8 June 2021 Update

 Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you are all well, and enjoying the warmer weather and more importantly your gardens.

Can you please let me know if you are coming along to Aberglasney this Saturday, you don't need to reply if you can't make it, since I completely understand that life is busy.

The plan is that we meet at Aberglasney between 10am and 10:30am, then walk around the gardens or have lunch, then around 1pm Joseph will provide us with a walk and talk around this beautiful place.

The entry price will depend on the numbers, so hence the need to know how many are coming along.

The cost of the talk is £70 and we will pay for this out of existing funds, you only need to pay the entrance price.

Finally, don't forget the Virtual Summer Show, you can send your entries in for any of the categories and whenever you choose to the following email address llantegshow@gmail.com and the rules etc are on the Llanteg web site.

Kind regards,

Roy

1 June 2021 Update

 Good evening everyone,

I hope you are all well and enjoyed the sunshine over the past few days, let's hope that tomorrow's weather is just a blip?

Firstly, well done to everyone who battled the weeds and spread the stone chips at the Old School Garden last Friday.

Appreciate it's an ongoing battle with the weeds and in particular the brambles, but at least the work you've undertaken is a big step forward.

Thank you all for your efforts.

Thanks also to Carol and Sam for giving us the stone chippings, and for the offer of loads more!

A warm welcome to the new members of the Gardening Group, our next gardening visit is to Aberglasney on the 12th of June, more information to follow closer to the date.

Finally, Sunday's first plant swap was a great success, it was so good to see so many of you, and well done to Pauline for organising it all and to Rosemary for kindly hosting it for us.

Kind regards,

Roy

19 May 21 Update

 Good evening everyone,

Firstly many thanks for coming along to Llwyngarreg for the walk and talk with Paul & Liz, and I hope that you enjoyed the day and found inspiration from this garden.

Our next garden visit is to Aberglasney on the 12th of June, more information to follow nearer the date..

With regard to the planned clean up at the OSG, it looks like the weather on Friday is going to be wet and windy, so I've decided to defer the clean up until the following Friday the 28th of May and at 5pm onwards, or please come along at any time that's best for you.

Apologies for this, but this is the sort of work we could do with your help with:

Painting the wooden gates.

Raking and weeding the path's.

Weeding the dry stone wall.

Weed and bramble removal from the open areas. Most of this work is weeding by hand, since strimming will do more damage to wildflowers and saplings... 

Spreading slate chippings in the vicinity of the new seating area.

Kind regards,

Roy 

6 May 2021 Update

 Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you are all well and looking forward to a little more freedom in the coming months, with the vaccine program offering optimism for us all.

Thanks to everyone who attended our zoom meeting, I appreciate zoom is not the most invigorating way of communicating, but it keeps us informed and engaged, which is very important for our wellbeing...

Finances: Mary Megarry our Village Hall Treasurer is progressing the opening of a Bank account for LGG and under the umbrella of LVH accounts, more information to follow. Also, the maintenance money from ACC has been transferred over to LVH and will then be moved across to LGG account, many thanks to Mary and ACC for arranging this for us. 

Well done to Trish for a really interesting and thought provoking talk on the "No Dig" concept, which we all enjoyed, it's not easy giving a presentation in front of a live audience, but doing this on line without the usual live audience participation is a challenge. Thanks Trish.

With regard to the maintenance of community areas, could you please lend a hand at the Old School Garden on Friday the 21st of May at 6pm for as much time as you can spare please. Also if you would like to go along and rake paths, weed around flower beds, paint the gates at the OSG or Claypits, then please do so at any time you wish.

After all, every little helps make these areas more interesting and pleasing for all our community.

   

As far as the tree planting at Stanwell, we are awaiting confirmation from Amroth Community Council regarding the purchase of the trees.

Thanks to Pauline, Sue and Bev from ACC for attending a meeting to discuss a Pollinator Project with Chris Taylor {Pembrokeshire Coastal Path Warden}, more information to follow at our next zoom meeting from Pauline and Sue.

