Gower e-News Issue 7 - 23rd September 2011

GOWER NEWS Gower’s Independent Online News, Event and Information Guide

W S I H T

D N E K

E E

Gower Chilli Festival 24th September 2011

23rd Picture: Numex Twighlight Chillies © 2011 Andrew Brooks

Issue 7 September 2011

www.gowernews.co.uk

From the Editor

Gower Chilli Festival th 24 September 2011 7th Edition It’s hard to believe that the Gower e-News e-publication has now reached its 7th edition; the project started on 7th August 2011 with Issue 1.

Available online at www.issuu.com/gowernews and the Gower News website - www.gowernews.co.uk the Gower e-News publication is being directly Indirectly, it’s estimate that the publication is being read by a further 150+ people per day.

The pioneering of a regular e-publication dedicated to the Gower area is already paying dividends; new people are contributing on a weekly basis, helping to spread hyper-local Gower news and events far and wide!

Picture: Numex Twighlight Chillies © 2011 Andrew Brooks

accessed by around 500 people each week.

Chilli-Fest This week’s feature article contributor is Gower resident and Chilli producer,

Follow Us On Twitter!

Andrew Brooks. On Saturday 24th

The number of Twitter followers is

September 2011, Andrew will be

also gaining ground; Twitter’s a great

organising Gower’s first ‘Chilli

way to share local information with a

Festival’ in the village of Port Eynon.

global audience. The number of

You can read Andrew’s article in full

followers of @gowernews is now

on pages 16-21

approaching 1,500!

For daily Gower ‘Tweets’ follow Gower News on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/gowernews

Marketing Mix In order to maximise the coverage of

Gower Harvest

Gower e-News content, event

It was a delight to be part of the

information like the Gower Chilli

Gower Harvest foodie event at Eddy’s

Festival is regularly promoted via the

in Llangennith recently; chef Andrew

Gower News website and associated

Addis-Fuller did a superb job with the

social media channels: Twitter and

local produce. A feature article about

Facebook. In the last seven days,

the event, to include details of a future

Gower News’ Facebook content alone

event, will follow in due course.

has received 3,325 interactions from Facebook users.

This week, resident weather expert, Chris Ridgway, enlightens us with

This Week’s Contributors: •

Ian Ambrose

more of his celestial knowledge. This week Chris has written a timely piece

Chris Ridgway

to coincide with the Autumn Equinox which is on Friday 23rd September

•

2011. Read Chris’ weather forecast

Emma Jones http://www.ambiencefinearts.com

and feature article from page 28.

Cath Evans, one of the organisers of Llangennith’s seasonal local produce and craft market, writes about how

•

Andrew Brooks

•

Cath Evans

the local village produce market has gone this year. By all accounts, there was a bit of a ‘rush’ on pasties in July!

Read Cath’s report from page 12.

Cover Picture: Numex Twighlight Chillies © 2011 Andrew Brooks

The MumblesGower OceanFest has been rescheduled for this weekend after bad weather resulted in the event being postponed earlier in the month.

Let’s hope the weather is kinder to participants and spectators alike.

Have a great weekend :)

If you would like to get involved by writing an article, or to share your Gower news or event information, simply send an email to the Editor: editorial@gowernews.co.uk

GOWER NEWS 23rd September 2011

This Week’s Contributors

Editor / Design / Illustration Ian Ambrose Publisher Gower News | www.gowernews.co.uk editorial@gowernews.co.uk Gower News is an independent and privately owned online publication.

Distribution This e-publication is freely distributed through Gower News’ e-newsletter and online media network: www.gowernews.co.uk www.facebook.com/gowernews www.twitter.com/gowernews Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Gower News' Editor. Gower News does not accept responsibility for the products, goods or services featured or advertised throughout this epublication. Gower News does not personally endorse any business, organisation, product or service featured in this publication. Every effort is made to ensure the information contained within this publication is accurate and up to date. The contents of this publication are subject copyright and must not be reproduced in any way without the express prior permission of the publisher.

