Torfaen Borough Council are having a drop in session Thursday 29th July at Siloam Chapel (that's the one at the bottom of the mountain opposite the bus stop) between 5pm and 7pm.
The idea is to drop in any time between those hours and look at their plans for the development of the area. They include the siting of a car park just above the chapel by the gate on the sharp bend and some welcome and interpretation boards for the woodland. They are there to provide information and listen, so feel free to make whatever comments you like - I've found them very helpful and friendly
Posted by: Roger
25/07/10 17:48:34 BST
We're really proud of the newly planted arboretum in the woodland and believe it to be the only one in South Wales. But as it is new, it is at the mercy of the bracken and the brambles that grow in the area and can easily choke the life out of our new trees.
For that reason we have organised a Bramble and Bracken Bash for Sunday July 11th. Please come and join us in some healthy destruction that will really benefit the trees. All you need is a stout pair of boots - wellies will do - and long trousers would be preferable. We do have some slashers but if you have a stick or pole, bring that along as well.
We'll meet by Ebenezer Chapel at 10 a.m. on Sunday July 11th. Come and join us!
Posted by: Roger
4/07/10 14:53:01 BST
Please come and join us next Saturday, 5th December, as Blaen Bran Community Woodland is taking part in a nationwide attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the most trees planted in one hour. Not only will you be helping in this effort but you will also have the opportunity to plant trees in Blaen Bran woods that will be there for generations for come.
All you have to do is dress appropriately,wear wellies or boots and bring a spade to meet us by the Ebenezer Chapel gate, the Square, Upper Cwmbran on Saturday morning no later then 10.30 am. The event itself begins at 11.00 and on your arrival someone will direct you where to go. Transport can be provided from there to the planting sites if necessary. There will be people supervising and helping as well as checking how many trees are planted. After the hour is up we will all meet by the green container in order to find out how many trees have been planted.
We hope plant between1000 and 2000 trees in that hour so it can't be done without you. Please come along and help
Posted by: Roger
29/11/09 19:08:25 GMT
Alison Jakob is organising an Equestrian Table-Top Sale at the Queen Inn on the Sunday before, that is next Sunday the 15th of November., from 3 to 6pm. Free entry for purchasers, sellers £4 per table (£6 trade). You can contact Alison on 07883 024238
Funds raised will go to support John Bunce, one of the horse loggers who worked with us last year and who has been seriously injured.
Posted by: Alison
10/11/09 01:53:49 GMT
On Tuesday 17th November we are holding a joint social event between BBCW and Torfaen Friends of the Earth. This will be at the Queen Inn at 8pm. Those who came along last time had a great evening – so do invite friends as well. Tickets are £2.50 which is for chips and sandwiches laid on by the Queen and there will be various games and quizzes at 50p per person a go.
Whilst this is very much a social event to meet others and have a good evening, there is a fundraising element as well. Many of you may have come up to the wood two years ago to see horse logging taking place to thin out some of the larch planting, or the demonstration session that was held. John and Frankie were the two horse loggers working with us, but earlier this year John had a very serious accident which has left him partially paralysed. The British Horse Loggers association are looking to raise some trust funds for John and we would like to support this. There will be a fundraising raffle/chance for donations at the social event – so please give generously.
We do need to know numbers for catering, so please contact David on 01633 875704 or Corinne on 01495 751594 if you want tickets.
Christmas is coming...... as if you couldn’t guess, and members have asked in the past whether there may be chances to get a Christmas tree from the woodland. We don’t have trees that have been grown commercially for Christmas, but we are looking to have a November ‘walk and talk’ around some of the new tracks that have been created and this will be an opportunity for members to identify a tree they would like for Christmas. The tree will then be ‘tagged’ with your name and will be delivered to you. The cost will be £5 for a small tree (under 5 feet) and £8 for a larger tree.
If you are interested then drop an e-mail to us or call one of the Directors.
Hope to see you at the social!
David Williams
BBCW secretary
Posted by: David Williams
3/11/09 22:47:14 GMT
Fungus Forage on Sunday 27th September at 10.00am for 10.15am start. The walk will be approximately two hours. Roger Evans (from Gwent Fungus Group) will lead the walk (as he has done for last two years)and we will meet by the Chapel gate.
All ages are welcome as long as parents/ grandparents accompany children or vice versa! Also please feel free to bring along non-members you know so they have a chance to walk in the woods as well.
There is a combination lock on the gate by the Chapel in the Square and we will have this open, so please do not park in the Square, but go on through the gate to park.
It will not be an arduous walk but do wear stout shoes/boots and dress for the weather, bringing waterproofs in case of showers.
It would be helpful to have some idea of numbers, so if you are interested in coming then contact David on 01633 875704 or John on 01633 866287
Hope to see you then!
David Williams
BBCW secretary
Posted by: David Williams
22/09/09 06:47:12 BST
Members and friends of BBCW are invited to a Social Evening at The Queen with Friends of the Earth. See poster here for more details or contact David on 01633 875704.
The AGM of BBCW is being held on Saturday 16th of May at 2pm, in the Chapel in The Square, Upper Cwmbran. All members are asked to make a special effort to attend.
Posted by: Chris
13/05/09 09:28:38 BST
Our second monthly walk ( generally on the third Sunday of each month, but this will vary, see May walk will be on the 10th), will be this Sunday (the 19th of April).
This will be a walk of about 2.5 miles around the full boundary of our woodland which will be extended for those that wish to a total of 4 miles or more along some little used public footpaths outside the woodland. As always please wear stout shoes, dress warmly and bring waterproofs in case of showers.
It will be good exercise and a good way for those not so familiar with the area to get to know it better, and maybe show a few regulars a footpath they have not yet discovered!
