From Friday, August 5 until Sunday, August 7 a family conservation weekend is planned when visitors to the island can spend two days and two nights exploring the wildlife and history on Flat Holm.

Visitors can become nature explorers and search the island for bugs and butterflies or take part in a seashore safari, and other family-friendly conservation activities. In addition there will be an island treasure hunt, time to discover beach art and lots more.

There are even more facilities on offer on Flat Holm this summer including a new gift shop and pub, set in the Victorian Barracks. The Gull and Leek offers a selection of local beers, ales and wines.

As this is a self-catering weekend, storage and facilities can be provided for all your catering needs, all visitors need to do is bring along their island provisions. So why not make use of our BBQ in the Victorian Walled Garden?

Flat Holm, once a sanctuary for monks, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, silver miners and smugglers, is now a mix of ruins from bygone eras and modern, sustainable living. Features of the island include wind turbines, solar panels, World War II gun embattlements and an isolation hospital from the 1800s. It’s perhaps most famous for receiving the first ever radio message across water by Marconi in 1897, and has even featured in the BBC TV series Torchwood.

Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “With the sun shining, Flat Holm is the perfect place to take the family this summer. It’s a great place to have fun and to learn about the environment whilst having a great time.”

The two-day trip costs £50 for adults and £36 per child.

Bookings for Flat Holm are now being taken. For departure times and prices call  029 2087 7904 or 029 2087 7912, email flatholmproject@cardiff.gov.uk, or visit www.flatholmisland.com

A new pathway at Parc Cefn Onn has been officially opened to the public.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells was joined by the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn to reopen the pathway.

The project has improved access along the main footpath in the park, which was highlighted as needing attention. Following a survey, the poor footpath was one of the biggest issues for park users.

The new improvements allow better access for wheelchair users and pushchairs to certain areas of the park such as the goldfish pond in the upper section of the park.

The work has been achieved after the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn and Cardiff Council secured a £134,900 grant from the Landfill Community Fund, through Resource Efficiency Wales.

The successful works were carried out by the Council’s landscape design team and contractor Griff Davies, and were completed in April this year. Further improvements are planned for the site as part of a long term restoration programme, developed in partnership with the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn.

The Friends group was set up in 2010 with the aim to help improve the environment and facilities of the park.

The group are pro-active and hold monthly work sessions under the guidance of Community Park Ranger, Alec Stewart.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “I am delighted that work has been completed on the pathway in order to improve access to the wonderful park.

“Park Cefn Onn is a valuable and much loved asset to the city and this is shown through the passion and dedication of the friends group who work alongside park staff to ensure the environmental, botanical, and historical features of the park are maintained and restored.

“The new pathway will mean that more people can safely and conveniently visit the park and enjoy all that it has on offer.”

Chairman of Friends of Cefn Onn, Gareth Thomas, said: “The new path is a great asset to the park and all of the Council and contractor staff involved in the planning, design, and construction of it deserve congratulations for the excellent work they have done.

“We have had lots of extremely positive comments from a wide selection of park visitors that it has really opened up the park and helped make it a beautiful place to visit.”

Parc Cefn Onn is a country park on the northern fringes of Cardiff. It contains a magnificent collection of native and exotic trees set within an intimate valley. Visitors enjoy the stunning scenery and the calm, relaxing atmosphere.

The streams, ponds, woodlands and other planting make this a rich haven for wildlife. Visitors regularly return to enjoy the park in different seasons. Train access, bike & car parking, toilets and a network of paths are provided.

The Friends of Parc Cefn Onn are looking for members of the community to join and support them with future projects. For further information, news, and photos of the development of the new path please visit the website at www.friendsofcefnonn.org.uk

Over the next five years, Cardiff Council will be developing a new cycle network to make it easier and quicker to cycle around the city.

The Council has consulted with the public on the new cycle network resulting in 12 main cycle routes being identified. With four routes already named, Taff, Ely, Rhymney and Bay trails, the Council’s Transport team launched a competition to name the overall network to go with its new logo and the eight remaining routes.

The competition was launched in April and received over a 100 entries. The winning names will be announced by Executive Member for Traffic and Transportation, Cllr Lisa Ford at the closing ceremony of the first Cardiff Cycle Festival on Sunday June 26 at 2pm at Gwdihw’s café and bar on Guildford Crescent.

A shortlist of entries were voted for by the Cardiff Cycle Liaison Group, which is made up of representatives from a range of cycle organisations including Sustrans, Cycle Training Wales, Pedal Power, Cardiff Cycle Campaign, CTC, Elected Members from Cardiff Council and representatives from the Police.

Executive Member form, Traffic and Transportation, Cllr Lisa Ford, said: “The Council actively promotes sustainable transport, and to achieve this we need to make sure the right resources and infrastructure are in place for people to have sustainable travel options. Over the next five years the development of the cycle network will help us achieve our goal and give the public a safe and sustainable way of travelling around the city.

“Throughout the development of plans for the new cycle network, we have listened to the public and their feedback has been essential in creating the new routes. I am pleased that the public have also been involved in the naming of the new network and there is no better time to announce the winners than during the closing party for the first cycle festival, which has been a huge success.”