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HARVEST

Contents 8 - 9 What’s On 10 - 11 Local Produce Markets 12 - 15 Llangennith Produce Market 16 - 21 Gower Chilli Festival 22 National Trust Volunteering 24 MumblesGower OceanFest 26 Mumbles Tide Times 28 - 29 Weekend Weather Outlook 30 - 36 The Equinoxes Ancient Historical Influences 37 Gower Ancestry

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Events Around Gower Date

Time

Details

Contact

Website

Clydach produce and craft market.

-

Click Here

24/09/11 9.30am - 1pm Llangennith local produce market.

-

Click Here

24/09/11 10am - 4pm

A celebration of chillies at Port Eynon Village Hall.

FREE entry.

-

Click Here

24/09/11 7pm

Charity summer concert at Bishopston Comprehensive School.

01792 234476

-

24/09/11 Various

Mumbles Gower OceanFest. -

Click Here

25/09/11 Various

Mumbles Gower OceanFest. -

Click Here

25/09/11 1pm

The Admiral Swansea Bay 10k.

Click Here

24/09/11

-

Event details believed to be correct at time of publication. Event charges may apply. Check event contact for further details and booking information.

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WhatsOnGower.co.uk Gower Chilli Festival Port Eynon, Gower 24th September 2011 Visit www.whatsongower.co.uk for more information.

GOWER E-NEWS Get Regular Updates FREE! Gower e-News

Subscribe Online

GowerNews.co.uk 9

Pontarddulais Produce and Craft Market Second Wednesday of every month between 9.30am - 12.30pm The Institute, 45 St. Teilo Street, Pontarddulais Mumbles Produce and Craft Market Second Saturday of every month between 9.00am - 1.00pm The Dairy Car Park, Oystermouth Square, Mumbles Gorseinon Canolfan Food and Craft Fayre Second Saturday of every month between 9.30am - 1.00pm Canolfan Centre, Millers Drive, Gorseinon Pennard Produce and Craft Market Second Sunday of every month between 9.30am - 12.30pm Pennard Community Centre, Pennard Penclawdd Produce and Craft Market Third Saturday of every month between 9.30am - 12.30pm Community Centre, Banc Bach, Penclawdd Clydach Produce and Craft Market Last Saturday of each month between 10.00am - 1.30pm Moose Hall, Beryl Road, Clydach Llangennith Produce and Craft Market 24th September 9.30am - 1.00pm Llangennith Hall, Llangennith

Local Produce

‘Local Produce “Market” of the Week’ ~~~ Llangennith Produce and Craft Market 24th September 9.30am - 1.00pm Llangennith Hall, Llangennith ~~~ With the exception of ad-hoc events, this weekend sees the last of the seasonal produce market at Llangennith for another year.

“2011 has been another successful year for the market. In fact, at our July market, many of our food producers had sold out by 11.00am and with still many shoppers turning up, there were quite a few disappointed faces!” ~~~ Cath Evans, one of the organisers, writes about the Llangennith produce market which has taken place in the village community hall over the summer period.

Read Cath’s report on the following pages... ~~~

& Craft Markets

Llangennith Local Produce Market

By Cath Evans Llangennith Produce Market has been running for 6 years. It is held from April to September on the last Saturday of the month as a fundraiser for Llangennith Hall.

Llangennith is a small village, but the market is lucky in that there are two caravan parks in the village, along with a number of campsites and bed and breakfasts.

The market is well supported by villagers, caravanners of Broughton and Hillend, and of course by the numerous holidaymakers and day-trippers who come to visit our beautiful beaches.

“Llangennith Produce Market is a lively village event - a good place to meet up and have a chat.�

The seasonal monthly market at Llangennith offers a selection of producers, and includes both food and craft stalls.

Food producers include the butcher Paul Tucker, Gower Salt Marsh Lamb, (when it is in season), Mary’s Kitchen, Gower Pasty Company, Orgranics and lovely cakes by My Simply Gorgeous Cakes, a local company based in Llanmadoc.

The committee of the hall also run a vegetable stall, selling local veg and Gower honey when available. They also run the cafĂŠ where bacon rolls and tea and coffee are available - very popular with campers and villagers alike, especially on those wet and windy Gower days!

