'Wonderful' women rewarded Overall winner at the inaugural Vale Woman of the Year awards, which highlighted some wonderful stories of the activities of local women, was council senior enforcement officer Denny White. See page 3 ValeWaveswww.valeofglamorgan.gov.ukes The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Community Newspaper Summer 2008 | Issue 20 Take pride in your NewsStories local park ove your local park week was a perfect reminder and look after it – to everyone to make the Vale-based author Phil Carradice that's the message most of their local park and L was the guest at the Vale Writers' enjoy the benefits that fresh from the council's parks Squad's spring session at the Cory and grounds maintenance air and exercise can bring. Education Centre at Dyffryn Whether you walk your team this summer. Gardens. See page 2. This month's Loveparks dog in them, go for a jog, relax with friends, play sports, read your book in a peaceful setting, take your kids to play, or just enjoy a stroll in them One of the Vale's many beautiful parks – during your lunch break – Alexandra Gardens in Penarth. appreciate and take pride in variety of activities. Parks are 46 full-time frontline staff and your local parks and look there for everyone, from tod- more than 20 extra tempo- Find out what's after them for future genera- dlers to the elderly, and are rary staff during the summer on in the Vale tions. one of the best places you months. this summer Phil Beaman, operational can be on a fine summer's The staff have diverse roles See page 5 manager (parks and grounds day. Make the most of them, looking after the local envi- maintenance), said: "All too but please use them responsi- ronment. Thanks to a real often we hear that people bly and help to keep them team effort, their variety of aren't healthy enough, yet we clean by picking up your litter tasks range from looking after have beautiful parks that are and dog mess at all times." parks, of course, to recreation free of charge to enjoy and The parks and grounds grounds, skate parks, lakes, can be used for such a wide maintenance team consists of rivers and much much more. Vale in the top 10 for quality of life According to a new quali- housing quality, weather, school pupils’ GCSE results 1. Buckinghamshire ty of life survey, the Vale crime, education and health. are among the best in the 2. Surrey Questionnaire of Glamorgan is one of The survey found that the country. 3. Berkshire We would like to know how the top 10 best places to Vale has the best quality of Other Welsh counties in 4. Bromley many residents are recycling and live in the UK. life outside the south of the top 50 were 5. Hertfordshire how they are going about it. Halifax Estate Agents car- England. In the Vale houses Monmouthshire (28), 6. Oxfordshire Please complete the short ques- ried out the survey, which are relatively large, and the Flintshire (39) and Powys 7. Suffolk tionnaire on page 7 and return scored counties across the county has an above average (40). 8. Vale of Glamorgan by Freepost by 14 July or save an UK according to factors such owner-occupancy rate, life The top UK counties for 9. Richmond upon Thames envelope and complete online at as employment, earnings, expectancy is high and our quality of life were: 10. Sutton. www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk Please ensure you recycle your copy of Vale Waves 2 ValeNews ValeWaves Summer 2008 | Issue 20 www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk Newsinbrief Officers have head start Bethan’s best roublemakers are being cameras are particularly useful Police and council officers are trialling Seven- met head on in a new for filming disturbances and are new lightweight head cameras year-old Tinitiative organised by being used in anti-social Bethan the Safer Vale Partnership. behaviour hotspots across the Lowrie has Vale. Footage can be used as scooped Police and council licensing and trading standards officers evidence in court. the top Inspector Jim Hall said: "We are being equipped with prize in a have been using these cameras lightweight cameras that can be council on a daily basis and they strapped to officers' heads and promoted have proved very effective. feed images to digital recorders design a logo competition. Previously, when officers have The competition challenged on their belts. visited parents to inform them local schoolchildren to A deterrent for anti social their children have been design a logo for Prosiect behaviour, eight of the hi-tech involved in anti social Gwyrdd – a project through gadgets are being trialled and, if behaviour; many parents found which five local councils, the initiative proves successful, it hard to believe their children including the Vale, are more officers will eventually are capable of such behaviour. looking for the best joint have the equipment. Now, with the new technology solution for