A Brief Review of Branch Activities in 2011
The year started well with the Branch once again receiving the Association's best small branch award for 2010.
Press coverage was a little down on 2010, with training receiving less interest. However coverage in the Farm & Country section of the Daily Post the leading North Wales daily, remains strong, including contribution of an article from Sean (in press clippings). Getting people to send in clippings remains a problem, if you see anything on-line or in print please contact a member of the committee.
The link with, and grant from, Clwydian Range AoNB remained through 2011. Training in the North West picked up well from its 2010 low. Administrative problems mean that full figures for training are unavailable. 4 taster days and 3 training weekends, with at least 21 individuals receiving over 45 days of training on 3 different sites.
As a change of tack we ran 2 weekends where other branches (OYD & Cheshire) were invited (both new venues), one of which included a BBQ, a number of Branch members attended these as practice days. Including the members of the other Branches this totalled 20 individuals and 40 practice days. We also ran a single skin walling seminar (which attracted very good press/web coverage) which 4 Branch members attended.
Grand total of 77+ trainee days (43+ different individuals) at all events. Sean Adcock and Iolo Jones continued to carry out a number of examinations for DSWA in Purbeck, Kentucky, Derbyshire and South Wales.
Stonechat continues to grow and develop, with 'Subscriptions' in particular growing with 9 branches taking up a bulk offer, and 6 individual additions with three lapsing. Consequently we are now able to have each run professionally printed in sufficient numbers to be able to give more away. This year has also seen back-copies (nos 6-22) available online via the dswales.org.uk website. Between them they have been accessed/downloaded 850 times with issue 21 having had 187. Greater awareness of the facility and potential income is something the Branch needs to look into for 2012. Branch (members) also contributed 3 Branch news to "Waller and Dyker", plus 6 feature articles, and 2 cover photos for the summer edition. The Branch has also enabled the accessing of individual masterclass articles from "Stonechat" (to present) on line via http://drystoneresource.blogspot.com/p/index.html a private American site, and has also secured permission from the Trustees for this to include Craig Arbennigol's professional Column from Waller and Dyker.
This year we had one full day guided walk, looking at the dry stone features in Dinorwic quarry, 4 individuals took part.
Displays and demonstrations were limited due to organisational problems (and weather again). Consequently we were present at only one countryside event in 2011.
10 talks were given to various groups both home and abroad during the year, including Conwy Historical Society, Llandudno Friendship trust, (both attracting audiences of nearly 100), OYD Branch, Stone Foundation and general open talks in Llanberis.
Completed Events
January
13 Presentation "An Idiosyncratic Survey of the Dry stone walls of the British Isles". Stone Foundation, Ventura, California. USA
February
18 Presentation "From the Wailing wall to the Pyramids: The stone structures of the North Wales Slate Industry." Pete's Eats, Llanberis. 7.30pm
March
1 Presentation "From the Wailing wall to the Pyramids: The stone structures of the North Wales Slate Industry." Otley Branch DSWA, Yorkshire
3 Presentation "Inscriptions on the Landscape". Conwy Historical Society, Civic Hall Conwy.
April
9 North East Taster Moel Famau, Mold
16 North West Taster Moel y Ci, Tregarth
30 North East Taster Moel Famau, Mold
May
1 North East Taster Moel Famau, Mold
14/15North East Training Course, Moel Famau, Mold
21 North West Taster Blaen y Nant, Bethesda
21 Display Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, Holywell
June
4 North East Taster Moel Famau, Mold
12 Snowdonia Society Competition, Hafod y Llan, Beddgelert
25 North West Taster Pen y Pass, Snowdon
25/26North East Training Course, Moel Famau, Mold
July
9-10 Walling Weekend and BBQ, hosting Cheshire Branch, Llanrhaedr yn Mochnant.
18-21 Demonstration with South Wales Branch, Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells
23 North East Taster Moel Famau, Mold
23/24North West Training Course Pen y Pass, Snowdon
23/24 Single skin wall seminar Pen y Pass Snowdon
August
6 North East Taster Moel Famau, Mold
13 North West TasterBlaen y Nant, Bethesda
18 Display, Fflintshire Show
20/21North East Training Course, Moel Famau, Mold
20/21 Walling Weekend and BBQ, hosting Otley & Yorkshire dales Branch, Plas Derwen, Corwen
29 Delving in Dinorwig, Guided walk - dry stone features of Dinorwig Quarry Llanberis. Breakfast in Petes eats, Leaving 10am. Full day
September
10/11 North West Training Course, Blaen y Nant, Bethesda
20 Presentation "From the Wailing wall to the Pyramids: The stone structures of the North Wales Slate Industry." Cozmic Pizza, Eugene, Oregon.
October
4 Presentation "Inscriptions on the Landscape". Dry Stone Walls Across Canada, Hart House Farm, Caledon, Toronto.
November
2 AGM, Foelas Arms, Pentrefoelas
11 Presentation "Inscriptions on the Landscape". Llandudno Friendship Link, Craig y Don, Llandudno
Sponsors
The North Wales Branch would like to thank the following for their sponsorship in the last 12 months:
First Hydro Company, Llanberis. Pete's Eats, Llanberis.
Mr Meirion Pritchard, Ty Isa, Nant Peris
And the following for their support:
Don& Anne Eland; Andrew Kehoe, Kehoe Countryside; Mark Sykes, Mark Sykes Contracting;
Alan Williams, Cefn Du Construction; The National Trust (Carneddau)
