Cefn Mawr's Heritage

 

Keep Wales Tidy has been busy lately working with local residents and Wales Probation Trust clearing vegetation, litter and flytipped material from some of the footpaths and old walls and masonry in and around Cefn Mawr, Wrexham. Some of the walls date back 250 years and are associated with Cefn Mawr’s industrial heritage (in fact the area was one of the regions that kick started the industrial revolution!). Keep Wales Tidy in Wrexham will be carrying out a lot more of this type of community related work in the coming months clearing miles of footpaths in and around Cefn Mawr, Newbridge and Rhosymedre

 

New Year Projects

 

As this is the first blog of 2013 I thought I would highlight two groups Keep Wales Tidy has recently been working closely with in Wrexham who are actively engaged clearing vegetation and litter in preparation for the spring planting season. The first group, The Friends of St Mary’s Church in Chirk, are a group who have over the years transformed a country church cemetery by placing nest and bat boxes, planting wildflower meadows, building habitat piles and clearing footpaths creating in the process a rich and vibrant habitat for wildlife. The group has in the past received grant assistance and help from Keep Wales Tidy for tools and equipment which has helped with much of their work.

Friends of St Mary's, Chirk

Keep Wales Tidy has also been working  with volunteers and staff from CAIS and Chirk Community Forum. We’ve been busy clearing the Chirk’s memorial garden of litter and old vegetation in readiness for some planting local residents with Keep Wales Tidy plan to do this February – Amazingly we managed to collect fill 25 bags of green waste which will be composted by Wrexham County Borough Council. Many thanks to all from CAIS who worked tirelessly to complete the task in cold freezing conditions!

 

 



CAIS voluntees busy at Chirk Memorial Garden



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep checking this blog for regular updates on Keep Wales Tidy’s work in Wrexham

 

 

Spring Clean Appeal

Keep Wales Tidy is always willing to help communities who want to spruce up the area they live in and as such I’m planning a series of  high profile spring cleans across Wrexham starting March 2013. I’ve already started contacting local communities, community councils, councillors, environmental groups, schools and volunteers and the response has been excellent
 

Keep Wales Tidy can help organise, co-ordinate and publicise events, as well as supporting the events on the day, providing safety equipment and doing risk assessments. Tasks tackled in the forthcoming spring cleans will include litter picking, fly tip removal, graffiti removal, planting, removal of invasive non-native weeds, improving access to public footpaths and many others

 

Did you know that Keep Wales Tidy is one of the largest and most effective environmental charities operating in Wales with a strong emphasis on practical delivery covering the whole of the country and influencing a wide range of organisations and communities. Our approach leads to real sustainable change. We influence behaviour and enable groups and schools to take their own actions. Our focus is on people and their connections with their communities and environment. We deal with more than litter. Our work encompasses biodiversity, community regeneration, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, encouraging access and recreation, health improvement, food growing, Eco Schools and a lot more. Our work is delivered by experienced and expert staff across Wales and underpinned by research and policy work including Local Environmental Quality Surveys and developing advice for Government and other stakeholders

You can follow these spring cleans as they happen and why not keep a tag on all our  community work not only in Wrexham but throughout the whole of Wales by logging on to Keep Wales Tidy’s Flicker page at     http://www.flickr.com/photos/keep_wales_tidy/collections/   

 

Winter Nest Boxes

The Three Rivers Group are an active and enthusiastic group of volunteers who carry out an amazing amount of work helping to enhance and improve the natural environment across North East Wales (the name “three rivers” refers to the Rivers Alyn, Dee and Clwyd in North East Wales which corresponds roughly to the approximate geographical area covered by the group). In preparation for next spring Keep Wales Tidy and the group were busy recently clearing old nestboxes of old nests and debris  at the North Wales Wildlife Trust’s Marford Quarry nature reserve near Wrexham – Most of the 15 or so nestboxes we inspected had old nests  so it looks like it’s been a great year for songbirds! Besides clearing nestboxes we also installed a further 5 new ones