dealing with The portable systems can available to us we are able to non-recyclable waste. store hundreds of hours of play back the footage so they Bethan's winning design material and provide instant won her an iPod and £100 can see for themselves what worth of vouchers for her playback on a small screen. The their children have been doing.” primary school – Wick and Marcross Church in Wales. Wick and Marcross They’re a real treasure headteacher Ceri Thomas Talented young writers in Vale hand to develop their talents, and provide said: “It’s a fantastic schools are continuing to develop writing tips and advice for future work." achievement for Bethan and their skills with the help of real life Prior to a spring session at the Cory we’re thrilled to receive authors. Education Centre at Dyffryn Gardens with vouchers that’ll help us do Formed in 2003, the Vale Young Vale-based author Phil Carradice, children even more great green work in the school." Writers’ Squad currently has 38 members were provided with a copy of his novel, from 19 Vale schools, and council 'Black Bart’s Treasure,' which is an curriculum development adviser (literacy) action-packed pirate story set in the Directory for youngsters Jane McCarthy said: "The council initiative Bristol Channel. During the day, children A special is providing a focus for the children to get discussed the novel with Phil and wrote directory together, encourage each other and pirate stories of their own. providing develop their natural writing skills. During the afternoon, parents, carers Vale of Glamorgan-based author Phil Carradice at young "The youngsters are meeting a range of and teachers were invited to hear the people in the the Vale Writers' Squad's spring session at the Cory Education Centre at Dyffryn Gardens. writers and authors who offer a helping children sharing their work. Vale with information about available activities has been As buzzy as a bee updated and improved. Launched nearly a year ago, The buzz of a bumblebee is species in the UK but you’re rough, long grass or an old the 'Activale Youth Directory' one of the first signs of likely to see only six of them – carpet tile in a quiet corner. now contains information on spring and one that lasts known as the ‘BIG 6.' These • Get involved in a survey to more than 320 organisations throughout the lazy species are the ones that have help ecologists find out where providing services and summer. But don’t be adapted to using our gardens different bumblebees live – visit activities for young people aged 11 to 25 years. misled by their name: the best. the Bumblebee Conservation Copies of the directory are bumbling bees really are Bumblebees can be told apart Trust’s website or contact us to available through schools and busy – beating their wings by looking at what colour their find out more. libraries and CDRom versions up to 200 times a minute in stripes are – basically there are Many local authorities also are available on request from their never-ending search three groups – white tailed, red manage some highway verges the council's Children and for nectar and pollen. tailed and brown! for their wildflowers – if you Young People's Information Bees are really important to us For a great guide visit know of any really good Early Bumblebee Service (CYPIS). It can also be – pollinating crops and flowers. www.bumblebeeconservation wildflower verges or have any accessed online through It’s been estimated that about a trust.co.uk. other queries, please contact the www.activale.co.uk and more third of the food we eat relies What can you do? council ecology team at than 5,000 'visits' have already on bee pollination at some point • Grow more native [email protected] been recorded. in its production. wildflowers or varieties that are or 01446 704855. Further information on the But our bumblebees are closely related to wild ones, such directory can be obtained under threat! as brilliant, towering foxgloves, • Back to Nature banner – through the CYPIS at the Changes in land use have nectar-rich honeysuckle, purple photos courtesy of Paul Roberts Dock Offices, Subway Road, made it harder for bumblebees scabious or pink knapweed. • Bumblebees - photos courtesy Barry CF63 4RT. Telephone to find the flowers they need. • Provide them with of Brian Valentine 01446 704704 (www.flickr.com/photos/lordv) There are twenty-two bumblebee somewhere to nest – areas of Buff-tailed bumblebee Top images: Lakes at Aberthaw, Llanmaes, peacock in Norton and the Old Harbour (Barry) ValeNews 3 www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk ValeWaves Summer 2008 | Issue 20 So much to celebrate Newsinbrief New mayor omen from all sectors of the the award on behalf of everyone in the St Bride's Major ward council- Vale community were hon- council's Visible Services division and the lor Audrey Preston has been Woured at an inaugural awards Youth Offending Team.