   

Summer Walk and Talks are as follows:

Llwyngarreg garden May 15th at 2pm. https://www.llwyngarreg.co.uk/

Aberglasney June 12th at 10am, walk and talk with Joseph Atkin at 1pm. https://aberglasney.org/

Upton Castle July 10th at 2pm, walk and talk, followed by tea and cakes. https://www.uptoncastle.com/

Glyn Bach August 8th at 2pm (monada collection). https://www.glynbachgardens.co.uk/

Tywi Gateway Project (Abergwili Old Bishops Palace) September 4th at 2pm. The garden tea room and toilets should be open around this date, so this date may drift by a week, more information to follow. https://tywigateway.org.uk/

Can you let me know if you are attending any of the above as soon as possible please, especially if you would like afternoon tea at Upton Castle.

 

Virtual Summer Show is underway, so could you get your entries in as soon as they're ready please, also if you can encourage others to take part, then this would be appreciated. In our previous shows we struggled with show entries from children, so if you could please encourage your children and grandchildren to put forward show entries, then this would be appreciated. 

Pauline will be contacting you all about plant sharing, so if you've a surplus of plants or you need some plants, then please contact Pauline.

Many thanks for those who gave second homes to the compost bins and plant pots, there are a few more available from Caz, so please get back to me if you need plant pots?

In July Bryony Gardner will be giving us a talk about Hydroponics, a date is to be agreed.

Future talks in the pipeline include: Chris Taylor Pollinator Project - Jake Rayson Creating a Forest Garden, and it may be possible to have these talks outdoors or when practicable at the village hall. Information to follow when we receive updates from the new WAG.

Thanks to Carol and Simon from Waterwynch for donating a large amount of slate chippings, which we are going to use at the Old School Garden to enhance the area around the new seating.

Kind regards,

Roy

28th April 21 Update

 Goods evening everyone,

Please see message from Liz O'Neill at Llwyngarreg Llanfalteg {https://www.llwyngarreg.co.uk/}.

Kind regards,

Roy

Dear Garden Clubs,

Further to my previous message, we have organised a "Pop-up" opening on Sunday May 2nd 10am-6pm. We will be serving teas with some safety precautions eg: only 2 people in conservatory at one time, mainly self-service, hand sanitiser available.

Online booking is on the NGS website, but personally I don't quite get it: with our large garden I do not anticipate overcrowding....so don't feel it essential. 

Please, club secretaries, can you forward this to as many people as you can think of!

Thanks, Liz O'Neill

On Friday, 2 April 2021, 10:03:36 BST, liz oneill <lizpaulfarm@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Dear Garden Clubs,

I hope that you are all well, and looking forward to a better year. The National Garden Scheme is not yet allowed to open - please lobby our AM's (who do not give gardens a passing thought) - to allow the low risk, beneficial activity which is visiting gardens!! Sorry - my soapbox is showing.

However, certainly by April 26th we should be able to welcome you, and are keen to do so, speaking for ourselves at Llwyngarreg Garden. All the NGS gardens are online at ngs.org.uk and can be contacted if they accept "By Arrangement" visits. 

2020 was a dreadful year for the beneficiaries we normally donate over £3 million/year to in the UK, so we hope 2021 to be a better one. The booklet is reduced in size to save costs this year, so the website is ever more important (and improved). By the way, with no furloughing, our gardens are looking wonderful!

Hoping to see some of you soon,

Best wishes, Liz and Paul O'Neill.

--

23 April 2021 Update

 Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you are well and enjoying the sunshine, and are pleased to put your covid winter behind you.

Below is the agenda for our next Gardening Group zoom meeting, if there's anything you would like to add, then please let me know.

The meeting is in two parts, firstly gardening group business (short I hope), followed by a talk by Trish Cormack entitled No Dig. 

Agenda

Finances 

Maintenance of Community Areas

New Seating at OSG

Tree Planting at Stanwell

Pollinator Project (Chris Taylor) 

Summer Walk and Talks

Virtual Summer Show

Plant Sharing

Second Hand Compost Bins and Plant Pots

Next Meeting Bryony Gardner will be giving us a talk about Hydroponics, time and date TBA.

AOB

Thanks everyone for your support and for the plants you have donated, all of which will enhance our community areas. 

  

16 March 2021 Update

 Good evening everyone,

I hope you are all well and looking forward to positive changes in the coming months, and let's hope at least the weather is warmer?

Firstly, many thanks again for my birthday wishes and gifts, I still can't accept the fact that I've been around for three score years and ten, despite the fact that it looks like longer!