This time of year is a great time to make and place nestboxes for our feathered friends so why not give it a go! I’ll be busy in the New Year making bat boxes with the community in Plas Madoc, Wrexham – Check this blog for updates

 

 

An old tree sparrow nest

 

                                                                         

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Keep Wales Tidy

Many thanks to all the  volunteers, groups and organisations across Wales who have worked with Keep Wales Tidy this past 12 months and helped to make a real difference in our communities 

 

Please find below the link for the Keep Wales Tidy Christmas e-card with a special message from our ambassador Michael Sheen

 

http://www.keepwalestidy.org/aboutus/keep-wales-tidy-ambassador/michael-sheen-s-christmas-message?diablo.lang=eng

Have a happy Christmas and New Year - Nadolig Llawen!!

 

Old Quarry - Decidous Wood - Maes Y Pant Action Group

Over the past few months Keep Wales Tidy has been working closely with a group of volunteers who have been busy transforming an old quarry in Marford, Wrexham into a nature reserve. Maes Y Pant Action Group (MYPAG) have been removing old non native conifer trees and replacing with native hardwood deciduous species such as oak and birch. Many of the tools and equipment used by the group for tree planting, removing brash and litter picking were obtained through a grant fund provided by Keep Wales Tidy this summer. In fact the groups’ achievements have recently been publicised nationally with a recent segment broadcast live from the reserve on the BBC’s popular early evening show “The One Show” !

 

Volunteers from Maes Y Pant Action Group busy planting trees - 500 were planted!

A great morning's work for the community!

The Friends of Acton Park are an enthusiastic group who meet once a month in the green space oasis that is Acton Park in central Wrexham – Their work includes litter picks, bio diversity and footpath improvement and the group have recently secured a grant from Keep Wales Tidy to obtain tools and equipment. I recently joined the group and Wrexham Countryside Service as they installed a bench overlooking the lake at Acton Park - A great time was had by all and I look forward to working with the group in the future

 

If you are a member of a community group interested in working towards a better environment for everyone or would like help starting a group from scratch why not contact your local Keep Wales Tidy Project Officer who will be able to help you – Check out our website for more information on the Tidy Towns project and all the other great work we do across Wales http://www.keepwalestidy.org/our-projects/tidy-towns

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn's here!

McDonalds volunteers busy with Keep Wales Tidy

It’s been a busy last few weeks what with Tidy Wales Week and Wild Weekend applications so I haven’t had a chance to update the blog!

 


 

 

 

Autumn is always a busy time for Keep Wales Tidy Project Officers right across Wales in that bio diversity improvement work starts to become gradually more significant as many community groups begin work planting trees, hedges, orchards, creating ponds etc. We don’t work on these projects throughout the summer (usually between Mid March to Mid September) to avoid disturbing nesting birds and other wildlife – Community cleanups and litterpicks are still important however with many planned right through the winter – In a recent litter pick near Wrexham volunteers from McDonalds Restaurant near Chirk, South Wrexham supported by local volunteers collected over 20 bags of litter and nearly 200kg of fly tipped material – Many thanks to all involved, fantastic work!

 

 

Country Roads and a World Heritage Site

Over the weekend some enthusiastic volunteers from Trevor and Froncysyllte, South Wrexham joined Keep Wales Tidy and North Wales Police on an ambitious litter pick targeting the country roads that surround the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a World Heritage Site –15 bags of litter collected and removed together with some flytipped televisions! Great effort, many thanks!
















Also don’t forget that Tidy Wales Week is fast approaching (17^th -23^rdSeptember) – The event offers a great opportunity to get to grips with any issues relating to litter in your community – Why not get together with your neighbours, family and friends and take part – Keep Wales Tidy can provide free cleanup kits (while stocks last!) just follow this link -
http://keepwalestidy.sequence.co.uk/campaigns/tidy-wales-week

 

End of Summer Cleanup!

