Monmouthshire GreenWeb

The Welsh Government wants your views on its proposals to manage our natural resources more sustainably – https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/taking-forward-wales-sustainable-management-natural-resources.  Proposals include promotion of the circular economy, nature-based solutions, new markets and innovative mechanisms, and smarter regulation.  Chapter headings include Forestry, Designated Landscapes, Access to Outdoors, Water, and Waste.  Comments wanted by 13 September.

MCC and GAVO are joining forces to host Monmouthshire’s Volunteer Achievement Award gala event at Caldicot in October.  Award categories include ‘Environmental’ and nominations close on Friday, 28 July.  If you know someone who volunteers and deserves a big ‘thank you’ please nominate them by logging on to gavowales.org.uk/recognition or emailing volunteering@gavowales.org.uk or phoning 01633 241550.

Wales Wide Wildlife Watch
On Saturday, 10 June the four Welsh Records Centres are banding together to run the Wales Wide Wildlife Watch. They are asking everyone across Wales to spend some time outdoors recording wildlife, so that they can get a nationwide snapshot of Welsh biodiversity in 2017. This event is to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the network of Records Centres being completed in 2007. Please see the flier for full details. We have some target species (flier here) to get things started!

Wales Nature Week events
Wales Nature Week starts Saturday, 3 June, and runs until Sunday, 11 June.  There are dozens of events taking place across Wales; take a look at the Wales Biodiversity Partnership website for events in your area.

BioBlitz at Cefn Ila
A reminder that SEWBreC will be running a BioBlitz with the Woodland Trust at Cefn Ila, Usk on Saturday, 8 July (flier). This is a drop in event, so you can arrive whenever you like between 11am and 11pm. They will also be running a private BioBlitz on Sunday, 9 July (due to Velothon Wales road closures). If you would like to attend on the Sunday, please email info@sewbrec.org.uk and we will send you travel instructions.

Cadw has published extensive new advice and guidance on the protection and management of the Welsh historic environment, including Technical Advice Note 24: The Historic Environment, which will replace outdated Welsh Office circulars, (www.gov.wales/topics/planning/policy/tans/?lang=en) and the first titles in a new series of best-practice guidance documents:
Heritage Impact Assessment in Wales; Managing Change in World Heritage Sites in Wales; Managing Change to Listed Buildings in Wales; Managing Change to Registered Historic Parks and Gardens in Wales; Managing Conservation Areas in Wales; Managing Historic Character in Wales; Managing Listed Buildings at Risk in Wales; Managing Lists of Historic Assets of Special Local Interest in Wales; Setting of Historic Assets in Wales.
These are only appearing in digital versions, so go to the Cadw website (www.cadw.gov.wales/historicenvironment/publications/?lang=en) for further information and to download copies.

Monmouthshire CC are consulting on draft Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Tourism Accommodation, and Rural Conversions to a Residential or Tourism Use – http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/current-consultations. Responses are required by 13 July.