July Roundup

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July has been a very quiet time around the park so we don't have much news this month.

Towards the end of the school term we were delighted to have the local junior schools bring their pupils over for a morning and afternoon session of games and other activities. Everybody enjoyed themselves and it was great to see the park in full use.
Who needs Oakwood park when we have Coed Bach!

Also we are launching a photo competition and the first prize is your image will feature in next years cards/calendars we are producing and your image will be the centre point of a local exhibition promoting the park.

Click on image to enlarge.

Park Budgets

At our last meeting on 26/7/15 at Pontarddulais Cricket Club park's development manager Richard Davies took some time out of his busy day to pop along and give us an update on the situation with regards to Swansea Parks budgets.

As we know it is tough times for all Council run departments and budgets are being slashed due to lack of funding from central goverment. This also effects our parks in the area and they no longer have the manpower they need to attend to everything in the park.

Richard has set up a Friends of Swansea Park's forum on Facebook and they meet occasionally in Swansea to discuss and share ideas.

This hopefully will lead to all volunteer groups being able to share ideas and hopefully share machinery (and volunteers) to attend to our parks.

It is more important than ever to get more volunteers on board to save our open spaces.

If you would like to join us the contact email is at the top of the screen and you can contact us via Facebook or Twitter.

As you can see from the aerial map below over the last five years FOCBP have been able to make a big difference in the park all through volunteer efforts.

Changes Made

New Tennis Courts

Seasonal Pond

Extended hard standing area by the Rugby pitch

Skateboard Ramps

Extending the BMX track with support from local schools

Continual planting and clearence work around the park

Safer Swansea schemes implemented to improve park safety

Extra bins and seating 

You too can also be a part of something great.

Click on map to enlarge image taken from Google Maps

Dog Poo

Due to a minority of people not picking up after their dogs we have been forced into the difficult decision of calling in the Dog Wardens.

People are allowing their pets to foul our pathways and volunteers (many of who are dog owners themselves) have found themselves picking up other peoples mess or worse still stepping in it.

We have to say the majority of people follow the rules but sadly one or two have even told us. 'It's ok as we are in a woodland area'

And one little boy told an irresponsible owner 'But I play in here!!!!!' Well done that little man.

Also FOCBP members are always watching and are willing to lend a bag if the owner mat have run out. (it happens)

Volunteers

There has not been much activity this month due to the Summer wildlife settling into the park but we have been out litter picking and a small bit of clearence work has been carried out.

Wildflowers

As you can see we have had a bumper crop of wildflowers growing by the Coed Bach entrance this year and if you stop to study the flowers you will notice the Bees and other insect life going about it's business of pollentaing the flowers.

Can we please ask people not to pick any of these flowers as they are given by the council to the people of Pontarddulais and they are there to be enjoyed and not damaged.

Also in the park we have a few fruit trees. These are beginning to bear the first signs of any sort of fruit growing on them.
Unfortunately people have already started picking at them and the fruit is not yet ready to be picked.
Can we please ask you not to pick anything off the trees until we give official notice, as the trees are currently getting damaged.
Warning notices will be placed around the park until further notice. And we will make a public announcement when things are ready.

Tennis coaching has restarted in the park. Please ring the number on the banner if you want to book a session.
All sessions must be booked through the Swansea Tennis Centre.

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