The Wye and Usk Foundation reports that over 300 volunteers have collected over 1000 bags of litter this year from 230 miles of the banks of the Wye and its tributaries such as the Monnow. Most was collected from between Hereford and the sea.
Flowers and Foraging at Cefn Ila, Usk will be a journey to discover the wild and edible plants around us. This Sunday, 26 April, the Woodland Trust have two experts, Mike Kilner a wild flower expert and Kate Jones a seasoned forager, from whom you can expect to learn how to identify plants, learn about our wild edibles and how to cook them and get a taste of nature’s bounty around a fire. To book email AmeliaLake@woodlandtrust.org.uk.
The tenth award-winning ’boutique’ eco-friendly Sunrise Celebration will take place at Piercefield Park, Chepstow on 21 – 24 May. Information and tickets at www.sunrisecelebration.co.uk.
Learn about the Blaenavon World Heritage Site’s Forgotten Landscapes Project at an Abergavenny Civic Society talk at the Methodist Church Hall, Castle Street on Monday, 13 April (7.30pm). Over £1m has been spent protecting the heritage and improving common land and its biodiversity.
Monmouth Transition Town and Abergavenny and Crickhowell Friends of the Earth have organised a Green Hustings for 7.30-9.30pm Wednesday,22 April, at Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth (Free entry). Questions for the candidates can be sent to reception@bridgescentre.org.uk, indicating whether you wish to ask it yourself from the audience or the chair to put it.
Monmouthshire Meadows Group’s Spring newsletter is at http://www.monmouthshiremeadows.org.uk/?p=2434. Lots of news and views, and plenty of events – note that three meadows will be open to the public on Sunday, 14 May.
If you are confused by the new Welsh Government legislation, this link may help you – http://gov.wales/docs/desh/publications/150223-three-bills-diagram-en.pdf.
Welsh Government is consulting on proposed changes to the thresholds for requiring EIAs. The threshold for industrial estate development would rise from 0.5ha to 5.0ha, and for urban development proposals from 0.5ha to 1.0ha if no dwellings proposed, or 150 dwellings, or 5.0ha. Details at http://gov.wales/consultations/planning/eia-regulations-and-local-development-orders/?lang=en. Deadline for responses 18 June.
There has been a public desire to be able to walk around Llandegfedd Reservoir for decades. At last Monmouthshire CC have been able to work with Welsh Water and Llanbadoc Community Council volunteers to open a 10km scenic trail around this popular beauty spot. However, the circuit will not be fully available in winter as a wildfowl conservation area must be protected. Dogs must be on leads and refreshments are available at the new visitor centre which opens for Easter.
Britain’s emissions of greenhouse gases fell by 8.4% in 2014. A mild winter, less use of coal for electricity generation and more generation by renewables were the main reasons. However, this unusually high figure seems unlikely to be sustained unless winters continue to be mild (a result of greenhouse gas emissions?) and renewables continue to grow their share of the power generation.