2017 is zipping along
at an alarming rate of knots. One moment you are celebrating
Christmas and New year, and the next you are looking back with a
feeling that Christmas was only two weeks ago but in reality it was a
lot longer than that!
Since the beginning of
the New Year the Park is absolutely thriving with activity taking
place on an almost daily basis. The Our Place team are super busy in
the Park for four days a week and the volunteers are up there
whenever possible, and of course we have a new park manager who along
with his team of guys are working flat out to improve the park
wherever they can.
Awards
On Friday 24th March three members of the FOCBP Christine
Thomas, Windsor Clarke and Martin Hanson were invited to attend a
presentation evening in the Pontarddulais Institute to receive
certificates and a cheque for £200. Also in attendance were other
organisations based in Pontarddulais who also received cheques and
several individual awards were given to people who had made a huge
difference to the town.
We would also like to take this opportunity to Thank the Town Council for their help and support over the last few years.
Bike
Path
Members of the FOCBP are backing a scheme to run a bike path from
Pontarddulais and connect it to Grovesend/Gorseinon more info can be
found below.
Scouts
On Saturday 18th March members of the 4th Lliw Valley Pontarddulais Scouts Group joined FOCBP members in planting
some new trees and shrubs at the newly repaired Coed Bach entrance.
Thank You all for your help and we hope you enjoyed getting your
hands muddy.
Coed
Bach Entrance
After being in a bit of a sorry state Swansea City Council were able
to get a team out to the Coed Bach entrance and straighten the gates
up and replaced the old fence with a brand spanking new one.
The approach from Coed Bach road now looks better and you now also
have a better view into the park itself. The volunteers will look at
adding a splash of colour to this area, and come the warmer weather
the park will look even more of of an inviting sight especially as
the wildflowers patch is near this entrance, the view should be
superb.
The Park management team have also taken some time out of their busy
schedules to help improve the service road that runs around the
football fields to the Coed Bach entrance as in parts it was getting
muddy and people were getting stuck with prams and power chairs.
The effect of the clearance is that while it can be a bit rough
underfoot (It has always been the same) it is less muddy and drainage
is a lot better than before. Once the loose stones bed in to the
ground it will be even better to walk on. And more people will be
able to get to other parts of the park that previously they were
unable to access.
We give a big THANK YOU to Kelvin the Park manager and his team for
all the help they have given to us since they have come into the
park.
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Photo by Kelvin Carpenter
Our
Place Team
The Our Place Team based at the Canolfan y Bont have been working
full tilt in the park since the beginning of the new year.
As usual they are continually topping up the woodchip pathways around
the woodland areas, and despite some bad weather turning parts of the
pathways into mud the team manage to persevere and patch up the worst
bits.
It is also fantastic to see people taking time out of their walks to
stop and chat to the team members and they take the time to get to
know the service users and make them feel welcome in the park, and
some even let the guys have a play and pet of their dogs. This is
community at its finest.
The big project since February has been to construct a wigwam/tipi on
the pathway running between the edge of 2nd woods and the
show field.
This project has been a huge hit with the children of Pitter Patter
Nursery on Dulais road who are now visiting the park on an almost
daily basis. And of course children exploring the woodlands while out
on walks with mums and dads and grandparents are all making the most
of it, which again is fantastic to see.
The Lord Mayor of Swansea David Hopkins and Councillor Beverley
Hopkins visited the park on Wednesday 15th March to meet
volunteers and Our Place team members. During his visit the Lord
Mayor took the opportunity to plant some new trees and the visited
the wigwam/tipi to officially open it.
And we were delighted to see some regular park users in the tipi
enjoying a picnic in the afternoon sunlight. The mayor took his time
and spoke to all members of the teams concerned with the park and
thanked everybody for all their efforts.
The Our Place team members have also placed two wooden benches in the
2nd woods by the Friendship tree, this should be a
fantastic place to sit once the Bluebells come into full bloom.
The current project is to build a small picket fence around the
Helibores/Crocus patch which is near the wooden bridge that takes you
towards the show field.
And the team even found time to plant some new trees around several locations in the park.
All Tipi/Wigwam photos Sian Thomas.
PTFC
Following the planting of crocus bulbs by FOCBP members and members
of the public and Football teams a few months back.
The letters P T F C came into bloom on the bank of the upper and
lower field.
PCSO's
And of course we have to give thanks to our superb team of PCSO's
working in Pontarddulais. Matthew and Hayley are in the park as often
as they can be keeping an eye on any potential problems, and
occasionally are fed information by members of the public and FOCBP
members who are keeping an eye out for any naughty activities that
occasionally take place in the Park.
We have always had a great relationship with them and we give them a
Huge THANK YOU! For all their efforts in these difficult financial
times.
We look forward to our next chat over a cuppa.
UPDATE
A few weeks ago a group of youths decided that the park was their own
personal racecourse for their motorbikes, several members of the
public and volunteers were in the park during this incident and were
able to contact the Police with information regarding the riders. We
have been informed the youths were spoken to and next time their
bikes are seen anywhere near the park they will be removed from their
care.
All images SWPSwansea Twitter Account
AGM
The yearly AGM meeting will be held at Pontarddulais Cricket Club on
Wednesday 26th April 2017 and will commence at 7.30pm. We
are looking for fresh volunteers, we need new ideas, we need more
people to help.
Like any group you can only exist for so long and if nothing changes
then one day it could all come to an end, and then what.........?
Please! Please! Come and join us we need your help to take the Park
forward not only for our future, but that of your children and
Grandchildren.
Until our next Blog Update Have Fun In The Park.
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