As part of the HLF work, the car park in Parc Cefn Onn will be closed for up to 5 days from Monday 24^th February. This is due to grounds works that are taking place and run across the car park towards the railway line. If the work is completed sooner than planned the car park will of course reopen earlier. The car park will be fully reopened from Saturday 29^th.

At no point will the park be closed to pedestrians.

Whilst the work is being carried out the Friend’s bench shall be removed for safe keeping as will the noticeboard next to it. They shall be reinstalled at the end of the project.

We have received notification that the contractor will be commencing work on the office/toilet building refurbishment at Parc Cefn Onn on Monday 17^th February. The work will take approximately 4 months to complete and during this time the toilets and car parking area to the left of the entrance road will be closed to the public. There will be no toilets available for public use at the park during this period.

The Friends are pleased to announce that, with the help of Julie Morgan (Assembly Member) and her office, Transport for Wales have agreed to our suggestion of Cefn Onn signage at Lisvane & Thornhill station. Six signs have been installed to encourage use of public transport by visitors to the Park. All involved were present for the unveiling this morning!

Many thanks TfW and Julie.

Twice!! Council property. Criminal damage. They are not cheap and Heritage Lottery money grant funded.

Yeay!!! Cardiff Council Parks Department announced this morning that “We are pleased to inform you that the landscape works at the Dingle at Cefn Onn have now been completed and the upper park will re-open to the public at around 10am on Wednesday 7th August 2019.

The project has been particularly complicated due to the difficulties in accessing the site with machinery and we are grateful for your patience during the period of closure.”

I would urge everyone to get up there and check it out – the improvements around the main pond, the paths, the banks, the Summer house (information boards still to be installed), and the new elevated walkway to get to the top field are fantastic. Do take in the view of the pond from the walkway!!

Also note that the Council have introduced a new ‘dog of leads’ policy in the upper ‘Dingle’ part the Park. This is to address the many complaints they (and us) receive each year and is a compromise between as it used to be and no dogs at all. We hope everyone will respect it and encourage others who maybe unaware to do the same.

Part 2 of the Project, which comprises refurbishing the building and toilets in the car park and installing mobility scooters, will commence in the autumn.

Enjoy!

Dry copy I know but here’s a quick summary of our AGM last week: I (Friends Chairman) gave a summary of all of the work the Friends Group have done to improve the Park this last year, current status of the phytopthora disease control measures, initiatives like the lower pond improvement project, successful application for the Green Flag Award for the 6^th year running, labelling the rare and interesting trees, producing a trees in Cefn Onn booklet, and wildflower planting. I also described how the Heritage Lottery funded project in the upper part of the Park was nearing completion and invited all attending the AGM for an exclusive behind the scenes guided tour by Rosie James (the project manager) on Monday this week (which was fab). Rob Blacklidge (Treasurer) reported on our independently audited accounts and current membership numbers. All Committee members were re-elected and a new member also joined the Committee. We then went to the pub to celebrate another very successful 12 months!

Old School Hall, Llwyn-Y-Pia Road, Lisvane, 7 – 7:30 pm

All welcome

This will be the 10^th Annual General Meeting of the Friends Group, which was formed by local Thornhill and Lisvane residents to try and halt the deterioration of our beloved Country Park and bring it back to life. We will be discussing our achievements this past year and plans for the year ahead. All are welcome attend, contribute to the discussions, and socialise with other Park users.

Official small print: Nominations from members for Executive Committee posts (Chairperson, Vice-chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Executive Committee Members) and suggested agenda items need to be submitted for the attention of the Secretary by email to (friendsofcefnonn@talktalk.net) or can be hand delivered to the office of the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn adjacent to the Park’s parking area.

As part of the HLF improvements programme, Cardiff Council will be resurfacing a section of the pathway just beyond the underpass on Thursday 18^th July. Due to the nature of the work being carried out, and since this is the only main entrance into the lower part of the Parc, they will to have to close the park on the 18^th July. Obviously closure is essential, but I am sure you would agree the inconvenience will be worth it to improve the damaged pathway. The Council be putting signage up in the park and their webpage etc to advise of the closure. The park will reopen as normal at 7am on Friday 19^th July.

The Friends are very pleased to organise our popular guided tree walk with our expert Peter Kent again this year. Due to ongoing renovations in the upper part of the Park it will only take place in the lower part this year, but don’t worry, there is still LOTs of interesting and rare tree and shrub species to see. The event is free and open to all members and non-members. Meet in the Park car park just before 2pm.