Diary of Events   2010

Click on a month to view events:

April      

Regular group meetings, Talks and Walks
Special Events and Open Days
Sales - Furniture, Tools, Plants.....
Physical work days
Training workshops and Conferences

Regular group meetings, Talks and Walks
Special Events and Open Days
Sales - Furniture, Tools, Plants...
Physical work days
Training workshops and Conferences
 

March

Friday March 19th 7-9pm Ysgol Gymraeg y Fenni (Abergavenny) School clothing 'Posh Swop'.  Bring at least one item of quality clothing to swop.  30 minutes to browse before the swop opens.  Tickets cost £3.50 in advance (Claire Jones 07710 923 839) or £5.50 on the door - includes nibbles and glass of wine.
Welcome to the future of fashion!
 

 
Monday 1st March                                                                      Llanthony & District Garden Club
The Garden Club meets at 8.00pm at Cwmyoy Village Hall. An Evening with Terry Walton: Radio 2 Allotment Doctor. Come and find out how to prepare your garden / allotment for the growing season.

Tuesday 2nd March                                                                                        Transition Chepstow AGM. Due largely to the bad weather, the AGM has been moved to this date. 19:30 - 21:00. Regency Room, Beaufort Hotel, Chepstow.

Tuesday 2nd March                                                                                       Gwent Badger Group
Monthly meeting at The Nags Head, Usk at 7-30pm. Members are welcome to attend.

Tuesday 2nd March                                                                                        Gwent Wildlife Trust
'Butterflies'. Speaker: Clare Williams. An illustrated talk on how to manage woodland for butterflies and moths by Butterfly Conservation’s Conservation Officer for Wales. 7.30pm St Michaels Centre, Abergavenny. Cost - £1.00.

Thursday 4th March                                                                                       Gwent Wildlife Trust
BBC Wildlife Magazine, the Inside Story! Speaker: Fergus Collins. An illustrated talk by Fergus, BBC Wildlife Magazine Features Editor. 7.30pm Chepstow Leisure Centre, Chepstow. Contact: Chepstow Local Group 01291 689326. Cost: £1.50 members, £2 non-members. Tea & coffee available.

Monday 8th March                                                                                         Gwent Wildlife Trust
Arcadia – Restoration of a Local Victorian. Water Garden. Speaker: Claire Love. An illustrated talk by Claire Love. 7.30pm Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth. Contact: Monmouth Local Group 01600 740286. Cost: £1.50 recommended donation.

Monday 8th March                                                                                         Gwent Wildlife Trust
The History of Millstone Extraction. Leaders: Bob Trett & Roger James. Short illustrated talk on millstone extraction in the Penalt area in the medieval barn at our Pentwyn Farm nature reserve. This will be followed by a walk through another reserve, Prisk Wood, examining many of the features and old millstone quarries within the landscape. The day will include discussion of features and their uses will be given and explained. This course is largely outdoors and the barn is not heated so please dress accordingly.11am – 2.30pm Pentwyn Farm Reserve Prisk Wood, near Monmouth Cost: £5 – kindly subsidised by Overlooking the Wye. Booking Essential.

Sunday 7th March                                                                            Gwent Ornithological Society
Forest of Dean 8:00am. Full day, meet at Waitrose car park Monmouth. Possibility of Hawfinch and Goshawks.

Sunday 7th March                                                                                              Wye Valley AONB  Brockweir with Nic Howes. Join Nic for an exploration of part of the lower Wye including a visit to Brockweir Quay and Brockweir Village Shop.10am - 1pm.

Monday 8th March                                                                               Monmouth and District FoE
Monthly meeting 7.30pm 3 Horseshoes, Drybridge Street Monmouth.  New members always welcome.

Tuesday 9th March                                                                                                  Chepstow FoE Monthly meeting at Chepstow Athletic, Mathern Road, Chepstow. 7.30pm. All welcome.

Tuesday 9th March                                                                                         Gwent Wildlife Trust Rocky Mountain Meander. Paul Dunning returns, with his excellent slides, to tell us of his exploration of the Rockies, with the wide range of birds and mammals, against some magnificent scenery. 7.30pm. Glen yr Afon House Hotel, Usk. Contact: Usk Local Group, 01495 785530. Cost: £2 adults, children FREE.

Tuesday 9th March                                                                                       Transition Monmouth Monthly meeting at the Robin Hood Inn, Monnow Street, Monmouth at 7pm. All welcome.

