You can now get very useful information about many environmental grants – not only their own – from the Natural Resources Wales web site at http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/apply-and-buy/grants/information-about-grants/?lang=en.

On 20 December we posted news of the MAGOR (Magor & Undy Action Group on Rail)  crowdfunding appeal to raise £20, 000 to fund a feasibility study into the building of Magor & Undy Walkway Station.  They are also looking for pledges of £5 and upwards. This is purely a pledge at this time and your contribution will only be taken if the £20,000 target is reached.  If you would like to make a pledge, please visit www.magorstation.co.uk and click on the Crowdfunding Link.  Alternatively you can pledge direct at http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/magor-and-undy-walkway-railway-station/  and look for Magor & Undy Walkway Railway Station Project.

Wales is still likely to fall well short of its 40% reduction target for greenhouse gases 1990 – 2020, but there was an on-target 3% reduction in 2012 and something similar is expected in 2013.  The latest Climate Change report shows that the business sector has made a 16.7% reduction since 1990, while the residential sector has saved only 7.6%.  A return to coal from gas in 2012 partly offset recent gains in most sectors other than gas.  The report, summarised in the Western Mail today but published in December, is at http://wales.gov.uk/docs/desh/publications/141222-climate-change-annual-report-2014-en.pdf.

The Wye & Usk Foundation have been coordinating litter and rubbish removal from the Wye for 10 years now, clearing 900 miles of river bank and shifting over 100 tons of rubbish so far. The various tributaries including the Monnow have been cleared, and on the main river the charity had worked its way down from the source to Luggsmouth by May 2014.  This year they are tackling the final stretch from Luggsmouth down to Chepstow and they are looking for local volunteers to help. Their aim is to find organisations that can take on a stretch, and Tom Ward-Jackson of Keep Wales Tidy is helping to coordinate volunteers.  They will be leading small groups of helpers at least twice a week most weeks between now and the end of April.  In February they are working their way down to Ross, and then on down towards the mouth of the Wye.  The dates for the Monmouthshire section have not yet been announced.  To get involved, please contact Tony Norman tony@theleen.co.uk.

Monmouthshire’s Local Transport Plan has probably been cleared today to be sent to Welsh Government by the end-of-the-month deadline, subject to approval by the full County Council on 26 February.  You can see it at http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/events/event/individual-cabinet-member-decisions-12.

Would you like to know what’s being done , and what more can be done, to help wildlife in Chepstow’s public spaces? Join the Wildlife Trust’s Chepstow Local Group for an illustrated tour to look at some of these important places. This evening event on Wednesday, 18 February at 7.30 at Chepstow Leisure Centre will be free to attend, although donations to GWT and/or Transition Chepstow will be welcomed.  Contact: GWT Chepstow Local Group, 01291 689326.

The Gwent Wildlfe Trust is advertising for a Marketing and Communications Officer (<£20k pa) and a Membership Administration Officer (c£16k pa) with deadlines of 17/18 February.  For application packs with further information, please visit www.gwentwildlife.org/jobs/marketing-communications-officer or email info@gwentwildlife.org. For an informal discussion on the role, please contact Rachael Daniels on 01600 740600 or email rdaniels@gwentwildlife.org.

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority is hosting an open workshop on Wednesday, 4th February at Talgarth Town Hall which will explore the feasibility of introducing a new Sunday bus service linking Hay, Brecon, Talybont-on-Usk, Bwlch, Crickhowell, Talgarth, Llangors and Abergavenny railway station.  The workshop will be held from 2pm until 4pm and all communities and local businesses are encouraged to attend in order to gauge the level of interest for the proposed new bus service, which will rely heavily on community support and engagement.   The Authority gives the example of the Hay Ho! bus service between Hay on Wye and Hereford, where local communities and businesses have taken over responsibility for supporting Sunday bus services.  For more information contact Annie Lawrie, Visitor Transport Officer for BBNPA at annie.lawrie@beacons-npa.gov.uk, telephone 01874 620 480.  Also visit the facebook page to find out the latest news and updates – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hay-Ho-Bus/520031264799155

On Monday, 2 February (6.45 for 7.00) at Room 7 in the Newport Civic Centre, Dr Victoria Jenkins, a lecturer in environmental law, will be talking about the Welsh Government’s Planning Bill.  This is a CPRW event – contact vic.warren@hotmail.com or 01495 755557 to book in.

Pam Warhurst CBE, co-founder of the Incredible Edible movement, will be giving a talk about policy-making in support of health and well-being and community resilience at a County Council event at the Shire Hall, Monmouth, at 2pm on Tuesday, 27 January.