Below are the minutes of our meeting on the 2nd of March, as for our next zoom meeting, I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Zoom Talks

Trish - No Dig date TBA

Bryony - Hydroponics TBA

Trevor - Wild Flowers TBA

Gardening Visits

To be announced once Cv-19 restrictions allow.

Virtual Summer Show

It was agreed to have a summer virtual show, please see attached document for rules and categories, the email address for all entries is llantegshow@gmail.com

YouTube Channel

Our Llanteg Gardening Group YouTube channel is up and running, and it was agreed that we upload short helpful hints videos to the channel along with zoom talks/meetings.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7_bM4CYd6BCVme9yR-OUA

If anyone has a short video to upload to the channel, please forward it to Trish at Trish@cormack.net

Maintenance of Community Areas

We agreed to maintain the grounds at the; Old School Garden, Claypits and Mountain Chapel, in return for an annual payment from Amroth Community Council, and the cost of hiring or buying equipment would be paid for by ACC.

Our thanks go to ACC for agreeing to placing new seating at the OSG and Mountain Chapel, the old rotten wooden seats have now been removed from the OSG and the new ones will be installed soon.

Wild Flowers - Fruit Trees/Bushes

All the fruit trees/bushes have now been planted at the OSG and the wild flowers will be sown by Trevor when conditions allow.

Also, a further fifty oak saplings have been planted at the OSG, thanks to Caz for obtaining these for us.

Plant Sharing

Pauline confirmed that some people have come forward to participate in the plant sharing, if you would like to take part, then please contact Pauline on critchlow23@btinternet.com. Although, if you have any surplus plants or are looking for some, then please get in touch anyway.

Tree Planting in the community

Theri suggested we plant a memorable (statement) tree(s) in the community, areas suggested include near the bus stop and on the land opposite Stanwell. With regard to Stanwell, it was agreed to ask Tony Brinsdon if he had a preference for a particular species of tree that could be planted opposite Stanwell. More info to follow.

See https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/national-trust-launches-blossomwatch-to-emulate-japans-hanami-

Finances

Since the Gardening Group does not have a constitution or a committee, then we decided at our previous meeting that we ask Llanteg Village Hall committee to hold any money the Gardening Group has in a subsidiary account and under the control of the officers of LVH, and that Mary Megarry (VH Treasurer) would expedite this as soon as possible. Just to be clear, all money belonging to the Gardening Group shall be held by LVH but for the express use of the Llanteg Gardening Group.

Forming Gardening Club

We agreed to remain as we are and not to set up a formal Gardening Club.

Quiz

We agreed to have a further quiz in April, date and time to be agreed.

AOB

Chris Taylor (Warden Coastal Path) is giving a talk to ACC entitled Improving areas for pollinators, I will contact Chris and ask him about giving us a talk in the coming months.

Jake Rayson from Forest Garden Wales is going to create a YouTube video on the subject of creating a forest garden, the charge would be £50 for a thirty minute video, we await a response.

Theri raised the issue of PCC cutting the hedgerows and grass verges at times of the year that can damage habitats, it was discussed that we raise this matter via the community council.

Kind regards,

Roy

26th January 2021 Update

 Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you are all warm and keeping well, and that you don't have to venture out in this snow/rain, but if you do, then take care.

Many thanks for attending the zoom meeting on the 26th of January and I appreciate the apologies from those who couldn't make it, all in all the numbers are very encouraging.

The following is a brief description of the items discussed, I appreciate it's not easy to debate things properly on zoom, but at least we could see each other, (I've had a hair cut since and locally).

Gardening Visits: It was agreed that we plan for future summer garden visits, but that this would depend on any restrictions from Government and WAG...

Places we may visit: Aberglasney - Abergwili - Stackpole - Llwyngarreg - Panteg - Glynbach plus any other NGS gardens you have a preference for, so if you've any further suggestions, then please email me.

Virtual Summer Show: It was agreed that we continue with a virtual show and try to obtain sponsorship for winners of each category, more information to follow.

YouTube Channel: It was agreed that we contact Jake Rayson about uploading Creating a Forest Garden video to our YouTube channel for all GG members to view at their leisure. It was also suggested that we create our own short videos to upload to our channel, any suggestions please.

