“Hey Mam! What’s a JQN?”

This is a JQN, Johnny – it stands for Just a Quick Note and it’s simply a quick selection of snippets of information about the Twmbarlwm Society and what we’ve been up to in the past month or so. It gets sent out to all paid-up members of the Society via e-mail and it’s the best way to keep up-to-date with what’shappenimng on our mountainside. 

You need to be a fully paid up member and give us permission to send this regular communication to you – if you would like to receive our news please get in touch via emai.

Here’s our latest…

Just a Quick Note

27th April 2026

The e-newsletter of the Twmbarlwm Society

Hello Folks

I’ve had a couple of people asking where’s the Newsletter and I’m sorry if you’ve missed it and I won’t bore you with a list of excuses – although the list includes computer problems, weather, health and memory failure.

We have continued with our monthly litter picks since my last Newsletter and I’m happy to report that the area around the car park has been relatively well kept with the help of CCBC, but we always manage to collect several bags of rubbish – it’s the same gang of people who regularly turn up to help out and we could always do with extra, fitter volunteers.

The Monthly Litter Pick:–

LITTER PICK – is now the first Sunday of the Month

…next up = SUNDAY 3rd May 2026

We are usually there for a couple of hours and we collect litter from the area immediately around the car park and some of us walk around the wider area to check out fences, paths etc. and effect any repairs if we are able. Tools, Pickers, Bags and Gloves will be supplied.

This is also a great opportunity to meet other members and learn more about the area and the work that the Society gets involved with.

Please make your own way to the car park at the end of Mountain Road, below the Twmp. We will provide tea and bikkies to all helpers after the pick and there will be soft drinks on offer too – or bring your own picnic if you need to.

Be aware that nowadays the weather forecasters often declare extreme weather conditions with their yellow, amber or red warnings – if that occurs we are likely to cancel the litter pick so please check our Facebook and website pages in advance. In any case, remember it’s always a coat colder and much wetter up the mountain than down in the valley – so please make sure you dress appropriately for the weather and terrain.

But don’t forget – if you are taking a walk on Twmbarlwm any day of the week for exercise or walking the dog, why not think about taking a rubbish bag with you to collect any litter on your way – every little helps. If you do leave any filled bags in the corner of the car park, make sure to let us know so that we can inform the council to collect it.

OTHER NEWS

CONSERVATION GRAZING & NEW KISSING GATE

As you know from previous newsletters, we have been trying to establish a system of “Conversation Grazing” on the top of the hill fort itself for a few season’s now, but we have been regularly thwarted by vandals destroying fencing that we have installed around the Twmp. I understand that at the moment the new fence in the NE corner of the Twmp adjoining the forestry has once more been attacked – so I plead yet again to anyone who has any knowledge as to who does this, or if you come across damage to the fences, to let us know as soon as possible.

On a positive note, if you have ascended the mountain from the Pegwn-y-Bwlch side you may have noticed that there is now a kissing gate installed there (car park 7 of the Forest Drive) to stop cattle and sheep roaming off down the hillside to Darren Road and beyond. There will be more work done to the pathway at that point in the near future – so if you come across workmen there please be careful and don’t interfere with their work.

These will soon be more restoration work on the hill fort itself, the wooden steps and knee rails around the Twmp, which is the culmination of repair work that we and the Commoners have been involved with for the past few years.

GOOD FRIDAY – HOT-CROSS-BUN WALK

Did you get up there this year – if so, very well done – weather conditions were probably the worst we’ve had in years. Nonetheless we had a very good turn out (over 30) for our official walk from the Stony Bridge, Pontymister – and they all reached the summit led by our indomitable walk leader Maggie Thomas – many, many thanks Maggie. Everybody collected their hot-cross-buns  from us at the car park and we collected over £20 in donations – that might not sound a lot, but believe me, in those conditions, we were very grateful. Our thanks also go out to Tescos, Risca who donated the buns and to Sue who buttered and jammed them.

