A Wonky Goodbye

Born on Flat Holm & moved to Swansea 1st May 2013.

Wonky is nearly two years old now and on his second set of horns, after pulling his first off.  He was born to a ewe named Roswell, unfortunately she produced no milk and so he ended up in a box in the boot room.  He was a very demanding youngster and soon became a firm favourite opt most island staff and all island visitors.

He was named Wonky because he had an ear nibbled by his mum but it soon righted it self.  He has spent his two years having numerous adventures across the island including helping out on Society working days, being rescued off the cliffs by a RIB and trying in vain to gain access to the agri-shed and farmhouse.  He has left the island no due to the upcoming Winter closure.

Good luck in your new home.

A poem by Philip Gross

This poem is taken from a book called The Water Table by Philip Gross.  The book is a meditation on the landscape around the Bristol Channel.  It won the T.S. Elliot prize in 2009.  I like to think that Philip was looking at Flat Holm when he wrote this poem.  He now lives in Penarth.  I would like to thank Bloodaxe Books for providing permission to reproduce this poem.  The book can be purchased from Amazon by clicking HERE!  

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Urgent Request from Flat Holm

The historic Flat Holm island is being reviewed by Cardiff Council and they want to hear what YOU have to say about it.

The Council want to hear from the public about their views and experiences of Flat Holm Island.

Cardiff’s Economy and Culture Scrutiny Committee will be investigating the way Flat Holm Island is run and is inviting the public to have their say.

“If you have a view please email (by Thursday 20th September)
scrutinyviewpoints@cardiff.gov.uk and your comments will be considered as a part of the investigations.”
Councillor Craig Williams, Chair of the Economy and Culture Scrutiny Committee

Thank you

Flat Holm Lamb for Sale!

The last of our lamb is available this week.

It will sell fast so if you want to treat yourself to something delicious please let us know!

Call the office on 02920 877912, or email, Sam: sawhitfield@cardiff.gov.uk

A box of lamb will weigh 7-14 kg and cost £7 /kg. It will all be jointed and ready for the freezer. You will need to be able to collect your lamb from Cardiff Barrage on Friday 29th June!

Thank you!

On a separate note, i’m sorry there haven’t been any recent updates on the blog.  It has been very busy on the island this year.  Please join our facebook page for more regular (and shorter) updates!

https://www.facebook.com/flatholm

Here are a few photos!

Flat Holm on Radio 4!

Earlier in the year, Helen Mark from Radio 4′s Open Country visited the island.  You can now listen to the program here,

Flat Holm Open Country (Opens in a new window)

 

Work on the island continues with lots of progress, photos to follow! It’s also a time of change as we wave goodbye to our winter volunteers, and hello to our summer ones.  Thank you to Gemma for the picture below!  We will miss  you all!

Matt finds love in the Fog Horn station, i think this was in the Western Mail on Sunday!

Well, Matt has finally found love, and what’s more,  you can read all about it!  Please click the image below to read the full story in the Wales Online.

Glossy Ibis fly past.

These are all shot’s from February 6th 2012, no new sightings to record.  A flock of 23 Glossy ibis has been spotted in Pembrokeshire and they are being recorded around South Wales and the South West of England so there are obviously quite a few lost birds around this winter.  The Pembrokeshire Bird Blog is a good source of information if you fancy going in search of them!  Have a great weekend!

Sam

First ever Glossy Ibis sighting on Flat Holm!

 

This Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a migratory bird that is hardly every sighted in the UK – usually less than 4 are spotted every decade. So imagine the surprise the Flat Holm staff experienced when an ibis, presumably having taken a wrong turning on its way to Africa, was spotted perched on some elder in the middle of the island!

This individual seems to have been sighted in several places around the UK. You can follow rare bird movements, including bird visits to Flat Holm, here: http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=024022 .

 

Delicious Lamb for Sale!

Flat Holm Island is proud to announce the sale of boxed and jointed Black Welsh Mountain lamb. After the success of the pork sales a few months ago we are expecting a high demand for this limited run of fresh meat. The lambs, which were born on Flat Holm and raised in the Welsh Valleys, will be available for just £7.50 a kilo (£3.40/lb), with the approximate price of half a lamb at just £50. Order early to avoid disappointment!

The Box will include the following!

1 x Shoulder of Lamb

1 x Leg of Lamb

1 x Rack of Lamb

6 Loin Chops

3 Chump Steaks

Breast of Lamb

The lamb will be available for collection from a refrigerated van at Cardiff Barrage Car Park on the 13^th February and 20^th February from 5pm – 6:30pm

To place your order please call Alan on 02920 877912.  A credit or debit card payment of £40 is required to confirm the order with the balance payable upon collection.  Please state the desired collection date when you call.

Buying this lamb will benefit the Flat Holm Project directly, thank you for your continued support.

Sam