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One eyed Jack the pirate chief was a terrible fearsome ocean thief .......
.....and so began our pirate adventure day on the island of Daerwynno. A band of pirates alighted on the island after climbing aboard Daerwynno's flagship minibus at Cilfynydd Primary school. This awesome crew of pirates set out to look for treasure following messages left along the forest trail in bottles by One eyed Jack..
Their fantastic solving of the clues led them to a treasure chest camouflaged by moss and hidden at the base of a tree.
Back at base camp the intrepid pirates ate their treasure and had a tot of red rum (aka blackcurrant juice) and began work on building a pirate ship ......
When it was complete the whole jolly crew climbed on board and rowed with all their might.
When one of the senior crew fell in attempts were made at a rescue....
But when a mutiny broke out the crew were made to walk the plank.....
Having survived the perils of the ocean the pirate crew feasted together before searching for creatures of the deep in the depths of Daerwynno's ponds.
With souvenirs of their adventure in hand the happy band returned ashore at Cilfynydd and Captain Black beard and his crew all agreed that the first pirate adventure day at Daerwynno had been a success and retired to their bunks to dream of other adventures that might happen at the Centre.
Many thanks to George Trilloe for donating an Observer Book of Pond Life to the Centre.
During the last few weeks we have enjoyed working with Genesis and Coleg Morgannwg and are looking forward to the program of events we have devised for these groups.
The weekend saw the scouts raft building and everyone said how well their rafts were constructed that took them safely across the pond - the best built rafts seen in a long time.
And finally, our thoughts are with the brave young men of the Welsh Guards who include former junior members of Daerwynno and who are now serving in Afghanistan. We want you to know we are thinking of you.
Another break in at the Centre did not deter children from enjoying a variety of outdoor activity days at our Junior Activity Day on Friday April 20th
Why? Because friends of the Centre let us know what had happened and once again the volunteers and Centre Manager worked tirelessly to put the place back together to ensure that no youngster was disappointed.
We all had a fabulous day and a total of 30 children enjoyed an action filled day at the Centre. The activities included rock climbing, orienteering and a variety of team challenges. Despite the inclement weather the day was a big success and many thanks must go to the enthusiatic youngsters who were fun to work with. Many many thanks also to all the volunteers who turned up and were also enthusiatic about all the activities and who worked tirelessly throughout the day.
We were pleased that our local Plaid candidate and her husband and young children took time out to visit the Centre. We hope that they enjoyed their brief stay and were impressed at what they saw. We would welcome other candidates to come along and visit one of Ynysybwl's successful charities at work and play.
The Centre mini bus which was provided many years ago now by funding from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for the sole purpose of transporting visitors and equipment to and from the site has certainly been hard at work over the last few months and today had to make two journeys to transport the excited youngsters to and from the Centre.
Thank you to the Ramblers who took time to report the break in and to Aaron at the Brynffynnon who phoned us straight away. If anyone has any information about the break in please let us and the police know.
Many thanks to Daniel Price who gave up his day off and spending time with his young family to help repair the shutters and doors. Thanks Dan!
Apologies
I am sorry that thae page has not been updated lately but my computer has been in for repair.
The CCW and Daerwynno projectwith year 9 pupils has now ended. it has been a great success with 369 pupils taking part since September.The four schools taking part enjoyed a variety of team challenges as complrting two hours of volunteer work and the fruits of their labours can be seen in the renovated pond area, a new bird feeding station and hide, over 460 trees planted, an extended pond dipping platform, a regraded and a newly planted entrance. The reservoir area and the land adjacent to the picturesque St Gwynno's Church benefitted were cleared of litter by the enthusiatic pupils.
March 2012
March 27th
Yesterday and today we welcomed the final two groups from Pontypridd High School. These were mostly pupils who had wished to return to do more volunteer work. Their contribution to improving the environment around the Centre has been fantastic and as a result we now have a bird feeding station, accessed by a stile, a bird hide, a wide and safe path around the pond, over 400 new trees planted and St Gwynno's Church has benefitted from a litterpick and about 60 trees planted around its car parking area. Their work has been of great benefit to all Centre users A big thank-you to Mr Paul Marenghi for accompanying the pupils and supporting us throughout the project.
Week beginning March 26th
This week begins the last days of 'Y Taith' a volunteer and PSE programme organised by Daerwynno Centre with funding from CCW. The programme has been very succesful with over 40o year 9 pupils engaed in team building activities and volunteer hours improving the environment in and around the centre.
March 26th
BREAK IN AND VANDALISM
Last night the Centre was broken into and vandalised after a previous attempt the night before. The vandals trashed the house and set off fire extinguishers and threw everything about and left the place in complete disarray. After a call to volunteers a large group turned up and set about cleaning, and washing down everything in readiness for tomorrow's visitors as well as making the Centre secure. What did the vandals achieve by this -goodness only knows, but we at the Centre know that we have a dedicated group of volunteers who are always willing to lend a helping hand when things are sent to try us. Thank you to all the volunteers who turned out to help today - you are a credit to our organisation. Special thanks must go to Dylan, Cerys and Brenin - three of our young members who gave up the whole of their day to help clear up.
