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February Working Party

The working party for 27-28 February has been cancelled. Instead, we are running two working parties on 13-14th March and 27-28th March. If anyone wants to attend please email the chair.

January Committee Meeting

The committee meeting to have been held on 23 January has been cancelled due to possible bad weather. It has been provisionally rescheduled for Saturday 06 February, at Ty'n Cornel at 1030 hrs - but please check the situation two days beforehand.

Newsletter 13

September 2009

Autumn has arrived. Whatever happened to summer? Rhetorical question only and replies not invited! Despite what the weather gods have thrown at us our hostels continue to stand proud, but more of that later.

Annual general meeting

This was held at Llanddewi Brefi on the 5th June when 30 members and 6 others attended. All the Trustees: Steve Griffith, Marilyn Barrack, Arthur Osborne, Bill Hine and Derek Edwards remain in office and are joined by David Bicker who was elected as a new Trustee. We are glad to have David, who is currently our very efficient treasurer, also taking part in overseeing the operation of the Trust. Steve and Marilyn exchanged roles, Steve being confirmed as new Chair and Marilyn as Vice.

Following the meeting, most returned to Ty'n Cornel and enjoyed a buffet lunch and unexpected entertainment from several invited guests.

Since taking over the hostels, various interesting items have come to light - one of these being a booklet of walks in the area written by Tim Porter and published by the YHA in 1970. Our enterprising chairman Steve was able to contact Tim, resulting in his visit to Ty'n Cornel, when he told us how he came to write the book following an earlier teenage prizewinning article for the YHA. It is pleasing that Tim has become a member of the Trust.

Mary Morgan, wife of local historian John Morgan, gave a gripping account of murder most foul at Brynambor of a relative of her husband. Another of our visitors was Mair Richards, actually born and brought up in Ty'n Cornel, who recalled some of the events of her childhood, including the heavy snowfall and freeze-up of 1947 when she was unable to attend school for six weeks.

News of our hostels

Ty'n Cornel

The hostel is now in its third successful year of operation by the Trust and hostel manager Richard Hollins has provided the following information:

With 700 paid-for bednights at the end of August and, hopefully, the encouragement of some recent truly Indian Summerlike sunshine, the 1000 bednight target should be within our grasp. Professional repairs to the second gable end and chimney have been completed. The ill-fitting window at the side of the common room has been removed and now has a double-glazed replacement. Much of the standard year to year maintenance - decorating, chimney sweeping, laundering of bedding, hedge trimming, provision of firewood, etc. - without which the hostel would soon begin to take on a 'down at heel' appearance, has been carried out by volunteers both in working parties and as individuals. Many thanks to all who have helped keep the hostel running. The next job where some professional help will be needed is to tackle the woodworm in the bunks. Would-be users need fear no imminent collapse! The Council has done some badly needed repair to the track but its condition needs to be monitored.

Finally, looking to the hostel's future, Richard writes:

We are now almost halfway through our six-year lease on Ty'n Cornel and it is not too early to start thinking about the future. The owners have indicated that, provided we continue to maintain a good performance, they would hope to renew the lease. They have also mentioned the possibility that, if their own financial circumstances and those of the Trust were appropriate, they might be prepared to sell the hostel to the Trust at the end of the lease. It is too early to predict whether or not Ty'n Cornel will be offered for sale, but it is timely to begin thinking about how we should prepare for the possibility. Members are invited to express any views or suggestions they may have to any Trustee or to the Ty'n Cornel manager Richard Hollins.

Dolgoch

Because of the delayed opening, due to the refurbishment work at the hostel taking rather longer than expected, and with the closure of the hostel on 14th October for commencement of Phase 2 work, this year's bednight figure will not match that of 2008. However a figure in excess of 800 is assured, so a satisfying performance in the circumstances.

The Phase 2 work is expected to include the conversion of the two present toilets into one with a hand basin, purpose built cubicles containing an additional toilet and washbasin and two shower cubicles with dressing spaces and a small drying room. Other work will cover the provision of disabled accommodation and a hot water supply.

BBC Wales weatherman Derek Brockway and camera team spent a night at the hostel in late August giving some welcome publicity on Welsh television the following evening. One deduced the team are used to rather more comfortable accommodation when on location but it provided Derek with an opportunity to come to the aid of damsels in distress - removing a spider from their dormitory! It was good to see our Pearl expressing the views of us all on the beauties and uniqueness of the area, supported too by a visiting Dutch hosteller.

Sponsored walk

There were fewer entrants for this year's walk, ably organised again by Jeffrey Matthews over the routes followed last year to Drygarn Fawr. Inevitably the monies raised through sponsorship were reduced but it still produced a very welcome figure of £829. The day previous to the walk had been wet indeed but thankfully the weather remained dry on the day, although fording the infant Gwesyn meant boots off and a refreshing paddle. At least one pair of older legs found July's tussocks a greater obstacle to progress than the smaller specimens encountered two months earlier in last year's walk. Nevertheless it was a very enjoyable event, enhanced by the barbecue that followed. Many thanks to JJ and to those who ministered to the gastronomic needs of the participants.

