Friend’s member, Peter Kent, has very kindly agreed to repeat his very interesting and humorous 2012 guided walk around the Park pointing out nearly 80 of the fascinating botanical specimens. Meet in the carpark at 10am. If you are not familiar with the botanical specimens in the Park, be prepared to be enlightened and you will have a whole new perspective of Cefn Onn.

Our excellent Park Ranger, Alec, provided his report to the Friends annual AGM on 25th June 2014. “Yet another year has gone by as Ranger for Cefn Onn, and what a busy year it has been. The group continues to grow and our workdays are always well attended with a really good bunch of dedicated people that get stuck into any task I throw at them. Those tasks have ranged from cutting back vegetation from the paths, laying stone and bark to improve the path system, un-blocking drains and pipes clearing storm damaged trees and eating mince pies and drinking mulled wine.
I think we are making a huge difference to the park and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has come out on a workday and made a real difference in Cefn Onn. The Park is looking really good and reflects the good work on the ground and the efforts of everyone involved. I hope the Friends working closely with the Council will continue to carry out this work so future generations can enjoy the beauty of Cefn Onn Park.
Last but not least I would like to thank all the members of the committee for their hard work throughout the year organizing and making everything run smoothly I know it is a lot of work but ultimately will hugely benefit the Park and local community. Alec Stewart, Cefn Onn Park Ranger, Cardiff County Council.”

The Friends of Cefn Onn, Coed-Y-Felin, Nant Fawr and Roath Park have got together to arrange a guided walk along the Nant Fawr Trail on Saturday 10th May. Meet in Cefn Onn car park at 1:45pm to walk approximately 4.5 miles to Roath Park, arriving at about 4:30pm. It is a medium level difficulty and children and dogs are very welcome. (If you leave a car at Cefn Onn, you could always return by catching the train back from Heath High Level to Lisvane/ Thornhill.)

The Friends and Cardiff Council Park Ranger Service have arranged the dates for our Workdays (Sundays 2-4pm, meet in the car-park) in 2014 and all help on these days is much appreciated by both the Friends Group and all users of the Park. The dates are all on our Workdays webpage and the first three for 2014 are:

   26th January,    16th February,    16th March

In addition:

  10^th May: We have also teamed up with the Friends of Nant Fawr to host the first of what we hope will be an annual guided walk of the Nant Fawr corridor from Cefn Onn to Roath Park.

17^th July: Following the very successful ‘History of the Park’ walk & talk by Rosie James in 2012 we are delighted that Rosie has agreed to repeat it. Young and old found it fascinating last time!

Further details of both events will be published in the Spring and in the Cardiff Council activities leaflets.

Following the bat survey we did in the Park last year (see July 2012 News item) we applied for a grant for installing 23 bat boxes in the lower section of the Park. We had these on display in the carpark last Sunday for visitors to see and play with. Coincidently there was also a bat flying around the lower pond when we had our Workday on 1 December. We will arrange for the boxes to be installed high in specific trees shortly. The presence of bats are a great sign of biodiversity in an area and we would like to foster this in Cefn Onn. Each bat also eats 1000’s of insects every night.

Although we paid for it from our grant funding, we are very grateful to Network Rail and their contractor QTS for replacing the old and damaged grey fencing throughout the underpass. We are aware that this work was not one of their top priorities as they have 100s miles of urgent fencing repairs nationally at any time. Not only does the replacement fencing look better and let more light into the footpath area, but it is also safer for the many children who walk along the vehicle barrier and hold onto the fence. Thanks again to Network Rail.

Earlier in the year we launched our first photography competition, with prizes (£20) for each of the three themes of Winter, Spring and Summer for both adult and children (<16yrs) groups. To give everyone the same opportunity to take photos all pictures must be taken within the Park during 2013. Entries must be submitted before 30 Nov 2013 electronically (max 2 MB) to photographs@friendsofcefnonn.org.uk together with a completed and signed copy of the entry form (click on these 2 forms and print off). If you would like us to email a copy of the entry form/ T&Cs just click on the ‘contact’ button at the top of the screen and ask. Winners and runners up will be announced in our autumn newsletter etc and the photos will form a new photo gallery on the website . Happy snapping! – deadline 30 Nov 2013.

As part of our continuing entrance project grant we are hoping to have a few more improvements in the underpass area this coming week and then again next month. You won’t miss them !

Several of Cardiff’s parks and green spaces have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award again this year but now members of the public are being urged to vote for their favourite, in order to be named the nation’s park of the year. The annual People’s Choice Award gives the public the power to decide which one of the 1,448 Green Flag sites should be named park of the year with an online vote. Voting closes on 1st October 2013 and the winner of the 2013 People’s Choice in Wales will be announced on 3rd October. If you fancy voting for Cefn Onn, please visit this website (ww.greenflagaward.org.uk)  and click on the ‘Vote for this site’ button – it only takes a couple of seconds – and tell your friends to do the same !!

Following previous articles (24/4/12 and  14/6/11) the author and photographer, Mike Slocombe, has kindly contacted us to inform us of an update (9/8/13) to his website –  Urban75. Thanks Mike.