Excellent short wildlife articles in the autumn Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders’ Newsletter can be read here: http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/gwent-glamorgan-recorders-newsletter/g-g-recorders-newsletter-issues.page.  Past editions too.

At this time of charitable giving you might like to consider a Gift in Kind for Tanzania via Crickhowell-based Tools for Self Reliance Cymru – have a look at http://www.tfsrcymru.org.uk/gifts/

Gwent Wildlife Trust is seeking to recruit a full-time Project Officer to deliver the Wild Health Project across Gwent. The project aims to involve people experiencing physical and mental health issues in conservation activities, including surveying for wildlife and managing habitats. The postholder will work with local partners to develop and deliver a programme of activities, promoting the project and its benefits widely and contributing to research on the benefits of nature to health and wellbeing. Salary: £21,012 to £23,116 pa depending on experience. This post is funded until 31 December 2017 with the possibility of an extension. Full details and an application pack at www.gwentwildlife.org/jobs/wild-health-project-officer or contact Neville Hart or Ian Rappel on 01600 740600.  Closing date: Monday, 28 November.

The Welsh Perry and Cider Society have secured Heritage Lottery Funding for a two-year project called ‘The Heritage of Orchards and Cider Making in Wales’. The project aims to secure the future of Welsh varieties of cider apples and perry pears. They are doing so via three strands: working with community groups across Wales to plant new orchards or regenerate old ones; capturing the stories of modern day cider-making in Wales; looking at the heritage varieties of cider apple and perry pear within Wales, including DNA testing on unknown trees (cider or perry), single variety fermentation trials and creation of an additional three museum orchards of the known Welsh heritage varieties.

They are searching for old cider apple and perry pear trees to take part in our Spring 2017 DNA testing. If you think you may have an old Cider or Perry tree in Wales, or have any stories you could tell them about Welsh orchards and cider making, please contact them at heritage@welshcider.co.uk or 01495 240983.

Groundwork Wales are publicising the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ funding (£2-5,000) for community green space projects – it’s funded by the 5p bag charge.  Contact beverleypowell@groundwork.org.uk (01495 222605) for details.

Green Park Power are seeing fresh interest in renewable energy and energy storage, and there are less than 30% of the 2015 companies to cater for it.  So they are looking for someone who shares their values (but not necessarily technical or marketing expertise) to promote the company to customers – initially on a commission and costs only basis.  Contact andy@greenparkpower.co.uk (07792 970406)

Welsh Government is consulting on its new Natural Resources Policy – https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/natural-resources-policy-development.  The proposals include:

• accelerating green growth by increasing resource efficiency, renewable energy and supporting innovation
• delivering nature-based solutions to improve resilience and the benefits derived from natural resources
• improving community and individual well-being by taking a place- and landscape-based approach

Comments are needed by 13 February next year.

The petition in support of the Wye Valley Shared Use Path (#Wander Wye) has been running since May 2014 and has amassed 3942 signatures so far. The support for the revised project has enabled A-B Connecting Communities to receive funding as a ‘not for profit’ organisation via Lloyds Bank in Chepstow. The aim is to achieve a shared use route linking the Severn Bridge via the Wales Coastal Path to a new Link footbridge across the River Wye where at Sedbury it connects with the originally proposed Railway Path to The Old Station Tintern and onward up the Wye Valley to Monmouth.

The first stage is the pre-planning consultation and the approximate cost £18,000 that we need to raise for the whole application process.   Over £7,000 has now been raised. The whole project has also now been costed.  A-B has created a website link – www.wyecycle.co.uk/donate.  The petition is at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/restoring-the-disused-railway-line-from-chepstow-to-tintern-for-a-shared-use-path.