Maintenance of Common Recreational Areas: Amroth Community Council has asked our Gardening Group if we are interested in maintaining the grounds at the; Old School Garden, Claypits and Mountain Chapel in return for an annual payment.

It was agreed that we identify what we could achieve with our physical resources and hours required to maintain these areas and feed back at the next meeting.

Although, at the moment the Claypits is being cut by John James and the Mountain Chapel area will be cut by Roger Harries. Also, some annual maintenance is currently being carried out by members of the GG.

Wild Flowers - Fruit Trees/Bushes: The fruit bushes have been planted at the OSG, thanks Pauline, and there are three Apple trees (received from Keep Wales Tidy) which will be planted at the OSG soon.

Plant Sharing: It was agreed that if possible we would grow plants for the coming season and share surplus plants amongst our GG, Pauline will be in contact to ask if you would like to take part, and who's going to grow what, thanks again to Pauline.

Forming Gardening Club: It was agreed to stay as we are and that we wouldn't need an annual membership fee, but simply charge people who attend future presentations/meetings at the village hall.

Quiz: We are planning for an online quiz, so we should be in contact with you soon with dates etc.

Our next zoom GG meeting is on the 2nd of March at 7pm, thanks again to Trish for hosting this for us.

4 Dec 2020 Update

 Good afternoon everyone,

Albeit a little cold out there, but at least it's dry and more importantly the sun is visible at times, or at least it was when I started this email!.

Don't forget it's the shortest day on the 21st of this month, and being positive, things can only improve thereafter.

Many thanks for coming along to Aberglasney last Friday, we were very lucky with both the weather and to have a very interesting walk and talk around the garden with Joseph the head gardener.

I can't help but feel inspired with gardening enthusiasm after a visit to Aberglasney and listening to his helpful advice, who knows it may lead me becoming an average gardener, only time will tell!

I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and are looking forward to future visits to all sorts of gardens in the coming spring and summer months.

As far as the gardening talks in the village hall, I have decided to put them all on hold until at least we have a clearer view of a safe way forward, apologies for this, it's the very last thing I wanted. I will endeavour to look at walks and talks, and get back to you when I have a plan.

Finally, can I remind you that the closing date for the Virtual Christmas Show is the 7th of December, so please send your entries to llantegshow@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Also, we are desperate for show entries in the Children's section, so entries would be greatly appreciated. Please remember, you don't need to be a resident of Llanteg to enter the show.

Kind regards,

Roy

23 Nov 2020 Update

 Good evening everyone,

I hope you all had a good day and that you spent some time outdoors enjoying the best of the weather.

I've arranged a visit to Aberglasney along with a walk and talk with Joseph Atkin (Head Gardener) on Friday the 27th of November, sorry for the short notice, but it looks like from the weather perspective, then Friday may be the best day of the week.

I'm hoping that we can meet up at Aberglasney at 11am and then either have a w&t with Joseph before or after lunch, obviously social distancing and the wearing of face covering indoors applies, and if there are any other precautions in place, then I will make you aware.

As I understand, the entry fee for non members is £9:50 with vouchers to the same value and for use in the restaurant on the day, see Aberglasney notice below.

Can you tell me if you are attending on Friday please, just to give Joseph an idea of our numbers, also note that the cost of the w&t will be £60 which will come out of our existing funds.

Kind regards,

Roy   

16th Nov 2020 Update

 Good afternoon everyone,

Hope all is well with you all and that you are either in the warm, or if your outside, then your wrapped up well.

As for the Aberglasney visit, we have enough interest, so I'm looking into the weather crystal ball to find a suitable date.

So I will get back to you soon.

As for the Christmas virtual show.

We could do with a few more entries across all the categories. So we would appreciate your help please, after all it's important to raise our spirits at this time, and to show how creative you are.

Cheers,

Roy

9th Nov 2020 Update

 Good evening everyone,

I really wish it had been a better day, what dreadful weather, still it's good to be able to move around a little! 

With regard to our planned gardening talk with Joseph Atkin on Wednesday evening at the village hall, unfortunately since meetings are still not recommended, I've had to cancel our talk.

However, if anyone is interested in a talk and walk around Aberglasney in the coming weeks, then please get back to me and I will ask Joseph for a suitable date and time?

Many thanks to everyone who helped in weeding and cleaning up the Old School Garden recently, unfortunately we had to defer our last planned session because of lock down, but I'm sure there will be other opportunities.

