A few months down the line since the communitygroup, Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society, had thegood news of receiving funding from the WelshGovernment towards the improvement ofTwmbarlwm mountain, the area is starting toshow the benefits.

The grant, which is part of the WG’s Tidy Townsinitiative, supported by Caerphilly County Borough Council,is aimed to encourage community involvement and CTSvolunteers come out in all weathers to lend a hand.

On the mountainside above Risca, contractors haveall but finished the installation of nearly 1km of fencingwhich was designed to keep off-road vehicles and trail-bikes off the Scheduled Ancient Monument and soprevent further damage to the iron age hill fort at themountain’s summit. This is no mean achievementconsidering the amount of rainfall we’ve had in the lasttwo months.

Volunteers from the society have been doing their bittoo. On a cold wet weekend in January, a group donnedtheir snazzy hi-viz vests and did a litter pick on theslopes of the mountain and gathered a large pile ofrubbish into bags for the CCBC to collect later.

After the litter pick they went on to help haul timberfrom the forestry which had been prepared by NaturalResources Wales for use in the fencing project. Despiteworsening weather conditions this stalwart groupcollected enough timber and brushwood to fill at leasthalf the fencing completed so far.

Chair, Terry Evans, said “I am so proud of this groupof people – to give up time for volunteer work like this ispraise-worthy enough at the best of times – but in suchwet, windy, freezing conditions like we had today it isabove and beyond the call of duty”

It was just as well that CTS members Sue and Grettaset up their “field-kitchen” because the hot drinks andhot dogs they provided were much needed to keep thecold at bay. PC Tump (Simon James), who has alwaysbeen a great supporter of CTS, was also on hand toensure that volunteers working at the top didn’t get lostin the mist.

Over the next few months the society will be organisingfurther volunteer work days to complete the “Tidy Twmp”project – this will include more litter picks, planting hedginginto the fences and erecting signage. The society hope toinvolve other community groups too – if you or your groupwould like to offer your support, then please contact themthrough their website (details below).

CTS plan for most of this project to be ready beforeGood Friday (18th April) because that will beTwmbarlwm’s first major event of the year, “The Hot CrossBun Walk” – that’s when, according to local tradition,people from miles around come to walk up the mountainjust like pilgrims used to do hundreds of years ago. It’salways a great family day out and the society distributeshot cross buns to everyone who makes the climb.OTHER CTS EVENTSCTS is a busy little society, apart from the majorrestoration and construction work on the mountain thereis also a programme of talks and other events toentertain those who enjoy local history and interests. Todate we have lined up talks on:• ‘Local Traditions and Customs: How far back do they

go?’ Peter Brown, University of South Wales.• ‘The Cistercian Grange Farms on Mynydd Maen’ Dr

Maddy Gray, USW.• ‘Bringing the Ship to the Mountain’ - Newport

Medieval Ship Project’s Toby Jones, Curator.• ‘Pre-Roman road network in Iron Age Gwent’ (the

Silures) by Paul Thomas USW.Dates and details of all events will be found on thewebsite www.twmbarlwm.co.uk

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Contractors, with the help of willing volunteers, put thefinishing touches to a run of fencing on Twmbarlwm

Beyond the Call of Duty

24 swdirectories.com March 2014

Some of the work day volunteers are happy to line up withPC Simon James despite the wet and windy weather.

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Twmbarlwm, Twyn Barlwm, or Tumberlow, as it hasvariously been referred to over the years, is a veryprominent landmark in south-east Wales – it is evenvisible from Brean Down in Somerset. It is significanthistorically in various ways and for a number of reasons.

The earliest physical remains on Twmbarlwm datefrom the Bronze Age circa 2100 to 750 BC. Theseremains are cairns, or carns in Welsh. Twmbarlwmappears to have been a part of a ritual landscape oftombs and earth works which may havebeen aligned to other prominent cairnsand standing stones on Mynydd y Lanand Mynydd Machen and in more distantlocations in the Gwent region.

Archaeologists will also tell you thatthe ridge that runs between Twmbarlwmand Mynydd Maen is rich in worked flintlithics that may date from this era. Thereis no natural flint occurring anywhere insouth Wales so these appear to be theresult of early man’s activities.

Following the Iron Age (circa 800 BC to 100AD)Twmbarlwm has been identified as a hillfort constructedby the Silures, a confederation of peoples local toGwent and Glamorganshire, whose centre of powermay have been Llanmelin Hillfort near the later Romanmarket town of Venta Silurum (Caerwent). There is noconclusive evidence of this, or of Roman activity, butthere is little doubt that both peoples would haveconsidered Twmbarlwm as strategically significant.

