I usually like to put a positive spinon my news from Twmbarlwm - Iprefer to focus on the fantasticwork our members andvolunteers achieve – our fencebuilding, tree planting, landscaperepairs and of course our litterpicking. I certainly don’t like toillustrate the vandalism, abuseand unsightly mounds of rubbishthat appear on our landscape.

The more observant reader will notice that the lead photograph is ofTwmbarlwm’s neighbour, Mynydd Machen – I include it simply because of theshock it gave me when I recently visited there and which prompted this rant.Not just with the horrendous fly-tipping incidents there but also the abuse ofthe landscape by two and four wheeled off-roaders – a mirror image of theproblems we face on Twmbarlwm.

After I took this photo I posted it online to register my disgust and wasunsurprised to see dozens of responses to it within a couple of hours –which led me to wonder why so many people are moved by littering andfly-tipping but so few people do anything about it.

Going through my photos and records of the pastyear I was amazed to see the amount of rubbish CTShas dealt with – four burnt out vehicles, half a dozenlorry-sized fly-tips and each of our monthly litter pickshas averaged eight full rubbish bags. Other goodcitizens also do regular litter picking on themountainside too. Weigh that lot up over a yearand it amounts to …well, an awful lot.

Recently I have noticed an increase ona national scale, of articles in newspapers,on TV and radio concerning littering, it isobviously a very emotive subject and begsthe question “Why is it so rife?”.

Most people I talk to when out and aboutagree and appear as dumbfounded as I am inunderstanding the mentality of these litter louts.Everybody tells me that they have brought up their kidsto appreciate their environment and dispose of theirrubbish properly - but oh so many don’t!

As an example, at one of our recent litter-pick daysa family of four adults and four children came by (a verynice family they were too). They stopped for a chat andone volunteered to take a rubbish bag and pick-upstick on his walk – within 100 yards he handed themback to us saying the rest of the party “gave him grief”for doing so because it would spoil their family stroll.What sort of message did this send out to the children?

If we don’t educate our children in the appreciationof our environment we will always be plagued by those

who simply toss aside their food wrappers and emptydrink bottles or those more serious offenders who don’tgive a second thought to dumping an entire householdclearance in the countryside instead of their local tip.

This disease, I call litter-blindness, costs the taxpayermillions of pounds every year – just go to

websites such as www.keepwalestidy.orgor www.flytippingactionwales.org to seetheir facts and figures.

In these days of austerity, in whichlocal councils need to make serious

cutbacks on their services, it seemsinevitable that waste disposal policies are

going to suffer. Solutions such as closing orrestricting access to local recycling centres areenforced. This results in some people who can’t disposeof their household waste easily and cheaply will revertto dumping it in the nearest, quietest location.

Unfortunately, the quietest locations are generally ourbeautiful, remote countryside spots. Usually wherefarmers are likely to have their livestock and wherepeople walk with family, children and pets. In otherwords, where broken glass, ceramic tiles, sharp metal,paint pots, screws, nails, torn plastic, polystyrene,electric cable and an endless list of hazardous materialswill seriously threaten the life and limb of any passingperson or animal.

It takes groups like CTS to make a difference and Ibelieve if we all work together to take responsibility forour waste and take pride in our communities we canbuild a future where fly-tipping is socially unacceptable.

Terry Evans (Chair Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society)

CTS meet at the car park for a litter pick and volunteerworkday on the last Sunday of every month to whicheveryone is invited, it’s not all hard work and it’s a greatopportunity to find your way around up there. Weorganise walks and other events up the mountainthroughout the year so watch our website and Facebookpage for details – come and join us some time.

www.twmbarlwm.co.uk

24 swdirectories.com January 2016

Not a pretty sight

Half a dozen fly-tip incidents onMynydd Machen

One of four burnt out cars in2015 on Mynydd Twmbarlwm

A gang of the CTS litter-gathering fairies

Both photos above were taken from virtually thesame spot, but about two years apart. This routeup to Twmbarlwm used to be my favourite, it wasbeautifully atmospheric to walk through theavenue of tall trees and emerge onto the commonbelow the tump before climbing to the top.

We always knew this landscape was going tochange one day because, after all, the trees were a“crop” planted back in the day when the wood wasneeded as pit props for the coal industry. Despite thedemise of mining, the market for timber was still aprofitable one and the larch forests of south Wales arenow seen as an integral part of our landscape.