It’s a disgusting mess that attracts vermin and creates a health hazard, but a few Cardiff citizens are still putting food in black bags. This was never more graphically illustrated than when a the Cardiff Council Waste Management team came across this scene this week somewhere in Cathays or Plasnewydd.

The picture above shows the mess created when just one black bag filled with food waste is ripped open by gulls.  Factor in the wind and pedestrians finding it difficult to avoid, this unsightly mess can then spread a considerable distance up and down the street.

This is an area where food caddies have been issued; there is no need to put food waste in black bags.

Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Cllr Margaret Jones said, “This horrendous mess could easily have been avoided.  There is no excuse whatsoever for putting food waste in black bags, every household in the area has been issued with a food caddy.  The vast majority of residents work with us to help us keep the streets clean but as you can see, it can take one bag to create a terrible impression of a street.  We urge all residents to deal with their waste responsibly and have consideration for their neighbours.”

Cardiff Council increases recycling options city wide

Cardiff Council has further underlined its commitment to recycling with the opening of four new facilities this year.  Working closely with the Libraries and Leisure departments, the Council’s Waste Management service has opened up recycling bring-sites at Llanrumney Library, Maindy Pool, Grangetown Library and Western Leisure Centre.  These new facilities greatly enhance the opportunities for Cardiff citizens to easily and conveniently recycle their waste.

Additional Recycling opportunities are as follows:

Llanrumney Library

• Mixed paper and card
• Mixed glass and plastic

Maindy Pool

• Cardboard
• Paper and Magazines
• Plastic and glass bottles and jars
• Metal food and drink cans

Grangetown Library

• Mixed paper and card
• Mixed glass and plastic
• Western Leisure Centre
• Paper and card
• Mixed glass and plastic
• Food and drink cans

Cllr Margaret Jones, Executive Member for the Environment said, “It is more important than ever to recycle our waste and these new facilities will add to the already extensive recycling offered in the City.  The sites have been carefully chosen and spaced to allow the most convenient access possible for as many of our citizens as possible.  Recycling of waste is a top priority for Cardiff Council and these bring-sites will further help people to make recycling part of their everyday routine.”

Michaelston Community College - 28 per cent saving on CO2

In the last three years a total of 66 separate energy efficiency projects have been completed in 53 council buildings as the council works towards cutting CO2 emissions and reducing energy bills.

Examples include loft and cavity wall insulation, heating controls, pool covers on swimming pools to reduce heating and ventilation costs and motor controls on pool pumps and ventilation fans.

Compared to 2005-06 the council has seen around a 12.5 per cent reduction in energy use and CO2 emissions for all buildings, receiving energy efficiency measures, falling by 11.6 per cent. This equates to an annual saving of £264,126.

There have been some shining individual examples of reduction in C02 emissions at Llanishen High School (18 per cent). Llanishen Leisure Centre (21 per cent), Michaelston Community College (28 per cent) and Willcox House (22 per cent).

Cardiff Council has made a commitment to reduce 60 per cent of the authority’s carbon emissions from non domestic buildings and waste by 2018 and is the first local authority in Wales to set such an ambitious target. Further measures such as insulation, heating controls, lighting upgrades and replacement of inefficient hot water systems, are set to be implemented in schools.

The Council is now looking at future carbon reduction initiatives and strategies to achieve existing and future carbon reduction targets.

It has joined the 10:10 campaign which aims to achieve a 10 per cent in UK carbon emissions in 2010 and is looking to becoming involved in the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme which aims to give incentives to improve energy by directly rewarding energy savings.

Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman, said: “Cardiff Council is making excellent progress in reducing its carbon emissions. This is a hugely important project as it not only is vital for the environment that we meet our targets but in doing so the council will make significant efficiency savings at the same time.

“While we have short-term targets this is very much a long term project and, for example, the UK Climate Change Act has set targets for local authorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. Public sector organisations currently account for approximately five per cent of the UK’s overall carbon emissions – equivalent to around 21 million tonnes of CO2 and the Council is fully committed in working towards meeting our targets and tackling this major environmental challenge.”

A portable electricity meter similar to the devices Cardiff Council will be loaning to residents

Cardiff Council is setting up a scheme where residents can borrow electricity monitors from libraries to help keep an eye on their energy bills.

The meters are quick and simple to install and allow people to see their energy usage which is also displayed in actual cost terms. By monitoring their consumption this will help people to reduce their bills

A total of 100 monitors will be available across Cardiff’s 20 libraries.

Councillor Judith Woodman, Executive member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, said: “Cardiff Council has an ongoing commitment to help Cardiff residents reduce their home energy usage and these meters can significantly help with that.

“The monitors are simple to install and easy to use and by providing the opportunity for people to borrow these meters from libraries for short periods of time we will allow them to understand their home energy usage, reduce their usage and hopefully their bills.”.

She added: “A number of local authorities across the UK have introduced similar schemes in their libraries and these have been extremely successful with positive feedback from the public.”

The monitors will be available at all city libraries from this week.