Other possibilities are that Twmbarlwm could havebeen a meeting place, a location for early horse or hiringfairs, a court of law or a religious site. It could even havebeen a fortified stockade where the local Silures’ herdsof cattle could be protected from raiders.

The early Welsh and the Normans also consideredthe mountain strategic enough to build a wooden motteand bailey castle, or watch tower, on its summit, quiteprobably to show to all and sundry who controlled thispart of Gwent. Again nothing really is known about this,

there is no hard documentary evidence, and all we cando is make educated guesses. Although the society isactively engaged in research to discover the truesignificance of the mountain and the tumulus at its peak.

During the Elizabethan era, and up to the time ofNapoleon, the summit of Twmbarlwm would have beenan important location for a beacon fire which wouldhave been lit when the nation was under threat. Later,the beacon on Twmbarlwm was fired up in celebration

of the several jubilees of Queen Victoria. More recently a beacon was lit at the

time of the present Queen’s ascensionto the throne in 1952 and, just twoyears ago, by our society in celebrationof her 60th anniversary as monarch.Many older readers will rememberTwmbarlwm as the location for anannual Chapel walk from Risca andNewport on Good Friday.

There is little doubt that Twmbarlwmis significant in many ways… but so are

so many other places in south Wales, yet very few arecelebrated in the same way as our mountain.

What particularly strikes me about the mountain isthe special significance attached to it by local people.As an outsider, coming originally from Tredegar, whatimpresses me most is that people really do care aboutwhat happens on the mountain – almost as if it was anold friend or relative. They appreciate the spectacularviews which are second to none in Gwent, the history,and the legends – but most of all Twmbarlwm holds aspecial place in their heart. It is their vision of home, theirlittle piece of heaven. It is certainly mine. I hope it isyours too and that you will join us at one of our activitiesin the near future.

Rob Southall, Founder and trustee, CTS

It is now almost four years since I wrote thatfateful letter to the South Wales Argus proposingthat we (i.e. local people) should form a society torestore and protect Twmbarlwm and its scheduledancient monument so that future generations canenjoy it as we have. Uptake for membership toCymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society was tremendousand since then a great deal has been achieved.

We have organised lectures on the geology and historyof Twmbarlwm and Mynydd Maen; led walks in searchof the pilgrims trail, lost farms and hot cross buns;attended meetings, pestered and won over CaerphillyCounty Borough Council and Gwent Police; built fencesand picked litter all in the name of our “Tidy Tump”!

The result of all this activity is a very differentlandscape to what it was four years ago. However, atthis point I have to ask myself has it all been worth it?The answer to that question is obviously a very bigYES – below are some of my reasons why I say this.

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The “twmp” on Twmbarlwm viewed from the eastern sidewhere CTS have recently built new pathways over theboggy landscape with a grant from the Welsh Government

Twmbarlwm – why is it so special?

24 swdirectories.com May 2014

CTS will be hosting a talk by Toby Jones, Curator ofthe Newport Medieval Ship Project

at Crosskeys Rugby Club on 21st May at 7.30pmsee details on our website – www.twmbarlwm.co.uk

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Anyone who has been upTwmbarlwm in the last monthwill have seen the results ofthe work that was completedby Cymdeithas TwmbarlwmSociety over the winter months- thanks to a grant from theWelsh Government through theirTidy Towns initiative and with thesupport of Caerphilly CountyBorough Council.Nearly a mile of double fencing was erected andalmost 4,000 trees planted as well as installing 4 kissinggates and laying a 15 metre floating stone path. Toround it all off an impressive stone cairn was erected tocarry a “Welcome to Twmbarlwm” sign.

Now that we are well into spring it is wonderful to seethat all the hedgerow whips that were planted are in fullleaf and look as though they will become magnificenthedges in their new mountainside home.

Previous articles have outlined the progress of thisproject and regular readers will know that most of thework was completed by contractors but on occasionCTS organised workdays when groups of volunteershelped with some of the work.

However, don’t think the “Tidy Twmp” project hasfinished – the building of the fences and hedgerows wasjust the start – it is now up to CTS members to maintainand nurture what has been created – not just for nowbut for future generations.

