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PEMBROKESHIRE NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER No. 45 MARCH 2019

FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN Margret Price has kindly acted as our Hello. As the mild winter turns to spring treasurer for several years, but has we can reflect on our well attended season indicated that she does not wish to of talks, featuring a variety of speakers. continue in the role from April 2020. Thanks to Arnold Williams for lining up Whilst I am happy to continue as the programme. Chairman, if that is the wish of the The Anniversary lunch, last November, Association, I need to flag up that I would was an enjoyable get together. It was good take a year out from organising a tour for to see past chairmen Dick Coggins and 2020. This decision does not affect the Martin Drew, and also to hear Jonathan tour to Bournemouth, in May 2019. There Hughes’ reflections on his recent are still a few places left. Please get in secondment to Wimpole Hall NT, in touch very soon, if you would like to add Cambridgeshire. your name for the trip. At our AGM, on 4th April, there will be a Following the business aspects of our proposal, from the committee, to introduce meeting on 4th April, Alan Kearsley-Evans a small fee of £2, for attending the talks. will tell us about developments at Gower There would be no extra charge for NT. refreshments. One of the main aims of Looking ahead, Tim Sims-Williams, has PNTA is to donate surplus funds to support been busy arranging our summer day trips. National Trust projects. In This year we will head to Llanelli, Cardiff, the early days most speakers would not plus another boat trip on the Cleddau, (this charge a fee for a presentation. It has now time downstream). become routine that a modest fee is Jim Price has organised summer evening expected. In addition there is the cost of strolls at Gupton, Southwood and Colby. room hire. Our annual membership fee has In addition we have been invited to remained small and stable since the Tudor Merchants House in September as a Association was formed, over 20 years thank you for last year’s donation. ago. The process of increasing the annual There will be a one off extra presentation fee, for standing orders, would be onerous, on a Saturday morning, October 12th, by or the switch to variable direct debit Paul Culyer of Natural Resources Wales. expensive. Hence the proposal for a small Our aim is to broaden the invite to this admission fee to cover costs. meeting, to increase awareness of PNTA, As the AGM approaches, I am pleased to and what we do. More details on these say that our existing committee members events can be found within. are offering to stand for re-election, but we My thanks to all the members of the would value extra members who are committee for their support. willing to help run the organisation. Andrew Weaver 1

PNTA GIFT TO PEMBROKESHIRE water ingress but pumps were used to NATIONAL TRUST control the water level in the pit. On February 14th 1844 58 miners, men The PNTA has been able to donate £2500 women and boys, were working to the Pembrokeshire NT this year. underground when the ceiling of the mine Colby has a Bee theme and is collapsed, with a catastrophic ingress of commissioning an artist to make/weave a water. Four men and 14 boys were able to giant willow bee in the walled garden escape. The other 40 were either drowned which will be a central piece for a series of or crushed by falling rock or clay. Many ‘busy bee’ activities this year. As part of of these bodies were never recovered. this, it wishes to acquire three bee hives Sadly Parliament in 1842 had passed an which will be managed by local bee Act forbidding the employment of women keepers. We will provide £750 to or boys, under 10 years of age, in pits. .purchase the hives. Health and Safety directions and At Stackpole there is a pressing need to inspections did not travel so quickly in replace some of the picnic benches around those days. The inquest decided that no the Estate. We will donate £750 for three individual could be held culpable for the benches at Stackpole Quay which has the disaster but in a community with many biggest need. intertwined families, there was much grief. At Southwood Farm the Trust wants to The memorial stone installed recently is a restore a series of wildflower meadows as reminder of that grief. it has at Colby. We will donate £1000, enough for 5 acres to be seeded. Thursday November 1st – ‘From South Africa to Namibia’- Julian Cremona REPORT ON WINTER Julian and his wife undertook the trip 8 PROGRAMME TALKS years ago. They hired a motorhome in Cape Town and headed north to towards Thursday October 4th – ‘The the Orange River, 1500km away. Landshipping Mining Disaster’ – Dr. Campsites were few and were separated by Robert Davies deserted Tarmac or dirt roads. They were A seam of high quality anthracite lies too late in the season to see the wild flower across South Pembrokeshire from display north of Cape Town but as they to Newgale. It was a moved north the vegetation changed every resource that could make landowners 100km as various microclimates came into wealthy. Mining started around 1612 and play. Initially they were driving through by the early 19th century there were many fynbos (protea shrub vegetation). Further small mines across the County. on in the Namaqua National Park large Landshipping had ten or so mines owned aloes were the substitute for trees, and the by Owen Family of Orielton. Mining area was rich in various succulents and offered work, even if it was in 12 hour pelargoniums. Sociable weaver birds took shifts, and Landshipping had a population any opportunity to colonise an aloe or of around 1000. There were 7 pubs to telegraph pole with up to 1000 untidy support them. The Garden Pit at nests. Landshipping was one of a number of the The sea was also a factor, with the cold mines that had been dug to get coal from Benguela ocean current sweeping up from under the . Some had the Antarctic, washing the coast and tunnels that extended up to a quarter of a meeting warm currents from the north. mile under the river. However they were This stirs up nutrients that provide a habitat quite deep and the Garden Pit was 67 yards rich in sea life which in turn feeds birds depth below the river. It was liable to and mammals along the coast.

