January Roundup

Will this rain ever cease!

January 2016 has certainly been a very wet month for everybody and our park has become a muddy quagmire over the last few months.
Pathways have become boggy and muddy, water everywhere and even the seasonal pond has been overflowing practically every day since November, even one or two trees have toppled over.
However a little rain cannot stop the FOCBP and other organisations from getting our heads down and carrying on.

Our friends from the NEAT team are still working in the park, this time they are helping us on the BMX track project which has been laid out and is now being constructed, and they have also been involved with clearing pathways around the football pitches and second woodland areas of the park.
These will be tidied up in due course and hopefully it will make things better and easier under foot for everyone once the park dries out.
The team have also dug a trench alongside the pathway into second woods from near the Rugby pitch entrance. This is to help with drainage issues in that area.
If you are using the park we advise sensible walking footwear and to be careful as it is slippery underfoot with all the mud. But the main pathways are ok underfoot.

BMX Track

BMX Track

Cleared walkway Bottom Football Field

Drainage and Hardcore for pathway access

NEAT Team at work

Our volunteers have been out cutting back the brambles in the second woods to help with the Bluebells, but again the weather has slowed us up, and the milder climate seems to be helping one or two plants that don't normally grow at this time of year start to flower and bud early.
So we have our fingers crossed that we are going to be able to get to any undergrowth just in case the bluebells decide to put on an early show.


Access to the boardwalk has been improved as volunteers have made a concrete step which should help any wheelchair users get on to it a bit easier. As there was a slight step up originally.
All we need now is for the pathways to dry sufficiently to improve access overall.

No more step up on to the Boardwalk

Other News

We had a very disturbing case of animal cruelty in the park and many people were shocked to hear the news of these three poor shaved cats.

(click on the links to display stories)

http://www.llanellistar.co.uk/Llanelli-vets-appeal-cats-shaved-abandoned-park/story-28534832-detail/story.html

But we have recently been informed that they are now on their way to new homes.

http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/New-home-cats-shaved-whiskers-chopped-dumped-park/story-28616801-detail/story.html


And we have received a nice message of support from Welsh AM Rebecca Evans, after several of FOCBP attended a meeting with City and County of Swansea Councillors at the Brangwyn Hall who recognised the impact our group was making within our own community following on from our Fields in Trust Award.

http://www.rebeccaevans4gower.com/latest-news/rebecca-evans-congratulates-coed-bach-park

But as usual we need more volunteers to come forward to help us carry the FOCBP into the future. If you have anything to offer please contact us as we would love to hear from you. And of course we would welcome you with open arms.
Monthly meetings are held on the last Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm at the Pontarddulais Cricket Club.

Phil Davies from Keep Wales Tidy has moved onto pastures new and welcome his replacement Kathryn Britton.
We would like to thank Phil for all his efforts over the last few years and we will miss him.

We currently have a few members of our team writing monthly articles for the SA4 Magazine which you can find in most public places throughout the Swansea area. But we need more Coed Bach Park related articles from you.
If you would like to help contribute please contact us through our email (top of this blog) or via our other social media sites as we would love to discuss any ideas with you.

As usual we are on Facebook and Twitter and to find us you can click on the tabs at the top of this blog.

Hope to hear from you soon.

January 15

So another year down and a new one has just began (Well it did a few weeks ago anyway!)

Our friendship tree in the second woods became an attraction over the festive period with plenty of people coming along and having a look. And some people came along after and added their own messages which was great to see.
The tags are going on show in the Canolfan y bont from Tuesday 20th January and will remain there until the end of February, if you would like yours returned please pop in to reclaim it.

And we also have a few new members join us over the last few weeks and they will be helping us out in the park. So welcome guys :-)

Our first meeting of the new year will be at the usual location of the Cricket Club in Pontarddulais on Wednesday 28th January at 7.30pm.

Also over the last few weeks there has been some work done on constructing a new half pipe for skaters and this is progressing well. The pipe is located in the middle of the BMX track by the Rugby club car park.
As usual it is a huge 'THANK YOU!!!' to everybody that has made this possible.

Construction under way on the Half pipe.

News

Our monthly meeting is to be held on Wednesday 28th May at Pontarddulais Cricket Club at 7.30pm.
Gareth Davies from Environment Wales will be coming to talk to us and then the meeting will take place right afterwards.

Also on Thursday 22 May a dog walker in the park found a set of keys between the Rugby club and roundabout in the middle of the road. These have been handed to the Canolfan y bont who will hold on to them for a week before passing them onto the local PCSO's office.
If you have know of anybody that has lost a set please contact the Canolfan on 01792 885532.

Bluebells

We have a fantastic crop of Bluebells in the park this year.
If you have a bit of time to spare please take a walk through the second woods (past the rugby club entrance) and have a wander through the woodland.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Taken by Martin Hanson.

Taken by Martin Hanson.

Taken by Christine Thomas.

Taken by Christine Thomas.

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.

