tump_news_A4_01e:Layout 1 16/06/2011 10:01 Page 1 CYMDEITHAS SOCIETY EWSSPRING 2011 Welcome… N Welcome to this first newsletter of Gwent’s Most Iconic Landmark Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society. As the founding Chairman of Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society I am delighted to introduce our new newsletter. This has been in the pipeline for some time and we have certainly had no shortage of enthusiastic contributors. The theme of the mountain, its landscape and geology, its history, archaeology and the legends surrounding it certainly inspire people in many ways and I hope that this will be reflected in this first newsletter, and in forthcoming issues. When we started the Save Co-ordinates: 51.62736, -3.09365 OS Grid reference: ST 24394 92627 Twmbarlwm Campaign in April of last Height: 419m (1,374ft) above sea level year we had no idea of the enthusiastic monument (SAM) has received over the Llanarth Estate, are about to enter into and passionate response we would get last decade. an agreement to restore Twmbarlwm from so many local people. This was tump to its former glory. reflected in the fantastic attendance we In the 1980s Gwent County Council got for our launch at Crosskeys Rugby undertook the restoration works on the Our Society will also be very much Club last October and the many letters tump. It was they who built and involved in this process over the next and emails of support we have received maintained the steps to the top and the few years. It is also likely that we will low fence around it. They also raised before and since then. take on some of the management of the the level and partially paved the top of The sad decline of the tump area site to ensure that Twmbarlwm can be the tump. When Gwent CC was and the access paths over recent years abolished in 1996 responsibility for the enjoyed by our grand children in the has been the result of erosion, public upkeep of the SAM and footpaths on same way that it was by our grand carelessness and intrusions by off road Twmbarlwm was not handed over to parents vehicles, especially motorbikes. the legacy authority, Caerphilly County The mountain is iconic in many Perhaps the biggest issue was the Borough Council. This was almost ways. It is a source of inspiration, lack of responsibility and care of the certainly an administrative oversight mountain and its scheduled ancient solace, joy and awe to so many of us but, coupled with increased visitor and with your help and support we numbers due to the popularity of the want to keep it that way. CONTENTS Cwmcarn Forest Drive, led to the 1 Chairman’s Welcome decline we have all become familiar If you want to see the ‘Tump’ 2 Why Care for the Tump? with in recent years. restored to its former glory and 3 The Law and Your Rights However, the establishment of our sympathise with our cause - please join 4-5 Our Work So Far society and your strength of feeling is us, it’ll only cost you a tenner. Go to the 6 The Inspirational Mountain already making a big difference. website to get an application form or 7 Memory Lane Caerphilly County Borough Council, pick up a leaflet available in many 8 Hot Cross Bun Walk Torfaen County Borough Council and places locally or at one of our events. You’ll find more information and photos on the landowners, the Trustees of Rob Southall our website - so please visit it regularly to keep up to date. www.twmbarlwm.co.uk SPRING 2011 1 tump_news_A4_01e:Layout 1 16/06/2011 10:01 Page 2 Cymdeithas TWMBARLWM Society Why Care About The “Tump”? Twmbarlwm, the man-made mound on the summit of the mountain above What Needs To Be Done Risca is a well known south Wales landmark. Clearly visible from Newport, There is a lot to be done if we want to Cardiff and the motorway in between, to many it is a symbol of Gwent, and achieve our objectives. We want to work its distant silhouette is often a welcome indication to the traveller that they effectively with local partners including are nearing home. The view from the top is spectacular. Caerphilly County Borough Council and Torfaen Borough Council, Cadw, Gwent Police and other public sector organisations. We will need to develop a constructive working relationship with the landowners, Llanarth Estates. Their co-operation will be essential if we want to do work to improve the site. We need to take a systematic approach to fund-raising so that we can take full advantage of grants or any other funding that could further our objectives. We need to develop an effective communications policy to inform and educate people about the importance of Twm Barlwm and to ensure that the Society and its work have a The “Tump” as it is known has served many road vehicles – especially scrambling high profile. We need more academic purposes through time. Historians and and quad bikes research into the site and we also need archaeologists seldom agree but plausible • to ensure that fencing and stiles are practical people who would be prepared to cases have been put forward for a hill fort properly maintained help out with hands-on maintenance tasks. built by the Silures, the Iron Age tribe who We also need to build a strong relationship inhabited the area before the Romans; a • to seek to improve the quality of with other local community groups who Roman signal point and a Norman (or footpaths on the mountain and to work have similar interests and objectives. Welsh) motte and bailey castle. to ensure that pedestrian access is not This is a long and ambitious list but we the cause of further erosion In folk legend, it has been rumoured to are confident that the knowledge, be the burial site of a giant; a sacred site to • to raise the public perception of tvhe experience and enthusiasm of our members the Druids; the burial mound of the horse importance of Twmbarlwm in historical, will help us to rise to the challenge. Thank Lord Tredegar rode at the charge of the Light environmental and community terms. you for your support. We look forward to Brigade; and the location of buried treasure seeing you at one of our events in the future. Over 100 people attended our launch event guarded by a swarm of bees. at Cross Keys Rugby Club in October. The Further information about the Society More recently the site has become an evening was a huge success and we now can be found on our website: important local amenity. This has come at have almost 70 members. Our challenge www.cymdeithastwmbarlwm.blogspot.com a price. The erosion caused by the many now is to harness all that enthusiasm and which can also be accessed from walkers and mountain bikers who enjoy the to move the Society forward. www.twmbarlwm.co.uk site is threatening to undermine the foundations of the tump itself. Litter louts have been active and some fly tippers have made a special effort to reach the higher slopes. Off road bikers have used the mound as a giant bike ramp, the deep furrows gouged by their tyre tracks all too visible from afar. We decided to do something about it. A group of local people created Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society with the following objectives: • to protect and preserve the ancient monument on the summit of Twmbarlwm and its immediate environment • to ensure that there is secure and robust fencing in place to prevent access by off- 2 SPRING 2011 tump_news_A4_01e:Layout 1 16/06/2011 10:01 Page 3 Cymdeithas TWMBARLWM Society Common Land Motor Bikers Why it is special… On the Risca side, from the cattle grid on Mountain Road the area around the Twmp Need To Be of Twmbarlwm is subject to Common Land legislation. Educated Common Land is unique. It is historical land, which has remained largely undisturbed through the centuries, a remnant of medieval times when people relied on commons for their survival. It is land where the owners of nearby properties have rights to graze animals, collect wood and bracken or dig peat for example. Those rights still exist, although are not exercised as they were in the past. Forgive them, for they know not There are 1.3 million acres of common what they do… land in England and Wales, registered in WE WANT TO STRESS that as a society we over 9,000 separate units covering all are not out to bash motor bikers and 4x4 types of landscape and habitat. off-roaders but everyone needs to realise All common land has an owner, the damage they can do to our historic whether it is a local authority, the National monument with their activities. Even Trust or private individual - in the case of walkers and mountain bikers can cause The kids above are probably only 14 years old - Twmbarlwm it is the Trustees of Llanarth they think it’s great fun riding their mini- Estates. irretrievable damage to our landscape with scramblers to the top of the historical Twmp. But inconsiderate activities. the photo above shows what happens to the The public has the right to walk on all landscape because of the damage they initially Break through the top-soil of the registered commons, subject to certain cause. This slope was a smooth grass bank less restrictions, and on many commons there mountainside with a spinning wheel and than 10 years ago.