The Caves of Cefn Meiriadog, Denbighshire , a Bishop Darwin, a Chimney Sweep, Landmines and Science

Dr Elizabeth Walker enteretined us with the fascinating history of the Pontnewydd Cave and it's surrounding area, on the side of the Elwy Valley.

The history goes back to when the first human beings lived here. They were hunter gatherers who found warmth and shelter in the cave. There are a number of small remains (teeth)

By the 1530s, the caves of the Elwy valley were already famous, being noted by the antiquary John Leland in his itinerary of 1536–39, but their potential archaeological significance was not examined until 1830, when Cefn Old Cave was visited by the Reverend Edward Stanley (later Bishop of Norwich)

In more recent times Darwin visited the area along with Adam Sedgwick. Darwin considered this trip to North Wales to be one of his most important formative tours before he headed off for his most famous adventures.

More recently it was also used as an arms storage centre during the war.

Programme Change

Please note that the Roath Park walk on Sunday the 13th of May bas been changed from a 10:00 start to an 11:00 start.

It's sure to be a wonderful day with Tony Titchen see the programme for more details

Birds, Ecosystems and Climate Change

We had a fascinating talk by Dr Rob Thomas whi is a Lecturer in Biosciences at Cardiff University

He explained the many ways in which bird studies on the macro and more local level can be really useful as indicators of climate change and the development of mmodels from the decades of records taht have been collected by the birders amongst us

Dr Thomas asked that we let people know of the ways that they can get involved in these research studies, or just support the researchers by opting for an eco friendly holiday in one of the research areas.

We're happy to do so for a supporter of the society, and you can find more details here

http://stormies-online.blogspot.com/
http://www.eco-explore.co.uk/

Regards
Andy

CNS Transactions now on-line

Many years ago the National Library of Wales asked us if they could scan and put on-line the Cardiff Naturalist's Society Transactions

We heard nothing despite chasing, but finally they see to have got around to it and they have been spotted by one of our members

So here they are... Reports and transactions (Cardiff Naturalists' Society), 1900-1981

It's a fantastic resource and secures a copy of our works into the digital age

There is a comment in the text that "Reports and transactions (Cardiff Naturalists' Society) was published annually, containing scholarly articles on geology, archaeology and natural history, with book reviews and society notes. It was published between 1870 and 1986. For digitisation, the publication has been split into two sequences: Vol. 1 (1867) – Vol. 31 (1898-1899) and Vol. 32 (1899-1900) -Vol. 100 (1986)."

I can't find part 1, if anyone spots it please let us know 

Regards
Andy

Pond Conservation

We recently received this which is something that we'd like to pass on and publicise

A Happy New Year from all at Pond Conservation

Have you seen frog or toad spawn in your garden pond? Then join in with our Big Spawn Count, so that we can find out more about the breeding success of our frogs and toads in garden ponds nationally.

The Big Pond Dip and Thaw surveys have given us a lot of new information about garden ponds. Now we are working with our colleagues at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of UK (ARGUK) to find out more about the numbers of frogs breeding in garden ponds.

We are also keen to find out more about our common toad. Although, toads are less associated with garden ponds – there is some indication that the use of gardens is becoming more frequent due to loss of traditional breeding habitat. This is something we would like to find out more about.

You can take part in our Big Spawn Count by going to your pond and counting the number of spawn clumps present. For more information about this, and to enter your results online go to our Big Spawn Count pages.

http://www.pondconservation.org.uk/bigponddip/BigSpawncount

We'll certainly try and give it a go at our house

River action Plans for 2011-12 on-line

A little late for their intended dates, but welcome non the less are 2 documents that the CNS received recently

These are the River Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor Appendices 2011-2012 and the River Ely Valley Action Plan Appendices 2011-2012 

A search of the Council website has failed to turn these documents up there, but they are very informative and interesting documents and are therefore pleased to make them more accessible via our blog and website.

A description of the overview of all of the three rivers (The Taff is obviously included in the strategy) and the action plans and the 2010/2011 update documents for all three projects can all be found HERE

If anyone can turn up a link to the 2011/12 documents properly I'd be pleased to hear about it, please add a comment to this posting and we can update things as necessary

Regards
Andy

Mary Gillham to be featured in Botanic Gardens exhibition

At the Christmas event we had in celebration of Mary's 90th Birthday I was asked for copies of pictures of Mary for an exhibition in the Botanic Gardens of Wales

Those there will note that none of the awful pictures I took were suitable and I made arrangements to get a better picture of her. For those who were there I think you will agree this is much better

This one has been chosen and will be in the exhibition, but we thought you may like to know more about the event

Here is what we know so far

Hi Andy,

We are in the process of writing the official introduction for our exhibition, but I can give you some advance info. We have a working title now, 'Inspirational Botanists - Women in Wales', the exhibition will be held in the Gallery at the Botanic Gardens (opposite the gift shop) for the month of March with the official opening on March 8th to co-incide with International Womens' Day. We will focus on 11 women:

1. Lady Caroline Wilkinson 1822 - 1881 Amateur botanist and artist from Gower

2. Eleanor Vachell 1879 - 1948 Amateur botanist from Glamorgan

3. Mary  A.E. Richards 1885 - 1977 botanist, Merionethshire

4. Elsie Wakefield 1886 - 1972 mycologist, Swansea and Gower

5. Irene Vaughan 1889 - 1993 field botanist and County recorder Carmarthenshire

6. Prof Lily Newton 1893 - 1977 phycologist, prof of botany Aberystwyth

7. Janet Macnair 1903 - 1975 amateur botanist Monygomeryshire

8. Ann Connolly 1917 - 2010 professional botanist, Lleyn and Bardsey

9. Dr Mary E. Gillham 1921 -  botanist, naturalist and writer, Welsh Islands

10. Dr Helgi Opik 1936 - plant cell biologist and senior lecturer Swansea

11. Dr Dianne Edwards Palaeobotanist, Cardiff

12. Dr Lynne Boddy Mycologist, Cardiff

13. Dr Natasha de Vere Plant researcher, NBGW

Yes, I know I said 11, two have been removed from the list as there was insufficient information available to include them, and as neither of them were 'mine', I can't recall who they were. 

Sorry Andy, I will find out!

If that's whetted your appetite look in here at the blog a little closer to the date and we should have more information