To that end CTS have announced that the last Sundayof every month is going to be a Volunteer Day – wheneveryone will be welcome to meet at the car park (at theend of Mountain Road on the Risca side) and get stuckinto whatever jobs are ear-marked for the day. This willgenerally be a litter pick of the area; walking the fencesto check them and repair if necessary; checking theplanted shrubs and beating down any bracken whichmay threaten the new hedging. There is always somelittle task needing to be done.

The volunteer work days are generally announcedthrough the Twmbarlwm website, direct email and theFacebook group and we are very grateful to those whoturn up.

Once the work for the day is done we can all gather fora picnic and a chin-wag – we will provide tea andbiscuits but if weather permits we may even organise aBBQ. The volunteer days in the winter months turnedinto fun social days despite the horrible weatherconditions – so the summer events promise to be greatdays out – with the added bonus of knowing you havedone some worthwhile work for the community.

MORE PROJECTS – MORE VOLUNTEERSApart from the physical work on Twmbarlwm, CTSwould also like to encourage more members andvolunteers to get involved with other projects or evensuggest new ones. For example we intend to have astand at local fayres and carnivals – help there wouldbe very welcome, check out the website for details.

Also, please look out for other events arranged by CTS.For instance over the next few months there will beillustrated talks by learned experts at Crosskeys RFC onsubjects such as “The Iron Age Road Network ofGwent”, “Local Traditions and Customs”, “LostFarmsteads of Twmbarlwm and Mynydd Maen” and on28th June there is to be an organised “Walk to the Poolof Avarice” led by Rob Southall.

Find the information on www.twmbarlwm.co.uk

Monument to a goodwinter’s work

The stone cairn on Twmbarlwm was a great collaborationof minds - from a scribbled concept by Howard Vicary,made into working drawings by Terry Evans and given lifeby the real craftsman, stone mason Ken Young.

In time honoured fashion, local dignitarieswere invited to help plant trees to mark thecompletion of the Tidy Twmp project.From left to right: CTS members Rob andSam Southall, Chris Evans MP and hisassistant, Jocelyn Davies AM, Gwyn PriceAM, Sue Evans, PC Simon James, DaveParry and CTS Chairman Terry Evans.

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24 swdirectories.com July 2014

TEMPUS FUGIT - a Latin phrase everyone knowsthe meaning of, possibly because it is such acliché. “Time flies” we all say, “especially whenyou’re enjoying yourself” - so the wag will pipe in,which is certainly true when you’re involved withCymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society.Next month (October 6th) will be the CTS AGM andleading up to that, as the chair, it falls to me to preparea review of the year for inclusion in ourNewsletter/Yearbook. But where do I start? What do Iinclude? What articles do I spike?

The year was dominated by the fencing and plantingwork we have been doing with the support of a WelshGovernment’s “Tidy Town” grant. Every stage of thework was documented and photographed so I haveplenty to choose from there.

We have stories of busy volunteer workdays, which allseemed to take place in the foulest weather, and ofgroup walks around the mountain.

We also have slices of local history to regale you with,in particular there’s an in-depth study of “LostFarmsteads of Twmbarlwm and Mynydd Maen” by ourfounder Rob Southall.

Then there are the serious issues that concern thesociety, like the implications of the destruction of theevergreen forests in the area, due to the PhytophthoraRamorum disease affecting the larch trees.

The stories I really like are the personal memories andfamily links that local people have of the mountain.

Whatever gets past my editor’s pen, I’m sure theNewsletter will prove to be an interesting read. It will bepublished in October and available free to CTSmembers – if you would be interested in receiving acopy please contact us through our websitewww.twmbarlwm.co.uk To whet your appetite, below is an extract from apersonal story by aviator and author Mike Buckinghamwhich will appear in full in the Newsletter and which hehas kindly permitted me to reproduce here...

I would have remembered the day even had it not beenentered in my pilot’s log book conveying that the flightin Piper Tomahawk G-TOMS was on the 7th October2010 (before CTS started its good works).

My destination was Mynydd Twmbarlwm – it took anhour to get from Swansea and back with me as captainand my wife Heather as ‘official’ photographer.

I had first seen the mountain which is southernGwent’s defining landmark in the 1950s as in our 1939Wolseley we made our way westward under what, quiteunbeknown to me then was to be the reciprocal of myflight path more than half-a-century later.

I recall the skyline with its add-on Norman look-outreminding me of a reclining female nude but there mighthave been something Freudian going on as the Tumpstole into my consciousness.

When flying in hills you add 300 feet to your height inorder to clear obstacles such as radio masts andanother thousand for luck. At 2,500 feet I banked to giveHeather a good angle for her pictures.

