Beaufort Hill Ponds & Woodlands
News & Events 2014
FEBRUARY 2014 - TREE PLANTING
Seven Hornbeam standards delivered and each one rolled into pre-dug holes ready to be filled in, on the following Saturday, nine volunteers (John, Roy, John, David, Susan, Eric, Rob, Damien and Julian) helped to plant and stake the trees at the Highlands Road entrance.
FEBRUARY 2014 - MEMORIAL BENCH INSTALLED
A Memorial Bench was installed at Lower Boat Pond- The family of the late Mr Albert Bull of Highlands Road, installed a memorial, with the inscription :-
"In loving memory of Albert Bull 1923-2013
MARCH 2014 - REPAIRS TO THE BIRD HIDE
During October and November 2011, a bird hide was constructed on the north bank of the lower Boat Pond, with an expected life of 15 years (usual life of willow hurdles)
it came as a disappointment to see that the extreme weather we have experienced lately had destroyed the willow panels. With funding from Environment Wales it was agreed to repair and construct and additional section to the existing hide.
The work began on February 28th 2014 and photos of the progress can be seen below, hopefully it will be ready for this years nesting Mute Swans. Many thanks to Environment Wales for the funding.
MARCH 2014 - CONSTRUCTING A REEN
John Hillier, Roy Lynch and John Lewis installed the first stage of the dam that will create a reen, encouraging breeding wildfowl and invertebrates, the next stage is to include a footbridge over the reen. - Many thanks to Environment Wales who continue to support and fund Beaufort Hill Ponds & Woodlands
MARCH 2014 -PICNIC BENCH INSTALLED
New picnic table installed adjacent to Lower Boat Pond car park today. Thanks to Environment Wales for their support.
A second bench was installed further along the bank in mid April.
MARCH 2014 - BAT BOXES INSTALLED
Three new bat boxes installed today. Many thanks to Alex from Wildwood Ecology. To visit their website, please click on the link below.
APRIL 2014
A hedge planting and wildflower seed sowing event was arranged by John Hillier, who left the following report on the Facebook page :-
" A massive thank you to all that volunteered today, the event was funded by Western Power and supported by Blaenau Gwent CBC, Groundwork and Carillion.
We even had the young ones sow wildflowers provided by www.growwilduk.com and an Elm tree was planted, which supports The Great British Elm Experiment by www.conservationfoundation.co.uk. "
JULY 2014
Having previously been awarded the prestigous Community Green Flag from Keep Wales Tidy last year, the society has again received the award for 2014-2015 (Please click on the flag to find out more details.)
To be able to achieve this award two years running, is mainly thanks to the work of a small number of directors and members, who strive to keep the site looking at its best throughout the year.
The entrance at Highlands Road and the path over to the Upper Boat Pond is cut by BGCBC but gets regular extra mowing by John Hillier using our own 'sit on' mower.
Recently thanks to the loan of a' rough mower' from Gwynfor Evans of Green Earth/Tai Calon, Roy Lynch and John cut and strimmed much of the network of pathways around the site.
The photographs below show some of their work, which makes site access much easier for the growing numbers of site visitors
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AUGUST 2014 - WOODLANDS IMPROVEMENTS 2014/15
This year we are aiming to continue to improve the walkways around the woodland. We've started with a set of steps near the Highlands Road entrance down towards Blaen Cendl. Over the next few months we will complete other steps and pathway improvements, we are also planning to install a pond dipping platform for the kiddies to fish for bugs. Many thanks to Philip Jones Timber Products, Carillion, and Environment Wales for their continued support. Tools supplied by the kind support of The Conservation Volunteers Chestnut Fund.
On Saturday 23rd August, at the request of some local walkers, Roy Lynch, John Hillier and his daughter Menna, constructed the set of steps - photographs below.
Details of the work and photographs were supplied by John Hillier and taken from the Ponds & Woodlands Facebook page.
SEPTEMBER 2014
Members of Beaufort Hill Ponds & Woodlands, the Rassau River Rangers and Sally Morgan of Keep Wales Tidy started by conducting a litter-pick around the woodlands. Following the clean-up, we replanted the borders with heather and ivy and some rocks to hopefully keep the carrs away from the border.We also seeded a section of the entrance with a mix of wildflowers, cornflowers and grasses. Hopefully the cars will stay off them this time.
Many thanks also to Victoria Garden Centre for helping to sponsor us with the supply of plants.
OCTOBER 2014 FREE HEDGE-LAYING COURSE
A free hedge-laying course was organised and took place at the Woodlands on Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th October 2014. The courses well attended by members of four groups - Keep Wales Tidy, Beaufort Hill Woodlands, Llangattock Community Woodlands and BGCBC Environmental Dept.
There were 60 photographs taken during the course, and these can be viewed by clicking on the link below to the Woodlands Facebook page and also to Thom Board's Keep Wales Tidy Flickr Album, where other albums of his work around Blaenau Gwent, can also be viewed.
