THE latest community news from Machynlleth

Blood Bikes Wales

THE town council is hoping to raise around £500 for Blood Bikes Wales by running a special charity market stall at the town’s market.

The council has chosen the charity, which provides transport for blood and other vital medical supplies between hospitals, as the beneficiary of the yearly charity stall at the market on Wednesday, 4 July.

While the council has a regular charity stall which it allows charities to operate during the year, the council also operates the stall on one day a year to raise money for a charity of its choosing.

Market manager Mike Clarke said: “Every year we use the charity stall at the market which is provided by Machynlleth Town Council.

“It’s let out to charities during the year, but one day a year we use it for the town council who choose a charity to support.

“There will be a raffle tickets being sold with prizes including vouchers from shops and restaurants in Machynlleth and Tywyn and a voucher for the Talyllyn railway.

“We’re hoping to raise around £500 which is about what we’ve raised in previous years.

“Last year we did it for the Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team and raised £512.”

Ysgol Bro Hyddgen

A POTENTIAL consultation into the future of the English-language stream at reception level has still not been established.

School governors had announced that the English-language stream at reception level would be scrapped from September this year, but performed a U-turn after a backlash from angry parents.

However, after announcing that the English stream would continue for the 2018/19 academic year, a statement by the school governors said that they would approach Powys County Council to launch a consultation with parents and Machynlleth residents about the future of the English stream at the school.

A spokesperson for Powys council, though, said it was still waiting to rule on what would happen, but said the school had raised concerns over operating a dual-stream system.

They said: “The authority is aware that the governing body of the school has decided not to proceed with providing a single teaching group for reception class in September 2018 – however, we are aware that the governors still have many concerns about the operational, educational and financial challenges of delivering education in a dual stream system, especially when numbers are low in one stream, a challenge shared by many dual-stream schools in Powys.

“We are in discussion with the school about finding a way forward and further engagement with parents may be required about this matter.”

Garden trips

THE Machynlleth and District Garden Club has announced its summer trips.

On Thursday, 5 July, the club will take a trip on Dragon Fly Cruises on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.

Buffet lunch is available on board (£7.50, optional); boat, £8 per person. The coach, at £15 per person, will leave Machynlleth at 9am, bringing the total cost to £30.50 including lunch.

Then, on Tuesday, 7 August, leaving Machynlleth at 8.30am, a coach will visit Dyffryn Fernant in the morning. Entrance fee is £6; refreshments £6 (optional).

There will be a lunch stop at Haverfordwest before visiting Picton Castle in the afternoon.

Mach Maethlon

ON Thursday, 21 June, the group and visitors met around the edible table, Y Plas, to consider the subject that there’s nothing more disheartening than finding slugs have decimated crops overnight, or watching potatoes go down with blight.

In Beyond Organic Gardening all present were able to learn how it was possible to establish an ecological balance between pests and predators, and grow strong plants that can fight of disease.

Mach Maethlon’s Clwb Coginio welcomed chef Claire from the Green Goat Café to the bowling club, on 22 June, for the second veg bag Ready Steady Cook session.

Claire led the group as they used local seasonal produce from the Mach Maethlon popular veg bag scheme to create simple, tasty dishes that inspire heathy eating.

Clwb Maglona

THE club for Bro Dyfi Senior Citizens is holding its next meeting at the bowling club on Thursday, 28 June, starting at 2pm.

This month’s guest speaker, John Challen, will be delivering his talk entitled What is CAT?

Bowls

MACHYNLLETH bowed out of one of Wales’ premier bowls competitions when they lost by just one shot at Thomastown in the Welsh Bowls Association’s Welsh Clubs’ Championship Carruthers’ Shield on 16 June.

With the result in doubt until the 21st and last end, the home side won a neck-and-neck thriller 75-74 to take them through to the next round.

Machynlleth claimed a valuable 29-shot victory at home to Llanidloes in division one of the Montgomeryshire County League to leapfrog their rivals and head the division thanks to a 5.5 to 1.5 points’ split on 14 June.

Maglona, meanwhile, were unable to maintain the previous week’s form as they lost by 62 shots at Llanfair Caereinion in division two. Llanfair were pleased to pocket all seven league points.

Machynlleth ladies were also on the wrong end of the score line at Carno ladies in the Montgomeryshire Ladies’ County League. The home team collected seven of the nine points on offer.

If you’re a member of a club, society or group, send your news to [email protected]