October Update

It has been a little while since we last updated this blog so here is the news from the last few months.

The Friends of Coed bach Park calendar have arrived. They will be available from CANOLFAN Y BONT 28 Dulais Road, Pontarddulais to buy now at £5 each with proceeds going towards the park.
As usual we thank Gaynor Fuge for her efforts in putting the Calendar together and this years look absolutely amazing (Even though we are biased.) Thank you Gaynor from us all at FOCBP.

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The Seasonal pond is looking a little overgrown so several intrepid members of our group have jumped into their waders and made a start to do a controlled clearance of the pond. There is a lot to do so the job will be continued over the next few weeks.

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Recently we held another fascinating walk with Teifion our Fungi expert and once again we found another interesting haul of goodies in the park.
We were delighted to see more young people join the group and they enjoyed a little walk around the park learning about the life that inhabits the area.

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On October the 11th Christine Thomas was invited to have a cuppa with the current Mayor of Swansea and a local Councillor Beverly Hopkins! What a lovely surprise as we didn't know why we'd been called for a meeting but he personally thanked Chris for being the driving force behind the park and wanted to learn more about the person and the work you help her accomplish. A big thank you to everyone who's been involved in the process so far, because without you the park wouldn't be the same. We have a lovely community in the park and we should be proud of the amazing work we do together. From the people who bin rubbish who isn't theirs, to the friendly hello's, to the clearing the brambles, answering our surveys and attending the meetings. All your time and effort is paying off. 

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The Our Place Team based at the Canolfan y Bont continue to work through all weathers in the park. They are constantly topping up the wood chip on the pathways and over the last few weeks have been busy on the BMX track. 
Several youths have stopped off for a chat with team members and have given the team great feedback on what they are looking for with the lumps and bumps and jumps, the team have put in. So we would like to Thank them for their help as it helps everyone understand better what it is the youngsters of Pontarddulais would like to see in the park and it also involves them in decision making for the future.

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Radio Wales recently visited the park to speak to volunteers about the work being carried out in the area.
The show is available for 30 days and the interview starts 25 mins into the programme.

(Please click on the link below)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b080c6p7#play

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Recently over 10,000 Crocus bulbs have been planted in the park by FOCBP members with assistance from Pontarddulais Juniors Football Team and other members of the public.

Thank you all for your assistance and we should see the park explode with colour next year.

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As usual the park is busy with people using the park on a day to day basis and a real community has come to life over the last few years of regular people (and dogs) who use the park. It is also great to see members of the public stopping and having a chat with everyone working within the park and acknowledging the efforts of people in helping keep the park in tip top condition.
Thank you all for taking the time and showing some members the patience and respect they deserve and everyone hopes to see you all again very soon.

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FOCBP members are constantly working behind the scenes so if you don't see anyone actually working in the park rest assured our team are hard at work looking for funding or working on new ideas for the future.

As usual you can follow us on our Facebook and Twitter pages (Where we have more of a rant about certain things.) the links are on the top of this blog.

So until the next time Please Enjoy Our Award Winning Park.

February Roundup

Hooray!!!!!!!! It stopped raining (for now) but now the park is drying itself out, however we are left with muddy patches in several parts of the pathways through the woodland areas.
Luckily we have volunteers on the case and work has begun to return the pathways to their former glory.
And we also thank Andrew and his team from Our Place with their help in putting things right.
But it all takes time so please be patient as we go about our work, and we advise if you are walking through the woodlands to use sensible walking shoes or wellies.
The worst affected areas are around the second woods near the Rugby pitch towards the Friendship tree area.

But on the good side Spring is showing the first signs of new life in the park with the Bluebells starting to poke through the ground.
Unfortunately the weather has been mild and the plant life seems to be coming through a little early and also the added wet weather meant we could not cut back as much undergrowth as we usually do so we will have to wait to see what kind of display we have this year.

Bluebells Grass

The springlike weather has been great for the animals and birds that use the park and the woodlands are full of birdsong and the sounds of cuckoos can be heard on a regular basis. And one of our regular park users has photographed a Stoat at home in the undergrowth.

Goldfinch. Photo Brian Lloyd

This February's issue of the SA4 Magazine has a large article written by myself about what the park has meant to me over the years. (It really is a riveting read even if I do say so myself.)
We are looking for peoples stories about the park and if you know anyone who would like to submit an article or help you write it, you can contact us at the email at the top of this blog.


Working closely with the local PCSO's over the last few years has led us to having a great relationship with our local police force, and whenever we get the chance FOCBP members bring them up to speed on events and what we are up to in the park ourselves.

