May Update

This month we have decided to do something completely different to quote Monty Python.

I have had a go at producing a video blog and if it proves successful then we will produce more in the future.

You can view it on Youtube and the link is below, as usual we are on Facebook and Twitter so if you want to comment on your time in the park or share ideas with us you can also email us (Link at the top of the blog.)

The Video Blog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqehIgbJ0jc

And as usual our monthly meetings are held the last Wednesday of every month at Pontarddulais Cricket Club.

Pond Survey

Please see attached poster designed to invite you to want to come next Tuesday at 10pm to help Mark do another survey of the ponds.

I know for some of you this is just impossible with work and care committments but you might know of someone else who may be interested so if you do please pass this email on to them.

We aim to meet at the tennis courts pavilion 10pm and I will make sure the Park Gates are open but I will need to know who is coming and have a telephone contact number just in case it is called off at the last minute because it will not be happening if it is actually raining at 10pm.

Click on image to enlarge.

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.

Merry Christmas

We at Friends of Coed Bach Park would like to wish all our supporters and Park users a Very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In January 2014 we will begin Phase 2 of the Seasonal ponds project.

Please watch this space for further events and feel free to join us.

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.

Seasonal Ponds Day 1

Today 5/11/13 we finally began the clearance of the woodland around the old boating lake and between the swings and the BMX track.
This is stage one of our seasonal pond's project which will encourage more diverse wildlife to the park. 
A big thank you to all that turned up today.
And a huge thank you to CountrySide Connections for helping us from the word GO!!!!!

Our team

One hour later

2nd woods Boating lake

Vyv practising tossing the caber (and he missed me every time :-)

You can also find these images and three short film clips on our Flickr site at :-http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendsofcoedbachpark/sets/72157637353307465/

 

Weekend of March 3rd/4th News Update.

We have had a couple of busy weeks around the park as we have started work on putting wood shavings on the pathways around the 2nd woods and by the swing area.


As usual a big thank you to the City and County Council of Swansea for laying the pathway from the rugby club car park into the 2nd woods.
And also for putting a small footbridge across the stream in the 2nd woods allowing the water to flow into the old boating lake.

Footbridge across 2nd woods stream

Wood chipping path around the swings towards the 2nd woods

We have also cleared a little area behind the swings so we can allow wild flowers to grow.
Several people remarked that the shape of the clearing reminded them of an eye so we are thinking of placing a sign in the middle with a quote on it.

A sign will be placed on here with a suitable quote.

Also a wall which has been buried under years of overgrowth has re-emerged after a bit of clearance work, It is believed to be part of the old jetty from where the old boating lake used to be......Needless to say we are looking into it.
Again this is visible from the children's play area.

Part of the Jetty?????

Friday 27th January News

Today Gareth Davies a Community Development Officer  and Helen Grey a Countryside Connections Officer came to the park to meet us and to discuss us putting in for a grant  for the Ecology Survey which needs to be done before we can start work tidying up the old Boating Lake.
Five members of FOTP turned up to meet them and to guide them around the park.


As FOTP members we showed them the lie of the land and what our long term plans for the park and woodland areas were. And we are pleased to say that we have their support and will be working very closely with them in the future, as there is a lot of GRANT money out there and they can help guide us in the right direction to obtain some.

                              WILDLIFE NEWS


While on our walk around the park we noticed that 2 mallard ducks have made the lake their home which is great news and we also observed that a blue tit was using one of the newly installed bird boxes by the swings. Unfortunately we could not obtain any images of these events as my camera lens was not long enough for me to keep a good distance from them and not disturb the birds. 

Pointing out the park boundaries.

Win (left) Gareth (middle) Viv (right)

Viv explaining to Gareth that the car park was once part of the lake.

Helen joins in the discussion.

Another bright glorious morning around the 2nd woods.

Standing at the lake edge. (NOT HAVING A PEE!)

The lake.