FOREST FIRE
A disaster was averted when a passing runner alerted us at the Centre that a fire had been started deliberately near the reservoir and despite his efforts to stamp it out the fire had taken hold. two volunteers from the Centre together with the young man took beaters to the site of the blaze, the fire brigade was called but together the three of them managed to put out a sizeable blaze and stopped it within feet of the main forest area. I wonder did the arsonist think of the danger he was causing to other people in the forest including many children who were out walking on Friday as well as destroying valuable trees and a multitude of wildlife. Many thanks to Paul Wells for his invaluable assistance in preventing a possible disasterous fire.
Eight willing pupils from Pontypridd turned up at the volunteer day together with 10 adults and they worked tirelessly throughout the day. They must be commended for their energy and enthusiasm. Some are returning again next week to do more volunteering. Thanks too, to the adult volunteers who also worked with enthusiasm to inprove theenvironment of the Centre
On Friday we drove to Ysgol Rhydywaun to pick up a group of pupils to continue their part of the project. They worked well us a team and were the first groups to solve a very puzzling challenge that manyother groups had failed to complete. Their volunteer work was brilliant as they sawed and removed piles of rubble and stone to infill the ditch. The pupils were a credit to the school.
The pupils from Pontypridd High School came to the Centre on Monday and Thursday. Some pupils were new to the project but others had asked to return. They worked well in the team challenges and put in a lot of had work in removing unwanted stone to fill a ditch and sawing and lopping dead branches, making the entrance site more manageable and also providing us with a wood for the stove. Well done to all the pupils.
There is a volunteer day on Saturday 24th of March for pupils of Pontypridd High School and Ysgol Rhydywaun. If you want to join us please get in contact.
Well done to the Welsh Rugby team on winning the Grand Slam!
Week beginning 12th March
Well done to the girls from Rhydywaun for their positive attitude to all the team challenges and the great volunteer work they did in improving the entrance by removing all the stone and levelling the surrounding ground. It was great working with you.
We are wondering whether the large bird we saw near the big pond was a goshawk or not. Hopefully we will find out next week.
The Gofal group enjoyed their day at the Centre, taking part in team challenges, some biking and a walk. They all enjoyed their lunch together and were very appreciative of the hot soup on a cold day.
There were five mallards on the pond today.
The pupils from Pontypridd High School returned today for another volunteer session. They continued yesterday's work of making a path around the pond. Visitors to the Centre have noticed how much they have enhanced the environment. Well done to all our young volunteers.
No time to bird watch today although we did see two mallard drakes on the pond through the morning mist.
What a beautiful day at the Centre. The sun burnt off the mist very quickly and the weather was warm all day. The children from Pontypridd High School were able to take part in the team challenges without wrapping up warmly - t-shirts were the order of the day. Daniel was a knight in shining armour after bringing a packed lunch forf four of the children who had forgotten their food. Thanks Daniel!
This afternoon the pupils continued with the work of building a path around the pond and also cleared alot of stone from the entrance. The girls planted willows around the bird hide which will give more cover. The pupils worked hard and fully deserved the time credits they will receive for their volunteer work.
The pair of Mallard ducks were once again seen swimming on the big pond.
What a lovely ending to the week. The pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun were a pleasure to work with, They cooperated with one another in the team challenges and their volunteer work in clearing and tidying up the entrance to the Centre was fantastic. Thank you one and all.
The greater spotted woodpecker had a bit of a tussle with the blackbird in competing for food from the bird table today.
What a fabulous week so far. We have really enjoyed working with the two groups from Pontypridd High School and they have excelled themselves in upgrading the area next to the plandipping platform as well as moving copious amounts of stone for back fill.
Surprise visitors to the Centre were a mini bus full of delightful walkers from Abercwmboi who used the Centre as a starting point for a two hour walk and then returned for a cuppa.
Feathered visitors this week have been a pair of mallard ducks who have enjoyed a leisurely paddle on the pond.
We are looking forward to the continued work on the CCW project, working with Pontypridd High School two days a week and also the first visit of the pupils of Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun. Part of their volunteer work this week will be to extend part of the pond dipping platform and work on the lower pond. We very much look forward to working with the pupils of both schools..
February 2012
The volunteer day on Saturday was a big success with Pontygwaith scouts and several volunteers fom Pontypridd High School along with our dedicated band of volunteers working hard to improve the environment.
On Monday and Tuesday we welcomed two groups from Pontypridd High School who worked hard clearing unsightly rubbish from outside St Gwynno's Church and also planting a hedgerow along the pond path which hopefully will encourage more wildlife to the centre.
The volunteers enjoyed watching the birds at the feeding tables and various feeders. Today, sharing food together, we saw the robins, a male and female chaffinch, numerous great tits and coal tits as well as the pretty nuthatches.Two blackbirds and their partners enjoyed the food on offer and our two visitors today were a greater spotted woodpecker and a greenfinch. The pied wagtails made a first appearance and the buzzards were surveying the area from high up in the spruce trees.