Crafters include local artist Katie Kneath and photographer John Jenkins.

Jewellery, knitted and fabric items, felt items and beautiful wood products including chopping boards and candle holders made from locally sourced wood from Singleton Park - are also produced and sold by local crafters.

Hillend Campsite near Llangennith. A view from Rhossili Down.

“Gower Pasty Company had sold out of pasties very early on and had to send back to the shop for more; they were then inundated with customers and very soon sold out for a second time!�

Llangennith Produce market is a lively village event, a good place to meet up and have a chat. It is friendly and a good place to buy locally produced food and craft.

The last of the summer season markets takes place this Saturday September 24th

A special ‘Christmas’ Llangennith Local Produce and Craft Market is planned for the last Saturday in November.

Gower Chilli Festival 24th September 2011 Gower Chillis Gower Chillis was established

by Andrew Brooks in Port Eynon, near Swansea, in 2008.

This is very much a

cottage industry but one driven by a real passion to grow a range of chillis that demonstrates the full breadth and flavour of this humble, but fiery fruit.

Because Chillis are not native to the UK they take germination in January or February provides the starting point for the Chilli year. Following germination, in a hot room or electric propagator, they need constant attention. They grow into mature plants within 4-5 months (normally in a greenhouse or poly-tunnel) and then flower and fruit. Chilli ripening can take another 3 or 4 months and you can still be harvesting at Christmas, so it is a year-long endeavour.

Picture: Numex Twighlight Chillies Š 2011 Andrew Brooks

a bit of looking after, explains Andrew. Careful

Picture: Aji Omnicolour (from South America) © 2011 Andrew Brooks

“

I wanted to

grow chillis with real

personality and flavour, from all five chilli families, not just ones that would blow your head off.

”

Most people think of blistering heat when they think of chillis but Andrew didn’t set out to grow only hot varieties. “I wanted to grow chillis with real personality and flavour, from all five chilli families, not just ones that would blow your head off. The things that really excite me are the technical challenge of growing great plants with high yields and the huge variety of recipes that can be developed with what you produce,” said Andrew.

Chilli Heat and the Scoville Scale

Picture: Purple Jalapeno's (Amercia / Mexico) Š 2011 Andrew Brooks

Chilli Heat and the Scoville Scale The fiery sensation of Chillis is caused by capsaicin, a potent chemical that survives both cooking and freezing, but apart from the burning sensation it also triggers the brain to produce endorphins, natural painkillers that promote a sense of well being.

Chilli heat is measured on the Scoville scale, which is named after Wilbur L. Scoville (1865-1942), who developed the Scoville Organoleptic Test in 1912. As originally devised, a solution of the pepper extract is diluted in sugar water until the 'heat' is no longer detectable to a panel of (usually five) tasters; the degree of dilution gives its measure on the Scoville scale.

Nowadays, capsaicin concentrations are determined using more scientific methods, typically High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The Scoville scale begins at zero with mild bell peppers and ends with chillis over 1Million in strength.

Several chillis are vying for supremacy at the moment; Bhut Jolokia, Naga Viper, Dorset Naga and Infinity, to name but a few.

Contrary to popular opinion, it is not the seeds that are the hottest part of a chilli, but the white pith that surrounds them and runs in thick veins through the pod. Fresh red chillies are two to three times hotter than green fruit, and dried pods are between two and ten times hotter than fresh pods.

The best antidote to chilli heat is either patience, or a dairy product such as milk or yoghurt. Drinking beer or water is the worst thing you can do, as the it washes the heat further into your taste buds. When cooking, remember the golden rule, you can add but you can't take away.

“

Picture: Cherry Bombs (from Europe) © 2011 Andrew Brooks

We would like to hear from people who would be willing to ‘chilli-sit’ 10 or more chilli plants over the

”

winter.

Gower Chillis Gower Chillis sell seeds, plants, chilli gifts, fresh and dried chillis and of course Specialist Chilli sauces.