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Eventually they reached their goal, When Richard, the Lionheart, became Namibia, a desert land of coastal sand King, William was one of the Barons dunes. A major feature in the south is the appointed to the Council of Regency when Fish River Canyon which is over 100 miles Richard joined the third crusade. long, second only in length to the Grand Following Richard’s death, he supported Canyon. There is a small area of rocky the unpopular King John, becoming his coast where German Miners, looking for chief adviser and the guardian to John’s diamonds, built a port. In recent years son, the future Henry 3rd. William boats leave the port daily to dredge for remained loyal to King John throughout diamonds, with some success. the hostilities with his barons which Due east lay the Kalahari Desert, and in culminated with the signing of Magna between were, flamingos, meerkats. Carta on June 15th 1215 Springbok, and cheetahs. The vegetation In November 1216 John died, in the midst had changed again to camel grass, of a French invasion. William was mistletoes and bushes with sharp and appointed Protector of the nine year old unforgiving thorns. It caused them to cut King and Regent of the Kingdom. He short their stay and head back to Cape produced an improved Magna Carta and Town. declared he would rule under its terms. In his one hour talk, Julian showed us 260 Although William was aged 70, he slides of flora and fauna. prosecuted the war against the French with great energy. During the Battle of Lincoln Thursday December 6th – ‘William he charged at the head of the young King’s Marshal (The Greatest Knight and his army and gained a victory which caused building of ) – Gareth the French to retire from England Mills In 1219, William was buried in the Temple William was born in France of an Anglo Church in London. Stephen Langton, Norman family in 1147. As the son of a Archbishop of Canterbury, stated ‘Behold minor nobleman he had no fortune to the remains of the best knight who ever inherit and had to make his own way in lived’. life. Aged 12 he went to Normandy to train as a knight and was knighted in 1166. Thursday January 3rd – ‘Effective In 1170 King Henry 2nd asked Marshal to Communications’ – Dave Padfield join his Court but allowed Marshall to go David regaled us with anecdotes of often on a crusade. On William’s return he amusing misinterpretations and rejoined the Court and served as a loyal misunderstandings he had come across captain through Henry’s final difficult over the course of his career as a teacher of years. French. He stressed how much speaking Henry rewarded William by arranging his and listening are intertwined but how, over marriage to Isabel de Clare, the daughter of the course of his life and having a Richard de Clare (Strongbow), the Earl of profoundly deaf son in law, he had come to Pembroke. The marriage brought with it realise how speaking does not have to be large estates in England, Normandy, auditory. His granddaughters have grown Ireland and Wales, and Marshall set about up at sign language, being able to sign improving them. At Pembroke Castle he effectively as babies before they had improved its defences by building the developed effective speech. He has also formidable keep which he made worked teaching English as a foreign impregnable with a stone roof. He also language to many overseas students in dug out access steps to Wogans Cavern schools and colleges. This led to some that enabled the castle to be supplied if tales of problems with syntax between two under siege. languages, sometimes leading to hilarious mistranslation. He enjoyed his teaching 3 over the years and admitted that he Other plants such as thistles, nettles and preferred to take less able students as he dandelions are less popular. was often able to spot nuggets of potential Winter itself is not flowerless as daisies, deeply buried in households that cared primroses and red campions can still little for learning. flower. John was asked what was his Now he spends his time teaching favourite flower. His answer was red Pembrokeshire primary school children to campions because if you look hard enough ride bicycles safely, and doing voluntary you will always find some flowering. work. Cycling is still very much part of Apologies but space does not allow his life, recently cycling solo around inclusion of the many other flowers John Ireland and still picking up the odd showed us. amusing snippet – once asking a shopkeeper for soap and being offered Thursday March 7th – ‘The Art of oxtail or tomato. Collecting Antiques’ – Dai Evans Dai has worked in a number of NT Houses Thursday February 7th – ‘Flowers of in his working career and has latterly been Pembrokeshire’ – John Archer at . He has an interest in the Thompson world of Antiques, having dabbled in it John gave us a comprehensive view of himself, and he started by explaining the Pembrokeshire flora, with plants which legal rules of the trade. grew in many different environments; salt Antiques shops follow the same legislation blown cliffs, rocky headlands, pasture as other retailers. You can go into a shop land, bogs, woodlands, ponds and others. and buy something. If you subsequently Some of these plants we would not decide that you were misled about the normally see as flowers. His first pictures object, or the information you received, were of lichens on cliffs fighting for space, you can go back to the shop and ask for fungi such as parasol and waxcap, mosses, your money back. However if you buy ferns grasses and bracken. These are not from auctioneers, their terms of sale state plants that we normally see as beautiful, that any they are not liable for any wrong but pictures with a high performance information and once the hammer goes camera show beauty in terms of structure, down, it belongs to you and not them. In not just colour. addition they demand a commission for He then took us through the seasons having sold it. He also warned that sale looking at the plants which are in flower, prices are very subject fashion and if you starting in Spring. Many of these we have later decide you want to sell it the value is as bulbs in our gardens; snowdrops, as likely to have gone down as up. Age is crocus, daffodils and bluebells but also only one of the factors which decide value. primroses, cowslips, and forget-me-nots. However he then took us briefly through a There are others which grow in range of products which are dealt with in hedgebanks and woodlands such as the antiques business; furniture, heliotropes and wild garlic. The white earthenware, porcelain, glassware, carpets flowers on blackthorn can look and silverware. Interestingly only spectacular, as can early gorse. silverware, with its hallmarks, provides an As Spring lengthens towards summer we accurate measure of age, where it was see daffodils and narcissi, bluebells, wood made and by whom. anemones, thrift, cow parsley, red campion His final advice was, if you see something and stitchwort. Summer, if it arrives, you like and you can afford it, then buy it. provides wild carrot, kidney vetch, Remember also that you bought it because foxgloves, rock samphire, marsh marigold, you liked it, and do not be put off because water lilies, wild carrot and oxeye daisies. of what others think.

