COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: WHAT’S ON?

There is plenty going on in this valley! Here’s a small guide on some of the highlights we encountered.

Blaencwm Chapel: Pay As You Feel Café

Location: 2 Wyndham Street, Treherbert, Treorchy CF42 5BT (15 minute walk from the station) Facebook Page: Blaencwm Chapel pay as you feel cafe [https:// www.facebook.com/BlaencwmChapel-pay-as-you-feel-cafe103394881197996/]

Pay as you feel cafes have been on the rise in recent years and what they do is something very special. The main principle is to use food saved through the Fareshare Project to cook meals for the community. This uses produce that would usually be disposed of by supermarkets but is still of good quality. This is the village’s way of doing something very real and very tangible for climate change. Opening hours are every Thursday from 9am to 2pm and they post a full menu on the Facebook page the day before, allowing you to scope out the tasty dishes even before you arrive! They run various events, such as the recent coffee and cake fundraiser for Children in Need, as well as mid-season feasts for the whole family.

Welcome To Our Woods: Woodland Therapy

Location: “Woods behind Treherbert railway station” (4 minute walk from the station) Facebook Page: Welcome To Our Woods [https://www.facebook. com/ welcometoourwoods/]

Anyone fancy a chat? Cup of warm soup? Good company? The Woodland Therapy group ventures out into the forest weekly from 10:30am to 12:30pm on Thursdays to do just that. Meetings encourage conversation about whatever you fancy, whether it be of a serious topic or just good anecdotes. It is all about making people feel better by using the natural woodlands to amply this feel good energy. Come rain or shine, they are always welcoming of new faces and would love to see you come along for a session or two.

Mindful Photography Well-Being Programme

Duration: 6 Weeks Ran by: Welcome To Our Woods in partnership with Lost Peatlands Project

Whilst this programme has come to an end, it feels imperative to mention in case of another course running. This free course encouraged those partaking to meet new people and try new skills, all the while improving your wellbeing by simply being mindful of the abundance of beauty in the Rhondda valley. Whether you own a fancy camera or not, if you have a pair of walking boots you would be all set to join this friendly group.

Social Striders

Duration: around 1 hour Facebook Page: Welcome To Our Woods / Be Active RCT [https:// www.facebook.com/welcometoourwoods // https://www.facebook. com/BeActiveRCT]

The Social Striders are an intermediate walking group that go on walks around the local area, from Treherbert to Treorchy. This walking group is one of many activities aimed at improving health and wellbeing around the area. The walking group is run as a partnership between Welcome to Our Woods and Be Active RCT (Rhondda Cynon Taff). The walks this group undertake last about an hour and are a nice way to destress after a long day or to get some activity. At this time of year the walks will happen during the night time, in the dark and will offer a different perspective of the surroundings. Come along and remember to bring your torch; or perhaps you would rather spend your time looking for constellations like the Big Dipper.

Social Strollers

The Social Strollers are a walking group arranged by the same people as the Social Striders. The walks with this group during the day and at a beginner level so everyone is welcome.

Tynewydd Community Growing Space

This allotment growing space is run by the local communities with Welcome to our Woods supporting their activities. Some of the produce grown here goes to local charities, such as the Pay As You Feel Café. The community team are at the allotments site most Thursdays at 10:00am-2:00pm, if you would like to get involved or wish to discuss anything with us.

Allotment & Gardening Project:

Location: Coldra Road Allotment, Coldra road, Blaenrhondda, Treorchy, CF42 5ST (25 minute walk from the station) Starts: Monday 6th september Every Monday & Thursday, 10:00am2:00pm Do you want to volunteer in your local area, make a difference within your community and meet new people? Join our friendly team and help develop our allotment plot and polytunnel. Grow food for you and local people to enjoy, and learn new skills like growing, construction, gardening, skills development and accreditation.

References: Welcome to our woods upper rhondda valley. 2019. Pay as you feel cafe blaenycwm baptist chapel Rhondda valley wales uk. Available at: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybu0e9sblec accessed: 15 november 2021].