|
COMMEMORATIVE &
OTHER TREES,
PLANTINGS, |
Sites within the Parish to be confirmed
St. Brides Major: European Year of the Environment 1987-1988 General Thomas Picton George VI Coronation Mr. E. Hayden (first Headmaster) Memorial for David Canning Memorial for May Hollanby Millennium Old Castle Down (no images) Prince Charles Investiture Prince Charles & Lady Diana Spencer's Marriage Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee (no images) Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's 80th birthday Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Wards of the Parish
Llantwit major Cwm Colhuw (no images)
CASTLE-UPON-ALUN
Coed-y-Bwl Flowers
were planted in the early 19th century by Mrs. Nicholl of Merthyr Mawr Estate.
The area, known locally
as Daffodil Wood, became a Glamorgan Naturalist Trust Reserve in 1970. The
Prince of Wales established an Award for contributors to the Welsh environment
during the 1970 European Conservation Year.
Coed-y-Bwl Nature Reserve was one of 18 recipients of the Award in 1975 and at
Monmouth in July of that year Prince Charles presented a plaque to mark the
occasion.
This six acre reserve in the Alun Valley is part of an area designated as a Site
of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and
is an ancient broad-leaved
woodland lying on limestone.
Consisting mainly of deciduous trees such as
elm, ash and field maple, it is one of the few places where a strain of Welsh wild daffodil
Welsh daffodil and Tenby daffodil bulbs can be bought in garden centres. The orange Tenby daffodil found in Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, and South Pembrokeshire may be a cross between the Welsh daffodil and a wild continental variety, or was possibly brought to Wales by the Phoenicians or medieval monks. Narcissus Cardiff was specially bred to commemorate Cardiff's 50 years as the capital of Wales in 2005 (which was also its centenary year as a city).
Along the coast near Llantwit Major is the 12 hectare site of Cwm Colhuw Nature Reserve (also managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales) which consists of two fields of calcareous grassland, ash woodland and coastal scrub. It hosts a variety of wildlife such as hedgehogs, slow worms, various birds such as linnet, whitethroat and bullfinch, as well as butterflies. There is also a promontory fort on the cliffs.
OGMORE-BY-SEA
Back to top and quick links
Golden Jubilee of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 In the grounds of the Ogmore Centre Trust a
ST.
BRIDES MAJOR
Several groups
of trees to commemorate various events have
been planted on the common just outside the village.
For ease of finding their location they are noted as being either on the
same side as, or on the opposite side to, Pant Quarry (although they are some
distance from it) alongside the B4265.
Departure
of General Thomas Picton to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815
Same side as quarry alongside B4265. Dowager
Countess Caroline of Dunraven planted the lower group of chestnuts in memory of Sir Thomas Picton.
He had stayed at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm with his brother, Rev. Edward Picton (vicar of
St. Brides) before leaving for the Battle during which he was killed.
General Picton had had a premonition that he would die so visited all his
relatives, including Richard Turberville of Ewenny, before rejoining
the army after Napoleon’s escape from Elba.
In memory of Mr. E. Hayden, (Headmaster 1863-1870)
At junction of Heol-yr-Ysgol
and The Schilly, near Church entrance. Caroline, Countess of Dunraven,
planted the tree outside the site (known locally as the
Plantation) of the first school in the Parish
Diamond Jubilee of H.M. Queen Victoria in 1897 Opposite side to quarry alongside B4265, ie on your left just before cattle grid as you enter the village.*
* Several diseased and/or dangerous trees had branches cut or were felled in March, 2004 and eight replacement standard oak, ash, beech and chestnut trees were planted. The second phase of tree felling and pruning was carried out at the beginning of 2005. Replacement hardwood standard trees were planted, and felled trunks/heavy branches were left on site as wildlife habitat.
Coronation of H.M. King George VI (and Queen Elizabeth) on 12th May, 1937 in Westminster Abbey Same side as quarry alongside B4265.*
In December, 1937, 41
trees were planted by W. A. Williams, W. E. Powell, T. John, Rev. T. Watkins and
Rev. J. Llewellyn-Croft. They had
been presented by the St. Brides Major Coronation Committee and were recorded in The Royal Book of Commemorative Tree Planting Throughout the British Empire and
Part of the United States.
They must have been a
wonderful sight, as they comprised:
Investiture
of H.R.H.
