Our stall at the Abergavenny Food Festival in the Market Hall where we featured
the benefits of locally produced food, organic food, and the effects of the power
wielded by the big supermarkets.
We are one of the many local Friends of the Earth groups that exist in Wales, England and Scotland. Our focus is action we can take locally for a fairer, just and sustainable future for all. We actively support many of the national campaigns but concentrate mainly on influencing what is happening on our doorstep.
The group itself has approximately 75 members in the Abergavenny and Crickhowell area. Group members are diverse in age and background but with a common purpose of wanting to make a difference locally, meeting like-minded people and learning about what is going on in the area.
Meetings are structured but informal with usually 10 - 15 members attending. Debate and participation are encouraged. A drink in a cosy pub with good company also has some appeal! Much of the work is done outside of the monthly meetings. There are socials, walks, visits to 'green' places you would not otherwise find. There are public events, demonstrations and volunteer work for some of the projects that are on-going.
Launch of the Abergavenny Bag
The new Fair Trade cotton bag will replace plastic bags. See details and photos.
The KALM campaign for Abergavenny Livestock Market
In late 2008 Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) settled on a scheme for the Abergavenny livestock market which they claimed would regenerate the town and meet with public approval. At a public meeting in January 2009 the plan was overwhelmingly rejected by the audience. The scheme would mean losing Abergavenny's livestock market in favour of a retail park including a huge supermarket. This would destroy the town we know and many are incensed that we were never consulted about losing our historic market town status.
Very soon afterwards, a letter in the Abergavenny Chronicle from Jenny Long called for a new campaign to save the livestock market and the KALM campaign (Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market) was born. It grew with astonishing speed, and, unlike the Save Our Market Town campaign in 2006, secured the support of most local farmers who use the livestock market as well as many independent shops. KALM campaigners, in just 5 weeks, collected 5270 signed letters opposing the loss of the livestock market, plus 303 letters from farmers, plus almost 4700 signatures to a petition which is currently being considered by the Welsh Assembly Government's Petitions Committee. The campaign has the support of two of the main political parties and a third is actively opposing MCC's current plans for the livestock market.
You can join an email list to receive periodic emails about what's happening on the campaign, and given the opportunity to assist if you so wish, by sending your email address to Barry Greenwood at You do not have to be a member of, or supporter of, FoE to join the KALM campaign. If you are at all sympathetic, Abergavenny needs you!
2010 Group Meetings
Meetings generally take place on the 3rd Monday of each month at 8.00 pm, alternating venues between Abergavenny and Crickhowell.
| Date | Time | Place |
| Jan 18 | 8.00 pm | The King's Arms, Abergavenny |
| Feb 15 | 8.00 pm | The Bear, Crickhowell |
| Mar 15 | 8.00 pm | The King's Arms, Abergavenny |
| Apr 19 | 8.00 pm | The Bear, Crickhowell |
| May 17 | 8.00 pm | The King's Arms, Abergavenny |
| Jun 21 | 7.30 pm | Barry & Jayne's House |
| Jul 19 | 8.00 pm | The King's Arms, Abergavenny |
| Sep 20 | 8.00 pm | The King's Arms, Abergavenny |
| Oct 18 | 8.00 pm | The Bear, Crickhowell |
| Nov 15 | 8.00 pm | The King's Arms, Abergavenny |
| Dec 20 | 8.00 pm | The Bear, Crickhowell |
New: Green Forum Articles
You can now find the last few articles submitted to the Abergavenny Green Forum on the Resources page.