Abergavenny in Bloom

The “Brownie Patch” is the result of a community effort.  The patch was rotavated by the Greenfingers team (a social service group for individuals with learning difficulties).

The patch was seeded with native wildflower seed by a group of Abergavenny Brownies. Petunias were grown by the Greenfingers team. Weeding, watering and in-filling has been carried out by the Friends of Castle Meadows. The age profile of the individuals who took part is 7-70 years.

We chose the site because it is accessible to all including those with limited mobility.

We would like to thank everyone who took part and also to all those walkers and dog-walkers who stopped by the patch to encourage us.

Cantref Young Friends

Year 4 pupils from Cantref School have become the latest Young Friends of Castle Meadows.

At a recent session the 28 students enjoyed pond dipping and food chain game activities with Monmouthshire Countryside Service and Friends volunteers.

The heat-wave has proved popular not only with the youngsters but also with the inhabitants of the main pond. This year’s dip yielded a record number of species finds. Among the Cantref students discoveries were pond snails; water boatmen; frogs; sticklebacks; smooth newts; palmate newts; bloodworms; ramshorn snails; water scorpions; whirligig beetles; non biting midge larvae; hog lice; minnows; dragonfly larvae; caddis fly larvae, pond skaters; dragonfly nymphs; damselfly nymphs; water fleas, and a leech. Perhaps unsurprisingly the frogs provided the biggest interest, although the activities of the water scorpions and the leech helped reinforce the lessons of the food chain activity!