Visit on 12th June 2021
It had always been my intention to have an inflatable boat for the pool. Some years ago now, Daemon and I enjoyed a memorable touring holiday around Cornwall, made special for me by acquiring an inflatable dinghy. Well, that dinghy was not to be found so I'd never actually 'taken to the water' on the pool at Ty Gwyn (although I'd managed to get fairly wet a few times attempting to walk around the pool on the shore). Ann and Dean decided that my ambition needed some assistance and determined to surprise me during a visit to the forest in June 2021. When we arrived at Ty Gwyn's pool, Dean removed a brand-new 2-man inflatable boat from the boot and set about assembling and inflating it. I was surprised and delighted in equal measure.
Ty Gwyn 2021: Ann watches as Dean inflates the boat
Once the boat was ready, Dean carefully 'launched' it and helped me to board. This was easier said than done as the shore-line is not well-defined and the land changes from 'fairly dry weeds' to 'fairly wet weeds' unexpectedly. With my added weight, the boat became rather wedged in the weeds and it took me a few minutes, kneeling and facing the intended direction of travel, to paddle and haul my craft into clear water. Exhausted by that modest effort, I spent the rest of the voyage lying on my back with my head comfortably cradled near the bow, alternately rowing backwards or forwards depending on which method seemed more effective at the time. The lie-flat rowing position was not ideal for making an effective stroke with the oars which frequently became enmeshed with weeds, slowing progress.
Ty Gwyn 2021 (Photo: D Mould)
It was a very warm afternoon so for much of the time I was happy to just lie back and enjoy the peace but I did reach the tiny island, just big enough for one multi-stemmed tree. The channel on the south side of the island had become completely fouled by weeds so I had to abandon the idea of circumnavigating the island.
Ty Gwyn THEN: The appearance of the island in 2011 (looking west from the dam)
Ty Gwyn NOW: The appearance of the island in 2021, looking east (Photo: D Mould)
Nor was I able to inspect the dam which controls the level of water in the pool. When first built, it was possible to walk around the pool to the dam, a simple affair of rocks and mud incorporating two large plastic drainage tubes to direct the outfall into the stream leaving the woodland. Since then, tree growth has made the land approach impassable and the weeds prevented me from manoeuvring the boat close to the dam.
Ty Gwyn: Dam outfall pipes in 2006
The high ground to the north of the pool was originally fairly bare (as shown in the 2006 picture immediately below). Best forestry practice encourages increasing the proportion of broadleaved trees in plantations so this area was chosen for introducing more broadleaves. The planting has been very successful and the second picture shows the remarkably changed appearance created by careful planting combined with natural regeneration.
Ty Gwyn THEN: The high ground to the north of the pool in 2006 ( with the pool visible on the right) showing Jan checking the progress of the mixed broadleaves planting.
Ty Gwyn NOW: Jan inspecting the mixed broadleaves on the high ground to the north of the pool in 2021 (Photo: D Mould)
Visit on 15th July 2021
A few weeks later, I made another visit to Ty Gwyn with my friend Geoff. Once again, the weather was excellent although insect bites were rather problematic. The otherwise good conditions encouraged me to walk the length of the western arms of both the north and south roads. Both sides of the western end of the north road were re-planted around 2010, following harvesting of the earlier crop. Growth rates on this upland site with plenty of water are very good. Rosebay willowherb was flowering in the margins. Having grown-up in England after World War II, I always think of it as "the bombsite flower".
Ty Gwyn 2021: Western arm of north road, looking north, showing gaps between stands of trees currently around 12 years old. Rosebay willowherb flowering in the foreground.
The roads have been periodically flailed, to inhibit the growth of self-set plants and trees which otherwise ultimately render the roads impassable. As a result, we found the roads carpeted a profusion of attractive yellow wild flowers.
Ty Gwyn 2021: End of western arm of north road, looking west with 2010 planting on both sides of road.
Ty Gwyn 2021: View from link road looking east, showing growth in the 2015 planting. Note windfarm in distance.
Ty Gwyn 2021: View from western arm of south road, looking north, with 2015 planting in the foreground
Part of the site lies west of the western end of the south road but it was not practical to examine this area as the undergrowth is fairly impenetrable, so we finished the trip by driving along part of the track outside the plantation, to check the integrity of the fence. The grassland surrounding the woodland is used for sheep grazing, making sound fencing important as otherwise animals getting into the woodland may be unable to find their way out again.
Ty Gwyn 2021: Geoff looking north from the south road
My posts about Ty Gwyn
You can find all my posts about Ty Gwyn here (in reverse date-of-posting order), with links to albums of pictures.
Pictures of Ty Gwyn
Pictures in this post can be viewed uncropped, where necessary, by clicking on the image. Selecting from the full 2021 album below allows viewing or downloading in various resolutions:-
Ty Gwyn 2021
You can find all my albums of pictures of Ty Gwyn here.