But nobody foresaw the threat of PhytophthoraRamorum, a disease that affects larch trees and hasinfected over six million trees in Wales. Since thedisease was first identified in Wales in 2010, more than

6,000 hectares (14,500 acres) of woodland havebecome infected, a large proportion of which is in theforests around twmbarlwm.

to combat the disease natural Resources Wales,who manage the forests, has begun one of the largestfelling operations ever mounted in Wales – thuschanging the scenery around us, probably forgenerations to come.

When the news first broke of the operation andsubsequent closure of the popular Cwmcarn ForestDrive, many locals joined the campaign to keep the driveopen and ensure the work of nRW is donesympathetically – thus Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drivewas born.

there was standing room only at CwmcarnWorkingmen’s Club when the group had its officiallaunch in January at a public meeting, that wasattended by many local politicians, nRW officials andrepresentatives of supporting groups such as CtS.

the nRW personnel were quizzed vigorously andgave assurances of their commitment to listen to thewishes of the local community, through FoCFD, andmost politicians pledged their support too.

I have no doubt that FoCFD, with the support of CtSand local people will ensure that the “powers-that-be”will stick to their promises and we will see our belovedmountainside returned to its former glory to be enjoyedfor generations to come.

For more info on the Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drivego to their Facebook page at http://bit.ly/FoCwmcarnFD

PleaSe make a note that Good Friday this year fallson 25th march – as I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss“The Hot Cross Bun Walk” – that’s when, accordingto local tradition, people from miles around come to walkup the mountain like pilgrims used to do centuries ago.

there will be organised walks leaving from the StoneyBridge, Pontymister; Cwmcarn Visitor Centre andGreenmeadow Farm, Cwmbran. But most people like tomake their own way up the tump by their preferred routejust like generations have done before them. We’ll behappy to see you however you get there – it’s always agreat family day out and the society distributes hot cross

buns to everyone who makes the climb.

24 swdirectories.com February 2016

Now and Then…

Terry Evans (Chair Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society)

CTS meet at the car park for a litter pick and volunteerworkday on the last Sunday of every month to whicheveryone is invited, it’s not all hard work and it’s a greatopportunity to find your way around up there. Weorganise walks and other events up the mountainthroughout the year so watch our website and Facebookpage for details – come and join us some time.

www.twmbarlwm.co.uk

It looks awful at the moment but we hope that time and NRW willone day return our mountainside to its former glory.

Walk Yourself Fit OnThe Local HillsWhen I tell people that the Risca and Crosskeysarea is one of the best places for walking, laughteris the most common response. Yet when I takesomeone for one of my guided walks hereaboutsI always bring home a convert.

With four mountains to choose from; Twmbarlwm,Mynydd Machen, Mynydd y Lan and Mynydd Medart –you could go out every day for a couple of months anddo a different walk. Each of these has an abundance offorest roads and tracks and on the upper slopes, OpenAccess Land. We are free to walk wherever we want inthe forests and on common land. We can also usepublic rights of way; footpaths, bridleways, restrictedbyways and BOATs. Only walkers may use a footpathand walkers have priority on the other rights of way,though it is probably wise and polite to give way tohorseriders and cyclists where it is safe to do so.

It has never been easier to go out for a walk. Youdon’t have to be able to read a map. You can get anapp on your smart phone which will track the line ofyour walk. You can see if you’re sticking to the line ofthe footpath, it tells you how far you’ve walked and atthe end of the walk you’ll be able to see howmany calories you’ve used. If you’re stillworried that you wouldn’t be able to findyour way, get in touch with IslwynRamblers. You can join them for threewalks before you’re expected to becomea member. Once you’re a member of theRamblers you can walk with any group. Cardiffand Caerphilly Ramblers walk in lower Islwynfrequently and the walks programmes are advertisedon their respective websites.

The photo above encapsulates what we have on ourdoorstep. The scene shows Twmbarlwm in thedistance. The walkers, a group of mostly retired folk setoff from Blackvein Road, Crosskeys making it a fairlytough eight mile walk.

But if you’re not ready for that level of walk yet youcan drive up to the new car park on Mountain Road. Gothrough the gateway, up the gently sloping rough trackto the ridgeway and then it’s a short flat walk to theTump itself. Not only will this raise your heart rate a littleyou will be rewarded with the most wonderful views. Ifpeople in their 50s, 60s and 70s can do it, so can you!

