There will be a talk on “Woodlands in Wales” by Guest Speaker KATH MCNULTY the CONFOR NATIONAL MANAGER FOR WALES

KTAT manages woodlands to allow its members and volunteers access to affordable woodland products such as firewood, timber, fruit and nuts. In coming together and sharing and learning woodland skills we aim to manage local woodlands sustainably and for the benefit of wildlife as well as our members. Do come and meet us to find out more about volunteering with KTAT and hear Kath update us on Welsh woods.

Volunteers are needed over these days, but mainly on the Sunday 14th April, to assist in this work. IF YOU COME PLEASE ENSURE YOU CHECK IN WITH THE SUPERVISOR BEFORE STARTING!

The horse handler is Nick Burton of Llanfair Caereinion who says that people are welcome to come and watch and admire the horse but he says:

if people touch the horse (which they are welcome to do at recognised break times when she is tied up and not attached to equipment or trees) they should wash hands before eating etc. The risk of infection from Elza are slight but I feel I should alert you to this.

This is an excellent opportunity to see a working horse in action.

Come and Drink-hael with us on Saturday 26th January 2013 5.00pm

- the annual apple day on Castle Hill on Sunday 21st October was a great success; the weather was wonderful (the last before a very gloomy spell) with bright, warm sun. About 200 people came, including many kids, who had a great time in the “App’Olympics” events – apple & spoon races, apple shying, apple bobbing, etc. Prizes were awarded to many of them.

Apple pressing for the juice was limited this year because of the poor harvest, but those who came went away very happy.

An apple cake competition was very successful, and the cakes went with tea & coffee. There was a barbecue and apple and juice tasting.

Look forward to next year!

Sunday 21st October 2012

Opening 2pm ’til 5pm

Click this link for details  Appolympics2012 copy

In the summit trap in August we took away a moth that we didn’t recognise. We have since been able to prove its identity as Caryocolum fraternella, which is a new species for Radnor.

Pete and Ginny

You may see it here http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=4525 

2012 ANNUAL REPORT TO MEMBERS

KCCLP has now been in existence for over  3 years and this is the Board report to members for our 2012 general meeting and to give members an update on our progress.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

The most important thing has been the Projects purchase of 10/86th of the land from the owners.  This meant handing over £10,000 to the current owners and a legal document drawn up to clarify this. The value of the land remained the same as when purchased ie. a total of £86,000.

We have over 260 shareholders and about £11,000 in the bank.

We still need a lot more people to buy shares or donate to the cause to secure the land for perpetuity.

Apple day was great as usual and included the launch of the Sculpture walk from the allotments, through the orchard, up the path where most of the letter carving in stone is, to the top where Rolf Hook’s oak ‘throne’ sits.

At last we committed to the fencing around our boundaries, that, coupled with no sheep grazing, meant liberation for and hence a beautiful display of, spring and summer flowers. A grazing regime needs to be put in place to keep things healthy. Work was done improving the pathway and putting steps up at the top of the hill approaching the castle site.

We have been slowly working our way up to applying for a ‘Heritage Lottery’ grant for working and exploring of the archaeology and history of the castle . We have someone to help us with the application and research has included a trip to Ewyas Harold in Herefordshire, where they have a similar site and  a made successful application. We finally had a visit from Cadw (Welsh Heritage) who were impressed with our work and gave us money towards fencing and some scrub clearance!

The demand for more allotments meant we rabbit-proofed the rest of the ‘growing’ field (with a small grant from Powys Environmental Partnership and lots of hard labour from our volunteers) and we now have some 35 allotments, all full and blooming  when the weather permits! We had a workday on the orchard and replaced the matting around the bases of the trees and gave them a feed. We have lost a few, but that is to be expected especially after the wicked winters we have had. The “Allotment Saturdays” youth group members created a vibrant area with flowers, fruit and veg and lots of colourful and decorative artwork around the place.  The enthusiasm of our young people was rewarded at the Allotment Open Day on August 19th when prizes were given for various plots and sunflowers and a special prize for Young Gardener of the Year – thanks to Lin and Mo from Presteigne Allotments for their help in judging. The rain cleared and the sun shone again for the Allotment Open Day and Rose and Ray from Newtown used their horticultural experience to award prizes for Best Allotments and Best Raised Bed – congratulations to all prize winners.  And thanks to Siggy for organising the whole event and to all those who helped with teas, cakes, the veg stall, raffle and music – creating a perfect afternoon!