A group of us who couldn’t make it up the hill waited at the car park to dish out the buns and we got wet through and freezing – you can see the proof in our gallery of photos here https://bit.ly/4udaqho

Apart from those on our organised walk, I was again surprised by the number of people who trudged up the hill, just like our parents and grandparents did – there were family groups, couples and individuals all determined to get to the top – it’s a great local tradition which I’m proud to help keep alive – see you again next year.

ILLEGAL OFF ROAD VEHICLES & BIKES

As you know, one of our greatest bugbears concerns the number of off-road vehicles and bikes who abuse the area – driving up and down the slopes, up onto the ridgeway where it is illegal for them to venture – they destroy the soil surface, which leads to further erosion; they uproot and damage the vegetation that harbours all sorts of wildlife; they frighten the animals, the stock that Commoners are allowed to graze up there and they are a constant danger to walkers.

To help reduce this problem the landowners and Commoners have employed a Ranger on the Mynydd Maen common to patrol the area – he will be on the lookout for damage to fences, gates, walls and the landscape in general – any anti-social behaviour encountered will be reported to the authorities, including illegal off-roaders and all those who disregard rights of way and the laws of that govern common land.

WIND FARMS

Our friends MYNYDD MAEN WIND FARMS ACTION GROUP continue to monitor developments of the proposed wind turbines in our area which are presently going through the planning process. Whenever this is mentioned on our Facebook page it produces many, often heated discussions, and it will be best if I point you towards their website and Facebook page – so please visit their Facebook page for up-to-date information and to learn about their campaign to help preserve our wonderful landscap.

Apparently we have recently learned that the planning decision from the Welsh government has been delayed until the end of July, we assume that this is until the new minister and government get themselves organised after the May elections.

It was also great to see the group’s spokesman appear on BBC news earlier this month outlining the views of experts and local residents who oppose the installation of such large turbines (each turbine will be over 150m tall) in our beautiful landscape.

The developers’ website can be found here https://www.mynyddmaen-windfarm.co.uk/

COME AND MEET US

I’ve mentioned in previous JQNs that I don’t personally get up Twmbarlwm as often as I used to due to mobility problems, so I rely upon reports from you members and followers on Facebook to pass on any information that we may need to act upon and/or include in our Newsletter.

But I do get up there for the litter picks so if you would like to meet us, learn about the work of the society and how you could possibly help out, please call by to see us, I’ll be there with the pick-up sticks and rubbish bags and you’ll be more than welcome just for a chat – and there’ll be the usual cuppa and biccies available.

If you have any ideas of issues or projects you think the Society could be involved with to improve our mountain and environment, please let us know.

GET INVOLVED

Please pass this message on if you can’t help out yourself … “Remember –  it would be really useful to get some feedback from other members who walk up there and to give us a report on what they see. Not just the bad stuff like the illegal off-roading, vandalism and fly-tipping – but the good stuff, like what wildlife you spot up there or have you chatted to visitors from far flung places? – what’s their story? – what’s your story?.”

If you feel like writing a few words of your experience of a visit to Twmbarlwm – for example I would like to add to our website some descriptions of walking routes on and around the Twmp. Even if you have taken some smashing photos – add them to our Facebook page yourself – or I could include them in this Newsletter and put them on our website.

Come on get more active – you joined this society because you love the mountain, let us know what you think.

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For news of future events, please keep a look out for announcements through this newsletter, our website and Facebook pages

USEFUL INFO

What3Words location (for car park) = [ironic.sweetened.people]

What3Words location (the Twmp) = [graphic.impresses.deadline]

Nearest post code is Maes Mawr Farm – the car park is another 400 yards past the farm NP11 6FY

 

 

More info is available on our website.

Many Regards

TERRY EVANS
Chairman Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society

Address general queries to:  twmbarlwmsociety@gmail.com

 

These details are posted on our website and on FaceBook – but if you know of anyone who is interested but don’t get their news through the internet – could you please let them have a copy of this message.