This walk is suitable for those of medium ability and will be led by Chris Harris. Please phone Chris on 01633 860858 for more information or if you have any doubt that the walk may not be taking place due to bad weather or whatever. Well behaved dogs on leads welcome but there will be a couple on stiles on the extended walk.
We will open the Chapel gate in the Square at 10 am for cars to park so please do not park in the Square. Walk will start at 10:15, See you there?
Posted by: Chris
17/04/09 00:34:16 BST
We plan to hold a "mid-summer" BBQ on Saturday 20th June from 4pm so make a note now in your diary-if interested in lending a hand contact David Williams on 01633 875704 or John Williams on 01633 866287.
Drystone walling will take place on the first Sunday of every month-if interested contact Rob on 01633 860741
Wildflower walk,local history walk and fungus forage have all been popular events over the last 2 years -we hope to arrange similar events for this year-watch this space for details
Posted by: John
8/03/09 12:09:21 GMT
We are holding a Trees in Winter Woodland Walk on Sunday 15th March at 10.00am for a 10.15 start.The walk will be for approximately 2 hours.
David Parsons,Blaen Bran Community Woodland forestry expert,will lead the walk and we will meet at the Chapel gate.
All ages welcome as long as parents/grandparents accompany children or vice versa! Also please feel free to bring along any non-members you know so they have a chance to walk in the woods.
We will open the Chapel gate for cars to park so please do not park in the Square.
It is not an arduous walk but please wear stout shoes ,dress warmly and bring waterproofs in case of showers
Posted by: John
8/03/09 11:58:55 GMT
We now have a new section on the website, where we welcome your contributions, such as pictures, stories and comments, in fact anthing of interest concerning the woods or Blaen Bran. In this digital age you can take a picture this morning and have it displayed on the website by lunchtime! Click the link "Your Pictures" on the right to see this new page (powered by Blogger) and please send me an email if you want to contribute.
Posted by: Chris
9/02/09 09:56:13 GMT
The Fungus Forage was another great success with more than 30 people of all ages turning up to be instructed and entertained by Roger Evans.Although it is not a good year for fungus many varieties were found and as the weather held up,everyone had a great time.
The area around the Cabin has been cleared of broken glass and is now safe to use
Posted by: John
16/11/08 19:30:42 GMT
After our successful litter picking session on September 28th, you can imagine our disappointment when we found that a group of mindless morons has despoiled the area around the Cabin in the Woodland
On or about Friday 10th a group of people held a party/drinking session and left the place in a terrible mess,bottles cans, cartons and paper was thrown everywhere but worst of all they broke what appears to be dozens of bottles
This is going to be really difficult to remove from the long grass, so we ask anyone walking in the vicinity of the Cabin to take great care, especially with children and dogs
We will clear this up as soon as we can
Posted by: John
12/10/08 19:57:18 BST
Our annual Fungus Forage will be held on Sunday October 19th, meeting at the Chapel Gate at 10:15am.and will be led by Roger Evans (from Gwent Fungus Group)
The Chapel gate will be open so please park through the gate
Sensible footware is advised and children should be accompanied by an adult.
Feel free to bring any friends or family who might like a walk in the Woods
Posted by: John
5/10/08 12:21:48 BST
The litter picking session held on September 28th was a resounding success with about 30 people of all ages taking part.
We had a beautiful day and everyone enjoyed themselves being out and about in the woodland
A huge amount of litter was collected and subsequently disposed of.Many thanks to everyone who took part
Posted by: John
5/10/08 12:14:53 BST
If you have been up to Blaen Bran Community Woodland just lately, you have probably been appalled at the amount of litter that is there. We have been in touch with Keep Wales Tidy and hope to get some advice from them about what to do about this never ending problem.
Meanwhile we thought that it would be a good idea to make a start on cleaning up at least part of it. So we invite you to join us Sunday 28th September by the gate next to Ebenezer Chapel the Square, Upper Cwmbran at 10.00 am. We will provide litter pickers and bags. You may wish to bring gardening gloves and of course you will need appropriate footwear. We intend to finish at 12 noon. Some of us may find our way to the Queen Inn afterwards for a liquid reward.
Please come and help us make a start on keeping our woods in good order
Posted by: Roger
22/09/08 19:49:23 BST
Just a reminder that we will be holding 2 dry stone walling sessions this coming weekend,Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th.
Meet at the Chapel gate in the Square at 10am or the Mountain Air gate at 10-30am,on both days.
For further information please contact Roy Dixon on 01633 766659
Posted by: John
13/08/08 13:26:30 BST
Last week we had a serious fire in the Woodland about one and a half acres of Woodland was destroyed.Many hundreds of young trees and shrubs, which were planted by volunteers earlier this year were burned,also several mature trees were damaged and will probably not survive.
We plan to replant this area in early November and,nearer the time,we will be looking for volunteers to assist us in this task
This fire was almost certainly deliberately started so once again we ask anyone walking or riding in the Woods to be vigilant where fires are concerned and report any suspicious activity to any Director
Posted by: John
3/08/08 15:37:25 BST
One of the main tasks in the Woodland at this time of year is clearing up the mess left by people camping or having parties in the woods.. cans,food wrappers and bottles are left in their hundreds but worst of all is the broken glass.
We already have had a case where a member's dog has had a badly cut paw from a broken bottle
We must ask EVERYONE using the Woods to take their litter home with them
On Sunday August 10th we are organising a work party to clear up some of the litter.Anyone wishing to volunteer to help please meet at the Chapel gate in the Square at 10 am. Please bring gloves
Posted by: John
3/08/08 15:27:05 BST