Much is written about the health benefits ofwalking and this was illustrated to me when

a local man was told by his doctor that hehad type 2 diabetes brought on by hislifestyle choices. He was in his early 50s

and didn’t want to spend the rest of his lifeon medication. He started walking with a

group, lost weight and is no longer in dangerfrom diabetes. It wasn’t only his health that improved.He gained new friends and he felt spiritually uplifted.Walking does that to you. It’s fine to look up from thevalley floor and appreciate the beauty which surroundsus, but that appreciation intensifies tenfold when you’reat the top.

Even if you’re young, fit and healthy, put your walkingboots on and find out all the hidden gems in your ownbackyard. The pint will taste a lot better at the end of ahearty walk, believe me.

Islwyn Ramblers have walks on Thursdays andalternate Saturdays and Sundays. Maggie Thomasleads local walks for Cardiff Ramblers on someWednesdays and Caerphilly Ramblers some Thursdays.

Maggie Thomas is a Trustee of Cymdeithas TwmbarlwmSociety, a member of Ramblers and is thecorrespondent for the Open Spaces Society forCaerphilly County Borough.

4 swdirectories.com May/June 2016

CTS meet at the car park for a litter pick and volunteerworkday on the last Sunday of every month to whicheveryone is invited, it’s not all hard work and it’s a greatopportunity to find your way around up there. Weorganise walks and other events up the mountainthroughout the year so watch our website and Facebookpage for details – come and join us some time.

www.twmbarlwm.co.uk

Not only do you get magnificent views like this, but walkingwill also raise your spirits and improve your general health.

Other than Twmbarlwm, one of my favourite walks isto Mynyddislwyn starting out at Pandy Park andreturning via Hafod Tudor Valley. This valley isspectacular. Stop and have a break by the stile on thetop. Can you believe that it’s just above Wattsville?

Busy on Twmbarlwm

riers and boulders placed on illegaltracks to prevent further damage byoff-roaders.

There is more work planned underthis council initiative, including fenceand path improvements and whichwill involve CTS volunteers.

But it’s not all hard work, weorganise walks around the mountainor the occasional informative talk,usually at Crosskeys RFC – so watchour website or Facebook page fordetails. Come and join us some time.

Terry Evans (Chair, Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society)

4 swdirectories.com July/August 2016

Summer is, in theory, upon us and with it comes thedanger of fire to the vast areas of dry undergrowth onour mountainsides.

Last year South Wales was left counting the cost ofdamage due to reckless and deliberate grass fires. Thenaïve actions of the few had a huge impact on themany. Grass fires divert essential emergency servicesaway from those vulnerable and in need.

This year, as with previous years, the South Wales Fireand Rescue Service say that they will not tolerate thedeliberate fire-setting that leads to the destruction ofgrassland, mountainsides and wildlife as well asputting lives at risk across Wales.

The message is clear, if you set a grass fire, you are acriminal. One silly action can have serious

consequences on a person’s future. Parents,guardians, teachers and members of the public areurged to look out for signs of a dubious nature suchas smelling of smoke or accelerant, possession ofmatches and other suspicious behaviour.

Deliberately setting grass fires is stupid, dangerousand illegal. Yet accidentally starting a fire through illconsidered use of BBQs or campfires is no lessirresponsible.

Indeed our own mountain is vulnerable to the risk offire as shown by the recent evidence shown below.Whether set deliberately or not, the consequences toboth the landscape and wildlife are obvious. So we askeveryone to be diligent in spotting any potentialincidents and inform the appropriate authorities.

A Burning Issue for Our Countryside

www.twmbarlwm.co.uk

I must admit, on our monthly workdays on Twm-barlwm, we sometimes look like a wierd few peoplewandering around picking up the occasional plasticbottle or McDonald’s wrapper – but other times weare obviously a determined force repairing fencesor shovelling up someone’s ille-gally discarded garage contents.

One of the nice things on suchdays is when people stop and askwhat we are up to, and the past cou-ple of months we have been “up to”quite a lot.

Of note was the Queen’s 90thBirthday Beacon. Together with RiscaCommunity Council we organisedthe lighting of a beacon on the top ofthe mountain simultaneously withhundreds of others around the UK.Over 40 people attended on a cold,windy night in April and local MPChris Evans read a message from theQueen and led a rendition of thenational anthems.

Also in April, CTS met with Caer-philly CBC who, in partnership withTorfaen CBC, planned some land-scape improvements around themountain. We discussed what wewould like to see done and sincethen we have seen the completion ofdry-stone walled gateways, new bar-

The Queen’s 90th birthday beacon with ChrisEvans MP (left) delivering her message.Left centre: The beautiful new stone wall at thecar park below the Tump.Left below: CTS litterpick days are the lastSunday of every month