The damage we surveyed was hideous and upsettingto Heather who remembered trips with other pupils ofNewbridge Grammar School, converging on the Tumpas dawn broke to view the splendour which cannot help

but put one in mind of the Creation. The mountain andits Tump was a place of collection, and of recollection

The soft tread of children and their chatter is nowreplaced by the tinny thrashing of motorcycle enginesand the brutal scoring of knobbled cross-country tyres.I could rage about the malignity and barbarism of thosewho have wounded the mountain but it won’t make anydifference. They won’t be reading this or anything else.They dwell in deserts of self-absorption and gratificationdevoid of reflection and creative thought.

The word is Manichean; the eternal battle betweencreation and destruction, good and evil, which evennow is being fought over the Tump and all that isrequired for evil to triumph is that good men and womendo nothing.

The picture above, taken by Heather from the air, isthe evidence of this badness. Peaceful and innocentdays will not return without an effort on the part of thosewho wish them. I want children to see the dawn andhear the exultant trilling of larks. We must do something.May I suggest joining and supporting the TwmbarlwmSociety is an excellent start!

Mike Buckingham’s latest novel Luck Be A Lady is published by GG

Books at £8.95. Visit www.mike-buckingham.com for details.

24 swdirectories.com September 2014

Flight to the Enchanted Mountain

Mynydd Twmbarlwm photographed byHeather Buckingham in 2010

Another Year on

TwmbarlwmAnother Year on

Twmbarlwm

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24 swdirectories.com October 2014

Autumnal view into the Nant Carn forest taken from Pegwyn y Bwlch onMynydd Twmbarlwm. Photographed by Terry Evans 2012

Last Chance to Capture

TwmbarlwmWHAT IS IT IN the human psyche that makes uswant to struggle breathlessly to our nearest peakjust to stand and stare at the scenery in the hazydistance? We love to drink in the landscape laidout before us and the more that the beautyintoxicates us the more it lifts our inner soul. Forme a walk to the top of Twmbarlwm is a sure-firecure for any melancholy or everyday stresses thatmay afflict me.

We are very lucky in Wales to have such a wealth ofnatural beauty around us – from the rugged coastline ofthe Gower and Pembrokeshire to the craggy peaks ofthe Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia.

The Wales Government through Visit Wales quite rightlyutilise this wonderful and diverse landscape of ours topromote the country worldwide and encourage visitorsto come and share in the good fortune bestowed on usby mother nature – and indeed by our ancestors whobuilt the many castles of Wales.

Tourism is a vital part of the Welsh economy with latestfigures showing that it contributes over £5.8 billion. Thelatest “Visits to Wales Tourist Attractions” figures alsomakes for interesting reading but don’t worry, I don’tintend to go into an in-depth analysis here.

However, what I find interesting is that our very ownCwmcarn Forest Drive was seventh in the list of mostvisited attractions in Wales with over 250,000 visitors in2013. Beating Caerphilly Castle with 110,000 visitorsand even the world famous Italianate village ofPortmeirion in North Wales with 190,000 visitors.

The popularity of the Forest Drive owes a great deal, Ibelieve, to our beloved mountain of Twmbarlwm, withits spectacular views over the densely wooded slopesof the Nant Carn valley towards Brecon, the Severnestuary, Cardiff and beyond.

It’s the surrounding forestry that enhances the viewsfrom the top, particularly so as autumn approaches. Thepredominant Japanese larch, which despite beingdescribed as an evergreen, turns to vibrant yellow andorange before shedding its needles to carpet the forestfloor. Walk through the forest at this time of year and the

slightest breeze will shower you with the brightlycoloured needles, this can be a spectacular sight whencaught in the sunbeams coming through the trees.

Unfortunately this autumn may be your last opportunityto witness the forest in all its splendour because startingin November it’s all going to be felled. A dreadful diseasecalled Phytophthora Ramorum has taken grip in thearea causing National Resources Wales to make thecontroversial decision to close the Forest Drive to motorvehicles while the work progresses.

There have understandably been outcries fromcommunity groups against the decision but there is nogetting away from the fact that larch disease is here andit is killing the trees. The disease is extremely virulentand being an air-borne infection it has been graduallyspreading through the forests of south Wales for anumber of years.

Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society is monitoring thesituation and maintains a dialogue with the agenciesinvolved. This is not the place to discuss the politicsinvolved but, if like me you enjoy the spectacularscenery that we have on our doorstep I would simplyencourage you to visit the Twmp and the Forest Driveand take as many photos as possible to record andshow future generations what we once had. We areassured that the NRW has a comprehensive re-plantingscheme planned, which will include more nativebroadleaf species, but it will take many years for theforest to return to its former glory.

During the drive’s closure, estimated at two years, youwill still be able to walk to the top of Twmbarlwm fromthe Cwmcarn visitor centre – but don’t forget that theapproach to Twmbarlwm using Mountain Road fromRisca will not be affected by the Forest Drive closure.

Despite the felling of the trees I’m sure the views willalways impress. In the meantime, if you do get out andtake some stunning photos why not post them on ourweb-site for all to see – www.twmbarlwm.co.uk –which is also the place to go for directions how to getup the mountain, information on the society, its eventsand news updates.

24 swdirectories.com January 2015

The Forest Drive to Twmbarlwm…There is an Alternative

“THE CWMCARN FOREST DRIVE will be closed forseveral years…” was the message in the last issue.This was pretty bad news for CymdeithasTwmbarlwm Society as we aim to encourage peopleto visit Twmbarlwm as much as possible, to enjoythe scenery and its history, and the Forest Driveprovided easy access to our beautiful mountain.Many visitors like to drive to car park 2, then walk acrossthe relatively flat ridgeway to the iconic Tump. I regularlywalk to the top of the Tump and often talk to those whohave taken that route – and they look down themountain and are surprised to see a car park on thecommon, just half a mile below them. I smugly explainit’s local knowledge how to get there – but with theclosure of the Forest Drive the route from the Risca sideof Twmbarlwm is the only alternative for those whoprefer to drive the first part of the steep climb.

Indeed, it is now the only route for those whoare less able – I’m the first to admit thatsince I developed “a bit of a bad-knee” Ifind it very convenient to drive upMountain Road to the car park and it’sa relatively easy walk to the top fromthere. Visit our website to get directionsand a sketch map of the route.

I must stress, however, that the route is a single tracklane all the way with several passing places, so youneed to take great care and drive slowly and sensiblyalong the lane and above all be courteous to other usersyou may encounter coming the other way, especially indeciding who should pull over into to the nearestpassing place.

An ideal location to start your new get fit regime.This route could also be a useful starting point for thosewho have made the New Year’s Resolution to getthemselves fit and/or lose a few pounds. If you are alittle unfit, the thought of running (or walking) up a steepmountain will fill you with dread and is probably notrecommended. I suggest that you drive to the car-parkand from there, the walk up the farm track is not toosteep and will soon raise your pulse rate. Once on theridgeway it’s quite flat and you can choose your ownpace for a longer walk or run.

Personally I find it crazy that people pay an extortionateamount to join a gym just to walk on an electronicmachine while watching MTV alongside other sweating,

panting individuals. When, for absolutely no outlay, youcan get out into the fresh air with beautiful scenery allaround and soft grass beneath your feet to walk or runas far as you want.

OK, you may need to get some decent walking shoesand a waterproof coat, but the rewards of walking ourhillsides can be as much spiritual as they are physical.Conquering the walk to the summit and taking in the

views can fill you with a feeling of selfsatisfaction and achievement much more

than a half hour on a tread machine.

And this is an activity the whole familycan take part in. Take the kids with you– the younger ones will love splashing

through the mud and puddles andsearching out what wildlife they can, and

I’ve even heard teenagers grudgingly admit thatthey’ve enjoyed a walk on the mountain.

Take your parents with you – they’ll say they used tocome up here all the time as kids but haven’t been upthere for years, and they will probably race you to thetop when they get there. Or they can just sit in the carto wait for you while contemplating the view overNewport, the Bristol Channel and Cardiff.

CTS meet at the car park for a litter pick on the lastSunday of every month to which everyone is invited, it’snot hard work and it’s a great opportunity to find yourway around up there. We organise walks up themountain throughout the year (you’d be amazed howmany different routes we know) so watch our websitefor details and come and join us some time.

We also plan to hold a “Bio-Blitz”, led by ecologyexperts, in late spring which will be both educationaland great fun for kids of all ages, if you think your schoolor organisation would like to get involved in that, pleaseget in touch through our website.

www.twmbarlwm.co.uk

It will be a few years before visitors will be able experience theCwmcarn Forest Drive in all its autumnal beauty like this.Photos by Terry Evans

The winding Mountain Road to Twmbarlwm

The Forest Drive to Twmbarlwm…There is an Alternative