News 2012
December - January
BBC 'ONE SHOW' Visit - November 21st
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Well, what a day it was! 420+ trees planted with the help of children from All Saints and Rofft schools, Marford Pre-school Playgroup and After-school Club, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, students from Darland School, Yale college, Glyndwr and Bangor universities ….. Gresford Community Council planted the ‘Gresford Jubilee Oak’ in a prominent position by the main footpath. All supported of course by staff from the BBC, Woodland Trust, Groundwork Trust, North Wales Wildlife Trust, as well as Lisa with her excellent refreshments, Cutting Edge with their equipment and skills, and of course Lawtons who have been working very hard with the project for several weeks now. |
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The BBC spent three days in Gresford filming and recruiting Volunteers, and it was a treat to see Bryan Formstone and his amazing collection of insects and moths that he has found in the quarry. It was a pity that presenter Mike Dilger was called away, he is so enthusiastic and had planned to do some work with children on habitat creation, but unfortunately there was no time. However, this meant that the lovely Lucy Siegle joined us instead, and led the live broadcasts on Wednesday night.
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All in all a quite extraordinary and exhilarating event, which was only possible through the support and involvement of so many local people. We hope everyone enjoyed it, and that particularly through the younger people planting trees on the site, future generations will feel a real link with Maes y Pant.Big surprises on the night when we were presented with a painting of the imagined view of the newly planted trees in a few years time when they have grown considerably, painted by local artist Keith Evans, and local sculptor Simon O’Rourke’s fantastic chain-saw sculpture of a seated quarryman, resting from his hard labours. Simon used a large piece of oak that came from Marchwiel, and created the work at 24 hours notice. Amazing! The Quarryman will be moved to his permanent home when we have equipment strong enough to move it, and when the final resting place is decided.
Programme for the One Show Visit
09:30 The One Show Team arrives to meet MyPAG volunteers, Woodlands Trust staff arrive.
10:00 We would like volunteers to arrive from 10am. In the morning we’d like to get the front section cleared, so need people able to help us with the more physical work
11:30 As more volunteers, and some of the younger volunteers arrive we’ll get planting in the prepared area
14:00 The BBC Outside Broadcast van will arrive with their crew to set up lights and cameras through the afternoon
16:00 We’ll wrap up work at the site and take a break before the evening. Hopefully by then all the trees will be in the ground
17:30/17:45 MyPAG members and The One Show crew come back to the site to do a few bits to prepare the area for the live section
18:30 members of public to come back for the live programme.
Anyone coming along to please wrap up warm for the night as we’ll be there until 20:00
19:00 The One Show begins on BBC One –they will cross to us at points through the programme
20:00 Off air and pack up.
10:00 We would like volunteers to arrive from 10am. In the morning we’d like to get the front section cleared, so need people able to help us with the more physical work
11:30 As more volunteers, and some of the younger volunteers arrive we’ll get planting in the prepared area
14:00 The BBC Outside Broadcast van will arrive with their crew to set up lights and cameras through the afternoon
16:00 We’ll wrap up work at the site and take a break before the evening. Hopefully by then all the trees will be in the ground
17:30/17:45 MyPAG members and The One Show crew come back to the site to do a few bits to prepare the area for the live section
18:30 members of public to come back for the live programme.
Anyone coming along to please wrap up warm for the night as we’ll be there until 20:00
19:00 The One Show begins on BBC One –they will cross to us at points through the programme
20:00 Off air and pack up.
Calon Fm Broadcast
Our thanks to Dave Williams and Calon FM for inviting us along to take part in their Community Focus broadcasts. Dave interviewed Chairman Trevor Britton and Sue Kelly and enabled them to share the project and progress with listeners from throughout the Wrexham area and beyond. And for good measure played some of their music requests too!
If you have any old or interesting photos of the site, please can we take copies for our website, and records?
Click on the 'contact us' button, or please scan and email pictures to quarrykelly@hotmail.co.uk
Our thanks to Kate Evans for some spectacular new bird and fungus photos on the 'Images' page, and to Roger Canton for photos on the night of the live broadcast to the BBC 'One Show'. Also our thanks for additional photos from Selwyn Bennett, and Sue Britton
If you have any old or interesting photos of the site, please can we take copies for our website, and records?
Click on the 'contact us' button, or please scan and email pictures to quarrykelly@hotmail.co.uk
Our thanks to Kate Evans for some spectacular new bird and fungus photos on the 'Images' page, and to Roger Canton for photos on the night of the live broadcast to the BBC 'One Show'. Also our thanks for additional photos from Selwyn Bennett, and Sue Britton
Volunteer Training Days
MyPAG aims to set up three teams of volunteers (6 – 8 people) for basic maintenance of the quarry in future years.
We hope that volunteers will be willing to give a day of their time, four times per year, to carry out tasks such as ensuring footpaths are clear and safe, checking trees for safety, cutting back overgrowth of trees, shrubs and grassland, monitoring wildlife habitats on site and any other tasks that might be required.
Anyone interested in participating please contact MyPAG Chair Trevor Britton on 01978 855266, email trevor.britton@btinternet.com
Numbers for the training days are limited – We hope to hold regular training days throughout the year.
We hope that volunteers will be willing to give a day of their time, four times per year, to carry out tasks such as ensuring footpaths are clear and safe, checking trees for safety, cutting back overgrowth of trees, shrubs and grassland, monitoring wildlife habitats on site and any other tasks that might be required.
Anyone interested in participating please contact MyPAG Chair Trevor Britton on 01978 855266, email trevor.britton@btinternet.com
Numbers for the training days are limited – We hope to hold regular training days throughout the year.
