Just a Quick Note – 25/01/22
Just a Quick Note
25th January 2022
The e-newsletter of the Twmbarlwm Society
Hello Folks
I hope it’s not too late for me to wish you all a happy new year. Now that we’ve got Christmas out of the way I thought I’d bring you up to date with the Society’s workload and what lies ahead for us in 2022.
First of all let me remind you:–
The Last-Sunday-Of-The-Month Litter Pick will be – Sunday 30th January 2022
Please make your own way there and we will meet you at the car park below the Twmp at 10:30 am.
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.
Don’t forget – if you are taking a walk up there any day of the week for exercise, 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.
ARCHAEOLOGY
You have been kept abreast of the progress archaeological investigation and infuriatingly there’s still no end result to report upon – samples have gone off for radiocarbon dating and suchlike and we await the final report. But if you recall, one important aspect of this investigation was to ascertain the effect that the wildfires of 2018 had on the underlying archaeology and how to manage the scheduled monument in the future.
To that end we have had discussions with experts from Gwent Wildlife Trust and Cadw and we are in the process of formulating plans on how best we can help manage the landscape to minimise the possibility of fires and minimise the impact of natural erosion and of visitors to the site. Whatever we achieve on Twmbarlwm is considered vital work that Cadw will be able to use as a model for the management of similar historical sites around the country.
The Commoners who graze their livestock on the hillsides lead the way in managing the landscape and take on the bulk of the heavy work that you see going on – CTS work closely with them and support their work and I’m sure there are going to be tasks that will call for volunteers’ help.
In the early days of the Society we had plenty of volunteers who physically got involved in the building of fences and planting of trees etc. and we had some good fun doing it. Now, as we refine the landscape management plans there is going to be a need for volunteers again – so if you are willing to get your hands dirty (or want to volunteer someone younger and fitter) – please get in touch and make sure you keep up date with the news from this newsletter, website and Facebook page.
Adventure Triangle Work
In the last e-newsletter I described the work of the Adventure Triangle features that had just started, much of which is now complete – if you missed the e-newsletter catch up with it on our website click here.
The one feature that has perplexed some is the new corral near the car park at the entrance to the mountain track. What people must realise (and particularly those off-roaders who use the track illegally) is that those gates are there not just to annoy people but they are there to stop the livestock wandering off the mountain and down onto the lower common and maybe even down into Henllys and Risca. Those gates must be kept closed!
There’s more work going on and will be for a couple more months so please be careful if you come across workers and heavy machinery when you go walking up there.
OTHER EVENTS
The Hot-Cross-Bun Walk – Good Friday 15th April 2022
The past couple of years have been a bit of a disaster for our traditional walk up Twmbarlwm on Good Friday but we intend to celebrate it good and proper this year so make sure you keep your walking boots handy and mark the date down for
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – 5th June 2022
The Society lit a Beacon on top of Twmbarlwm for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and again for her 90th Birthday Celebrations in 2016 – and we intend doing the same again for her Platinum Jubilee on 5th June 2022. We have only just started finalising our plans – so please keep in touch to learn up-to-date details or if you feel you can help in any way.
With the relaxing of Covid restrictions we are also hoping to start holding some events again – here’s a few ideas we’ve had – so keep an eye out for when we get these organised – and have you got any suggestions for any Talks or Walks you’d like to see?
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- The Gwent Levels by Gavin Jones (Was scheduled in October 2019).
- Archaeology report (The CPAT team and Cadw)
- Talk on Newport Castle (Will Davies)??
- Walk to Pwll Tra?? and/or Llanderfel??
- Bio-Blitz (Gwent Wildlife Trust)??
KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER?
We are always looking for new members to help us further the aims of the society which are “…to research, restore and protect Gwent’s most iconic landmark, Twmbarlwm” – and in particular we are looking for members who really want to get involved and help with our work – and to bring new ideas to the table.
The Twmbarlwm Society has existed for over 10 years and so far have achieved quite a lot on the mountain and we are recognised by local councils, Cadw and other official bodies as a major influencer in environmental, and historical issues of the area.
Next year promises to be another exciting year with CTS being heavily involved in major local projects and we need people with the skills to help move these project forward including:
- the on-going progress of the Archaeological Investigation of Twmbarlwm that we started earlier this year – this is a major project managed by CTS, funded by Cadw and implemented by Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust
- work on the Adventure Triangle Project has started as described above and more aspects that involve CTS will continue over the next year.
- and with the re-opening of the Cwmcarn Forest Drive in the spring, the Twmbarlwm Society will feature strongly in influencing how the tourist attraction will develop – together with Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive, CTS campaigned for the re-opening of the drive and will continue to be involved with the development of the drive.
CLICK HERE for details on how to become a member.
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.
CLICK HERE to download this e-newsletter as a PDF
