THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Cardiganshire Horticultural Society

THE third of the society’s summer outings for 2019 took place on Sunday, 23 June.

It was an afternoon visit to Mrs Johnes’s garden on the Old Hafod Estate.

Summer outings organiser John Wildig welcomed the small party to Hafod, before introducing two more of his fellow Hafod Trust trustees, the trust’s estate manager and the lady who had researched and designed the replanting of the garden.

The group then heard the story of its restoration from the dereliction John described when he first saw it in 1973, to its becoming once again an important focal point on the estate.

Rain effectively cut short the visit and the party retired to a tea laid on by the ladies of Eglwys Newydd in Ysgoldy Goch, which was thoroughly enjoyed.

The fourth of the seasons outings took place on the evening of Thursday, 4 July and followed up the society’s October meeting last yea , when many members had enjoyed a very special talk from a young man, Huw Richards, about his mission to enable as many people as possible to grow their own food inexpensively.

Thus 35 members travelled down to see for themselves Huw’s garden at his parents isolated home near to Tregaron.

Huw warmly welcomed everyone to his garden and all were enthralled, not only by his garden, but by his knowledge and passion for vegetable growing.

After a wonderful visit, the party retired to the Talbot Hotel in Tregaron to enjoy a very good supper after which Huw sold a goodly number of his quality book entitled ‘Veg in one Bed’.

The fifth of the society’s outings for 2019 is on Thursday, 18 July, and is a day trip by coach to Glansevern Gardens and the Dingle Nursery and Garden

Newcomers to the trips can be assured of a very warm welcome and more information on the full programme of summer outings is available from John and Sue Wildig on 01970 623713.

U3A

THE meeting in June, at the Morlan centre, was a talk and included illustrations of old maps of Aberystwyth and district.

Dr Ania Skarzynska senior archivist at Ceredigion Archives, kept the audience interested with early printed maps of Cardiganshire, of which the map of 1889 and 1905 included the Aberystwyth town wall.

Amongst other interesting facts was of a map drawn by William Couling in 1814, one of many maps in a volume containing a survey of local parishes and hamlets.

A collection of maps from the Hafod estate were shown and a survey book of the Priory estate (Cardigan), dated 1884, which included lists of fields and their acreage.

More information can be accessed on the Ceredigion archive web page.

On 18 July, there will be another interesting illustrated talk by Dr Ania Skarzynska at the Morlan centre at 2.30pm, and the title this time is ‘Keep Still and Don’t Blink’ when interesting old photos from the Ceredigion Archives will be shown.

Rotary club

DR Richard Kipling, in his talk to the club’s lunchtime meeting, gave members a fascinating look at the natural life of Skomer Island, off the west Pembrokeshire coast.

Dr Kipling, who has a PhD from Aberystwyth University in Countryside Conservation, spent a period on the island, researching its flora and fauna.

It is believed that Skomer had a population of over 200 inhabitants in prehistoric times.

Its prominent standing stone, now used as marker by boats, might well have had some early ritualistic significance.

Its lighthouse, so important for the marine traffic using the Milford Haven, has a sinister history; following the suspicious death of one of its two keepers, a policy was introduced that all manned lighthouses must have three keepers.

The sheer cliffs of the island are the home of countless birds – kittiwakes, guillemots, fulmars, razorbils – and the celebrated puffins for which Skomer is well known.

Shearwaters breed here, and when the young have taught themselves to fly, they migrate all the way to Argentina.

Much of the land was forested at one time, and although the trees are long gone, the mass of bluebells - which thrive in woodlands - have remained.

Ramblers

DAVE (01970 828815/07831 735208) will lead an Aberystwyth Ramblers walk on Saturday, 20 July.

It has a strenuous grading with some short and very easy scrambling bits and is about seven miles. Meet at Aberystwyth Leisure Centre at 8.30am for car sharing or 10.05am in parking area at SH 685302.

Ascent route is via Bwlch Drws Ardudwy and descent via Llyn Du.

Contact leader for any details and the evening before for weather forecast. Walking stick advisable and no dogs please.

The Aberystwyth Ramblers will be meeting this Sunday, 21 July, at 10.45am in Pontrhydygroes by the old water wheel (grid reference SN 738722). Alternatively those who wish may meet up at Plascrug Leisure Centre at 10am.

Sue (07534889768) will be leading this six-mile moderate walk through fields, along tracks and open land before returning through the beautiful Hafod Estate to Pontrhydygroes. No dogs please.

Dave and Denise (01970 828815/07831 735208) will lead an Aberystwyth Ramblers circular walk to Cader Idris on Wednesday, 24 July. Meet at Aberystwyth bus station for the 9am T2 service from Stand 4.

It is a strenuous walk of six miles ascending from the car park at Minffordd at 9.55am,

The ascending path passing near Llyn Cau up to the summit at 2927’ or 893 Mts.

The route for the descent passes to the south of Mynydd Moel and re-joins the ascending path after crossing a stone bridge.

Refreshments are available at café with buses returning at 3.45pm, 4.30pm or 5.45pm. Walking sticks advisable and no dogs please.

Contact leader if going.

St David’s Church, Bath Street

SUNDAY, 21 July: 10.30am, service with Major Ray Hobbins.

No evening service.

Ramblers and Kronberg walkers

A 22-strong party of walkers from our twin town Kronberg have just completed a week’s holiday in Aberystwyth.

During their stay they enjoyed 4 days walking organised by Aberystwyth Ramblers group chairman Roy Haynes and group secretary Dwynwen Belsey.

The walks were Borth to Aberystwyth on the Wales Coast Path, a circuit of the Garreg Ddu reservoir in the Elan Valley, through the Hafren Forest to the source of the River Severn, and lastly Aberaeron to Llanerchaeron and back.

An enjoyable week concluded with a funicular ride to Y Consti Restaurant for an excellent evening meal. Diners were entertained by a string quartet of Ceredigion young musicians playing Welsh folk tunes under the direction of Isobelle McGuinness. A magnificent sunset showed Aberystwyth and Cardigan Bay at their best and crowned a wonderful week of international friendship.

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