YHA centenary year

Yes it all began in Germany in 1909 and, to celebrate the centenary of Youth Hostelling's birth, trees are to be planted in each of one hundred hostels in the UK. The Trust is anxious to play its part by planting trees at Ty'n Cornel and Dolgoch and it is intended to do so on the 24th October, perhaps with a local celebrity in attendance. A Centenary Hostel Route is planned and we hope to encourage hostellers to follow this visiting the trees and hostels. A permanent sign for each tree in metal or wood is required; suggestions as to format, wording, etc. would be welcomed and, of course, offers of help in their manufacture. Please contact trustee Bill Hine (0117 953 1698).

Hedging at Ty'n Cornel

Bill, as we know, is an inveterate and extremely successful tree planter. He will be wardening Ty'n Cornel between the 17th and 30th October when he intends planting a 40 metre home grown native hedge along the outer edge of the car parking area. The work involves digging a trench in rocky ground, filling it, fencing round and planting seedling trees. If anyone can spare a day or two to help, Bill would be delighted to hear from them.

Fundraising

A plea from Pearl Chalk:

The Elenydd Wilderness Hostels Trust needs someone to take on the role of fund-raising. The current Trustees and Committee members have a sufficient workload and cannot do any more. There is a membership of 300+ and yet most of the work is being done by less than 20 people. How about you helping out?

This is what the post involves: The Hostel Managers identify capital work that needs doing over and above the routine maintenance. This is discussed in committee and the Trustees make the decision whether to go ahead or not. The Funding Officer then researches via the Internet for funding bodies whose criteria apply to the work involved i.e. health and safety, green technology etc. and makes an application. This can be by letter only or by an application form which often needs accompanying estimates of costs, which are obtained by the Hostel Managers. Applications may have deadlines, some grant-making bodies only meet occasionally and replies can take some time or may be non-existent - the relevant websites will explain all this. If the application is successful, Hostel Managers are advised and the work carried out - again there may be a deadline. The Funding Officer then has to secure proof that the work has been completed with signed invoices and photographs, complete an end-of-grant report and dispatch to the grant-making body. Hopefully in due time a reply is received that all is satisfactory. It only remains then to inform Trustees and Hostel Managers to this effect. Some funding bodies make it a condition of grant that their logos are displayed on the EWHT website, flyers, correspondence etc - it is the responsibility of the Funding Officer to see this is carried out. That's it!

The important point to note is that the Funding Officer does not necessarily have to attend committee meetings as all communication can be by e-mail and post. Those of you who, because of family, work commitments or distance from the Elenydd, have been unable to help before now have an opportunity to do so.

Pearl, who has so ably fulfilled the post of Fund Raising Manager for the past three years, would be happy to discuss the post with anyone interested (pearl@elenydd-hostels.co.uk).

Walking the past

John Morgan, who gave us such an interesting talk on the many but now derelict farms in the area at our Wardens' Training Weekend in March, has kindly agreed to follow this up with a guided walk from Ty'n Cornel on Saturday 3rd October beginning at 11am and an illustrated talk in the evening. A meal will be provided. Those wishing to stay at the hostel, or simply attend on the day, should telephone Marilyn Barrack. We need to know how many mouths are to be fed!

Wardens' Information Weekend

Formerly known as Wardens' Training Weekend, this will take place at Ty'n Cornel over the weekend of the 7th/8th November. There are just one or two vacant places so book now by contacting Marilyn Barrack.

Christmas cards

Sadly, although Frances Passey was keen to arrange for a set of cards to be available again this year, we were unable to locate a fresh set of suitable pictures/photographs and so there are no cards this year. However we should like to have some in 2010 and that means we need appropriate photographs taken this winter. So please get snapping and send us your offerings.

Nant Ystalwyn road bridge reconstruction

As from the 4th October, Powys County Council will be reconstructing the road bridge over the river Tywi just beyond the driveway to Dolgoch. Anyone on foot will not be affected as a temporary footbridge will be erected. All traffic approaching the hostel from Abergwesyn or Llandovery will have to do so by way of Soar y Mynydd. The work is expected to take several months but should, we are told, be completed by Christmas. The hostel will close on 14th October for two or three months for commencement of Phase 2 work.

Wardening vacancies

There are some vacant slots at Ty'n Cornel in November. Anyone interested, please contact Joan Meek (01283 537 440, wardening@elenydd-hostels.co.uk).

Hostel needs

Tin trunks required for storage of bed linen. Are there any unused ones in your attic taking up precious space? We would gladly help by taking them off your hands. Good quality frying pans are another requirement for Dolgoch.

Bookings

These can be made for both hostels through the YHA on 0800 019 1700 or online at www.yhabooking.org.uk. For Dolgoch bookings less than 7 days ahead, phone Chris Mason (0178 225 3274). For Ty'n Cornel bookings less than 7 days ahead, phone Janet Hollins (01980  629 259).

Dates for your diary