18/2/14 Seasonal Ponds Day 2

A lot of work was done yesterday by everyone and the area of the swamp has opened up very nicely indeed. It does look like a different world.
And now we are getting an idea of scale of how big the old boating lake used to be.

Videos can also be viewed on our Flickr page click on the link at the top of the page to view.

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 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 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/

 

End of October News

Just to let you all know that the monthly meeting of the Friends has changed  to the last Wednesday of the month at Pontarddulais Cricket Club starting at 7.30.so our next meeting will be this Wednesday 30th October. It will continue to be on the last Wednesday of the month until the Cricket Season stars up again next year.

Also this Wednesday afternoon at 2pm (30th Oct.) we are joining up with the Pontarddulais Partnership Half Term Play Scheme in the Park to make it a fun afternoon with traditional games such as egg and spoon race, prizes and gifts to give away to the children as we celebrate the Park having the Queen Elizabeth II Fields In Trust status so please come and support us and join in the fun.

Then the following week, the first week in November, work begins on the creation of the seasonal ponds - see poster attached.

Click on poster to enlarge.

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubliee Fields in Trust status.

Come and join us and the Pontarddulais Play Scheme in the Park on Wednesday 30th October between 2pm and 4pm when we will be celebrating the Park receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubliee Fields in Trust status.

 

Also Coed Bach Park has been submitted for a Getting Active on a Fields in Trust Site Award so fingers crossed that we will be successful.

 

For more information please contact the Secretary Christine Thomas on 07890416892 or email milgi@talktalk.net

Upcoming Events

Please click on the posters to enlarge.

Volunteering in Action Exhibition Swansea Waterfront Museum.

The exhibition, titled Volunteering in action, will take place at Swansea National Waterfront Museum from 15 June – 14 July, before moving to WCVA’s Eisteddfod stand in Denbigh from 3-10 August.
Our image (furthest left) in the exhibition.
There are some great images at this exhibit and I would go as far as to say that I would have hated to be on the judging panel as each image was great in it's own right.

If you are visiting the Waterfront Museum the exhibit is located easily if you walk in from the direction of the Vue cinema, Into the large foyer area take a left past the machinery exhibition up the stairs at the end of the hall way then turn right.

Images at the exhibition.

The original image taken from the 5th November 2011 post

The Painting has begun

On Monday 10th June we were able to start painting the children's play area in the park.
We have to give a big thank you to the three lads that also turned up to help us paint the slide/climbing frame.

So a Big thanks to John Tom And Ryan for their efforts and for making sure we did not miss a bit :-)

And as usual our mob of Cath/Christine/Gaynor/and Jane for making a mess.....Sorry for their superb painting efforts :-)

(Images taken by Christine Thomas)

Gaynor telling Cath to come down because it is the big kids slide not for little girls :-)

Tom John and Ryan showing us how it is done properly.

The finished article

And we have also had some signs placed at the entrance to to play area.

Please Help Us.

We really need help to paint the

children’s play equipment at

Coedbach Park.

If you think you can give a couple of hours of your time we would be very grateful, please contact

Chris on 07890416892 or email milgi@talktalk.net

Thank you

April Update.

We have been rather busy around the park and in other places over the last few weeks so we thought we should keep you informed of our progress.

For the last month we have been exhibiting the Friends Of The Park group at the Pontarddulais Library and we have received a few nice comments of our work around the park.
A big thank's to Sarah and the girls at the library for allowing us to show ourselves off.
And we have a pamphlet in circulation which can be viewed on the Pontarddulais Town Council Web site.

http://www.pontarddulaistowncouncil.gov.uk/Core/Pontarddulais-Tc/UserFiles/Files/Coedbach%20pamphlet.pdf

Exhibition Comments.

The Pontarddulais Comprehensive school is also undertaking a study of the Bluebells in the 2nd Woods area and also the School Camera Club (with assistance from our blogger/photographer) are involved in documenting this project so we hope to have some nice images taken from the kid's point of view soon.

The Pontarddulais Comprehensive School Bluebell Study Group

Also Still Walks has been busy in the park with a project with the Primary School this exhibition was held in the Canolfan Y Bont.
http://stillwalks.wordpress.com/sights-and-sounds-of-the-countryside/
Please watch the Raining in the Woods video it's a superb little video.

At 3pm on Tuesday April 9th there will be a walk around the park with FOTP members.
(Sian Musgrove the Ecologist who is going to draw up a Management Plan, Simon Lydiard and Geraint from C & C Swansea. Mark Barber Amphibian Consultant)
This is to do with the Countryside Connections grant about seasonal ponds.
Everybody is welcome please meet by the tennis courts.

We have also been busy clearing a big area in 2nd woods for the bluebells thank's to the usual members who's efforts we are always grateful for. (well done lads and ladies we will buy you all a pint sometime)
Images to follow shortly.
And also thanks to Jason Heir (and the CC County of Swansea Boys for supplying us with a pipe) who has been a massive help in dealing with a leaking pipe by the wooden bridge. We can all cross the path with dry feet.

And dont forget!!!!!!!!!!!!