A Newsletter for the Friends of Not so Grave News Cathays Cemetery March 2014 Issue No 18 Nature Notes Apart from record rainfall and gales, Winter seems to have passed us by this year, with hardly any frost and only the lightest touch of snow. But still the odd frosty morning, with the sun low in the sky, can completely alter the appearance of the Cemetery. The picture below, taken in Section M, is an example – look how tall the obelisks are! Wrinkled Club Fungus Despite the strong winds, damage to trees has probably been less severe than in the last few winters, but one casualty in the eastern corner of Section Q, was a multi-trunked fir that exhibited an unusual growth pattern. As can be seen in the image below, the rings are very narrow on the side where the ability to expand was restricted, while those on the opposite side are much wider. The result is that the growth centre (picked out in red) is nearer to the side of the trunk than the geometric centre. On the same theme, the Cemetery is a place for all seasons, as it can always throw up transitory surprises, like this tree with a crop of diamonds. Not so surprising: they had all gone by lunchtime! Our last two issues have featured varieties of bean tree. If you wished to collect some seeds, you are probably too late now, as the bean pods now look like pairs of black shoelaces – but they do make the trees look quite distinctive. In January, a number of patches of Wrinkled Club We may not have seen much wintry weather, but Fungus (Clavulina Rugosa) appeared in the Spring is definitely on the way: the first Cemetery. You would normally expect to see this snowdrops were out by mid January, with in late summer to late autumn, so the unusual daffodils, crocuses and primroses appearing in the timing was, presumably, another reflection on the next few weeks. While these can be found in strange winter weather. This white fungus is many locations, the best patch of crocuses is edible (but don't try it unless you are absolutely probably in the most westerly corner of Section N confident of its identity!), typically 4–10 cm high (as pictured overleaf) and primroses are abundant and may be simple or with a few antler-like side alongside the Whitchurch Road boundary. branches. Friends NEWS present phase of work around the end of March. The pictures below show some of the progress. A Swathe of Crocuses Winter Miscellany New 'floating' floor Scarcely had our last edition gone to print than Cathays hit the news headlines, as a result of a double knife attack, the first of them within the Cemetery, close to the site of the Catholic Chapel. The assailant apparently made his way through the Cemetery and crossed Fairoak Road before making a second attack in Tewkesbury Street. Police descended in force, with numerous vehicles and a helicopter, and sealed off the area. A man was soon under arrest, while the two victims needed hospital treatment but are understood to have recovered. The Cemetery was soon reopened, although a small scene of crime area was cordoned off for a few days. Criminal activity of a different variety was apparent just before Christmas, when at least two small fir trees were cut down, presumably, to be draped with tinsel and lights shortly afterwards. Glazing with polycarbonate in progress on the episcopal Chapel The first opportunity to view the result is expected to be the Tuesday Health Walk, which will be part of the Cardiff Walking Festival, in the first week of May. While this is only a small first step towards the full restoration of the chapels, providing a sustainable future, it is important that as much use as possible is made of them now, to demonstrate that there is Two issues ago, in September, we reported that a need that can be fulfilled, to provide positive funds were available to restore basic habitability to publicity and, hopefully, to start to generate an the chapels. You will see from the AGM report income. If you have any ideas in this respect, (on page 3) that the contract was let in January please let us know. and we are pleased to confirm that work has been progressing well. The aim is to complete the Not so Grave News September 2013 Page 2 Issue Nº 16 Friends NEWS 2014 AGM Chairman: Bill Mosley th Treasurer: John Farnhill The AGM was held on Saturday 25 January in Secretary: Vacant the Meeting Room of the offices at Thornhill Other Trustees: Paul Jones, Ivor Lippett, Chris Cemetery with 23 people in attendance. Marsh, Paul Nicholson, Hugh Payne, Margaret There being no corrections to or matters arising Smith. from the Minutes of last year's meeting, business The number of trustees is less than optimum, but moved quickly onto the Chairman's Report. it is open to the committee to appoint auxiliary Although there had been no special ceremonies, it officers and, if appropriate, also to appoint them had been another busy year, with a full as trustees. It is hoped that this facility will enable programme of talks, walks and workdays, as well the current situation to be improved. as the weekly Walking for Health. All these – and much more – were reported on in the Newsletter, Carmel Thomas provided an update on behalf of four issues of which appeared during the year. Bereavement Services, beginning with the splendid news that a contract had been let, “and The other important medium for keeping the would start on Monday”, to make the chapels Cemetery in the public eye is the Friends Website. habitable. Fortunately, the chapels qualified for a While developments continue, the improvement in modest Land Tax Grant, which has been secured this online facility are largely responsible for the by Bereavement Services. The work will include a increase in enquiries from other parts of the UK “floating” floor, disabled access, making the and, indeed, from around the world. windows watertight and installing water and The Chairman's Report drew attention to the power services. The work is due to be completed Calendar for 2014, which was included in the AGM by the end of March. It was emphasised that this pack, with the hope that the events would be well is not a restoration or adaptation project, which supported by members and their friends. would have required a much more substantial budget and listed building consents. The Chairman gave full credit to the efforts of the committee and thanked Bereavement Services, Carmel also advised that while the Conservation particularly Carmel Thomas, Martin Birch and Alan Management Plan had not come to fruition, a Site Staniforth, for their continued help and support to Maintenance Plan had started with the aim of the Friends. He concluded his Report by noting balancing conservation and heritage interests and that both he and John Farnhill would like to make the resources of both in house staff and way for new blood next year and that it would be volunteers. As part of the First World War very helpful to have a Deputy Chairman, too. The commemoration, poppies would be sown, probably committee is not a closed shop so anyone who by the Cross of Remembrance in the “New” thinks that they have something to contribute was Cemetery and with Allensbank Primary School invited to make themselves known to the being involved. The poppy seeds have been committee. ordered and the variety is appropriately called Lest We Forget. The Treasurer presented his Report, explaining the Accounts for the year ending 31st December After a short period of questions and discussion, 2013, which were made available at the meeting. the formal meeting was concluded (most While turnover had been lower than the previous efficiently, in just over an hour). year, a reasonable surplus had been generated, Keep Wales Tidy Cathays Cemetery Project leaving a year end balance of almost £7,000. Income from book sales (where the remaining Immediately after the AGM, Richard Weaver, stock represents an asset of around £2,750), Project Officer for Cardiff and the Vale of subscriptions and donations were the main Glamorgan, talked about this new project. His sources of income. Once again, the Treasurer role is to support groups on conservation projects drew attention to the fact that the healthy balance and keeping Wales tidy is definitely not restricted was a reminder that the Friends need to give to clearing litter! thought to ways of spending it in accordance with A lot of ideas were mooted, including doing their charitable status. something different with the roundabout at the As a result of the elections at the meeting, the main entrance, smartening up the area around the Trustees’ Committee is unchanged, viz: chapels (commensurate with their return to active use) and creating artistic display pieces around the Not so Grave News September 2013 Page 3 Issue Nº 16 Friends NEWS Cemetery (possibly including a slice of the stump and some of his family. of the giant Holm Oak). An open discussion The memorial was erected on the death of his followed with many ideas about the future of the wife, Cochrina Walker (Walker was her maiden entrance roundabout, having the wild flower surname) on 27th March 1891, at the age of 65. garden elsewhere, restoring the remaining chapel pews, labelling trees and providing more section markers. It was hoped to get things in motion around March this year, but a lot more discussion is needed to firm up on plans.