Keep Wales Tidy recently joined forces with Llay Youth Club and local residents in a bid to clear nearby Singrett Wood of a summer’s worth of accumulated litter – A great effort with 8 bags of litter collected on the day.I’ll be back in the area this autumn helping the community to make bat and bird boxes to install within Singrett Wood as well as further cleanups. Many thanks to all involved on the day!

Happy 40th Birthday Keep Wales Tidy!

Environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy is 40 this month and to help celebrate we will be putting the people of Wales to the test by calling on them to take part in a week- long, nationwide, cleanup of littered black spots in towns, villages and the countryside with many of the events taking place in Wrexham

Sponsored by the Welsh Government, Tidy Wales Week will take place from 17 to 23 September and Keep Wales Tidy are hoping that people living in every corner of the country will show how much they care for their local area by getting involved in hands-on, problem-solving action.

Last year over 20,000 people of all ages across Wales did their bit to clean up their neighbourhoods and as a result many long standing litter blots on the landscape were removed. The week of action resulted in thousands of bags of litter being recovered by volunteers from across our beautiful country

To assist groups to take part, Keep Wales Tidy have a limited number of free clean-up kits available. The kits are available to people taking part in the campaign and will be allocated on a first come - first served basis. They contain bin bags, children’s tabards, disposable gloves, hi-vis vests, local authority contacts and a booklet explaining how to organise a busy and fun event – If

you would like one of these free clean-up kits simply follow this link - http://keepwalestidy.sequence.co.uk/campaigns/tidy-wales-week

Penycae Volunteers

Meanwhile Keep Wales Tidy has been busy with volunteers from Penycae, Wrexham and Wales Probation Trust clearing litter, cutting back vegetation from public footpaths and painting fence rails – A busy programme of work is planned for the autumn and I’m sure we'll be able to link the work in with Tidy Wales Week!

River survey and balsam removal on the River Alyn

Llay cub scouts, scout leaders and parents recently undertook with Keep Wales Tidy a river survey and Himalayan Balsam pull along the  River Alyn near Wrexham – The day was a great success with over 10 species of aquatic invertebrates identified and 50 meters of riverbank cleared of Himalayan Balsam – Normally at this time of year it would be too late to pull Himalayan Balsam as the object of the exercise is to remove the invasive plant before it seeds. The wet summer we have experienced in this part of the world however has meant that the plant is relatively late flowering and so can be “pulled” before it sets seed. Great work - Many thanks to all involved!

Work carries on despite the summer of rain!!

It’s been a busy time here in Wrexham over the past few weeks (despite the rain!). I’ve been working on some high profile community cleanups across the county involving community groups, schools and fishing clubs – Many thanks to all involved – Collectively over the last few weeks communities have removed over a tonne of litter, debris and flytipped material from the streets, parks and footpaths of Wrexham – Some more great community work to follow over the next few weeks

Ysgol Heulfan, Gwersyllt Wrexham - Pupils and staff removed  

12 bags of litter from Gwersyllt!

Coedpoeth Community Litter Pick - Many thanks to all involved

Residents in Bryn Offa, Wrexham cutting back some overgrown hedgerows - Besides

vegetation cutback nearly a tonne of litter and flytipped material were removed on the day

Pentre Broughton Chapel – Update

Just thought I’d provide an update on the work clearing litter, old vegetation and flytipped debris by Broughton District History Group at an old chapel in Pentre Broughton, Wrexham – This is a project Keep Wales Tidy has been involved with since its inception last January and I look forward to working with the group further in the future – Take a look at both photos to see the vast improvement to the site!

Before

After

The next step will be to tackle Japanese Knotweed within the chapel grounds (an invasive non native plant which has a detrimental effect on local biodiversity). Keep Wales Tidy will be helping with training in the near future to help local residents clear this destructive plant from their community

Ruabon Litter Pick

An outstanding litter pick with residents from Ruabon on Saturday - There is always a good community spirit in the village and an enthusiasm and eagerness to take part with events such as this  -  Over 20 bags of litter collected from various locations in the village – The litter pick was finished off with a great cup of tea!

