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We all had good fun at our special family event day at Cosmeston on Sunday April 26th with little and big legs being stretched around
the lake and in the wilder parts of the park. Ducks were fed, wild flowers observed and sticks collected. The goodie bags were such a
success that it has been decided to give them out on all the family walks this Summer. Our next walk at the Amelia Trust Farm on
Sunday May 17th will have ponies accompanying us on some of our trails and lots of other animals to see. There will be woods to go through,
stiles to get over, a hill to climb and fields to cross. Ring Kathryn on 02920 562703 for more information.
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The rain came and there we were sloshing about in puddles like the lucky ducks following the donkeys around the farm.
Enoch was the slowest one and we could all walk faster than him! Through the gates and across the fields to the pond.
What were those black squiggly things in the water? Connor said they were tadpoles and Mari said they were called penbwl in welsh.
We were off again into the woods climbing and sliding in the mud until at last we were in the cafe noses glowing having our rewards
of hot drinks and goodie bags. |
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On a hot sunny day our June walk was from Castell Coch the fairytale castle in the woods where we climbed up the steep paths to the lair
of the giant spider and the dragon.Someone left their foot behind in the dragon's mouth but all seemed to run fast enough when gold was
discovered in the wooden chest. We ate our sandwiches overlooking the Taff valley before descending back to the castle.
more pictures below....
More photos . . . . .
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The great expanse of sand dunes in Merthyr Mawr was the venue of our Family walk in July. Running and jumping, slipping and sliding
we headed for the sea. The flowers at this time of year are magnificent but the competitive raced each other up and down the steep
slopes and the artistic etched pictures on the smooth wind blown surfaces.We heard the sea on the beach before we saw it and then---
there it was the expanse of sand that is the beach at Merthyr Mawr. After lunch we had extra excitment climbing 'The Big Dipper'
which is the highest sand dune in the UK and the second highest in Europe!
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The cloud was down and the wind was up so Pen y Fan was out! We all piled into our cars and drove around to the National Park Visitors
Centre at Libanus near Brecon to put plan B into action. We climbed the steep slopes of Twyn y Gaer to the white trig point at the top
overlooking the Usk valley. Then we great had fun sliding down the wet grass all through our picnic lunch!
another below....
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The September sun shone on over thirty of us as we made our way to the Barrage. Caitlin brought her bike just in case it was too
far---like a pushchair only you push yourself! Did she make it all the way or did the playground entice her to settle for sand and
swings? Most of us resisted and saw the Barrage working and the boats going through and out to sea. We waved as the little train passed
us. No thank you we said ----we can walk!
another below....
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We climbed Pen y fan the highest mountain in South Wales in no time at all! Josh was out in front until we reached the cloud coming down
and then we slowed a little. We saw fantastic views down into the valley with green fields and lakes stretching out before us, On the top
we put stones on the cairn for luck and to make the mountain even higher! Chloe's feet hurt coming down but she was soon all smiles when
she received her certificate of achievment from Frances. It was the first time she had ever climbed so high. Well done to all!
(Certificate photo below)
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The first walk of our winter programme was at The Knap in Barry and along the beach to Porthkerry Country Park. Claire started off by
showing us a fossil called Gryphaea or Devils Toe Nail that she had found on the beach last year so we looked and looked and clambered
and clambered and got wet feet and found some great ammonites but no toe nails! We counted at least one hundred and twenty six golden
steps and we saw lots of aeroplanes coming in to land at Cardiff airport.
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We hid in the hide and and were very quiet and then we saw a green woodpecker in the trees across the pond.
Someone said there was a blue kingfisher also but it must have flashed by too quickly for most of us.
We collected lots of leaves, twigs, conkers and many other interesting stuff we found on the ground. We
put them in our bags and took them home. Chloe said she was going to do a big collage with all her different
things and maybe take it to school to show. We walked along the canal and in the picture Marie is telling us
how locks work. On our next walk in St Fagans we are going to have a drama enactment not with real swords
but maybe with rubber ones!
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The historic fields around St Fagans was the venue for our pre Christmas walk. We ventured our way across steams and through mud
to the battlefield of 1648 where brandishing silver cardboard swords all the boys decided to be Roundheads while all the girls were
the Cavaliers (something to do with length of hair!)! Fighting and fun followed.
another below....
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Our wish came true for the January walk. Snow and ice covered the ground and with mitts, hats and strong boots we fought our way
slipping and sliding up the steep wooded slopes around the Castle. Crisp air, red noses and sunshine were all part of the day's experiences.
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The sun shone on us at the new RSPB Centre in the Newport Wetlands where the land goes down to the sea and the birds gather in their
thousands. We identified many species coming in off the channel and in the ponds, Lauren ( in the picture) saw lots of coots through
her binoculars while Josh and Connor went jumping on the bouncy bridge!
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Garwnant was unfortunately not ready for us after the hard winter but what a treat it was to meet up at Cyfartha Castle.
Apparently there are nine miles of trails in the park so plenty of room for us to walk, run and jump. We met with loads of
frog spawn in the ponds and in the grass around. So watched closely by many bulging froggy eyes peering at us from the water's
surface we examined the jelly covered eggs floating around the edge. Later on. it was the girls who found the climbing tree and
Amy and Chloe nearly reached the top!
There was an excellent museum in the Castle that many of the families visited-----after the walk and ice cream of course! |
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