Monmouthshire County Council has granted its first licence to a resident to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs on council-owned land just twelve months after approving its Community Food Growing policy.  The licence grants Alison Newsam of Abergavenny the right to cultivate the St Helen’s Road Incredible Edible plot, where with the help of neighbours Alison has transformed an area of overgrown shrubs into an area supporting pollinating plants to sustain insects plus tomatoes, runner beans, rhubarb and strawberries.  All produce is offered free to anyone who wants to harvest them.  More licences are expected elsewhere in the county.  Further information on the Community Food Growing policy may be obtained by contacting Sustainability and Community Officer Alison Howard: alisonhoward@monmouthshire.gov.uk or 01633 644844.

Monmouthshire’s Walking Festival is 25 October – 2 November.  Full programme details at http://www.walkinginmonmouthshire.org/

If you are interested in getting involved in any of the following volunteering projects please contact Morag Sinton on 01633 644663 or email moragsinton@monmouthshire.gov.uk – looking after counters of people using the Wye Valley Walk, surveying the condition of bridges, and installing small bridges – all with training provided.

An on-line toolkit for anyone interested in volunteering to support walking and riding will be launched at 3pm at the Centenary Hall, Usk on Wednesday, 26 November – contact zara@adventa.org.uk.

The new Vale of Usk Local Action Group, which will oversee the 2014-20 Rural Development Programme for Monmouthshire and Newport (and possibly Torfaen) is seeking members.  Go to http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/home/2014/10/22/become-a-member-of-the-new-vale-of-usk-local-action-group/ to learn more and apply – by 31 October.