Monday 18 December 2017

Favourite walks for Christmas 2017


In the past our festive blog post has featured Our Alternative Christmas, Havin' a Comedy Christmas and Top 10 Tips to Survive Christmas. This year my PAVO finance team colleague Lisa Banfield suggested favourite walks (and a bike ride!)

As I write it's pouring with rain outside after several cold bright days of snow which turned Powys into a winter wonderland. So, stay safe, but if possible take the opportunity over Christmas and New Year to head outdoors, get those leg muscles working, some fresh air in your lungs, and rejoice in some of the amazing scenery right on our doorstep (and a little further afield in one case).

Here are my colleagues' top suggestions:


Owen Griffkin - Mental Health Participation Support Worker

Title: My Dog Walks
Route length: Anywhere between 0.5 - 5 miles
Time: 10 minutes - 2 hours
Start/finish: Llandrindod



The walk
I’ve had my dog Honey Lemon Squash Meringue - Honey for short - a cockapoo - for just over a year now, and although my daughter and partner promised to do the bulk of the walking, it has generally fallen on me to do the early morning and late evening walks. Not that I am complaining, as I get to see some beautiful sunsets, sunrises, and the passing of the seasons and the effect on the landscape. Most of my walks take in Rock Park, so this autumn has been spectacular, with beautiful colours falling from the trees and covering the ground in a different way every day. I also appreciate the different routes you can take from Rock Park - take a walk to Lovers' Leap for great views towards Howey and Newbridge, or venture past the old bakery and up to the Lake. This means no two walks are the same.

The dog loves it too, and frequently jumps into the stream, no matter what I try to do to stop her.

Impact on my wellbeing
Having a dog, and being made to leave the house first thing is a great way to start the day, and definitely helps with at least two of the Five Ways to Wellbeing - Be Active and Take Notice.


Lisa Banfield - Finance Officer

Title: Newtown - Pwll Penarth Nature Reserve by bike (or you could walk)
Route length: 4.6 miles (7.4 kms)
Time: 1 hour approx (longer if walking)
Start/finish: Suspension bridge, Back Lane car park, Newtown



The ride
This is an ideal bike ride to suit a range of ages and abilities (good for confidence building too if you’re new to cycling!) as it is all on a generally flat surface and no roads.

The bike ride starts at the suspension bridge in Newtown by Back Lane car park where you will see a (faded) fingerpost. Follow the path going under the traffic bridge, along the river, up, and over the bridge by the gravel car park. After crossing the bridge turn left down a short bank (Route 81 National Cycle Trail) and follow the path alongside the river. Go through the gate at the end of the path and under the pipe bridge and past the ‘Old Pump House’ on your right.

Continue on the path passing a small parking area near Llanllwchaiarn marked by a finger post.The path follows the line of the old canal and you will soon pass another parking area connected to the Llanllwchaiarn to Aberbechan road and a fingerpost.

Go through a gate passing the sewage works on your right, across the lane and continue along the footpath. Pass the old Dolfor Lock on your left and the Pwll Penarth Nature Reserve is on your right through a gate. The bike ride ends here so turn around and retrace your tracks back to the beginning.

Although you can continue further if you wish, as this is part of the Route 81 National Cycle Trail Aberystwyth – Wolverhampton.

Impact on my wellbeing
I feel this is a nice easy bike ride and gives me time to destress and take in the views and sounds of the lovely surroundings.

Freda Lacey - Senior Officer, Health & Social Care

Title: Crunching the Shells
Route length: About 3 kilometers
Time: 1 hour (depending on how long you spend looking at or for shells, stones, drift wood, slimy seaweed)
Start/finish: Woodstown Beach, Waterford, Ireland, but Ynyslas/near Aberystwyth just as good!



The walk
I grew up the near the sea, it has always been a part of my life. I need to scent seaweed strewn over rocks, crunching the shells walking along the shifting sands, picking up a coloured stone and rubbing it imagining where it has drifted in and landed from, spotting bits of wood re-imaging shapes and faces, the wind battering me from the front and compelling me from the back when I turn around, the sound of crashing waves, or the slurp and swish of gentle tides... The experience of walking along the beach takes me back to childhood and time with family, mostly spent sand digging or tidal pool shopping, but also takes me away now on tides of time, past and present. 


Impact on my wellbeing
The walking activity is for me a side benefit of the experience of beach combing, it’s the draw of the sights, smells, touching, leaning into the stinging wind and relief of the vigorous pushing wind that for me sums up the tingling feeling of wellbeing and renewal once I’m back inside. For me, it’s an activity where I bring the outside in and the inside out…

If you go to Ynyslas, I’d suggest going at ebbing tide, park on the beach, take the “Board Walk” into the sand dunes.


