Newsletter - Spring 2010
Contents of this edition:
Official opening of UCEG Usk Nature Trail
The Usk Nature Trail was officially opened by Ms Jane Davidson AM Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing on Friday 5th March 2010. A specially designed ceramic plaque was unveiled at the ceremony. The Usk Conservation and Environment Group have worked on the old railtrack section of the Nature Trail for more than four years, and the group are delighted that the whole trail is now open and being used daily by local people.
Speaking at the opening of the Usk Nature Trail, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson said:
"The creatures and plants of the natural environment – its biodiversity – greatly enhance our experience of the world. However we know that biodiversity is under threat. 2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity and there are many simple ways in which we can all help to halt the loss of biodiversity, such as feeding the wild birds in our gardens, making our roof space bat-friendly or creating nature-friendly green spaces in our local community. These may seem like small, almost insignificant steps but collectively they can make a big difference. For this reason I am particularly pleased to open this nature trail and hear about the various projects in which the Usk Conservation and Environmental Group have been engaged. I am sure that the benefits of this work will persist well into the future.” Back to top
Wye Valley Communities for safe cycling
Plans are still afoot for the proposed Wye Valley Railway path from Chepstow/Sedbury to Tintern and Brockweir, which is being promoted by local group Wye Valley Communities for Safe Cycling, with support from the sustainable transport charity Sustrans. Final touches are being made to a planning application which is anticipated in the coming months. This route will be so much more than a cycle path - it will provide a safe and inspirational traffic-free link between Chepstow and the heart of the lower Wye Valley for local residents and visitors alike, suitable for families, walkers, runners, mobility vehicles and horse riders as well as cyclists.
Meanwhile a planning application for the first section of Monmouth's Links Project (a network of safe walking and cycling routes) will be considered by Monmouthshire County Council's Planning Committee shortly. This part of the route includes a mainly off-road link from Redbrook Road to the old Monnow Bridge via the old iron railway bridge across the Wye.
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Radical thinking at Bridges
It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of huge problems like climate change and peak oil, but by uniting in immediate, effective and achievable action, 10:10 enables us all to make a meaningful difference. 10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of society behind one simple idea – that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in carbon emissions and energy consumption in 2010.
Bridges Community Centre is looking hard at doing this and at a recent Strategy Meeting decided that over the next three years the Centre must become more energy efficient, it must become more sustainable, and it must reduce its carbon footprint.
For a start they thought they would make considerable savings by replacing their old boilers with efficient modern ones – but it is likely they can do even better. They are looking at wood pellet boilers; these are efficient and the pellets are made from waste wood that would otherwise go into landfill (and there emit methane which is much more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide). Another option is heat pumps – attractive in that there is cost benefit from the feed-in tariffs that started on 1st April (whereby the Government will pay for all renewable electricity that you generate – see www.fitariffs.co.uk). And the third option is solar panels to provide hot water.
An added advantage of options such as these is that grants are available from the Carbon Trust, Department of Energy + Climate Change, Energy Saving Trust, Monmouthshire County Council and others. Everyone – organisations as well as individuals – can benefit from thinking in new and radical terms.
Further information is available on the national effort at www.1010uk.org or from the local TransitionMonmouth campaign, Monmouth 10:10, on voicemail 07989 168121 or mail@transitionmonmouth.org.
Big Garden Birdwatch Monmouthshire results
Nearly 530,000 people in the UK took part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch on 30-31st January. The survey took place in the middle of the harshest winter for several decades, and it seems to have disproportionately affected smaller birds, with less long tailed tits, goldcrests and coal tits appearing in UK gardens. Members of the thrush family, including the migratory redwing and fieldfare were more common in gardens, as they struggled to find enough food in their normal countryside habitats. The house sparrow remains the commonest bird in our gardens, but it has declined by 17% in the last 5 years.
In Monmouthshire, the house sparrow retained top position, and was closely followed by the blue tit and blackbird, both of which were seen in more gardens, but with smaller numbers seen at any given time. This is not surprising as the house sparrow is such a gregarious bird, nesting, roosting and feeding in argumentative colonies. The diminutive wren just made it into the top 20, and these small birds suffered especially from the cold winter, as they must feed constantly to keep warm and keep up their fat reserves. At home, one of our garden nest boxes was regularly used as a night time roost by up to 10 wrens who crammed themselves in at sunset to huddle together for warmth.