Many thanks to everyone involved

Police Community Day – Caia Park, Wrexham

Last Saturday (26^th May) I took part in the annual North Wales Police Community Day in Caia Park, Wrexham – Police Community Days offer a great opportunity to meet up with various groups in the area and hopefully gain support for future Keep Wales Tidy environmental work within the local community – Keep Wales Tidy has over recent years worked closely with residents in Caia Park on a whole range of environmental work from river cleans and litter picks to waste amnesties and bio diversity improvement work.

Some great environmental work planned by Keep Wales Tidy over the next few weeks with various groups across Wrexham – Keep checking this post for updates!

Acton Environmental Action Day

Environmental Action Days are a great way for the whole community to get involved in a concerted effort to clear streets of litter, remove graffiti and clear unwanted vegetation.

They offer the opportunity for the whole community to act as one and tackle environmental issues they deem important locally. Keep Wales Tidy Projects Officers from right across Wales work in partnership with communities, Police and County Councils on environmental action days throughout the year so if you are interested in taking part why not give it a go!

I recently helped out with an Acton Environmental Day in Wrexham - We managed to collect 15 bags of litter over a few hours!!

Invasive Weeds on the River Dee

Volunteers from Bryn y Pys Angling Association have begun a programme to control and eventually eradicate Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam from a four mile stretch of the lower Dee between Bangor on Dee and Erbistock (Overton Bridge) – The club has received funding from Keep Wales Tidy to train a volunteer in the use of herbicide spraying and to purchase herbicide which will hopefully allow the club to reclaim areas of the Dee that have in recent years become off limits due to the presence of both species of invasive weed – If not tackled both  plants will decimate local bio diversity, curb access and contribute to river bank erosion. Both of these plants are non native and are fast becoming an issue for many in our countryside and towns – The photo show volunteers from Bryn y Pys about to begin strimming Himalayan Balsam near Overton Bridge 

The work will continue throughout the summer supplemented with a programme of herbicide spraying and Keep Wales Tidy will be working closely with the club throughout this year. A major “balsam pull” will take place on the 3^rd and 4^th of July (last year we had over 40 volunteers taking part!). If you would like to take part please phone Shane Hughes, Keep Wales Tidy on 07766 007635 or e-mail shane.hughes@keepwalestidy.org

Acrefair Culvert Clearance

Last Friday I was busy with volunteers from Maelor Angling Association and Cefn Mawr Community Council clearing a blocked culvert in Acrefair – What must have been several tonnes of debris, vegetation and litter had collected over the years and were blocking the channel and could have caused local flooding – Full marks to Maelor Angling Association for devising a winch system to lift the debris from the culvert safely!

After several hours we managed to clear a channel through the debris allowing the water to flow more freely – More work is required however to fully clear the channel and we hope to complete the work later this month

The ‘Wales Coast Path Clean Up’

In preparation for the launch of the Wales Coast Path on 5 May 2012, Keep Wales Tidy organised events to clean as much of the path as possible of any unwanted litter whilst at the same time showcasing the fantastic Welsh coastline

The ‘Wales Coast Path Clean Up’ took place over the weekend of 27–29 April 2012 and Keep Wales Tidy, along with local community groups, organised events along the whole length of the 870 mile footpath. As Wrexham is a landlocked county I had to do a bit of travelling to take part therefore I travelled to Porth Neigwl /Hell’s Mouth on the amazing Lleyn Peninsula to help with a beach clean organised by Lee Oliver who is the Keep Wales Tidy Project Officer for Gwynedd.

Over the space of 4 hours 20 volunteers collected an amazing 2 tonnes of litter 95% of which was composed of plastic from the four corners of the globe. Many of the volunteers present were quick to point out that the next high tide or storm will quickly replenish the amount of litter on the beach at Porth Neigwl /Hell’s Mouth in preparation for the next beach clean! Perhaps one day communities across the globe (as this is without doubt a worldwide issue) will come to realise that we can’t keep treating the oceans as a dumping ground, a case of out of site out of mind