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SUMMER PROGRAMME 2019 the leisure facilities at the hotel. (Travel Thursday April 4th – AGM and Talk – insurance is not included.) ‘NT on Gower’ Alan Kearsley-Evans. Full payment will be required by mid Alan is the NT Countryside Manager for March. Gower and Ceredigion and says he has the Andrew and Annie Weaver privilege to be responsible for NT places such as upland hill farms, newly created SUMMER EXCURSIONS saltmarsh, designed parkland and ancient Tim Sims-Williams has organized three woodland. The majority of his time is trips this summer; th occupied with making NT land as rich in Thursday 11 June – Boat trip from wildlife as possible – not a bad job in his Jetty to Dale Pier and return. opinion. Start at 1030. Anticipated return at 1400 arriving back at Neyland at 1600. PNTA SPRING TOUR 12TH - 16TH The boat ordered will take up to 40 MAY 2019 passengers with a cover to provide some Wiltshire, Dorset and Bournemouth protection from rain. We will be staying at the Connaught If the trip is cancelled due to inclement Hotel, Bournemouth, which is a short weather, your fee will be reimbursed and walk from the elevated West Cliff in this case you should proceed by car to promenade. Dale and Coco restaurant. Our activities whilst there are subject to Please send Tim your orders for lunch alteration, but are likely to include:- (Menu will be provided) a week before. Kingston Lacy NT, Nothe Fort at th Weymouth, the Subtropical Gardens at Thursday 27 June – Coach trip to Abbotsbury, and a Poole Harbour cruise. Llanelli. We intend to allow for more free time to This is the first visit to Llanelli in 20 years enjoy Bournemouth and/or the hotel spa, and it should be very interesting. but plan an optional trip to the local We start at LLANELLEY HOUSE, a Russell-Cotes Museum, and maybe the fully restored Tudor Town house having a nearby Compton Acres Garden. cafe/restaurant on the ground floor, a Lacock and Stourhead are the National function room on the first floor and the Trust properties that we intend to visit en upper floors are furnished and used for route. We will be travelling with Richards display purposes with a splendid Bros. Audio/Visual display covering activities Those who are not National Trust members including a court action against the Butler would need to pay the entry fee for NT which occurred in the building. properties visited. We then rejoin the coach and proceed to The price of entry to optional visits e.g. PARC HOWARD (presented to the Russell-Cotes Museum and Compton town in 1933), a Victorian stone built Acres, is not included, but other fares and house / museum standing in extensive entrance fees are. grounds. Here we have a guided tour As at early March we have 37 booked to (included) around the ground and first go, on a coach that can hold 51. So if you floors with displays of Llanelli pottery, the wish add your name, please get in touch history of the town including shipbuilding very soon, by phone (01646 831323) or e and breaking, tinplate plus paintings. They mail ([email protected]). Our are Memorials of the town which predates single room allocation has been used up. Swansea THE COST WILL BE £450 pp. for those Rejoining the coach we move on to sharing a room. This includes a 3 course STRADEY CASTLE which is set in dinner, bed and breakfast, and the use of extensive grounds – part was taken for a secondary school- and the house was 5 extended to recover the sea views. SUMMER WALKS Originally built in the 19th century for the For those who have not been on our walks Mansel Lewis family, it is virtually before, they last about an hour and a half unchanged since then. It is still owned by and are not arduous. They seek to inform the same family but is now under as much as exercise us. Assume that a pub renovation and repair. There is a splendid supper has been organised and that details hall/stairway with many the original will be given on the day. We shall not try paintings done by the present owners’ to predict our very changeable weather but great-grandfather and his friends. meet at 6.30pm and decide then if we can With all the principal rooms having high proceed. If not, we will just enjoy the pub ceilings and opening double doors, you supper. However if you need an earlier will recognize the layout from NT houses. outlook as to whether the walk is likely to There are views to the sea and mudflats as take place, call 01646 661344 on the day. well as of the extensive gardens, also under re-planting. Tuesday May 21st – ‘Gupton Farm’ with After a tour of the house, we will enjoy a Haydn Garlick tea break with welsh cakes before a guided It was some years ago that we visited tour of the gardens, all included in your Gupton Farm to look at how the farm price. buildings and fields were being converted to support holiday and educational visitors. Thursday 11th July – Coach trip to the The business has now been running for Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff several years and Haydn has arranged for Castle the site manager to show us around and Our coach will take us to the Millennium talk about things which worked well and, Centre at Cardiff Bay where, after a coffee in some cases, less well. and comfort break, we will be taken on an After this Haydn will show us the progress included tour (we may be split into more being made in field diversity and how the than 1 party) of the building including back Corse is being made more bird friendly. stage and intimate views of the auditorium and the acoustically sensitive Donald Meet at the Gupton Farm Car Park at Gordon Theatre. 6.30pm. This is subject to the theatre not being let out at the time (not at present). Wednesday June 5th – ‘Southwood At 1400 we rejoin the coach and will be Farm’ with Andrew Williams, Area taken to Cardiff Castle for a guided tour of Ranger Southwood. the House including the Winter smoking Andrew will show us how the Trust’s Room, The Nursery, The Sitting Room, policy of Land and Nature is being Lord Bute’s bedroom and the Rooftop addressed at Southwood. Strange to say, garden. we have never had a walk through the Your included ticket for entry also covers central part of Southwood. The walk will the Interpretation Centre, Firing Line, film look at both meadows and woodland. It show, audio guide, Wartime shelters, will be interesting to see how the trees Norman Keep and castle apartments which we funded in 2014 have progressed.

