engage contractors to come on site to eradicate the invasive species Japanese Knotweed. We are in the process of sending out invitations to contractors to send in quotes for the work and, subject to the approval of the Grantor, we are hoping to get started with this project in September.

As many of you know the project to lay down wood chippings on the paths through the second woods has been going on for the past few months. The woodchip is being supplied by Swansea Council and an especially BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has helped to get it laid it has made a huge improvement to the paths. We are also continuing to plant flowers in the designated areas and clear away brambles and undergrowth to allow the natural flowers to flourish.   

So thank you for all your support and hope to see you at the meeting or at the Carnival Stall.

All the best
Chris (Sec.)

Tuesday 12 June 2012

Thursday 14/6/12


We are having a special meeting this Thursday 7.30 in Pontarddulais Cricket Club to discuss the offer of a grant from the Tidy Towns Community Led Initative to engage contactors to eradicate the Japenese Knotweed in the Park.  You are most welcome to come along to give your views.
 

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Carnival Programmes 2012

There has been a change to the way that the 2012 Carnival Day Programmes have been issued.

This year no stall holders are required to sell any and they are from official sellers only. So no members of FOTP will be asked to sell any this year.

Saturday 26 May 2012

May Meeting

Our Monthly meeting will be held on Thursday May 31st at the Cricket club Pontarddulais.
Start time will be 7.30 pm.

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Bluebells

After our efforts to clear the brambles and under growth from the area near the tennis courts and a section of woodland in the 2nd woods we are pleased to say the bluebells have sprung up this year.

The cleared area by the Tennis courts

The cleared area in 2nd woods

Sunday 13 May 2012

Dawn Chorus

Here is a link to the Still Walk blog.


Featuring images and the bird songs recorded at last weeks event.


http://www.stillwalks.com/index.php/new-blog/blog.html

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Dawn Chorus

On Sunday 6/5/2012 Friends of Coed Bach park and Countryside Connections joined forces to hold a Dawn Chorus early morning walk.
On hand were Helen Grey from Countryside Connections, Martin Humphreys Bird expert and Alastair Duncan from Stillwalks.
The event was very well attended by the general public and was tremendously informative. We were lucky that the weather  was fine and all the birds were busy chirping away to keep our experts busy.
Even though most of us are regular users of the park we were amazed how many different species of birds there are in this area (we counted around about 30)
And we even discovered 2 nests which which will remain a secret only for us who were there (If you use the park you will pass them but wont know about them :-)
To jolly the event along Helen had provided us with a sheet of paper with different birds marked on it so we could tick them off as we heard or saw them or Bird Bingo to give it an official title. This was won by the youngest member of the group who left with a handful of birdie goodies.


The morning ended off with a bacon roll (a vegatarian option was included) and a cup of tea or coffee.


There are more events planned over the coming months in other locations in the swansea area if you are interested then you can email Helen Grey at:-Helen.grey@swansea.gov.uk

Alastair Duncan's Website can be found at:-www.stillwalks.com 

And on Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/#!/StillWalks



Helen Welcomes us all and takes us through the relevant info

Bird expert Martin Introduces himself

Alastair Introduces himself




A Bird Bingo sheet

It's not a bird but I could not resist a pic

Alastair listening and recording bird song



Viewing the crows nest (With chicks)

A busy morning for the blue tits in this box


A young robin

Our resident ducks forage for breakfast in the bluebells


The winner of Bird Bingo


Friday 4 May 2012

Sunday 6th MAY

This is a Free event at Coed Bach park on Sunday May 6th from 6am  THE DAWN CHORUS there will be An early morning stroll through Coed Bach Park with a local bird expert to enjoy the sweet chorus of the birds in the park and Loughor marsh. This will be followed by a Bacon Bap now that's worth getting up for. 
Booking is essential contact Helen grey on 01792636893 or at helen.grey@swansea.gov.uk
Please ensure you wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Signs

Our resident artist Gaynor Fuge has been busy making a few signs for the trees around the park.


