2012 & Facebook helps us reach younger generations (16people from 13 to 34)…

16 individuals aged from 13 to 34 (out of a total of 52) have taken part in our Facebook page so far in these first 3 months of 2012.

Thanks to all for their efforts in posting to our Facebook – though we believe we can do far better…

HELP US WITH OUR SOCIAL NETWORK/s …

We’d love to get your help with our Social Networking or Blogs etc.
You don’t have to be a teenager (though great if you are),
you don’t have to be in your 20′s
– get in touch and help us as much or AS LITTLE AS YOU WISH.

View our full FB stats…

Click our following PDF link detailing our Demographic reach in first 3 months of 2012.

2012-03-14 – Facebook-Stats – Swansea Canal Society

Support us via Donation or Joining…

PS. Please support us by either Donating (even if it’s £1, though we accept £100′s also), AND / OR, by joining as a Member.

Proud of our Swansea Canal.

Sunset on Swansea Canal near Coed Gwilym Park, Clydach, Swansea.

Just a quick post to 1.show the great condition of our canal and also to try out my nw phone app.

My 4 year old boy could only find 1 can floating in the water; unfortunately we couldn’t reach it.

Steve Walters.
PS.quite pleased with the pic from my phone.

Our clearance of Barge Wreck at Ynysmeudwy.

Click to see series of photos at BobGraingerPhotography.

Great morning’s work on the wreck today, Martin, Alan, Bob and David.

We’re sure it’ll be looking a real picture the next time we are up there.

INFO ON THE CANAL BARGE…

About 200 yards below the locks is the last surviving example of a Swansea Canal barge.

This barge was the last boat to pass through the Ynysmeudwy locks in 1943.

• These were approximately 64 feet long and seven and a half feet wide.
• They could carry a maximum of 22 tons of cargo.
• Some of the bargees during the Victorian period included Thomas Williams age 10, Mary Williams age 44 and John Lewis Williams age 74.

Info summary taken from our Swansea Canal Trail leaflet (click to visit our SCS webpage & download the leaflet).

New friends

Christina here! Having introduced myself in my first post, I would like to introduce you to some new friends I have made along the canal!

Curiosity got the better of these happy munchers when they stopped their grazing to get a better look at their passer-by.

 

 

I couldn’t make out if they were interested, indifferent or mildly annoyed that I had disturbed their peaceful morning graze, so I said a hasty hello and let them be!

 

 

 

Just a few minutes further up the canal, I came across my next encounter… who I almost killed – with my foot. But we’re cool now.

Spotted it? This little fellow was so well camouflaged that I barely saw him. It was a chance glimpse of seeing the ‘ground’ blink that I stopped in time.

Completely motionless, he certainly knew how to hide from predators, but perhaps could have chosen a better location! I named him Chuck Norris, for his fearless venture amongst giant passing feet

I don’t usually interfere with wildlife along the canal but, not wanting to see my new pal meet a sticky end, I gently placed him on my hand (where he seemed to enjoy a warm rest) and let him hop off onto the grassy bank.

I’m pondering where Chuck is now. Is there a Mrs Norris? Is he still taking up residence by the Ynysmeudwy Arms? The near-death experience of our encounter has clearly brought us closer together… stay safe, Chuck!

Can you help identify this species? Please leave your thoughts and comments below!

Introducing…

Hello! My name is Christina and I’m a new recruit to the Swansea Canal Society.

I’ll be working alongside fellow volunteers of this fantastic charity to help protect and celebrate the wealth of heritage and wildlife that is Swansea Canal.

So, for my first blog, I’d like to tell you a little about myself and what Swansea Canal means to me…

When I moved to Pontardawe almost six years ago, I instantly fell in love with the canal! It didn’t take me long to find this gem of a waterway or my favourite stretch, which runs alongside Ynysmeudwy.

Sandwiched between two main roads with a host of linking pathways, it’s easy to get to… but once there, you’re in another world. It’s peaceful, picturesque and I love to ponder what was happening along this industrial canal a hundred years ago.

When I joined the SCS team one of the first things I was asked was, what is my favourite thing about the canal. This is actually a tough one to answer: I’m passionate about wildlife, I love being outdoors and I’m fascinated about history in Wales.  So for me, Swansea Canal ticks all those boxes.

But I think the best thing about the canal is having all of this on our doorstep. It’s a privilege to have this wonderful breathing space available to us, to have a local treasure that we can enjoy and preserve for generations to come.

So, this is why I joined the Society and why I value this incredible landmark built so long ago. It’s an inheritance we can all be proud of and I look forward to helping the SCS team look after the canal for everyone to use and love as much as I do.

