.. Sunday 1st June 2008 ..

.. Lads morning out ..

We met up at our usual time of 10.am in the car park of Pontnewydd Park and waited for the girls to arrive ... after  a quick `catch up` of what we had been up to over the preceding month and with the girls `not arriving` we decided to `carry on regardless` and with our collection of tools and newly acquired `wheelie bin`, we made our way through the park to the canal.

Our first `Port of call ` was the `cascades`, retrieving  cans, bottles and floating litter, followed by some weed/vegetation removal; after making our way back up to the footbridge we carried on progressively towards the locks, adjacent to the Cross Keys pub. At half time, Heather turned up `feigning` a sprained ankle, but quickly made `amends` by announcing she would be `mum for the morning` and dished out welcoming cups of hot coffee ... thanks Heather

Our haul over the three hours amounted to: 7 sacks of litter, 4 black re-cycle boxes, 2 tennis rackets, 1 plastic child's chair, 1 safe, 1 side table, 1 golf bag, 1 hi-fi speaker, 2 trikes/scooters, 1 bath, 1 section of metal grill, 1 shopping trolley, 1 biscuit jar, 1 washing up bowl, 2 bicycle wheels, 1 holdall, 1 rubber bath seal, clothing, logs, branches and vegetation.

* The `Safe` that Hugh recovered had probably originated from a house burglary and it was evident that the door had been forced.

* The bath wasn't any use as the taps and plug were missing!!!

.. click on images to enlarge ..
Over the last month I have observed three moorhen nests being built on this section; males and females are indistinguishable and they can have up to three broods in one year. One pair of Moorhens have already reared a brood of nine chicks. It was fascinating to watch as one `partner` diligently selected suitable material and returned to the nest time after time, passing the leaf or reed section etc; to the `nest builder` to delicately place /weave in the appropriate place, to ensure a dry, comfortable and weather resistant `haven` to lay and hatch her eggs. Both parents will take it in turn to incubate the eggs and the first hatchling can appear in just two to three days.

Several Mallard broods can also be observed along the various canal sections throughout Cwmbran. I have observed groups of 6, 8 and 9 ducklings from Ty-Coch to the long tunnel near 5 Locks, Pontnewydd. What a `joy` to see the ducklings sticking close to their mum or if a little older or braver venturing further afield , experiencing their new surroundings to the full ...

When you add the thousands of tadpoles that can be seen, swimming close to the canal banks, several fish species, Damsel flies. the odd squirrel, `jenny` wren, blue tits, robin, wood pigeon etc; together with the abundant flora along the sides of the towpath; One must surely agree, we are `truly blessed` with an enviable `asset on our doorstep` ... We just need to acknowledge it, Play our part by `positive actions` as opposed to `negative actions` (litter/fly tipping), and protect and nurture our environment /surroundings:

In essence ....  Have Pride in Our Community ... Easy Really ...

* Torfaen County Borough Council have a policy of  not grass `cutting` to the water's edge to encourage growth of the natural vegetation and thereby aiding  biodiversity.