If you have spare time you can as an extra Meet at the Southwood Farm Car Park at do the Clock Tower Tour and/or Film 6.30pm. Location Tour.

Entry fees are included in the cost. There is a booking form attached to the Newsletter. 6

Tuesday July 2nd – ‘Coal Mining at the work of NRW across Wales in a broad Colby’ with Steve Whitehead sense and then focus on his work on nature Colby is located on Pembrokeshire Coal conservation in Pembrokeshire. This will Field and archaeological studies indicate cover Stackpole, Ty Canol and Llangloffan coal mining took place there for around Fen. 700 years. Mining reached its peak in the 19th century and the remains of mines can NT NEWSBOARD still be seen in the Garden. Steve will walk National Trust staff have provided reports us through the Garden pointing out mine on activities and changes at the local NT entrances, the engine pit and the miners locations. It demonstrates the tremendous track down to the beach. We will also see amount of work being done to enable the ends of coal seams on the beach. I am people to enjoy them. sure he will tell us more about the Garden North Pembrokeshire as we walk. Mark Underhill, Countryside Manager for North Pembrokeshire, reports: Meet at the Colby Garden Car Park at Hello again. 2018 was a good year for our 6.30pm. teams in North Pembrokeshire (once we had got through the Beast from the East)! Tudor Merchant’s House By May the sun was shining and kept up a Thursday Sept 5th Wine and Cheese pretty good effort right through the season Reception starting at 6.30pm (and winter has been relatively kind so The TMH staff wish to hold a small thank far)! With the sunshine came the visitors you event for our donation last year which and this certainly helped our first year at enabled them to develop their Tudor the new Runwayskiln Café at Marloes run Garden and populate the House with their by our tenants Charlie and Claire. No painted dolls. The TMH is only licenced doubt helped by Runwayskiln, 2018 was to accommodate 30 people and places will our busiest year yet in Marloes Sands car- be allocated on a ‘first come first served’ park. So it is fitting that 2019 we will be basis. Please contact Andrew Weaver by able to invest in the visitor experience at Tel (01646 831323) or email Marloes sands through improvements to ([email protected]) if you wish to the car-park surface, the visitor welcome attend. hut, signage and interpretation. We are able to do this thanks to a generous grant SPECIAL TALK towards the project through the Welsh Government’s Tourism Amenity The Committee is very conscious that Investment Support. Scheme. moving our Talks to afternoons has been Staying with the theme of new visitor very successful in terms of attendance, but developments, I would like to introduce it has made it very difficult for members you to Ben and Carol Elliot as new tenants still in employment to participate. We are at the Porth Clais car park kiosk. They exploring ways in which we can involve have been working hard to give the kiosk them again. To this end we have set up the (part of the former St David’s gas works) a following talk at Crundale Village Hall, re-vamp ready for opening on 1st March. to assess the degree of interest. Caroline and Ben will be selling drinks, ice creams and hot and cold snacks from the Saturday October 12th at 10.30am – kiosk, specialising in fresh and local ‘Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and produce. Please pop in and support them Nature Conservation Projects’ – Paul next time you are in the area. Culyer Moving on to our countryside work, the Paul is the Senior Reserve Manager for National Trust in North Pembrokeshire NRW in Pembrokeshire. He will talk on encourages our tenants to continue with the 7 traditional use of spring-sown cereals National Trust’s Middleholm. For the NT, (crops like, barley, oats and wheat that are the data is especially exciting for sown in March/April and harvested in Middleholm as area ranger James Roden August/September). explained: “The 2018 census on In the last Newsletter, I wrote about the Middleholm was the first time in 20 years benefits of spring-sown cereals to rare that Manx shearwaters have been recorded arable plants. Spring-sown cereals are also on the tiny island, and it’s great to see that a really important additional food source the population is much larger than we first for a number of groups of specialist and thought. We hope to carry on working declining birds over