Thanks for reading

Proposed clear-up for Hidden Swansea Canal (North of Ynysmeudwy).

Swansea Canal Society are currently working towards an application to the Waterways Recovery Group (an arm of the Inland Waterways Association).

PROPOSED PROJECT & INTENTION…

To clear the existing channel of the Swansea Canal.

1. To reveal the canal so its course can be more easily followed by walkers, local historians and tourists.
2. To prevent any further deterioration to the fabric of the water course and to the lock and the two other large original stone structures that exist in this section.

If succesful, the week long camp would be manned by about 18 volunteers. No diggers are necessary as the work is remedial not reconstructive.

LOCATION:

FROM: ‘the Swansea Canal Nature Reserve Entrance’(at Ynysmeudwy)

TO: Northwards to the first road sign for Ystalyfera.

Click to see a Mapped Area on Google Maps.

At this point, what remains of the canal channel, runs alongside the A4067 (either piped or open).

The work would be starting 150 yards south of Gnoll Road near The Tyre and Auto Factory, where the Nature Reserve ends and would continue where ever possible to the first Ystalyfera boundary sign.

AN EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION…

..has been undertaken by some Swansea Canal Society members in August 2011. A link to photos taken by SCS photographer, Bob Grainger can be followed here:

http://www.bobgraingerphotography.com/clients/scs
Look under the heading: ‘Canal-route investigation walk – 23 August, 2011′

EXISTING PROJECT SUPPORT:

1. British Waterways have given their support to this project.
2. Swansea Canal Society.
3. Inland Waterways Association.
4. NPT – Awaiting onsite meeting to identify any traffic management logistics.

LONG TERM AIM FOR THIS STRETCH CANAL…

Ultimately the long term aim remains to bring this part of the canal back into use but the aim of of this project is to reverse the results of many years of neglect.

PICTURES OF CURRENT STATE…

Click to see Hi-lighted Area where Swansea Canal disappears underground, with some locks & structural remnants remaining above ground.

Next SCS monthly meeting: Mon.5th.Sep.7:30 pm @Clydach’s Vardre RFC.

Please indicate your attendance intentions here, at our Facebook Business Page….

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=278219672195019

MEETING DETAILS…

Monday 5th September at 7:30 pm (note time change) at Vardre Rugby Club, Clydach, Swansea.
The meeting will be in the upstairs room as before.

Submit any items for the agenda before Thursday 1st Sept please so we can send them on before we go away on the 3rd Sep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water.

“The Cutter is coming!” “The Cutter is coming!”

I’ve just uploaded the 24 photos that I took of the Reed Cutter down on the canal with Martin on Monday. It is the uppermost entry on the SCS Index page of my website:

http://www.bobgraingerphotography.com/clients/scs

Cheers,

Bob
of Bob Grainger Photography.

A slogan for our Swansea Canal Society?

We’d love to hear your thoughts…

Slogan thoughts so far…

Our Volunteer Martin says:

• Repair, Restore, Retain.
  (… like Work Rest & Play.)
• Your Canal, Our Passion.
  (…This is my fav, as it addresses the reader/public. Though it may well be the readers ‘passion’ as well as ours.)
• Stone and Mortar, Locks and Water.
  (…Reminds me of Hogwarts!! )
• Tow, Row, Mow, Let’s Go!
  (Sounds like a get one if we go into producing Canal Side Duck Toys)
• Silt is Good, Get Stuck In! (Sorry, just being silly there).
  (…Yes Martin).

I (Steve) say…

• Your Canal, let’s protect it.
• Protecting your Canal.
• Help us help your canal.
• Giving your Canal a voice.
• Speak up for your Canal.
• Get involved.

WHAT DO YOU THE READER HAVE TO SAY?

Give your comments below.

 

Take part: Riverside’s local Surveys (butterflies, birds and flowers)

CALLING ALL PUBLIC…

 

Please read the following should you wish to get involved.

——————-

Dear Friend

The Riverside Centre at Glantawe Riverside Park, Ynysmeudwy has recently been

 

successful in obtaining a grant from Environment Wales to do 12 wildlife surveys between now and the end of March 2012.

The surveys (butterflies, birds and flowers) will be led by local consultant Martin Humphries. No previous knowledge is needed as full training will be given on the day. The results of the surveys will be used to steer future management of the site for wildlife.

If anyone would like to be involved in one or more of these surveys or knows of any community groups who would like to take part could they contact me by either email at riverside@arenapontardawe.com or telephone 07534 688299.

Thank you

——————-

How to get there from, Swansea’s M4 Junction 45…