We have so many different varieties of tree around the park these little signs will tell you what we are looking at.
Gaynor has spent a lot of time making these for us (and the public) so we say a big Thank You to her.
We also give thanks to Wyndsor Clarke for helping in identifying the trees and helping Gaynor to stake them into the ground.


Gaynor has a website which is currently under construction.
http://plumsumit.com/

And a Facebook Page.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Plum-Sumit/271851799569176












Images taken by Martin Hanson.
http://mph-photo.blogspot.co.uk/

Monday 30 April 2012

Wind Damage

Sadly we suffered a bit of damage in the park due to the high winds on Sunday 29th April.


A tree was broken by the tennis courts blocking the service road into the bowling green. And several large branches came down in this area of woodland.
A tree was also brought down by the Coed Bach entrance this fell on the dog bin but the bin has remained upright but the warning sign to dog walkers has taken a battering.
And three trees donated by FOTP member Dougie have also been uprooted but we can save these.


The City and County of Swansea are already in the park clearing up the mess left behind so we give thanks to them for working under the most difficult of circumstances.


Coed Bach Entrance



Tennis Courts


One of the 3 downed trees by the lower football pitch
Our resident photographer Martin Hanson also photographed the trees moving in the wind on Sunday you can visit his blog site (Click on the link below)
http://mph-photo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/wind.html

Sunday 29 April 2012

Wind

Our resident photographer Martin has been out and about in the park today and captured some movement in the trees.

http://mph-photo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/wind.html

Friday 27 April 2012

Dawn Chorus

This is a Free event at Coed Bach park on Sunday May 6th from 6am  THE DAWN CHORUS there will be An early morning stroll through Coed Bach Park with a local bird expert to enjoy the sweet chorus of the birds in the park and Loughor marsh. This will be followed by a Bacon Bap now that's worth getting up for. 
Booking is essential contact Helen grey on 01792636893 or at helen.grey@swansea.gov.uk
Please ensure you wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Monday 23 April 2012

April Meeting

Our monthly meeting will be held on Thursday 26th April at the Pontarddulais Cricket Club.
The start time is 7.30pm

Saturday 14 April 2012

AGM Friday 13th April 2012

We held our 1st AGM meeting on friday 13th April 2012 in the Mechanics Institute Pontarddulais the meeting was open to members of the public.
Our 2011-2012 comittee consisted of Vyv Fuge (Chairman) Christine Thomas (Secretary) Margaret Maden (Treasurer) Joy Walker (Vice Chair) Gaynor Fuge (Comittee member)


The 2011-2012 outgoing comittee
Rear Left Gaynor Fuge/ Rear Right Joy Walker
Front left Vyv Fuge/ Middle Christine Thomas/ Right Margaret Maden.


The Newly elected 2012-2013 Comittee consists of Catherine Thomas (Chairwoman) Kay Lloyd (Vice Chair) Christine Thomas (Secretary) Margaret Maden (Treasurer) Martin Hanson (Comittee member)

The 2012-2013 Newly elected members
Rear Left Catherine Thomas/ Rear Right /Christine Thomas
Front left Martin Hanson/Middle Kay lloyd/Right Margaret Maden


We the newly elected members would like to thank everybody for their efforts over the last year.








A few more images from the meeting taken by Martin Hanson on his blog site:-
http://mph-photo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/community-group-meeting.html


Wednesday 11 April 2012

AGM and Public Meeting

On Friday 13th April in Pontarddulais Institute we are holding a general meeting and our 1st AGM.


The start time for the meeting will be 7.00pm and followed by the AGM at 7.30pm.


Please feel free to pop in and get involved.
Hope to see you there.

Saturday 31 March 2012

Football Container

Andy Cook has finished off spray painting the football field container for the Pontarddulais Juniors.
I think you will all agree he has done a Great Job as it has livened up the park with a nice big dose of colour.