http://www.celteiddwyr.org.uk en-gb celteiddwyr.org.uk 2009-4-11T00:00:00Z celteiddwyr.org.uk http://www.celteiddwyr.org.uk/page14.htm#39627 Its the Easter weekend and the sun is out hallelujah Fingers crossed that this is a good omen for Summer 2009. Its also the time that I look to my garden and think what a mess its looking so Im going to have to get my hands dirty. But what about everywhere else In one of my earlier posts I said about taking part in a river clean up on Berw Road but there are other ways to pretty things up a little. Some of you may have heard about Guerilla Gardening an international movement which began as one mans mission to make London a greener place to live and to address grot spot neglected by local authorities. On May 1st it will be International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day when surprise surprise people all over the world will be planting sunflower seeds. You could do this in your own garden or be a shade braver and find your own spot to do some planting guerilla style. Me Ive bought the seeds and will definitely be planting some in my own garden over the May Day bank holiday weeke... 2009-4-11T00:00:00Z http://www.celteiddwyr.org.uk/page14.htm#38830 This weeks Pontypridd Observer headline story is entitled 1634m Revamp for Station. RCT Council Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail have recently met to discuss refurbishment of Pontypridd Rail Station. But is this really new news Back in December 2008 another article was published End of the Line for Pontypridds Train Ticket Cheats saying that ticket gates should be installed and operational at Pontypridd station by Summer 2009. In our correspondence with Network Rail over the past 6 months Network Rail have stated that repairs to the Platform 1 canopy would be taking place in March of this year over the area of the proposed ticket gates. However by today March 28th 2009 very little work appears to have taken place apart from a single 12 x 12 board being screwed to the underside of the canopy. The anticipated cost quoted by Network Rail for repairs to the Platform 1 canopy alone replacement of the felt roof replacement of the boards where applicable the fylonsic sheeting and pa... 2009-3-28T00:00:00Z http://www.celteiddwyr.org.uk/page14.htm#38499 Its a bit slow at the moment for getting replies so I thought Id update you on one of the minor successes one of our members has had in trying to improve the environment in their local area the Graig. About 3 weeks ago one of our members contacted RCT councils Street Care Department regarding the removal of a litter bin near their home. Since the bin was removed the former post office has been converted into a corner shop and unfortunately there had been an increase in the amount of litter in the area. Our member noted this fact to RCT in their email. Since then not one but 4 litter bins appear to have been installed in the vicinity of the shop and nearby streets. Improving the environment is not just about recycling and using alternative green technologies. It can also be about having clean streets safe playgrounds and prettying things up. Y Celteiddwyrs ethos is People Supporting People because we can all help each other. If you want to contact RCT regarding improving facilit... 2009-3-21T00:00:00Z http://www.celteiddwyr.org.uk/page14.htm#37633 Typical. You find an interesting program and its the last in the series. Last Monday I caught the last episode of a series on BBC2 called Its Not Easy Being Green. The program featured a green house restoration holidaying in an eco caravan and a freecycler who made his own bread. Maybe not the most exciting line up but certainly interesting. When redecorating a couple of years ago I searched on the internet for carpet underlay. Being quite cost conscious at the time I was looking for the best price I could find. The cheapest underlay I found was made from recycled materials and is I still think 2 years after laying it very good quality. The house renovation on the BBC series was in its final stages and they featured ecofriendly emulsion paints which are also friendlier to the painter as they have no toxic fumes. You can buy these paints from sites such as httpwww.greenshop.co.uk and httpwww.earthbornpaints.co.uk for similar prices as you would pay from your local DIY store for... 2009-3-6T00:00:00Z http://www.celteiddwyr.org.uk/page14.htm#37318 RCT council have made a big show of their green credentials in the past few years supporting Fair Trade initiatives and Plastic Bag Free Ponty but they are falling behind in encouraging in the street what they want us to do at home recycling.A sole recycling bin graces the streets of Pontypridd town centre. Compare this to Cardiff city centre where recycling bins are highly visible. We should have the opportunity to practise recycling throughout the day no matter if we are at home or out shopping. We have contacted RCTs street care department to request that more recycling bins are located around Pontypridd town centre and are awaiting their reply. 2009-2-26T00:00:00Z http://www.celteiddwyr.org.uk/page14.htm#36640 This Saturday morning saw me drag myself from home to Berw Road and the banks of the River Taff to take part in a river clean up with 4 other like minded people. The Taffs originates in the Brecon Beacons which means that an awful lot of rubbish seem to make it to Pontypridd and get stuck in the fallen trees which line the banks. The group of people who had organised the clean up have been working at projects like this for a couple of years but get little recognition and no compensation other than personal satisfaction for their work.The Taff is an important ecosystem which needs help to look after it. Otter tracks have been spotted in the Pontypridd area and this morning I spotted a tiny bird which may have been a Goldcrest and the electric blue flash of a Kingfisher on the opposite bank. Not so many years ago these sightings would have been impossible but since the demise of the mining industry the river is returning to its former glory.If everyone puts in a small amount of effor... 2009-2-14T00:00:00Z http://www.celteiddwyr.org.uk/page14.htm#36424 Hello. Its taken a little bit for time to get organised but I think were nearly there now. Welcome to the new Celteiddwyr blog where we will keep you up to date with various artistic and environmental activities and concerns going on around Pontypridd. So on to the weather. No I havent run out of things to say yet but the current cold spell is not the best news for our feathered friends. In this weather the birds need a hand with both food and water which is where we can all help. The RSPB Helping Birds site has loads of tips for what food to put out to attract different birds to your garden and how to build your own birdhouse. Birds commonly seen around Pontypridd include blackbirds robins coal tits and pied wagtails so we have a mix of both ground feeding and tree feeding birds. Bird food is readily available from many shops around town so why not add a bag of seeds or nuts to your weekly shop to help them out. Bye for now 2009-2-10T00:00:00Z