Myself and PCSO Collins 

As usual we hold our meetings on the last Wednesday of every month in Pontarddulais Cricket Club at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome to join us.

We have heard of two wheelchair users being able to access the Boardwalk in the last few weeks and this is fantastic to hear. And several people from other areas around Swansea heard about the Seasonal pond and have visited us to have a look at the work we have done.


Our FB page is in full flight as is our Twitter feed (Links at the top of this Blog.)

We hope to hear from you soon.

Wood Removal

It has been noticed over the last few days that wood has been taken from around the cleared boating lake area in the 2nd woods.
This wood is intended for use within the park area only and it is an offence to take it without permission.
As a result we the Friends Of Coed Bach are keeping an eye around this area and will be reporting any vehicles that are parked suspiciously in the area of the lake. We are also asking members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the number on the top of the screen or to the police.
Please do not approach anyone you see taking anything as we do not want anyone to become involved in a confrontation.
We are aware that whoever is taking the wood may be unaware that they are committing theft, but they need to be aware of what they are doing.

Thank you for your help.

Seasonal Ponds Phase 2 17/2/14

It was a wet muddy one today but that did not stop us from getting stuck into the old victorian boating lake in the park.
Work continues tomorrow.

Click on images to enlarge
All images also on our Flickr page link at top of homepage.

Seasonal Ponds February

Click on image to enlarge.

January 2014 News

Happy New Year to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I know it's been nearly a month since Christmas and New Year but better late than never ;-)

Over the last week or so in the park the boys from the City and County Council of Swansea have been working on clearing a drainage ditch that runs from the small woodland near the Gwynfryn road entrance around the back of the play area and into the old boating lake. Or as a regular user of the park named it "The Riverside Walk"
We hope this will be a help with the flooding we are experiencing in the park due to the weather.
There are other things that also need seeing to which can help things further and they are being tackled one bit at a time. So as usual we offer our thanks to the Council for their help and time.

Riverside Walk behind the Play area.

And Next Wednesday the 29th January at Pontarddulais Cricket Club we will be holding our first meeting of 2014 as usual everybody is welcome to join us.

Seasonal Ponds Day 4

Not much to report today as weather wise it has not turned out to be the nicest. But the workers and volunteers (More needed please!) are now on site.
As you can see below the ponds are now starting to take shape and the team are expecting wildlife to flourish in this are next year.

"It looks like somebody has taken a clump of clay and is now forming the sculpture"

The ponds are forming.

Pond are from 2nd woods.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/sets/72157637441654904/ Our Flickr page.

Seasonal Ponds Day 3

There were plenty of people on site this morning moving and cutting bits of tree and anything else they could lay their hands on.
Also a new drainage pipe was added by the pathway in the 2nd wood and we had the big guns in today with a tractor and chipping machine. And more importantly the weather was spot on :-)

A big thank you to all that helped especially all those that had travelled from Swansea we hope we can repay you one day.

By the time I arrived on site everyone was having a well earned break (just in case your wondering why there is no one in their machinery)

Removing tree stumps in the boating lake.

The Chipping Machine

Now people in the swings can keep an eye on their kids on the BMX track.

Pond drainage.

Brodie hopes this is not a permanent obstacle on his walk (It Isn't)

Volunteering is about friendship and making new friends (and FUN)

Break time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/sets/ 

Flickr Images.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/sets/72157637419428975/ Todays images.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/10730132943/in/set-72157637419428975 Video view from the swings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/10730043426/in/set-72157637419428975 Video Tractor at work.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/10730424683/in/set-72157637419428975 Video Pathway workers.

Seasonal Ponds Day 2

The team are on site again today 6/11/13 and the word of the day is WET!!!!!!!!!!!

We are continuing where we left off yesterday with more clearing with chainsaws and moving the off cuts.
If you fancy coming along and getting muddy with us feel free to join us about 10am either tomorrow or friday at 10am in the park tennis courts.

Today's Team (all good swimmers)

And the winner of Miss good looking legs in wellies is..............

More water in this area already.

Also Friends of the park would also like to give a huge 'Thank you' to Vince of White Springs for the loan of the waders (photo above) We could not have gone through today without your help.

Website:-http://www.whitespringsfishery.co.uk/

Our Flickr Pages.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/10707673414/in/set-72157637377417283 Another tree coming down.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/sets/ Our Flickr Site.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/sets/7215763
7377417283/ Todays Images.