Unfortunately we have had to cancel the Midsummer Madness event for Thursday (tomorrow). The weather forecast is appalling, with a weather warning being issued by the Met Office for heavy rain. According to the Met Office site, the chances of rain Thursday evening vary between 60% and 80%.

Tanc has kindly agreed to reschedule the event for the weekend of the August Bank Holiday which is 25th – 27th August. We will let you know more later. We do apologise for this but there is nothing we can do about the weather and it would be foolhardy indeed to attempt circus acts and amplified music with rain pouring down. Let’s hope we manage to get a summer by then.

A reminder about our Midsummer Madness event on Thursday 21st June. The evening will consist of a number of Covent Garden street theatre/ circus style acts, culminating in a performance by local resident Tanc Ingram on his pyrophone. You can watch video of him performing at the Eden Project here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuCJxqyATT0 and get a good idea of what to expect. It looks really intriguing and personally I can’t wait to see it and hear it in action.

It all takes place by the containers and log circle. Thanks to Gareth Edwards of the Queen Inn, there will be a licensed bar open from 7pm although the evening’s entertainment won’t begin until a little later. There is no charge but there will be a raffle and a bucket passed round for donations so we can cover our costs. There will be some logs to sit on but these will probably soon be taken and you would be well advised to take a folding chair to sit on.

We are negotiating to have burgers and hot dogs on sale but this is by no means certain yet. Cars can be parked in the car park by Ebenezer Chapel in the Square. If people are physically unable to walk to the log circle we may be able to arrange transport from the car park to the log circle. We would need notice of this as there is a lot of preparation necessary for this event.

Let’s hope for good weather and we’ll see you up there

The Gwent Ornithological Trust are leading a walk through the woodland to identify birds on May 26th starting at 8.00 am from the car park. If you don’t mind getting up early, members are welcome to join them

This year’s Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Monday April 9th. Bring your children along to the log circle by the containers for a 2.00 pm start. There will be two areas to hunt – a smaller one for the younger children and a larger one for the older children. Refreshments will be on sale so let’s hope it’s a warm sunny afternoon.

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Just to let you know we do have a Facebook page where you can upload photos, make comments, be kept up to date and ask questions. You’ll find it here
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100161550040307&ref=ts

We welcome people volunteering to do work in the woodland. The work varies from simple things like cutting back brambles and gathering offcuts of larch branches to burn (which is the only level I can manage) to quite technical stuff involving chainsaws and tractors that require not only competence but sometimes proper accreditation.

We usually gather at 10.00 Sunday mornings outside Mineslope Cottage – the cottage on the right halfway up the hill from the car park. However our forest manager, Dave Higginson, is keen to start some afternoon groups as well, depending on people’s availability. Anyone interested in this idea should contact him at Mineslope Cottage. There is the possibility of some accredited training available for regular volunteers.

Do come and join us – you will be warmly welcomed, it beats paying a subscription to a gym to get good exercise and you get a real sense of achieving something worthwhile.

On November 5th we are holding a bonfire night event at the log circle by the containers. Come and watch the firework displays in Cwmbran from a place that’s safe even for dogs. Soup and rolls will be on sale, there will be a barbecue for people to cook their own food on, a fire to keep us all warm and a dazzling fire juggling display.

It starts at 6.30 but come when you like. You may wish to bring alcoholic drinks with you and a torch is definitely recommended.

Every Saturday from 30th July to 20th August, workers will be by the log circle from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon for adventure play in the woods for children aged 8+. This will include den building, making shelters, wood craft skills, cooking on a campfire, exporing and looking for wildlife.

It will all be outdoors so suitable clothing and footwear is essential. For further information, please contact the Play Team on 01495 742951

A great way to do the shopping whilst the children are happily occupied

The next walk showing what we hope to achieve and get feedback is next Saturday 19th January. Meet at the bottom car park for 10.30am start. It is open to all but children will need to be accompanied by an appropriate adult. It isn’t arduous and is expected to take about an hour and a half. It would be advisable to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for whatever the weather might throw at us.