winter. When the closely with the Wildlife Trust on more cereals are harvested in the autumn, rather monitoring projects in the future, as well as than being ploughed and quickly replanted towards the continued conservation work as in winter cereals, with spring cereals, on Middleholm.” the “stubbles” (the cut stalks that remain In early 2000’s, the NT was left the after the crop has been harvested) can be magnificent Southwood Estate as a left undisturbed. These stubbles then act a generous legacy by Mrs Maurer, who bit like a field-sized bird-table over winter loved this part of the world and hoped that providing essential winter food and we would look after its special qualities for improving the survival rate of the benefit of the nation. Over the last overwintering farmland birds like linnet, decade the Trust has been building towards skylark and reed-bunting. The fields can our vision for the estate: “Southwood also be important feeding areas for chough Farm will become the Home Farm for over-winter. North Pembrokeshire: Southwood estate Over this winter James Roden (Area will bring people and farming together and Ranger) has organised volunteer surveys of showcase our approach to integrated land nine NT farms from the north management.” Much work has gone into Pembrokeshire coast to Marloes Peninsula the property to begin to stabilise the listed to see just how important these fields are buildings and restore the farmland to High for wintering birds. Groups of volunteers Nature Status. We are delighted to be able visit each farm three times over winter. to host a walk there for the PNTA in June There is still one visit to go but already we to showcase our ongoing work for Land are seeing results that confirm the and Nature. importance of these habitats. The “weedy With our plans for the farmland at fields” at Treseissyllt for example had Southwood on a good footing, our “several hundred skylarks and maybe as attention has recently turned to the Grade many as a thousand linnets” during one II Listed farmhouse and courtyard range at count. Southwood Farm. Staying with birds, in early 2019, we were very excited to hear that the latest seabird census results indicate that Middleholm (a small island owned by the National Trust between Marloes Peninsula and ) along with Skomer and are now home to more than 50 per cent of the world’s entire Manx shearwater population! The islands were surveyed in June 2018 Results suggest that there are nearly half-a-million breeding pairs in total The farmhouse and hunting lodge have across the internationally-important recently come back into NT management islands, with 89,000 on Skokholm Island, after several years as a B&B. The 350,000 on Skomer Island and 16,000 on courtyard range buildings were repaired 8 and stabilised soon after they were gifted successful in finding more volunteers to to NT in 2006, but have remained empty help in our shop in St David’s. But we over the intervening period (with the always need more. If you fancy an early exception of our regular outdoor events). morning shift meeting and greeting visitors These buildings provide a great Martin’s Haven, chatting to customers in opportunity for the National Trust in St David’s shop; or “bashing scrub” on St Pembrokeshire to showcase the work we David’s commons we would love to hear are doing for Land and Nature alongside from you. commercial activities such as a café or holiday accommodation. In January, the Stackpole local team met with experts from NT Haydn Garlick reports: Consultancy to begin to look at the options With record winter temperatures it feels for Southwood buildings that will raise the like spring has finally sprung, with profile of our work in Pembrokeshire, daffodils, snowdrops and primroses generate income and support whilst emerging throughout the estate. Woods providing a long-term and sustainable use are carpeted in wild garlic leaves and there for these fantastic farm-buildings. This are signs of bluebells pushing up through options appraisal will be a major piece of the woodland floor. On quiet winter work in the early part of 2019. By the mornings, the sound of drilling autumn we hope to have a master-plan woodpeckers and honking ravens can be completed that will help to map out the heard. next hundred years of this magnificent property. The Little Milford “windlass” restoration is complete and we hope to have it installed along with the interpretation generously funded by PNTA in April this year.

