Spot the difference ?! For many years the Friends Group have been trying to arrange for the old viewpoint in the top filed that overlooks Cardiff, the River Severn, and across to Somerset to be opened up for everyone to enjoy. This has been overgrown for 20 years.  The Friends spent our February Workday clearing all the vegetation and the Council Parks Dept subsequently removed the old wire fencing and built the nice new wooden fence. Hopefully everyone who manages to walk all the way to  the top field will be rewarded with magnificent sunny views once again! [Left photo 2011, right photo 2015]

We are very pleased to have recently been awarded a £450 grant by Keep Wales Tidy to buy pollinating plants for Cefn Onn. Committee member Tony has done about half the shopping for these plants so far and we spent our April Workday planting them up by the summer house. It has been a dry week so many of us have been watering regularly. (16 mature foxglove shrubs, 1 Ceanothus lemon & lime, 1 Sarcoccocca , 1 Sarcoccocca confuse, 1 Polemonium Bressington purple and plug plants: 20 marsh Marigold, 20 Wild Primrose, 20 Cowslip, 20 Meadow Cranesbill, 20 Ragged Robin, 20 Loosestrife, 20 Milk Mallow.)

Unfortunately we didn’t know that we had been nominated for this award or that the ceremony was taking place last October, but we found out afterwards that we were 2014 runners up and have just received the trophy this week! Thanks to whoever nominated us, it is nice to have the efforts of the Friends Group recognised.

Our Friends Group was set up in 2010 to try and halt the significant deterioration of Cefn Onn over the previous 10 years and you will surely agree that we have made a difference so far. However, Parks Friends Groups across Cardiff are very concerned about the level of proposed budget cuts (approx. 23% – to be voted on in Council on 26th Feb 2015) to the Park Ranger Service. Like other Cardiff parks, all our work to improve Cefn Onn is coordinated through the Park Ranger Service. This includes our Family Workdays, grant applications, and management of grant spending. If this coordination is reduced, what we do will be reduced. If a Community Ranger cannot attend our Workdays, we cannot work in the Park. Friends Groups donate 1000s of hours every year. We have responded to the Council’s consultation and are lobbying to ensure that those making the budget cut decisions are aware of the implications. Unfortunately 2015 is only the first of three years of cuts by central government to local authorities!

We have recently published our latest Newsletter – copies have been emailed to all members (please let us know if you are a member and have not received it) and a copy is displayed on the Park Noticeboard. It will appear on our website next month.

It appears that dog thieves have been visiting Cefn Onn. Several dog owners have reported seeing two men acting suspiciously, a young puppy was abducted in late January, and they tried to snatch another dog at the park entrance in early February. The police are investigating. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, please report it to the police on their 101 telephone number. (Please also keep the Friends Group informed by adding a comment to this post.)

In 2012 Cardiff Bat Group and a number of members/ families helped the Friends conduct a bat survey and this identified at least three species in Cefn Onn Park. As a result, we received a grant to purchase and install a number of bat boxes and also by some bat detection equipment.

Having given a year’s settling in time since installation of the boxes we would like to invite families to help us conduct and evening hunt to see what new residents we may have.

The evening will be led by Cardiff Community Park Rangers and will be using our skill, cunning, stealth (and a number of bat detectors!) to discover our secretive nocturnal inhabitants.       Please meet in the car park at 8pm, and bring a torch!

We did it. We have just been informed that Parc Cefn Onn has been awarded the Green Flag award for 2014/15.

The Friends supported the Council Parks Department in developing their management plans for the Park and making a presentation to the judges on May 20^th.

This is the second time Cefn Onn has received this prestigious award. (Green Flag awards are equivalent to Blue Flag awards for beaches and recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country).

To all our members and supporters thank you for your fantastic support.

Following Peter’s successful guided walk around the botanical features of the park in July, by popular demand, he has agreed to do it again this Sunday. Meet in the car park at 1:45 for 2pm start. Should finish around 4 pm.