Their sauce Brand ‘BB Chilli’ is a collaboration between Gower Chillis and Paul Brandon who runs Changing Seasons Ltd. with outlets and restaurants in the Swansea Valley.

Gower Chillis current annual production is a few hundred plants and a few thousand chillis but we are on the lookout for suitable premises to develop the business further over the next few years.

The Gower Chilli Festival in Port Eynon on Saturday 24th September 2011 is the first step in what we hope to be an Annual Event.

“It is an opportunity to see more than 30 species of chilli in full fruit and taste some great chilli flavours,” said Andrew.

“We would also like to hear from people who would be willing to ‘chilli-sit’ 10 or more chilli plants over the winter (a centrally heated house and a light room is all that is needed).

“Full instructions and help will be given and payment can be taken in plants, seeds or sauces in Spring 2012.”

If you would like any more information please contact Andrew Brooks on 07854 3 1 9 7 6 8 o r f o l l o w h i m o n Tw i t t e r @Andrewbr00ks

Enjoy the great outdoors while helping the National Trust to keep Gower special!

Held once a month, the National Trust Gower ‘Saturday Volunteering Group’ undertakes a range of tasks such as litterpicks, scrub clearance, vegetation management and fencing.

The Saturday Volunteering Group is family friendly - children must be accompanied by an adult!

If you would like to help or want further information, please contact Claire Hannington on (01792) 390636 or email claire.hannington@nationaltrust.org.uk

1st October - Whiteford: Pine Pulling/Fencing 5th November - Mewslade: Gorse Clearance 3rd December - Bovehill: Scrub Clearance

This year the Mumbles Gower OceanFest will host the Welsh Longboard Classic, Bay 6K Paddle Enduro and the Gower SUP Surf Classic. With stand up paddle boarding and surf clinics, expert advice and free board demos, there'll be plenty of opportunities for newcomers to the sports and also anyone wishing to progress.

The event sees the long-awaited return of the Welsh Longboard Classic, a prestigious surfing tournament which was considered one of the premier longboarding events in the country.

The Longboard Classic ran for two decades and over the years attracted some distinguished names in the international field of surf stars and world champions, including Californian greats Jay Moriarty and Robert 'Wingnut' Weaver, star of the cult surf classic Endless Summer.

Whether competing in the tournaments or just chilling at the beach and soaking up the atmosphere, the event promises to deliver a spectacular experience for everyone.

www.mumblesgoweroceanfest.com

Advertisement

CLICK FOR LOCAL ACCOMMODATION

September 2011 | Mumbles

Mumbles Tide Date

Low

High

MUMBLES

Predicted Times Shown in British Summer Time.

Friday 23

-

03:00

09:05

15:38

21:49

Saturday 24

-

04:16

10:10

16:40

22:44

Sunday 25

-

05:11

11:03

17:31

23:32

Monday 26

-

05:58

11:49

18:17

-

Tuesday 27

00:17

06:44

12:33

19:03

-

Wednesday 28

00:59

07:27

13:16

19:48

-

Thursday 29

01:42

08:11

14:00

20:32

-

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Low

High

Low

Predictions

Tide Predictions: © Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.ukho.gov.uk).

weekend weather

Community Gower Weather Weather Outlook 23/09/2011 to 26/09/2011 Another weather outlook accompanied by yet another unsettled week as we approach the Autumn Equinox (Friday 23/09/11). A low pressure system (the remnants of Hurricane Maria) brought rain and an unsettled start to the week, the system has moved off into Scandinavia leaving a westerly airflow with a series of weak weather fronts, bring us cloudy and windy conditions. This unsettled theme is set to continue this weekend as a lowpressure system is situated in the mid-Atlantic ready to sweep across us.

Friday The southern half of the UK will see a ridge of High Pressure nose in, bringing a dry day, with some cloud but also sunny spells. The airflow will be from the SW so should it should feel relatively mild, around 16-17째C. The winds should be light earlier in the day, however the winds will noticeably pick up as the day goes on. The Atlantic depression will be moving off the NW coast of Scotland bringing wind and rain to the North, the same system will push weather fronts in our direction into Saturday.

