Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The Tywi Centre’s Helena Burke was in Brussels last week representing RDP Sir Gâr’s Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd (TAYO)  project at an exhibition in the European Parliament hosted by MEP Jill Evans. The theme was "How EU Rural Development Funds are used in order to promote a sustainable economy in rural Wales" and TAYO, based at the Tywi Centre in Llandeilo, had been selected to be part of the exhibition as it focused on celebrating the heritage of Carmarthenshire’s Tywi Valley and promoting the social, economic and environmental benefits gained by protecting and promoting this heritage. During the summer the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes, Alun Davies, had paid a visit to the Tywi Centre to see how TAYO project had strengthened links between the community and the landscape and helped people develop the skills needed to look after the landscape. The project had restored and expanded natural habitats, provided opportunities for people to...

The first “Blas Tywi” Food Festival held in Dinefwr Farm attracted an estimated 3,000 visitors over the event’s two days. It featured celebrity chefs Bryn Williams, Anthony Evans, Hazel Thomas, Daniel Williams and Lisa Fearn who demonstrated their culinary skills to an enthusiastic audience. The event also saw Llandeilo Young Farmers win the “Ar Y Fwydlen” cookery competition by beating Llandeilo RFC into second place. The festival hosted more than 30 different food, drink and herbal stalls ranging from local meats and fish to speciality beers, cakes and cheeses. Entertainment included lantern-making sessions, cookery workshops, clay-making demonstrations, apple pressing and storytelling. The crowds also enjoyed a variety of musical items with the Nantgaredig Community Orchestra, the Nantgaredig School Choir and St Teilo Choir providing the entertainment. Further entertainment was provided by students of Coleg Sir Gar, and the Jac-y- Do folk group getting everyone involved in their Twm...

A Taste of Tywi community food festival is being held this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, the Community Food Festival and Open Day is being held at the Tywi Centre, Dinefwr Farm, Llandeilo. The event is being organised by Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd and its partner organisations. The event will celebrate the wonderful produce and people of the Tywi Valley. There is a competition with the following categories - Open cookery Bara Brith 6 Welsh Cakes Chocolate sponge Pot of Jam Pot of Chutney Children’s Section Decorated cup cakes (under 7 yrs) Savory Pasties (8-11yrs) Fruits of the Valley (12-16yrs) Please register your entries in the Music and Arts Marquee by 11am on Saturday 11th September. Inspiration and ideas will be flowing as guest chefs will be demonstrating how to prepare delicious dishes. Each chef will take their inspiration from ingredients available locally. Members of the audience will have the opportunity to sample the final dishes. Chefs include - Bryn Williams One of Bryn’s m...

A huge operation to clear a Carmarthenshire riverbank of invasive plants has been hailed a success. Volunteers spent a day cleaning up the banks of the River Dulas in Cwrt Henri. The aim was to clear rubbish and the highly invasive Himalayan Balsam from the site. Staff from the county council led Tywi Afon y Oesoedd project were joined by volunteers from Trinity University College’s outdoor pursuits course, and Tidy Towns officers. Hilary Foster from the Environment Agency and Gethin Thomas from the Rivers Trust also attended. The students learnt that Himalayan Balsam is a highly invasive non native species. Its rapid growth allows it to out-compete all other plant species that grow on the river bank. By removing the plants before they set seed the students helped to ensure a more diverse collection of native species will grow and thrive. Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd Volunteer Officer Helena Burke said: “We are grateful to the landowners in Cwrt Henri who gave us permission to access the river...

Tywi Valley residents have backed plans for a sculpture trail to celebrate the area’s heritage. Dozens of people have supported the project at Tregyb Woods. A series of sculptures including door mice, a heron and an otter have been commissioned for the scheme, which is part of the £2.4 million Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd project. Educational leaflets will be published for visitors to follow the trail and learn about the area. The aim is to conserve the region’s history and create a legacy for future generations. The plan follows extensive consultation with the community about a sculpture in the area. Initial suggestions for a St Teilo statue in Llandeilo were rejected in favour of enhancing the woodland trail. Project Manager Emma Rees said: “A community consultation was held because we wanted to provide an open opportunity for discussions. “It was a huge success with many exciting ideas brought forward, and as a result we will be developing a sculpture trail at Tregyb Woods. “Once completed,...

This letter has been sent by Simon Buckley to the Carmarthen Journal in reponse to the latest row over the proposed war memorial in Llandeilo. Re: Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd Statue Proposals I have read the letter (in the Carmarthen Journal) from Charlotte Leadbetter of March 31. At no time have I ever made any personal attacks on any member of Llandeilo Town Council. I have merely urged the council to think about alternative proposals to their half-baked plan for a statue that is limited by budget. I have the following comments to make: 1. The idea for a war memorial was not mine. I, nevertheless, fully support it. The idea was formulated by a group of young people who are customers of the White Horse Llandeilo. Average age 27. People who have lost members of their families in conflicts over the last 25 years. They felt that it was more appropriate to dedicate a piece of local sculpture to the memory of our fallen Heroes than some cheap piece of architectural design that was limited by budg...

Open letter sent by Simon Buckley to local newspapers regarding the Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd statue proposals in Llandeilo. I have read with some interest proposals by the Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd group and Llandeilo Town Council of a plan to erect an Oak statue in the middle of Llandeilo that depicts Lord Rhys or, alternatively, St. Teilo. The town council is right, in that we need to create a focal point in our town, and if as part of this Towy Valley scheme we can attract inward investment into the town, then great let’s have it! But don’t let’s have just any old thing because that is all the grant will give us. Llandeilo has a diverse population of people who have settled here because of the quality of the town and we want to see the town develop into a tourism hub that brings prosperity and jobs to the area. If we are to have a statue can we not urge our Town Council to think outside the box and create an area that is more than just a chainsaw sculpted piece of Oak? Our town has a rich hi...