Over winter we had a small series of talks at the ‘Castle Inn’, one featured a personal approach to  woodland management, another on a land share and community growing venture in North Wales called ‘Flintshare’.

We are planning new leaflets and publicity campaigns for both national and international promotion  in the next year. Our apple day is coming up on the 21st October and the theme is ” APPLELYMPICS” which should be fun, and as you know all are welcome!

Best wishes,

Will O’Leary, Chair.

ADMINISTRATION

The Directors for this  period have been: Will O’Leary (Chairman), Kevin Jones (also Secretary), Lottie O’Leary, Adrian Thorius (Hopper), Graham Lambert (Treasurers), Janet Lewis, Jamie Ritchie and David Bebbington. They have been supported by Grant Jessé (publications), Jacky Smith (fundraising), Liz Jackson (archaeology), Naomi Ridge (Conservation).

The Directors and supporters have been meeting monthly and have all been very busy keeping activity going. The active groups are Archaeology & Local History (Janet Lewis & Lottie O’Leary), Growing (Siggy Haynes), Events (Lottie O’Leary), Fundraising (Jacky Smith), Access & Maintenance (Kevin Jones), and Publicity (Grant Jessé).  Most of these groups are actually just one volunteer, except the Growing Group which is very active, and we need more help if we are to keep up the early momentum.

MEMBERSHIP

We have 267 members, holding 10,810 shares (average 40 shares), who have also donated over £10,000 between them. The majority of members are local, but we have members in London, Cambridge, Oxford, Telford, West Midlands, Worcester, West Yorkshire, Wiltshire, and even California and Colorado. Our various events have always produced a significant increase in interest and new members.

The rate of new members joining is still similar to last year, about 1-2 a month, and  we need to improve on this if we are to raise significant money towards purchasing the site and even to maintain our operations.

Kevin Jones, Secretary

“But we shall find what we make in the falling glades

And be what we find in the evening” ~ Louis Macneice

A Gathering for

The Equinox on Castle Hill

Knucklas

 Saturday 22^nd September 2012

from 6 pm on the Lower Slope

until Around Midnight on Top

under a waxing Moon

Acoustic Music from

Kirsten Hellier & Friends   a   Rhythm Thieves Mark & Jill

Robb Whiteman & Katie Emma

The Radjammers:

Jerry Price, Roger Gay, Adam Campbell-Jones,

Fay Lane & Will Nattress

Mick Westrip   a   Paul Hassett

Blaise & Maggie

Acoustic Poems from

 The Tigerfish

Plus other surprise participants, including possibly YOU !

Bring your own Food + Drink, Chairs, Torches, Stout Footwear &c.

Bring your Friends! (Essential dogs only please)

Admission Free

Parking  at the Community Centre : 5 minutes walk. Or travel by Train!

Chris at The Castle Inn has a warm welcome, hot food & every beverage.

A KCCLP / Tigerfish ‘Joint’ Production

Considering how poor the overnight weather was, we had an enormous number of moths in the traps – 77 species and 804 moths.

Of these a micro – Bryotropha politella was only the 2nd Rador record, Maple Pug – 5th record, and though only the 11th record of Dotted Carpet, all previous were from the Elan area.

The list is attached here: Moth list 2012

Previous lists are here: Moth list 2011 and Moth list 2010

and you can see more details of the moths here: http://ukmoths.org.uk/systematic.php

7.30 pm  Friday 28^th September 2012

at Castle Inn, Knucklas (Function Room)

All are invited to the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the KCCLP

NON-MEMBERS ARE WELCOME

 Come and hear what we have achieved this year

and give us some ideas for

FUTURE PLANS FOR THE PROJECT

 MEETING WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BRING & SHARE SUPPER – bring something to share!!!

Kevin Jones, Secretary