Jane Cooke - Senior Officer, Mental Health

Title: Llanwrthwl to Cwmdeuddwr
Route length: approx 2.5 miles to Cwmdeuddwr
Time: Takes me ages - I’m slow & creaky!
Start/finish: Llanwrthwl (if you catch a bus back)



The walk
From our track you can see the first part of this walk; of the many walks I have done and loved, this is one of the reasons that I like this particular walk, in some ways I keep it in my sights. The walk starts in Llanwrthwl, just off the A470 between Newbridge on Wye and Rhayader, climbs up along a track that on the lower section passes through a bank of Rhododendron. Conservationists of course loath R Ponticum, a thick leaved thug that shades out competition and spreads across hillsides, the leaves shrugging off conventional herbicides. But like many plants that we now demonise, in itself it is beautiful and in the spring when the blowsy purple blooms are at their best, I can see this haze of colour from our track.

Climbing higher the route passes Cefyn, surely one of the highest holdings in the area. Highland cattle and shorthorns are well equipped to tough out the weather here and can often be seen grazing the tough Molinia grass. After the Cefyn the path levels out and before long there is a lichen covered finger post inviting the right hand turn that we always take at this point. This marks the highest part of the walk and I like to linger here. With my creaky knees I no longer do the high and challenging hill walks that I used to love. The experience of being at height, the particular feel of the wind as you approach a high point, standing on a ridge looking in all directions are all joys of upland walking; this walk is manageable for me now and also gives me the chance to experience these moments.

Heading down hill there is a choice of a delightful meander through woods managed by the Woodland Trust, or following the edge of the wood down to a minor road. From there you walk along a short stretch of delightful minor road before crossing the river Wye over the lovely Glyn bridge, a suspension foot-bridge. Passing Glyn Farm you are then on the last leg, along another minor road, dropping down into Cwmdeuddwr and the Triangle Inn. If you have timed things well there is time to stop for lunch and a well earned pint before catching the bus back to Llanwrthwl to pick up the car.

Impact on my wellbeing
It certainly is ‘active’! It enlivens my capacity to take notice as I stop and take in all that is around me and relish the wind and the sounds of the high ground.

Jackie Newey - Information Officer, Mental Health

Title: Llyn Clywedog circular trail
Route length: 2.5 miles
Time: 1 - 2 hours as plenty to stop and look at on the way round.
Start/finish: Take the B4518 from Llanidloes, turn left on the circular road around Llyn Clywedog. Drive up past the dam and 500 metres further to a layby on the right where the walk starts and finishes.



The walk
Llyn Clywedog reservoir was created in 1967 when the River Clywedog was dammed to alleviate flooding in the Upper Severn Valley. This is a short walk around a narrow peninsula of land shooting out into the reservoir. It boasts some incredible views across the reservoir in all directions, to the surrounding mountains soaring high around, and at lower levels the Clywedog Sailing Club on the opposite shore.

The signposted track is up and down dale, but well trodden, though unfortunately not accessible to wheelchairs. We often go with extended family and their children and particularly enjoy resting on the narrow beach half way along where we do a spot of bird watching - identifying buzzards and red kites amongst others. Most times we seem to have the whole peninsula to ourselves - to climb windblown trees and pick up pine cones, to feel the breeze on our faces and watch the clouds scudding for miles into the distance. We always thoroughly enjoy ourselves.


Impact on my wellbeing
This walk is local to me but could be a million miles away! Mother Nature is usually on top form and I feel truly grateful to be alive and experience all she has to offer on the day.


Do you have any favourite walks or bike rides you could recommend? Let us know in the comments section below.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers!

Monday 11 December 2017

Owen's 5 x 5 Ways of Wellbeing: Part 1


by Owen Griffkin
Mental Health Participation Support Worker

If you have been reading our blog recently you will have seen a number of articles about The Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Maybe these have inspired you to undertake an activity or take up a new hobby to improve your wellbeing. I’ve been looking at ways I can implement this in my life, and at the same time maybe provide some ideas for readers of our blog. I’ll provide 5 ways to engage in each of the 5 ways to wellbeing. The best thing about many of these activities is the fact that they straddle more than one ‘Way to Wellbeing’, often combining social activities with creative or active hobbies.

Part 1 - Connect

The advice is to connect with those around you as this will support and enrich you every day. Sometimes in rural areas it can feel hard to connect socially with people so maybe give yourself a jump-start by using an activity or interest to create social relationships.

1. Gaming Hubs

Gaming is a rapidly growing industry, with clubs springing up all over the county. Game designers are releasing board games that are reaching a much wider audience then in the heyday of Dungeons and Dragons. The subject matter and scope of these games is huge - I have played these myself sometimes with friends and strangers, and so far I have re-enacted the 1960 US election (I was JFK obviously and destroyed Nixon), started a railroad company in 1850s America, and pushed the boundaries of taste with the worldwide phenomenon of ‘Cards against Humanity’. Gaming is a great social activity as it allows for pressure free conversation and the fun of friendly competition.


An evening at the gaming hub in full swing

Two local hubs/shops that are very welcoming to newcomers are:

I went to a gaming night at KDM Gaming with my daughter, and whilst she was kept interested by an old version of Pac-man, I was able to have a game and chat with other attendees.

