Programme for Spring field meeting 2008, Llangollen Denbighshire, 3 – 8 April
(Local Secretary. Sarah Stille, The Quillet, Berwyn Street, Llandrillo
tel: 01490 440 418/mobile 0777 893 2268. )
There will be an optional preliminary gathering in the hotel car park each day, half an hour before the time stated for the site. Please always take as few cars as possible.
Maps required
Explorer sheets 255 and 256 and for Cors y Sarnau (Mon 7th) Landranger sheet 125
3rd April Thursday
World’s End car park (Grid ref SJ232483, Explorer 256) meet 10.00 am.
North of Llangollen, where the limestone is overlaid by gritstone.A figure-of-eightwalk involving high limestone grassland with screes,limestone outcrops, wet acid flushes and heathland.
For late arrivals, we will aim to be in the car park at SJ232485 for lunch at12.30pm
- Introductory meeting at the hotel at 6pm
- Dinner at 6.30(pre-booked)
4th April Friday
Trevor Basin car park (SJ270422 either Explorer 255 or 256) at 10.00am to arrange car shuttles for Pisgah Quarry (SJ269411, parking limited), Froncysyllte Aqueduct/River Dee.
We aim to be back at TrevorBasin (north end of the aqueduct) at 1300hours for lunch.Pisgah Quarry is a small North Wales Wildlife Trust Reserve overlooking the Dee valley. There are exposed but shady limestone faces and mature ash woodland and scrub.
Froncysyllte Aqueduct is the world-famous and arguably best work of Thomas Telford, carrying the Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal 180 feet over the River Dee. We take the path alongside the canal over the aqueduct. On the north (TrevorBasin) side steps lead down through limestone woodland to the river. (2-3 miles and an exposed walk across the aqueduct)
5th April Saturday
Minera Quarry (SJ258519) meet first at Lead Mines car park (SJ275509 Explorer 256) at 10.00am to divide party. Two groups will alternate the sites, changing over about lunchtime.
Minera Quarry is an extensive area of varied habitats including restored lead mines and trackways. Unimproved grassland, woods over limestone, exposed rock faces, scree, streams etc. The lead mines are somewhat manicured but there are interesting industrial relics and mossy lanes and grassland over mining spoil.
- Publications Committee 4.30pm
- Conservation and Records Committee 5pm
- Dinner at Hand Hotel 6.30-ish (pre-booked).
- Council Meeting 8.00pm
6th April Sunday
Nant y Pandy. Car park (limited) behind the church hall in Glyndyfrdwy village SJ148426 (Explorer 255) at 10.00am. Nant y Pandy is a long valley leading south into the BerwynMountains from the village. Lower down it has the remains of a slab-cuttingfactory and a railway used to bring slate down from the mines. The circular walk of about 8kmincludes coppiced woodland, semi-improved grassland, flushes, small gorges and disused slate mines.
There will be an alternative trip for a group to explore the east scarp of the Berwyns from Cwm Maengwynedd, parking 400m after the end of the metalled road at Blaen y Cwm SJ097321.
7th April Monday
a) Cors y SarnauLandranger sheet 125 - Park in Sarnau village (SH971393) 10.00am
A valley mire reserve belonging to NWWT. It is very wet (wellingtons essential!) and somewhat fragile. A short but wet walk of around 3km.
eitherb) Rhaeadr Cynwyd(Explorer 255/Landranger 125) Park in Cynwyd village SJ056411 or limited parking at the end of forestry drive SJ066405 then a short, but exposed,walk to the waterfall over acid Silurian shales on the River Trystion.
or c) Coed Craig Crogen(Explorer 255/Landranger 125) Park at the Get Wet Adventure Company car park at about SJ 014368: mixed woodland walk with wet rocks and other wet ground. Recently opened to the public as adventure playground.
8th April Tuesday
EryrisMountain. Park in disused Pistyll Gwyn Quarry car park (SJ188573) (Explorer 256) at 10.00am.
EryrisMountain is a broken area of exposed and quarried limestone rising to 370m surrounded by deep lanes, quarry floors, mine workings and exposed unimproved grassland. We will walk for about 5km though never much more than a kilometre from the car park. Easy access to the A55 via Mold will provide a quick getaway from the area at the end of the meeting.
A few more suggested sites
Please note that where these are protected sites, no consents for collecting or access have been obtained:
- Cyrn y Brain grouse moor NW of car park at SJ232483, and further north towards Minera quarry; This is all SSSI but we do have consents here.
- NWWT (Cilgroesllwyd) and Butterfly Conservation (Eyarth Rocks) reserves at SJ1255. Park near bridge at SJ127553 (both SSSIs);
- Llyn Brenig area - park e.g.at SH970580 (SSSI north and east of Llyn Brenig and further west in this 10km square SH95and several large areas in SH85)
- Rhyd Galed – park at SJ009574 (nice above and below the lake in spite of the forestry);
- Footpaths around Rhos y Gwalia (parking rather limited but possible for 1 or 2 cars) SH9434; Small SSSI here in the quarry east of SH942338;
- Arenig Fawr: park near SH8439 also other parts of Migneint SSSI further north (NB check vice-county boundaries in SH84);
- Glyn Ceiriog SJ2038 and the Ceiriog valley; The river is a linear SSSI and there are small SSSIs around Pandy
- Afon Dyfrdwy – River Dee (Map: Landranger 117) in SJ44 and SJ45 between Bangor-on-Dee and Holt . River banks best accessed from B5130 e.g. SJ398486 near Bowling Bank – any of the small lanes leading east will get you to the river.
British Bryological Society
Safety Code
Policy
It is the policy of the BBS to do all that is reasonably possible to ensure the safety of members and
guests attending meetings and of third parties who might be affected by BBS activities. In pursuance of this policy, your attention is drawn to the following points and your co-operation is requested in
exercising a high level of care.
Participation in meetings
It is the duty of all participants to practice extreme care and common sense and not to take risks. The following points are particularly important in taking ultimate responsibility for your own safety:
•Ensure that you are adequately clothed and equipped.
•Never leave the main party without notifying the leader of your plans
•Pay particular attention to the hazards of the terrain and their potential danger, as a result of your actions, to others. For example, be careful not to dislodge loose stones and boulders.
•Do not rock-climb without experience and the proper equipment
•Do not damage walls, fences, hedges, gates, etc.
•Leave gates open/shut as the party finds them.
•Take care not to start a fire.
•Familiarise yourself with the procedure to adopt in the event of an accident in the field.
Clothing and equipment
Always carry windproof and waterproof outer clothing and wear suitable footwear, e.g. walking boots or, in certain circumstances, wellingtons. All clothing should be suitable for the job and for the worst potential weather. Carry sufficient food and drink for the excursion, with some extra in case of emergency. A first aid kit is also advisable. In mountains, the following are necessary:
•Two warm, long-sleeved sweaters of wool or similar material.
•Properly fitting walking or climbing boots with commando-type or Vibram soles, worn over suitable woollen socks. Footwear should be waterproof but rubber boots should not be worn.
•A rucksack with spare sweater and (if not being worn) anorak/cagoule and overtrousers.
•A whistle, compass, maps, torch, first aid kit.
•A survival bag if more than half an hour from the nearest inhabited place.
Procedure in the event of an accident in the field
First aid must be rendered at once, and medical and relief help should be sought if necessary. Prevention of exposure is almost always possible, through adequate clothing, equipment and procedure but, if a case is suspected, the initial treatment is additional warm clothing and a windproof or waterproof outer garment.
The international distress code in mountains
SIX long flashes/blasts/shouts/waves in succession, repeated at 1 minute intervals.