Snowdrops in the flower garden, Lodge Park Wood

Little Milford Winch signage board

Finally, our team, I usually write about the team first, but this time I am saving the best until last! In all seriousness I am very lucky to work with a fantastic team of staff and volunteers and 2019 is looking very promising. We start the year with a full complement of rangers; and a shop and Wild daffodils on the terrace, Stackpole car-park team with very little changes from Courtsite last year. Our Thursday Volunteer group continues to grow and Cath has been 9

It’s been a busy winter here at Stackpole. At Caroline’s Grove we have been At the start of the winter we concentrated selectively thinning conifers from within a on improving access around the lakes. small area of wet woodland, again giving Between the Eight Arch Bridge and Grassy the remaining hardwood trees a chance to Bridge we replaced edging boards and thrive and grow. As part of this work graded the surface of the path with a layer we’ve also been working with volunteers of gravel. A new retaining wall was built to remove rhododendrons trees, the cut on part of this path to provide a reassuring stumps of which will be treated with barrier and to prevent the path from falling herbicide to stop any regrowth in the into the lake. As well as making this a nice future. With the odd winter gale, we have level surface for walkers, the intention was had a number of quite large Grand Fir trees to improve the access for our new tramper uprooted in Cheriton Bottoms; this meant electric wheelchair. This is the 4x4 of some days tidying up and making space wheelchairs! Visitors can hire it from the available to replant the area with selected Stackpole Centre to take them to various hardwood species. locations on the estate. A map is currently Way-marking has taken place on the multi- being produced to help them find their user routes within Cheriton Bottoms and way. One of the routes will be from the Castle Dock woods. These routes are now centre to the outflow at Broadhaven beach available for mountain bikers, horse riders and walkers, giving them an opportunity to explore a quieter part of the estate. On the western edge of the estate, Gupton Farm has continued to be grazed by cattle, as well as the addition of a couple of hundred tack sheep which will hopefully graze out the invasive ragwort plants. Last year’s arable stubble and a specially sown bird seed crop has supplied a fantastic winter food source for our farmland birds. Large flocks of finches, skylarks, lapwings and golden plover have been seen feeding at Gupton in recent months. Quartering over the reed bed on the Castlemartin Corse, raptors such as hen harrier, marsh harrier and peregrine have been spotted. Spring-sown arable crops will continue to be planted this year to provide a perfect Restored lakeside wall environment for those rare arable weeds such as weasel’s snout, corn marigold and During the winter months we also corn spurrey, which are becoming very concentrate on our woodland management scarce throughout the country. operations. We have been active in Lodge Park Wood, continuing with our halo Tudor Merchant’s House thinning around some of our specimen Angela Jones reports: veteran trees, this work gives the trees The Tudor Merchant’s House has had 6 more space to grow and more light. We visitor less weeks but with regular deep have also been maintaining the glade areas cleaning going on – the number of holly within this wood, giving it a more open leaves that we picked up was quite high perspective, just as it would have been from Christmas! originally planted. These six weeks give us the opportunity to have a good clear through and to make 10 sure that every part of the house is clean increasingly unhealthy Fir tree above the although we have had trouble with the car park which had been shedding heavy kitchen and outside! Following a leak branches was brought down (and to our through the wall in the garden that then surprise proved to be less than fifty years decided that it wanted to come on into the old). The timber has been used for play house, we did have more work being done features in the forest school area, and as than we bargained for! Never mind all firewood to fuel the volunteer clear and ready to go now – come and see accommodation and work-shops. The us! broken slabs around reception have been The herb garden has been cleared and is re-laid by our willing volunteers, using now ready for our sleep project plants all stone reclaimed from demolished bridge designed to help you get ready for bed and foundations. The rill planting in the walled then sleep. Mair has made a wonderful job garden has also all been removed. The of sorting through all this and is a plan was to de-weed then re-instate it, but thoroughly knowledgeable person about the feature is so much more visually what plant does what! striking now, that we think we’ll leave it as A lot of the work that has gone on in the it is. garden has been supported by yourselves – For the coming year, in the woodland thank you so much. We now have new garden we’ll be continuing the clearance of hurdles of the Tudor kind (the previous overgrown areas and re-planting with even ones were Tudor kind too) and in the more endangered rarities from the Plant summer when the majority of the plants are Conservation Program. We’ll be working blooming it will look lovely! on the creation of a bee enclosure at the top Inside the house we have the sleep project of the meadow and the installation of but are also running a ‘who does what?’ beehives, along with the creation of a job where we have 12 dolls – about 3 productive forest-food-garden in the area inches tall semi hidden around the house between the car parks. and they all have jobs so are carrying We’ll be repainting the reception/shop things from some leeks to a baby! Again building and working on the restoration of this part of our theme work has been woodwork doors and frames on the bothy supported by you. building, alongside the re-painting of This is accompanied by a worksheet that historic ironwork across the site. children can complete if they want and We’ll also be stocking up the new tree from early forays into this project it is the nursery area from estate woodland tree adults who are just as keen as the children seeds and installing automatic watering in to complete these. It helps people to think the poly-tunnel so we can expand the plant about the types of jobs that people did and propagation program. now many servants there would have been On the estate farmland at Craig y Borion – and how much work that is now done by farm we’ll continue to harvest seed from a machine would have had to be manual. the currently wildflower rich areas and use We have been very fortunate to have it to enrich the remaining meadows on the received support from you – thank you. southern half of Craig y Borion Farm. We’ll be fencing off a strip of land behind Colby Woodland Garden Little Craig y Borion and planting more Steve Whitehead reports: trees to complete the final link in one of Over the winter a lot of work has been the woodland connection corridors across achieved at Colby despite the weather. the farmland and we’ll also be working on Alongside the hard day to day gardening completion of new kissing gates and way- put in by our staff and volunteers, the markers for the newly created footpaths ponds in the upper meadow and the ha-ha across the wildflower meadows. ditch have also been de-silted. A huge and 11