Thanks also to Pauline and Ken for planting the eighty bulbs (bluebells and snowdrops etc) and six fruit bushes we received from Keep Wales Tidy and all planted at the OSG.

In addition, many thanks to Roger and the Amroth Community Council for improving the access to the OSG and for the work at the Clay Pit entrance and Mountain Chapel, along with the new seating near Lansdowne and Stanwell. 

If you're still looking for gardening inspiration, then have a look at the following, although others gardens/gardeners are available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_UOU_Qd6DU&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qq33VwH_RE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-NwFjiXv0I&t=886s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhY4saekvnk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3lefiNCY_Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkUmwlJ5RQ8&list=RDCMUCeaKRrrpWiQFJJmiuon2WoQ&index=11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpVkmpQnlDc&list=RDCMUCeaKRrrpWiQFJJmiuon2WoQ&index=12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbd7qo6nS9g&list=RDCMUCeaKRrrpWiQFJJmiuon2WoQ&index=17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFGpmovWOqY&list=RDCMUCeaKRrrpWiQFJJmiuon2WoQ&index=16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNVA0eC8Ucg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfMfnCxiHos

But if that doesn't help, then what about sending a few entries into our Virtual Christmas Show, the closing date is the 7th of December, so plenty of time to create and capture your entry. The email address for entries is; llantegshow@gmail.com

Also, thanks to everyone who completed the Village questionnaire, your views are appreciated, so any further questionnaires would be greatly appreciated.

Finally, Llanteg Village Hall has been chosen as one of the Co-ops local charities to benefit from their community fund, so if you've a Co-op card then please go on line and nominate Llanteg Village Hall, the more nominations we get the better.  

Many thanks, and stay safe,

Roy.

Llanteg Virtual Winter Show 2020

 

Llanteg Christmas Virtual Gardening/Craft/Photography/Painting Show

Please be aware you don't have to be resident in Llanteg to enter, or be an expert in a particular field.

For all entries, you should email a photograph of your produce/creation along with your entry details by 10am on the 7^th of December 2020 (closing date).

All virtual winners will be posted on the Llanteg Facebook page and website and blog in late December.

Some of the winning entries in each category could be included in a virtual 2021 calendar, which is under consideration.

Virtual Rules

All entries will be judged by independent anonymous judges, their decision will be final.

No entries will be considered if they are submitted after the closing date/time.

Virtual Certificates shall be awarded for First, Second and Third places in each category, and there will be no entry fee or prizes.

To enter just send an email to llantegshow@gmail.com and the entries should include the following:-

·        Your name (age for children).

·        Picture of your show entry.

·        The category your entry is being submitted into.

·        The first line of your address.

·        You can submit two entries (photos) in each category.

·        Only photographs can be submitted.

·        A category is defined as Art or Craft etc.

Note if you don’t want your photograph (entry) on our Face book page and or website and blog etc, then please say so.

Here's a breakdown of what you can enter:- 

For Children’s Categories:
Age 5 & under

Age 6 – 11

Age 12 - 15

Art

·           Christmas card either a drawing or painting.

Craft

·           Christmas decoration made from natural materials like:- driftwood/pebbles/leaves/pine cones etc.

Photography

·           Photograph of one or more of the following; wildlife, a plant or your pet, but photographed in your garden/home.

Cookery

·           Any cookery creation with a Christmas theme and decorated by you.

 

Adult 16 & over

 

Art

·           Recreate a Christmas song or carol in fancy dress or a photographic image.

·           Draw or paint a winter scene with an animal or inanimate object as the focus.

Craft

·           Make a Christmas door decoration from natural materials.

·           Make a Christmas decoration from driftwood or wood found in your garden or hedgerow

Photography

·           Photograph of an Autumn/Winter scene you have created within your garden or community area.

·           Photograph of any wildlife found in your garden or community area.

Floral Art

·           Create a floral display in a tea cup/mug.

·           Create a table centrepiece decoration from greenery etc.

Flowers and Vegetables

·           Take a picture of any flower(s) growing in your garden during the Autumn/Winter.

·           Take a picture of any vegetable(s) growing in your garden during the Autumn/Winter.

 

Digital Craft

·           Create a digital logo for Llanteg Gardening Group.