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Community Weekend Outlook Saturday a Cold Front will pass over us Saturday, bring a cloud and rain during the day, although the air-flow is still SW and a relatively mild direction, the cloud and rain will make it feel cooler, temperatures around 14-15°C. Hopefully as the day moves on the rain should clear and things get a little brighter.

Sunday The low-pressure system will be situated South of Iceland by Sunday as it’s rotating anti-clockwise it’s swirling in weather fronts and dragging in airflow from a Southerly direction. The winds on Sunday will be noticeable 18-20mph, gusting 30mph, but should feel relatively warm, as they are being dragged up from the Azores, reflecting the temperatures of 18-20°C. However there will be cloud and rain around.

Monday A low-pressure system will be forming in the Atlantic just SW of Ireland over the weekend, which will push in Sunday night into Monday morning, bringing wind and rain. Monday will see a cloudy start to the working week with winds gusting around 28mph - hopefully as the day moves on it might brighten up a little and the winds drop!

The Autumnal feel continues yet again for us this weekend, not going to be great conditions for getting out and about, water proofs probably a must!

As we pass the Equinox on Friday the days will start to get noticeably shorter and it’s all down hill until the Mid-Winter Solstice (22nd December). So whatever you are up to this weekend have a good one.

Chris.

Specific detailed daily forecasts can be obtained from professional organisations like the Met Office: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wl/swansea_forecast_weather.html

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!e Equinoxes Ancient H#to$cal Influences

By Chris Ridgway

Autumn Equinox This Friday, the 23rd of September, marks the Autumn Equinox which, to our ancient ancestors, was the festival Mabon (other Celtic names for it include Mea’n Fomhair and Alban Elfred) and represented what we would regard today as the Harvest Festival.

Mabon was when livestock would be slaughtered and preserved to provide enough food for the winter ahead. To our ancestors it was time to recognise that the balance of the year has changed: the wheel had turned and summer was over. They also recognised that it marked the start of the descent into darkening of the winter months.

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Sun, Moon and Stars The alignment of the Sun, Moon and Stars were important to our ancestors - many ancient burial chambers and monuments across the UK and Ireland are aligned with the solstices and equinoxes. A famous example is the 5000 year old Loughcrew Megalithic Cairn in Ireland. At dawn, only on both the spring and autumn equinox, the light from the rising Sun illuminates the passage of the chamber and lights up sun symbols carved on a stone at the back of the it.

➤ 31

Picture: Arthur’s Stone, Cefn Bryn, Gower. © 2011 Emma Jones

Interestingly though, the burial mounds of Arthur’s Stone and Sweyne’s Howes on Gower are not aligned to any particular astronomical alignment, but seem to be more to do with a culture of ancestor worship prevalent in West Wales and Ireland at the time.

Although there are suggestions that other ancient tombs throughout South Wales have an Equinox influence in the alignment of the their construction. In the Medieval period, the Christian Church replaced Celtic Festivals with Christianised occasions: Michaelmas, (29th of September) the feast of the Archangel Michael, subsequently replaced the Autumn Equinox festival.

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Picture: Arthur’s Stone, Cefn Bryn, Gower. © 2011 Emma Jones

➤

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The Scientific Phenomena of Equinoxes There is a common misconception that the day of the Equinox represents equal amount daylight and night time - this is not strictly not true. That day is known as the Equilux and occurs when sunrise and sunset are closest to being exactly 12 hours apart. This year Equilux will occur on the 26th of September where the Sunrise will be 06:52 and Sunset 18.51.

To understand the phenomena of the Equinox, cast your mind back to your school days and lessons on how we get the different seasons. The Earth is tilted at 23.5° as it moves in its orbit around the sun. When the tilt of the Earth positions the Northern Hemisphere in its orbit in a declining position from the Sun, we have winter and the Southern Hemisphere has summer. When the Earth is in the opposite position in its orbit - the Northern Hemisphere inclined towards the sun - we have summer and the South has winter (remember the tilt remains the same).