On Sunnybank farm above Wisemans well as leaving clues to a Cadbury surprise. Bridge, we’ll be planting woodland on four To find the sweet treat, you'll need to steeply sloping fields, to protect the water explore the gardens... don't forget to enjoy quality in two small watercourses which the natural playground too. feed into the pleasant valley stream. £2 per egg hunt, normal admission charges In the Estate Woodland, we have a an apply ongoing Rhododendron and Laurel Spring plant sale eradication program planned for Craig y Sunday 12 May, 10am-4pm Borion and Little Craig y Borion woods, Pop along to the walled garden for our involving both contractors and volunteers spring plant sale, browse the stalls and along with some planned halo-thinning in enjoy a Q&A session with Colby's the woodland around good healthy trees, to gardeners. increase diversity and leave space for the Free event, normal admission charges ancient trees of the future. apply. We’ll also be coppicing and planting more If these woods could talk: guided history hazel on the woodland edges to extend walk potential dormouse habitat, along with Saturday 18 May, 11am-12.30pm some improvement of footpath surfaces Join us for a guided tour about the hidden and creation of better drainage systems to history of Colby Woodland Garden and cope with increased run-off. Colby Estate. Uncover the stories behind Around the volunteer accommodation at the landscape; from war and mining to Little Craig y Borion Farmhouse we’ll be scandals and murder. lime-washing the farmhouse walls and re- Free event, normal admission charges roofing the dovecote tower for increased apply. Booking advisable via 01834 log storage space along with some inside 811885. re-decoration, all of course done by our Busy Bees amazing volunteers. Expansion of the Daily from 25 May to 1 September orchard plantings around the building is It’s a hive of activity at Colby Woodland also planned, with some creation of nesting Garden this summer! Discover the busy thickets of blackthorn and Hazel around buzz of our resident bees as they embark the Farmhouse. on a pollination mission to keep our That’s just the work we have in mind right gardens special. now, but I’m sure plenty more will come Help us build a bee in the walled garden, along! follow our ID trail and join in with live hive sessions and guided walks. N.T. SPRING/SUMMER EVENTS: Additional charges for activities, normal admission charges apply. Spring events (March to May) 2019– Twilight walk National Trust Pembrokeshire Wednesday 29 May, 8.30pm-10pm All events can also be viewed online at: Visit Colby at twilight and see the www.nationaltrust.org.uk/search?query=pe woodland garden in a whole different light. mbrokeshire&type=event Go on a guided walk to see the bats and beasties that enjoy this special place at Colby Woodland Garden night. Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt £3 per adult, £2 per child. Booking Friday 19 to Monday 22 April, 11am- essential via 01834 811885. 3.30pm Celebrate spring with an awesome Easter egg hunt at Colby Woodland Garden. Bunny's been hopping around the woodland admiring the floral wows, as 12

North Pembrokeshire Stackpole The Big Beach Clean Challenge Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt at Broad Wednesday 11 April at Marloes Sands, Haven South 10am-12pm Friday 19 to Monday 22 April, 11am-3pm Tuesday 29 May at Newgale Sands, Follow our Easter safari at Broad Haven 11am,-1pm South to find a sweet treat. Help us care for the North Pembrokeshire £3 per egg hunt, normal admission charges coastline with our monthly beach cleans apply. between February and August. Litter picking kit will be provided just pop by on Garlic with Mr Garlick the day to lend a hand and find out more Thursday 25 April, 11am to 1pm about being a COASTodian. Join our head ranger, Haydn Garlick, for Free event, no booking needed. an afternoon of garlic cooking with arts and crafts for all the family. Easter Fair and Cadbury Egg Hunt at £5 per child, booking essential via 01646 Southwood Farm 623110. Friday 19 April, 10.30am-3.30pm This spring, enjoy the great outdoors with Festival of the Sea at Gupton Farm an action-packed Easter fair and egg hunt Saturday 11 May at Southwood Farm. Bunny’s been Our Festival of the Sea is a celebration of exploring this special place and leaving all things coastal with stalls, live music, clues to a scrummy Cadbury treat for you. food and drink, workshops and outdoor £2.50 per egg hunt, no booking needed. activities to enjoy.