Transition Chepstow - Give It Away Take It Away, again
Food Inc Film showing in Chepstow
As part of the Chepstow Festival, Chepstow Friends of the Earth and Transition Chepstow are hosting a showing of the new documentary, Food Inc. (http://www.foodincmovie.com/) at the Drill Hall on Saturday 26th June at 7.30pm. Tickets are £2.50. Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on the American food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the consumer with the consent of the government's regulatory agencies. The nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and the environment. With Britain’s food industry heading in the same direction, this is a wake up call to the British public. The event will showcase locally produced food and finish with a panel discussion about British farming and the food industry.
Multimillion Pound Boost for World Heritage Site
The Blaenavon Industrial Landscape and parts of the surrounding area have received an investment of £2.47 million to further enhance and conserve the area’s precious natural and cultural heritage. The funding was awarded to the Forgotten Landscapes Partnership Scheme which aims to improve public awareness of the important local landscape and to continue the social and economic regeneration of the region.
The Heritage Lottery Fund will provide 60 percent of the funding with the rest coming from bodies including the Welsh Assembly Government’s Heads of the Valleys Programme, Valleys Regional Park, the Environment Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales.
The Forgotten Landscapes team will be based at the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre for the duration of the three year project. During this time a range of regeneration and conservation projects will be delivered including:
The conservation and restoration of historical features such as the Pwll Du Tunnel which was used to transport coal, limestone and pig iron between Blaenavon Ironworks and Garn Ddyrys Forge.
Conservation of the important upland habitats and wildlife including the restoration of heather moorland and the recovery of the declining red grouse population.
Management of bracken on the mountainside to improve grazing, and promote the return of Welsh mountain ponies.
Improved access to the landscape and its features.
Educational projects and improved facilities such as providing countryside skills training for local people.
A micro-hydro project above Forgeside Community Wood which will generate enough electricity to power around 35 homes and prevent the emission of 70 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The money earned from electricity sales will be used to resource the ongoing conservation of the heritage landscape
Steven Rogers, the Forgotten Landscapes Manager, said “...This funding will ensure the continued development of the World Heritage Site and help it to become an internationally recognised heritage attraction."
The project will ensure that visitors and local people will be able to access, understand and enjoy this remarkable area. As a key eastern gateway, Forgotten Landscapes will also act as a stepping stone into the Valleys Regional Park and will help reconnect local people with their rich and globally important heritage.
For more information about this exciting project visit www.forgottenlandscapes.org.uk or contact Steven Rogers, telephone 01633 648582, email steven.rogers@torfaen.gov.uk.
The Birds of Gwent
The specialist birder’s handbook to the birds that may be found in the old county of Gwent was published in August 2009. It is the work of a group of senior members of the Gwent Ornithological Society, and charts the fortunes of bird populations over two decades or more. The original ‘The Birds of Gwent’ was published in 1977, and this new work brings together breeding bird surveys since 1981. The number of breeding species in Gwent has risen from 120 in 1981-5 to 136. This seeming success is countered by the fact that some once common species have declined markedly in this time, and one, the Ring Ouzel has disappeared altogether as a breeding bird. The turtle dove, tree sparrow and grey partridge have all seen their range contract by up to 80%, and these birds are now seldom seen. However, eleven species have seen their local distribution more than double, including the hobby, a small migratory bird of prey that specialises in catching large insects and smaller birds in flight.
As well as breeding birds and local distribution maps, The Birds of Gwent presents information about the landscape and habitats of the area, and suggests good sites for birdwatchers to visit locally.
The book is available for £30 from GOS (£10 off the RRP) from Alan Williams 01873 880165, or £40 from Amazon or other booksellers.
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Future of Water Resources in Wales
Environment Agency Wales (EAW) has set out a long-term plan to ensure sufficient water for people, the economy and the environment in the face of future challenges from climate change and a growing population.
The Water Resources Action Plan sets the direction for how EAW will work with other organisations to protect and improve water resources in the future. Measures outlined include investigating the future impact of climate change on water resources and water supply, streamlining the permitting process for hydropower developments and actions to reduce water consumption across all sectors to help lower carbon emissions.
Climate change could reduce the total annual amount of water available in rivers in Wales by up to 15% by 2050, and there may potentially be an additional 400,000 people living and working in Wales, which will stretch water supplies even further.
Chris Mills, Director, EAW said: ‘People and business need to value water and use it more efficiently. The actions in our new plan cover steps that need to be taken by water companies, Government, regulators, business and the public. We need a joined up approach to managing water supplies to prevent water shortages in the future. Good water resources management will benefit society, the economy and ensure the environment remains protected.’
The action plan can be found at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wrs.
For more news stories like this, visit the Cynnal Cymru e-newsletter, from which this article was taken.
Monmouthshire Meadows Open Day
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