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Sunday 21 June
        
SAFE Summer Solstice Rudry Pleasure Ride 
Start 10 - 11am. 10 miles quiet lanes, forestry. No jumps
Rudry Common Car Park, Caerphilly CF83 3EA

Members £10. Non-members £12

Tel : 01443 228270     email philippaw18@yahoo.co.uk

Sunday 28 June

Lower Stocklands Unaffiliated Grassroots Dressage.
Walk/Trot & Prelim
Lower Stocklands Competition & Livery Centre
Croft y Gennau Road, St Fagans, Cardiff  CF5 6DR

Tel : 01443 228270     email philippaw18@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://lowerstockland.squarespace.com/

more details here

S.A.F.E
Safety and Facilities for Equestrians

EQUESTRIAN
TABLE TOP SALE

Cardiff Riding School, Pontcanna

Sellers 5pm

Please bring own tables.

Buyers 5.30

Tables £5 (Dealers £10)
Admission 50p

Further details: 01443 228270
         www.safebridlepaths.org.uk

All proceeds to go to improvement of bridlepaths

Sunday 18 October 2009 

EQUESTRIAN
TABLE TOP SALE

Cardiff Riding School, Pontcanna

Sellers 5pm

Please bring own tables.

Buyers 5.30

Tables £5 (Dealers £10)
Admission 50p

Further details: 01443 228270
         www.safebridlepaths.org.uk

All proceeds to go to improvement of bridlepaths

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BIFFAWARD PAVES THE WAY AHEAD FOR SAFE

Over the last few months the finishing touches have been made to improvements to horse routes Fforest Fawr and Fforest Ganol, thanks to a £4,438 grant from Biffaward's Small Grants Scheme, part of the multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.

SAFE are very grateful to BIFFA for funding this work and the finished result has been a much improved surface on which to ride and improved way marking. Martin Bettington, Chairman of Biffaward, said: “Biffaward is pleased to support this project that will not only provide a safe off-road route for horse riders but will benefit all visitors to the woodland area.”

Biffa provides a range of waste collection services as well as the management of landfill sites across the UK. The Biffaward fund has been set up, using tax charged on waste taken into landfill sites, to help finance environmental projects.

Projects

See the Projects page for news on Fforest Fawr, Wernddu Woods, Caerphilly Mountain, Cefn Mably, Casehill and Pentyrch.

Membership

Membership due on 1 April each year.
Membership forms here

Please consider completing a standing order mandate for future membership, as this cuts down administration, considerably. You will also qualify for a free prize draw.

Fund Raising Events

1. August 04: Rudry Dog & Horse Show and Gymkhana

This was very successful and generously sponsored by the Mortgage unit (029 20786474 www.themortgageunit.com). If you give them a call please say where you saw their name! Thanks to everyone who stewarded, judged did refreshments etc and worked so hard to make this so successful.

Don't forget to attend this year's event - details opposite.

2. April 05: Equestrian Table Top Sale

The usual venue at Pontcanna saw this event well attended. We will be holding another on 23 October 2005, details opposite.

3. May 05: Pleasure Ride from Rudry Common

Well attended by approximately 40 riders. Thanks to everyone who came and especially Trisha fo rhe organisation, and everyone who hellped on the day.

Difficult Gates along Bridlepaths 96,59 47 and 57

This refers to bridlepaths in Caerphilly, running from the dip in the road just behind the Travellers Rest, Caerphilly Mountain, which then run in an eastward direction. Most of the gates along the bridlepaths are in a terrible condition and only one or two can even be attempted on horseback. A number are difficult to open and shut on foot! This is a serious issue for any riders with a physical disability where mounting from the ground may not be possible. SAFE have been lobbying for something to be done about these gates for years and recently detailed reports including photographs have been filed with Caerphilly Council. SAFE met with Caerphilly Council in April, and lookd at all of the individual problems. It will cost a lot to fix, but Caerphilly are budgeting to undertake work this summer (hopefully). We may need some SAFE volunteers to suppor this work.

Craig Y Parc Woods

After lobbying from SAFE Cardiff had now completed the work in Craig Y Parc Woods. On top of the base aggregate they had laid stone dust and then a fine dusting of cement. Despite initial reservations this had proved to be a good surface which has withstood water erosion ion the steeper sections yet seems to be providing the horses with sufficient grip.

Surfacing and Waymarking Forest Ganol & Fforest Fawr (Rhiwbina/Caerphilly)

We are in the process of making an application to the BIFFA Environmental Grant fund which would pay for the remaining work needed in Fforest Ganol & Fawr.

The work will include the very steep section the Ganol, where watererosion has left only bedrock, and the sections which tend to get extremely muddy in wet conditions. The areas concerned follow footpaths so it is important that SAFE demonstrate their commitment to the environment by dealing with problems which effect not only horseriders but other users. Such an approach is crucial when we come to negotiate extensions to the horseroutes in other areas. If the grant application is successful, as usual, we will be asking for volunteers to help when the time comes to work on the routes.

Rudry and Draethen

SAFE are contacting Caerphilly to offer a contribution towards surfacing costs, of the very muddy stretch of bridlepath, behind Cwm Farm (which is below the Maenllwyd).

Caerphilly have also been contacted about the slipperly slope, difficult gates and stepover onto the bridleway opposite the old trout farm.

Caerphilly Mountain

Some of the large stone features, which blocked access to horses, have been re-sited, following representations by SAFE.

We are pushing for the creation of a route down the mountain, alongside the A469 - which will link to the bridlepaths with the difficult gates

SAFE are contacting Caerphilly to offer a contribution towards the cost of surfacing the access onto the mountain, leading from Cwm Farm.

Lisvane Horseroute and Forestry Bridlepaths in Coesau Whips

A number of Bridlepaths between Lisvane and Rudry could benefit from surfacing work. Trisha Wilson has done some work to identify priorities, map and photograph the problems. The Forestry are also undertaking some work to try and limit the illegal access of scrambler motorbikes, which apart from the danger they cause, are creating terrible erosion on some of the bridleways. Some of these are difficult to pass on horse and now are almost impossible for cyclists and walkers. SAFE will offer a contribution towards any surfacing work if this makes a difference, but it might be the overall costs are prohibitive. We are currently exploring the options.

Cefn Mably Woods (Lisvane)

Meg is still liasing with the Forestry Commission regarding the Cefn Mably as well as working with the “Friends of Cefn Mably”. We are hoping that improvements to the entrance will be made in the not too distant future which will deter the illegal use of scrambler bikes which are causing much damage. SAFE have offered a £500 contribution to the costs of work on improving horse access.

Cart Road 52 Radyr & Cardiff’s LAF (Local Access Forum)

Chris Powell (Cardiff Council) Pip and Jeanne attended a Cardiff LAF meeting in November which included a site visit to Cart Rd 52 RUPP (Road Used as Public Path) Radyr to Llandaff North . This forms part of a possible strategic route linking Forest Farm to the Pontcanna Riding School, and to be included in the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP)currently being prepared. There are still a number of problems to be addressed including a possible bridge crossing to Hailey Park but the principle of allowing horse access along this development has been agreed.