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.

Facebook Page

This time of year is usually a very quiet period for the members of the Friends of Coed Bach Park.
So we have no major news to give at the moment.

But we are on Facebook at :-https://www.facebook.com/groups/550777668395584/

And also on Twitter:-https://twitter.com/focbp

Please feel free to join us on these Social Media pages.

Green Flag Award

August got off to the best possible start when Coed Bach Park was awarded a Community Green Flag Award.
It was presented by the Keep Wales Tidy Green Flag Award team this afternoon at Singleton Park Botanical Gardens.

Group founder member Christine Thomas also won another award for Volunteer of the Year.

Lewis Price from the Our Place team based at Canolfan y Bont proudly collected the Flag Award on the behalf of not only our group but the Pontarddulais Partnership and the Our Place team.

WELL DONE and a HUGE THANK YOU to everybody involved in helping us get this award.

You know who you all are and we share this award with you as your help over the last few years has been vital.

A Poem About Coed Bach Park by Lucia Crothall.

FOCBP member.

We can all have a lark 

in Bont’s Coed Bach Park

Give the kids a good play,

Set them up for the day.

Hear them laugh, cry and shout, 

Leave yourself in no doubt

They will have so much fun

That when all’s said and done 

We can all have a lark

in Bont’s Coed Bach Park.

Go for a run 

Or just sit in the sun.

Take control of the ball - 

Drive that tackle - don’t fall!

Or look up to the leaves

On those old wizened trees - 

We can all have a lark

in Bont’s Coed Bach Park

Give the dog a good walk,

Take your friend for a talk.

Spend moments in thought

Get that baggage you brought

Out into fresh air.

Free yourself of all care – 

We can all have a lark

in Bont’s Coed Bach Park

Spot a bird, smell a flower

Feel a grass, find a bower

See a dragon fly poise

Far away from the noise

Of the traffic of town

And those fights for renown - 

We can all have a lark

in Bont’s Coed Bach Park

There are some tree maps in the park near the Coed Bach and Gwynfryn road entrances.

Take a look at them and have a walk through the park itself and see how many species you can find. And also keep an eye out for the wildlife that live in, and amongst the trees.

Volunteers and Our Place team members are clearing pathways of nettles throughout the woodland areas. This is making the pathways wider and easier to negotiate, and as usual woodchip top up programmes run throughout the year to keep the pathways in full working order.

Green Flag

The FOCBP are proud to announce that we have been awarded Green Flag Status for the 2nd woodlands.
This is the equivalent to the Blue Flag Award for beaches.
We have to thank our volunteers for their hard work over the years and a Big Thank You to Pontrddulais Partnership, Swansea City Council and also to the NEET teams that have helped us, and of course the Our Place team which is currently active in the park.
We also have to give mention to the other individuals that also helped us along the way (you know who you all are.) as we could not have got this award without your advice.

http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/ab…/about-green-flag-award/


To maintain this status we need volunteers.......Please feel free to join us at our monthly meetings in Pontarddulais Cricket Club on the last Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm.

June Update.

This month we just have a little report.

As usual the FOCBP are working hard behind the scenes to secure funding for all future projects, so while you don't see us out and about in the park itself (We are there honest) work is still ongoing.
And our monthly meetings are held on the Last Wednesday of every month at Pontarddulais Cricket Club at 7.30pm and we invite anyone to attend them.

Service user  OUR PLACE are continuing to see to the wood chip pathways and it's great to see members of the public stopping and getting to know team members and being supportive of all their efforts.
Some volunteers have also been working on the pathways, and we have received fantastic feedback from people using the park informing us that the pathways once again feel great to walk on after the terrible weather we suffered at the beginning of the year.

Volunteers will also be out with strimmers keeping pathways as clear as possible from the overgrowth at the side of the pathways. The tree unit have also been out whenever they can and have a few things to attend to. 

The second woods are now looking a little overgrown this is deliberate as the summer wildlife is now nesting and making their homes in the woodlands, If you take a walk through this part of the park you will be amazed at the amount of wildlife you will come across, and several fungi are popping up, so keep your eyes peeled.

On a more personal note I have been keeping an eye on our Social Media sites for over a year day in and day out, so I feel that it is time for me to take a little break and reclaim a little energy.
So you wont be hearing much from us for a little while but our sites will be monitored so if you have anything you would like add please still send it to us at our email address at the top of the page or to our FB and Twitter feeds.
So enjoy yourself when you are out in the park and we hope to see you soon.

A Big Thank You to our Fellow Park Users.

Friend of the park Mick Duffy has asked me to pass on his gratitude to the community that use Coed Bach park.
The last few years have been difficult for Mick as he has suffered with health problems. Every time he has a problem there is always a group of fellow park users on hand to help him and his family out.
This is more than just a park.
For a lot of people this is a community of its own, it is also a place of friendship. And a place to find yourself in an extended family. I don't think many parks can claim that.