Prince Charles as Prince of Wales on
1st
July,
1969
Same side as quarry alongside
B4265, ie on your right as you approach the village. In December, 1969,
dignitaries and young people of the Parish planted 21 trees to mark the
Investiture of the Prince at Caernarfon Castle and his 21st
Birthday on 14th November, 1969.
Three of the trees (silver birch) represent the Parish Wards of St.
Brides Major, Ogmore-by-Sea and Southerndown.
The rotation of the planting was as follows: The Investiture Queen; her Attendant; Vicar; Chairman of Commons Committee; Duchy of Lancaster representative; Glamorgan County Councillor; Secretary of Investiture Committee; Clerk to the Parish Council; Ogmore-by-Sea Life Saving Club; Youth Club; Guides; Brownies; Scouts; Cubs; four school pupils; St. Brides Major Ward Councillor; Ogmore-by-Sea Ward Councillor; Southerndown Ward Councillor.
Silver
Jubilee of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1977
School grounds. St. Brides Major PTA planted a fir
80th birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on 4th August, 1980 Entrance gate to the plantation bought by St. Brides Major Council. Schoolchildren planted various spring bulbs some years ago.
Marriage
of H.R.H. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at
St. Paul's Cathedral on 29th July,
1981 Opposite side to quarry alongside
B4265.
Wards of the Parish By the War Memorial at the junction of Southerndown Road and Ewenny Road. Three trees were planted to represent St. Brides Major, Ogmore-by-Sea, and Southerndown; two remain. There are also three trees in St. Bridget's Churchyard (one flowering cherry by the North Gate and two copper beech by the North Wall) also representing the three Wards of the Parish.
European
Year of the Environment 1987-88
Same side as quarry alongside
B4265.
These were purchased and planted thanks to co-operation between St. Brides Major Community
Council, Ogmore Commoners Association, Ogwr Community Environmental Improvement
Scheme and the EEC, County Council and Borough Council.
In
memory of David Canning (1985-1991)
School grounds. An Ornamental Cherry tree was planted near the
school entrance that could be seen from the hall.
David, who lived in St. Brides Major and was a pupil at the school, died
of meningitis at the age of six.
Millennium
Same side as quarry alongside B4265.
Owing to the foot and mouth
crisis and exceptionally bad weather, it was not until the end of 2001 that St.
Brides Major Community Council were able to plant 11 trees to mark the year 2000.
Unfortunately, eight disappeared and one was partially uprooted, leaving
only two to commemorate the Millennium. It
seemed a planned theft because the ties and stakes were taken too.
As the trees were donated, it made their loss even more disappointing.
However, the Community Council planted replacements in the Spring of 2002
and hopefully future generations will be able to enjoy these.
Old Castle Down Common, St. Brides Major Work was undertaken in early 2005 under the approval of the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environmental Agency to cut back certain areas of bracken, brambles and scrub to provide suitable habitat for fritillary butterflies. The specialist area with SSSI classification was provided to encourage the breeding of some of the less common butterflies of the United Kingdom.
St. Brides Major School Grounds In 2005 an existing plinth was restored and a new sundial purchased and donated in memory of May Hollanby.
SOUTHERNDOWN
Back to top and quick links
Victorian walled gardens
in Dunraven Park were restored by the Heritage Coast with on-going works.
Golden Jubilee of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 Members of Southerndown WI were hoping to plant yellow roses in the gardens of Dunraven Park in celebration of this event.
MONKS WOOD, WICK
Back to top and quick links
In January, 2012 Monks Wood in Wick was damaged when horses trampled newly-planted trees and ate vegetation. The Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw) held a tree-planting event on Saturday, 1st December, 2012 when more than 700 saplings were planted to replace those lost previously; the site was also upgraded to include a wooden bench and new entrance gates. Vale of Glamorgan AM Jane Hutt, Andrew RT Davies and MP Alun Cairns and Chris Matts (manager of the site for the Woodland Trust) were in attendance and thanks were given to villages and local people as well as Cardiff-based SRK consultancy and Tarmac.
SITE/S TO BE CONFIRMED
If
you know of any trees or special plantings that you would like to be mentioned,
please e-mail the Editor. If you
have photograph/s of them (or any of the above) we could use, even better.
If you know the varieties give yourself a pat on the back and let us know
too!!!