The County Council and local partners are holding an open workshop on 11 March (2.00 – 4.30) at the new Park Street Community Centre in Abergavenny to consider how to improve the lives of vulnerable groups in that part of the county.  While environmental projects might not seem too relevant to the main social and economic issues, they could help in many ways – exercise, healthy eating, learning skills, transport, etc.  Note that the centre is not yet compliant with disability legislation.

This year’s walking festival will take place from 27 June to 5 July.  The theme will be “Inspiring Landscapes” giving a very broad remit from the Picturesque to geology and industry.  If you could lead a walk the organisers would like to hear from you.   The AGM will be held at Raglan Primary School, Chepstow Road, Raglan, NP15 2EN at 7pm on Monday 2 March. It is proposed that the Festival broadens its range and takes in the Forest of Dean. It is felt that this will give access to a larger pool of walk leaders, a wider area to explore and may increase interest in the festival.  For further information please contact Angela Flynn, Chair of Monmouthshire Walking Festival, mfwcontact@gmail.com.

Monmouthshire County Council is looking for volunteer help with managing the country park at Caldicot Castle, helping to digitalise the museum collection, gardening in the courtyard, telling visitors about the castle’s history, or using social media to rach the attraction’s audience.  Contact Kate Edwards, Grounds Assistant, 07796 193123 / 01633 644066, kateedwards@monmouthshire.gov.uk.

Steven Bromley is leaving Environment Wales this week to take up a position with Keep Wales Tidy’s Long Forest Project which will raise awareness of the importance of hedgerows in Wales and to support communities, businesses and landowners to manage their hedgerows better for conservation.  He can be contacted at steve.bromley@keepwalestidy.org and will be succeeded at Environment Wales by cara.davies@groundwork.org.uk.

The Brecon Beacons Management Plan is up for review. The plan sets the direction of work for the whole National Park Authority and also other agencies who are involved in its management, covering a wide ranging set of proposals from ecosystems management, to recreation, fun and enjoyment.  The consultation process runs up to 24 April 2015.  You can view copies of the draft Management Plan on the Authority’s website: http://www.beacons-npa.gov.uk/the-authority/who-we-are/npmp/management-plan-review/.  If you would like to respond to the consultation (or if you have any questions) please send your comments to their Management Plan officer, Matt Scanlon matthew.scanlon@beacons-npa.gov.uk.  You can also call him on 01874 620465.

You have until Thursday, 2 April to respond to Monmouthshire CC’s consultation on draft Supplementary Planning Guidance on Affordable Housing and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (together with an advice note on wind turbines and their landscape impact).  Details at http://www.planningpolicy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/?page_id=8418.

Welsh Planning Minister Carl Sargeant is to ask local authorities to inform him of any new applications for fracking licences, effectively introducing a moratorium on all fracking in Wales, though without pre-judging the determination of applications in due course.  Campaigners against fracking have welcomed the news – http://www.frackfreewales.org/?p=851 – but others are concerned that the Welsh economy will miss an opportunity.

From Monday, 23 February Monmouthshire CC will collect nappy and hygiene waste in black and yellow bags fortnightly along with the general rubbish that cannot be recycled.  Both will go to an energy-from-waste plant and the change will save £100,000 a year.

It is Fairtrade Fortnight 23 February – 8 March, a good reason to look at their web site – www.fairtrade.org.uk/fortnight – and act on some of the advice.

If your property is close to the boundary of the Brecon Beacons National Park you should have been notified of any boundary modifications that are the outcome of a digital map update by the Park Authority and Natural Resources Wales.  Anyone who thinks that their property may be affected, but who has not received a letter should get in touch with shaun.lewis@breconbeacons.org or phone 01874 624437.