When the position of the Earth in it’s orbit around the Sun is half way between the Mid-Summer and Mid-Winter points, the Equinoxes occur. The Earth is in a position in its orbit where there is no inclination towards or away from the Sun. When we view the Sun from Earth during the Equinox, the Sun appears to pass through the plane of the celestial equator (just an imaginary circle representing the equator in space) as it travels along the elliptic line (the imaginary line that the planets and the Sun appear to move across the sky in).

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The Equinox therefore represents a moment in time: this year that moment in time will be 09:05 on 23/09/2011.

From an Earth perspective, the Sun appears to cross these two imaginary lines at a point called the Equinoctial Point. As we know, the Sun doesn’t orbit the Earth, so on the Equinox any observer would see the Sun rise due East and set due West.

The Equinox and High Tides Another natural phenomena that occurs around the time of the equinoxes, are the largest tides of the year. This is the result of three factors: firstly the direct alignment of the Sun and Moon combining their gravitational pulls; secondly, the Sun and Moon are at their closest respective distance; and thirdly, the Sun and Moon coinciding with the celestial equator - the phenomena of the equinox - has the dramatic eect of causing the highest Spring Tides to occur in March and September.

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Ask SUE! Weather Folklore This month’s weather folklore is quite appropriate as it concerns Michaelmas (29th of September) as mentioned in the Equinox article. ~~~ “If Michaelmas brings many acorns, Christmas will cover the fields with snow.”

Ruth Madoc with Susan Rainey from Gower Ancestry

“A dark Michaelmas, a light Christmas.” ~~~

Are your ancestors from Gower?

We’ll have to wait and see what Christmas brings!

Who do you think they were?

Send us your questions and we will ask sue to answer as many as possible by publishing them in future editions of gower e-news!

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Last year Susan Rainey from Gower Ancestry conducted research for BBC Wales’ Coming Home series featuring the famous Welsh actress, Ruth Madoc.

Susan said: “Ruth's ancestors came from Swansea, Llansamlet, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. Unfortunately none from Gower.

“I was with Ruth all day at the filming of the programme in Swansea I even arranged for her to meet long-lost relatives from Llangennech.”

One of the highlights of Susan’s research was the discovery that Ruth Madoc was related to former British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George.

GOWER ANCESTRY 37

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Issue 7 - 23/09/2011 - Copyright 2011 - All Rights Reserved

Biography Ian Ambrose - Editor BA (Hons) FInstAM (Dip) MInstLM

Ian grew up in Swansea and spent much of his summer holidaying around the Gower peninsula.

After leaving school at the age of 16, Ian enlisted into the British Army as a professional musician. On completion of 12 years service in 2003, Ian became Community Manager for The Salvation Army at their Richardson Street Citadel in Swansea, having first gained a Diploma in Administrative Management through the British Army’s resettlement training programme.

In 2007 Ian established Prestige Ironing, a professional collect and return ironing service in Swansea.

As part of his continuing professional development, Ian graduated from Swansea Metropolitan University in 2011 with a First Class Honours in Public Services. Ian is a Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Management and a Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management.

Ian’s interests include: management, leadership, administration, marketing communication, writing, hyper-local blogging and social media. He is married with three children and lives on the Gower peninsula.

Gower News was established by Ian in 2009 - it has continued to develop and grow into Gower’s most up-to-date independent news, events and information service for Gower.

Biography Chris Ridgway - Scientific Editor BSc (Hons)

Chris was born and bred in Gowerton and attended Gowerton Comprehensive between 1987-1994; he subsequently gained a BSc (Hons) in Geology from the University of Wales, Cardiff in 1997.

After graduating, Chris worked as a Geophysicist for an Oil Exploration Company based in Aberdeen, Scotland. He subsequently gained his professional qualifications in Houston, Texas and has performed many exploration surveys across the world from sub-Sahara Africa to former Soviet Republics.

Since returning to his home town of Swansea, Chris has taken the lead role of Environmental Scientist at Tir-John Landfill.

Chris is married with three children and currently lives in the village of Grovesend in the Gower Constituency.