~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GAG News Bulletin No:18                           March 2023

AGM 2022

In place of the usual style AGM, GAG held an open meeting on December 2nd. This included a power point show of many of GAG’S achievements over the years.

There was a good turnout with several members expressing willingness to help with projects.

Individuals keeping a watching brief on their little area of the town and reporting changes or problems to GAG would be useful.

The committee is however still short-staffed. Nominations for a chair person would be very welcome.

Enthusiasm as much as expertise is required, please put yourself forward if you would like to join the committee, or know someone who would like to join.

PLASCRUG

Plascrug Trees.

A survey has been completed, updating the original survey carried out in 2008

Tree girths were measured. All new trees were added to the map and the spread sheet was updated to include these trees. A column was added for all trees that have been labelled and those labels that have been lost or replaced also noted.

Nant Plascrug.

This has been dredged which will help the flow of water and improve the habitat. The silt was left along the bank but the bulbs are breaking through successfully. A litter clearing session will be organised on a Sunday when the weather is warmer. (to be announced on GAG Facebook)

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN COUNCIL

The Town Council has now taken over responsibility for most of the small green spaces in Aberystwyth from the County Council. These spaces will be managed for biodiversity with an emphasis on perennials and pollinator friendly planting. They include the planters along the Prom as well as the green spaces in Thespian Street, Mill Street, Skinner Street, Alexandra Road and Trefechan and on the corner of Pier Street and Great Darkgate Street. In time the Council hopes to take over Plas Crug Avenue and the Castle Grounds as well.

Around 50 trees have been planted around the town in the past year.

At the bottom of Penglais Hill next to the Tattoo Parlour the existing grass has been lifted and turf with wildflower seeds will be planted when the fear of frosts is over. This site is ideal as there is no depth of soil to support a tree.

STREET TREES

In addition to trees planted by the Town Council other trees have been planted by the Trunk Road Agency. Two oak trees on Penglais Hill will help soften the looks of the concrete structure of Bronglais Hospital car park. The TRA is responsible for the trees along North Parade where new pebble matting is being provided at their bases. GAG appreciates that this creates a uniformity along the road and is a surface easy to keep free of litter but hopes the resin pebble surface is adequately water permeable.

Cae’r Gog: new pebble surrounds and a better protective kerb line has been created around these trees.

Portland Street: There is increasing concern for the iconic Rowans that line this road. Several are now just stumps and others do not seem to be thriving. GAG is actively engaged in trying to rectify this problem.

SCHOOL TREE PLANTING

Following on from the successful planting last autumn of two Welsh Heritage apple trees in Ysgol Gymraeg grounds, further biodegradable protective mats have been put in place.

 GAG has discussed a possible tree planting site with the Penweddig school groundsman.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CORONAVIRUS This pandemic has impinged on all our lives and severely curtailed GAG activities. Committee meetings have been held via Zoom and projects not forgotten but inevitably put on hold.   TREES Gales, Ash die back and some development has unfortunately led to tree loss. GAG is engaging with Aberystwyth Primary Schools to help with the provision of trees and saplings and to give ongoing advice for their maintenance.   NORTH ROAD PARK There has been vandalism of benches and trees. Aberystwyth Town Council has applied for a Welsh Government grant to refurbish this area for community use. More trees will be planted .   MUNICIPAL CEMETERY Llanbadarn Road With compliance with Covid regulations a committee member has continued a survey of invertebrates as part of his exercise allowance.   FOOTPATHS Ceredigion County Council has continued to maintain footpaths during the pandemic. Major work on the footpath from Parc Natur Penglais alongside the Golf Course has been carried out. The surface has been gravelled and a substantial bank created. This is now planted with some large saplings interspersed with whips. A good hedge should develop in future years. Daily exercise during lockdown has enabled the plotting of some routes for the GAG Wellbeing Walks project.   ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY CAMPUS Good news: A Campus landscape management plan has been drawn up and a return to a style of low maintenance permanent planting with appropriate shrubs and perennials is in progress. The  cherry laurel hedge recently planted around the new parking beyond the Students Union has been removed and replaced with Escallonia ‘Apple Blossom’  In consultation with the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust a large order for new planting around the renovated Pantycelyn Hall  has now been approved.   NEW NEST BOXES With a grant from the Ceredigion Local Nature Partnership a number of bird and bat boxes have been put up in the  extension to Parc Natur Penglais at the Bryn y Mor end.  It is hoped that Pied Flycatchers might be attracted to nest once again in the Parc. Some boxes have gone up in the trees in the little picnic area on the left as you enter the Industrial estate in Glan yr Afon.   ............................     VOLUNTEERS: anyone wishing to help with GAG surveys or other work please contact us: email: aber-gag@outlook.com Details of activities are posted on the GAG Facebook www.facebook.com/aber.gag     Website: www.aber-gag.org.uk Email: aber-gag@outlook.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bywyd Gwyllt yn yr Ardd.    Mae'r Wildlife Gardening Forum  yn gweithio i helpu mwy o bobl i werthfawrogi pa mor bwysig mae gerddi i fywyd gwyllt. Gobeithio bydd hwn yn helpu pobl i reiolu eu gerddi er lles bywyd gwyllt, ymhlith pethau eraill. Ewcg i www.wlgf.org am ragor o wybodaeth. Gallwch dderbyn eu Newyddlen trwy ebost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~