2. Sing!

It’s only natural living in the land of song that we would feature a musical activity. A community choir is a wonderful way to connect, and we are blessed with many friendly and welcoming choirs in Powys.

Your first port of call should be Sing Your Heart Out. This is a purely social choir, and they do not do public performances so there is no pressure to perform. There are weekly sessions in Llandrindod and Meifod. If these aren’t close enough check local noticeboards for info on choirs closer to you. I attended a free taster session and was warmly welcomed and had a lot of fun - even if my vocal gymnastics were more Alan Ball then Michael Ball.


3. Men's Sheds





The Men’s Shed is a movement to create community spaces for men to come together to socialise and to reduce loneliness and isolation. Imagine lots of cups of tea, usage of power tools, and a supportive and welcoming atmosphere. Sounds brilliant! Especially the power tools bit. The local Llandrindod group, aka The Golden Boys, works together on projects commissioned by groups such as Mid Powys Mind.

4. Book Club 

I love reading, but sometimes it’s hard to have the self-discipline to sit down to plough through a lengthy tome - and once you’ve finished the book all you want to do is discuss it with someone. This is where book clubs come in. They have been popular for a few years now and are still one of the most fun and rewarding social activities you can enjoy at your own pace. Like the gaming hubs, book clubs take a lot of pressure out of socialising, as conversation is created by the discussion around the book and you can engage with other club members. Not surprisingly Powys has a plethora of book clubs, lots of which are based at local libraries. Your library is the best starting point, but also check out independent book shops like The Hours in Brecon and the Great Oak Bookshop in Llanidloes.

5. Clubs and Societies 

An early meeting of the United Nations in Builth Wells*

Ok, number 5 is quite vague. That’s because there is probably a club (or society) for whatever activity you would like to engage in. A club is a good way to learn more from other people about one of your interests, share ideas or work, and maybe organise day-trips or social events.

In a quick five minute search I have found active groups in Powys for astronomy, beekeeping and cameras. I then gave up on the ABC approach and also found model railway, community arts, historical societies and not forgetting the excellent Women’s Institute, who have groups all over the county.

Think about what activity you may like to do in a social setting - and if there isn’t a club already - why not set one up. One thing Powys doesn’t lack is space to hold meetings/events. From local church/village halls to rooms in pubs. Some of the largest societies in the world started out as small groups so who knows where it could lead. For example, the United Nations started as a monthly meeting in Builth Wells Village Hall of like-minded people from Powys who wanted to stop all wars and bring about world peace. *

*disclaimer - citation needed. Might not be factually accurate...

Read Part 2 of Owen's blog series here.

Monday 4 December 2017

Farming and mental health: the challenge



This Autumn our team arranged an engagement opportunity at Gilfach Nature Reserve near Rhayader aimed at the farming community. It was called “Ramble with a Big Cheese.”

The invitation went out on social media and we put up as many posters as we could in places where we hoped to attract the attention of farmers. These included Rhayader market, feed merchants and numerous shops and businesses in the neighbouring area. We rang round our own contacts. We made new contacts. We spoke to people very closely connected to the farming community through their families and work. We encouraged all of them to spread the word about the session (many of them did – thank you!) and wondered if they would like to come along themselves. 

In the event, despite our efforts, we really struggled to encourage individual farmers or members of the farming community to join us. And again and again we were told – farmers are too busy, they only leave their farms to go to market, some of them really are struggling with their emotional wellbeing but they don’t want to talk to anyone else about their problems. People of the farming community are extremely hard to reach.

A couple of months previously the Farmers’ Union of Wales had hosted an event called “It’s OK to say” at this year’s Royal Welsh Show – “putting the spotlight on mental health in the farming community”. My colleague Anne attended and told us she was impressed by the level of interest. She was interested to find out more about the Pembrokeshire based charity the DPJ Foundation which was “set up in July 2016 following the death of Daniel Picton-Jones. The foundation aims to support people in rural communities with poor mental health, especially men in the agricultural sector. Agriculture carries one of the highest rates of suicide and with mental health being such a big problem across society the foundation aims to break down the stigma that surrounds mental health and provide support services for those in rural communities.”

On our Mid Powys Ramble we were really pleased to welcome Aled Jones from the Farmers’ Union of Wales (Brecknock and Radnorshire Officer) and David Williams from the Farming Community Network. We posed a number of questions to stimulate discussion with the “Big Cheeses” - Joy Garfitt (Deputy Director for Mental Health, Powys Teaching Health Board) and Margaret Meredith, (Head of Primary Care South Powys, PTHB). It turned out to be an extremely fruitful exercise. The start of a much-needed ongoing discussion.

There will be no one way to provide support to individuals in the farming community around mental wellbeing. Statutory mental health services might meet one person’s needs but be entirely inappropriate for another. Community activities and voluntary sector support, such as that provided in Pembrokeshire by the DPJ Foundation, will probably play an important role. But whatever services are delivered, we want farmers to have their say in how they are shaped.

If you have a few minutes, watch the video and find out why.


If you need support now, contact the Farming Community Network or the Samaritans.