THE latest community news from Dyffryn Ardudwy & Talybont

Gardening club

THE last meeting, held in the Church Hall on Monday, 12 November, initially appeared to be somewhat disrupted when it was appeared that the projector, necessary for the Powerpoint presentation by Guy Lloyd, was missing.

The situation was rescued, however, by two of the members going home to provide another.

Following a welcome to new visitors, the speaker then began his talk on ‘The Winter Garden’ with a brainstorming session regarding colour in the garden, which can be found in flowers, foliage, seed heads and grasses, all of which are present during the months between November and February.

Among the flowers providing colour throughout the winter months are nerines, cyclamen, dwarf iris and of course the beautiful drifts of snowdrops, crocus and early daffodils.

Colourful shrubs include, among others, daphne, camellias, hebe, broom and pittisporum. Shrubs such as cotoneaster, skimmea and holly are decked with colourful berries.

The light in winter can add to the attraction of the stems of cornus and the trunks of silver birch, which, in some cases, surprisingly, are pressure washed for enhancement.

Even birds such as chaffinches, yellow hammers and wobins add to colour in the winter garden.

Guy’s presentation was greatly enhanced by stunning photographs taken mostly in his garden but also at Bodnant.

He was thanked by the chair on behalf of the club.

Members were reminded of Harlech Craft Fair on 24 and 25 November and also of the new art gallery which has recently opened in Dyffryn.

The next meeting will be the Christmas party, to be held in the church hall on Monday, 10 December.

Community councilThe Chairman welcomed Bryn Roberts from Gwynedd Youth Services to the meeting to discuss re-establishing the youth club in the village and the community council running it as a voluntary youth club. There was a discussion on how to go about establishing this sort of club.Mr Roberts stated that a steering group would have to be one of the first steps, and that it was also important that everyone intending to volunteer to run the club has a DBS and a Level 2 Child Protection Certificate (it is possible to get a DBS free of charge through Mantell Gwynedd). Public liability insurance will be needed and it was discussed that this matter will have to be looked into to see if the hall insurance covers this. He also stated that child protection training is available through Gwynedd Youth Services. A risk assessment of the building would need to be carried out and a fire plan drawn up. Templates of different forms that are needed were shown and also different policies that were available and it was stated further that some of Gwynedd Youth Services staff are available to come to the club if needed.It was discussed that maybe the youth club could be run as a sub committee to the Improvements Group.The chairman thanked Mr Roberts for attending the meeting.Cllr Edward Williams agreed to get a Christmas tree for placing in Talybont and it was agreed that the lights would be switched on, on Saturday, 1 December.Cllr Edward Griffiths agreed to deal with the matter of the electricity transformer, while Cllr Jonathan Greenfield reported that a tree was going to be erected in the village itself again this year.The clerk reported that she had received the lease back for the football field from Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd.The football club plans to purchase an ISO container to place on the field so that the football club stuff could be stored in it and to be used as a changing room.They asked if the council would be willing to contribute towards the cost.It was agreed that it would be possible to contribute towards the cost of purchasing a container but they wanted the football club committee first of all to go and ask for donations from other bodies e.g. Magnox, Cist Gwynedd etc.It was also reported that the football club was stating that the goals were not safe and new ones were needed and asking if the council was responsible as holders of the lease for these.It was agreed that Cllr Sian Edwards would look into the prices of goals and in the meantime it was agreed to take the present goals down for safety reasons and the chairman agreed to deal with this.On behalf of the council the chairman thanked Cllr Edward Williams for purchasing a flag pole by the war memorial on behalf of the council and also for putting it up and it was agreed that it looked good.A discussion took place regarding flying a flag on Remembrance Sunday and it was stated that the Union Jack had to be flown and Cllr Edward Williams agreed to purchase one on behalf of the council. It was also agreed to fly the Welsh Dragon for a few days.The council has agreed to donate £200 to Barmouth Food Bank and £400 to Llais Ardudwy.If you’re a member of a club, society or group, send your news to [email protected]