Planting trees for the jubilee
Daerwynno has been involved with various groups planting trees for the Diamond Jubilee.
Thank -you to everyone who came along to the volunteer day on the Tuesday of half-term.
Happy birthday to Wynford our dedicated worker and to Howell our Chairman who are celebrating birthdays this month. Belated greetings to Hannah who celebrated her birthday earlier this week.
We are looking forwarsd to welcoming more volunteers on Saturday 25th of February and will ensure they are home to watch the match.
The frogs have been making an incredible noise as they returned to the pond at the end of January and we have an abundance of frogspawn on the small pond.
Birds seen feeding this month - Great tits, blackbird, robins, nuthatches, coal tits. Crossbills were seen roosting on the beech tree.
January 2012
Felling in the forest
Walkers be aware that tree felling is being carried out in the area below the Centre from the beginning of February until June and some walking routes will be out of use for safety reasons. There are notices displayed in the area. For further info contact the Forestry.
CCW Project
What a productive week, Ponty High continued with the work to our new bird feeding area, putting up a stile for access, making bird boxes and feeders and replacing and resiting a new feeding table as well as positioning the birdboxes. MACS continued with the pond renovation and must be commended for the effort they put in to shift stone and backfill the new pond dipping platform.
Birds feeding at the table this week - great tits, bluetits, blackbirds, robin, nuthatch.
Happy New Year to you all.
Daerwynno Centre continues to be very busy as the CCW project continues. Mountain Ash Comprehensive School are continuing to come on Fridays And Pontypridd High School are now coming two days a week. MACS have made big environmental iimprovements to our pond area by laying a new path around the small pond and improving and widening the pond dipping platform at the big pond. So many thanks to all the Year 9 pupils for their hard work and effort in improving the environment. Ponty High School began with sawing a fallen tree into manageable logs that can be used for firewood at the Centre and was much appreciated by the group who stayed at the weekend. They have now begun work to prepare the ground for our new bird feeding staion and in readiness for the small hide which will be set up. A large number of birds already feed at the bird tables and hopefully some will set up homes in the forth coming nesting season in the bird boxes that are being made and set up in the area.
Daerwynno Centre would like to wish Mrs Angela Stokes of Abercynon Infant School, a very happy retirement. The school has had a long association with the Centre and visited regularly over many years.
Happy Birthday to Richard, one of our commited volunteers as he celebrates his birthday on January 18th.
September and October 2011 News
Cilfynydd School visits the Centre.
The Nursery Class from Cilfynydd School had a wonderful time at the Centre even though it was an extremely wet day. They followed a trail through the forest and found various creatures on the way. They jumped in puddles and over ditches. They learned how to measure the depths of puddles with sticks, how to recognise the pine cones that had been eaten by squirrels and much much more. In the middle of the forest they discovered a baby owl in a tree and were read the story 'Owl Babies' by Mr Price. Back at the Centre the children thtreaded different types of leaves onto pipecleaners to add to their classroom display and also made wood coookie necklaces ,having first watched the wood being cut, sanding thenm themselves and with adult help, drilling the hole to put the string through. The three year-olds had a wonderful time as did the accompanying staff and would like the opportunity to come again.
The Nursery Visit was followed by a visit from Class R , who had been following the theme of the Gruffalo in class. What a surprise was in store for them! As they walked through the forest, they story was enacted and the children came across the various animals from the story as well as the GRUFFALO! The staff accompanying the children were totally thrilled with the day and how the children were encouraged to try out new activities. They discovered how many children it took to hug a beech tree and watched in amazement as Mr Price climbed to the top of a noble fir to fetch them the most enormous cone.
The staff accompanying the children were so taken with the Centre that they are hoping to encourage other staff to visit at a weekend and enjoy all the wonderful things the Centre has to offer.
Many, Many thanks to Jill, Wynford and Cyril for two magical days at the Centre.
Year 9 Project with Local Schools.
Every year 9 pupil in participating schools is being given the opportunity to spend a day in Daerwynno taking part in team building activities in the morning and a volunteer programme in the afternoon. The feedback has been extremely positive. The young people have laid a new surface around the small pond as well as generally smartening up the area and have been involved in widening and improving the pond dipping platform around the big pond as well as other volunteer work. They are given a certificate to show that they have taken part in volunteering activities and are then invited to take part in a weekend volunteering day at a later date. The project is being funded by a grant from CCW which means that these activities are free of charge to participating schools and ensures that all children are able to participate. The two schools currently engaged in the project are Mountain Ash Comprehensive School and Maesgwyn School in Aberdare.
August Bank Holiday
The volunteers at the Centre once again took part in the flower festival at St Gwynno's Church. Their theme this year was Helen Keller and the volunteers decide that the window should be based on senses so as well as being visual the window had flowers, plants and herbs with distinct smells and visitors were encouraged to touch the plants so that they could discover some of these for themselves.
August 1st 2011
Whilst pond dipping today volunteers and visitors were able to witness the emergence of a dragonfly and watched as it dried its wings before flying away.