Dawn chorus walk, Marloes Peninsula Tudor Merchant’s House Sunday 5 May, 5.30am-7.30am Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite Celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day Daily from Saturday 13 April to Sunday 3 with an early morning walk to hear the November magnificent birdsong at Marloes Mere. Night caps at the ready as you embark on a Afterwards, enjoy a warming breakfast at slumber adventure at the Tudor Merchant’s Runwayskiln café. House. £13 per adult, £7.50 per child (including Free event, normal admission charges both walk and breakfast). Booking apply. essential via 01437 720385. Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Ranger ramble, Southwood Farm 19-22 April, 11am-4.30pm Wednesday 15 May, 11am-2pm Bunny's been uncovering history and Head to our home farm for North heritage here, as well as leaving clues Pembrokeshire and enjoy a guided walk around the house to a yummy Cadbury with our livestock ranger Andrew as he chocolate surprise. Find the chocolatey shares an insight into his role, Southwood treat and discover Tudor traditions too. Farm’s story and our conservation grazing £2 per egg hunt, normal admission charges work. apply. No booking needed. £6 per adult, £3.50 per child. Booking essential via 01437 720385. Please bring a packed lunch with you.

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PNTA WEBSITE P.R. Jane Mason The Association has a website at Tel. 01437 762387 www.pembsnta.org.uk . It contains MailChimp Andrew Weaver information about the Association, our Tel. 01646 831323 Events Programme, the Newsletter and General Kate Waldies Association news items. We hope it will Tel. 01437 891578 be useful to existing members and Marilyn James attract new members. Together with 01437 891205 email and MailChimp, it helps us provide up to date information for members.

CONTACT BY EMAIL We are continuing to increase our use of electronic communications. If you have an email address and are not receiving messages, such as MailChimp from us, or have just started an email account, please email our Membership Secretary, Sheila Ashton at [email protected] .

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS Your membership subscriptions were due for renewal on Jan 1st 2019. We are notifying, individually, members whom our records do not show as having renewed. Subscription rates are unchanged at £5 for Individual and £8 for Family Membership. If you would like to pay by Standing Order, please ask the Membership Secretary for a form.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE Your officers and committee members are as follows (* Officer): CHAIRMAN* Andrew Weaver Tel: 01646 831323 VICE-CHAIRMAN* Jim Price & WALKS Tel: 01646 661344 TREASURER* Margret Price Tel: 01646 661344 SECRETARY* Annie Weaver Tel: 01646 831323 MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Sheila Ashton Tel: 01437 731525 TALKS Dr. Arnold Williams Tel: 01437 720169 TRIPS Tim Sims-Williams Tel: 01348 811412

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Pembrokeshire National Trust Association

2019 Summer Day Trips booking Form

If you wish to go on any or all of the trips, please complete the attached form and return together with a cheque payable to PNTA for the appropriate amount to: Margret Price, PNTA Treasurer, Leys Cottage, 1Axton Hill, Pembroke SA71 5HD Tel. 01646 661344

For further information regarding the Trips, please telephone Tim on 01348 811412 or email at [email protected]

First names______Surname______

Address ______

______

Post Code ______Telephone Number ______

E-mail______

Tuesday June 11th –Boat trip from Neyland to Dale

Number of Places______@ £33 Amount enclosed______

Thursday June 27th –Llanelli - all day

Number of Places______@ £40 Amount enclosed______

Thursday July 11th. – Cardiff Millenium Centre and Cardiff Castle.

Number of Places______@£40 Amount enclosed______

Total enclosed______

Picking up points will be arranged at Newport bus depot, Dinas, /, bus station, Narberth (Penblewin Car park).

I/We wish to be picked up at ______

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PNTA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Pembrokeshire National Trust Association will hold its AGM at Crundale Community Hall on Thursday April 4th 2019 commencing at 2.30pm.

AGENDA

1. Apologies for absence

2. Chairman’s report

3. Treasurer’s report and approval of accounts

4. Appointment of an independent auditor

5. Approval of annual subscriptions to apply to the next AGM

6. Election of officers and other Committee members for the period to the next AGM

7. Donation to the Pembrokeshire National Trust

8. AOB

Following the AGM there will be a talk from Alan Kearsley-Evans, the NT Countryside Manager for Gower and Ceredigion who will talk about ‘NT on Gower’.

Please Note – The minutes of the 2018 AGM will be posted on our Notice Board at the Crundale Community Hall before the meeting.

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NOMINATION FORM FOR PNTA COMMITTEE

Name ______

Position sought for election ______(please write ‘General’ if just seeking a General position on the Committee)

Proposer ______

Seconder ______

(Nominees, proposers and seconders have to be members of the PNTA)

Please send your form, by Monday April 1st to: Andrew Weaver, Chairman PNTA, Larks Rising, Kiln Park, Burton Ferry SA73 1NY or call him on 01646 831323 if you wish to have further information.

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