Wednesday 10th March                                             Usk Conservation and Environmental Group
AGM at British Legion Club Usk 7.30pm.

Wednesday 10th March                                                                                      Usk Civic Society
AGM followed by 'Historic Gardens of Monmouthshire' with Elizabeth Whittle. 8pm in the library of the Sessions House, Usk. £2 entry.

Saturday 13th March                                                                        Gwent Ornithological Society Wildlife crime and schedule 1 birds; protection and photography - WPC Tracey Bowen-Quirke. Goytre Village Hall, Penperlleni to start at 7:30pm. An entrance fee of £1.50 includes tea and biscuits.

Saturday 13th March                                                             Monmouthshire Countryside Service
'Mad Hatter's Tea Party' at Pembroke Road School, Chepstow. 10.30am to 12.30pm. A fun morning full of activities.

Sunday 14th March                                                                                            Wye Valley AONB  Newland Meander 10am - 1.30pm. Join Ben Giles, local author, on a walk through ancient woodland to the picturesque village of Newland.. Admire the impressive church known as the Cathedral of the Forest. On our return we will follow the route of the abandoned River Wye meander.

Monday 15th March                                                                 Abergavenny and Crickhowell FoE
Group meeting, The Kings Arms, Abergavenny. 8pm.  All welcome.

Wednesday 17th March                                                                                      Chepstow Society
Monthly meeting 7.15pm at the Drill Hall, Chepstow. Sarah Parker 'Edward Jenner'.

Sunday 21st March                                                    Usk Conservation and Environmental Group
Usk to Golden Hill following the flood route, Coedcynyr and Grass Ski Centre.
Meet Maryport Street, North car park, Usk 10.30am.

Wednesday 24th March                                                                           Monmouth Civic Society
Meeting and AGM. St. Thomas' Church Hall, St. Thomas' Square, Monmouth. 

Wednesday 24th March
Plaid Cymru Monmouth presents "Wales: an Appendage on Gwent".  An evening with eminent Welsh historian Dr John Davies author of "A History of Wales" 7.30pm The Kings Arms,  St John's Square, Abergavenny.  Tickets £10 (includes curry) from Abergavenny Bookshop 01873 850380 or Mary Harris 01873 832652.  Copies of A History of Wales also available from Abergavenny Bookshop.

Wednesday 24th March                                                                                                     Sustrans
A meeting for the Abergavenny-Hereford Sustrans Volunteer group to discuss activities and events for the year ahead and get more local people involved in volunteering to support walking and cycling routes locally.  Venue Tithe Barn, Monk Street, Abergavenny 6-7.30pm.  Refreshments provided, please contact Roanna if you are going along.

Thursday 25th March                                                               Monmouthshire Meadows Group
7th AGM with dinner, and a talk from Jerry Tallowin "Pleasure and Profit in Biodiversity".  Jerry Tallowin (Institute of Grssland and Environmental Research) has for some time been directing research at Pentwyn, and will use the analysis and information from this to describe optimal management of biodiverse meadows.  Llanishen Village Hall 7pm.  The talk will be followed by a delicious dinner with traditionally reared meat.  Cost is £10 for members, £12 for non-members to include a glass of wine (booking essential 01291 689447); no charge for members who just attend the talk.

Saturday 27th March                                                                        Gwent Ornithological Society
Llanwenarth 8:00-12:00. Meet ABS for river walk.

Saturday 27th March                                                                        Gwent Ornithological Society The birds of Scandinavia - Terry Bond. Goytre Village Hall, Penperlleni to start at 7:30pm. An entrance fee of £1.50 includes tea and biscuit. This is the final indoor meeting/talk of the season until September.
 

2nd Sunday of each month                                                                            Gwent Wildlife Trust
The wardens of Strawberry Cottage Wood are now running Sunday morning work tasks, on the second Sunday of every month, at this gem of a site four miles north of Abergavenny. Sessions will start 9.30am at the lay-by by the woods and finish about 12.30pm. For more information, contact Kaf and John Faragher on 01873 851562.

Sunday 7th March                                                                                          Gwent Wildlife Trust
Solutia Meadows – Reen Clearance. WING Work Task. Spend just the morning or stay all day – the choice is yours. Bring a flask & a packed lunch. The task is usually finished by 4pm. Meet 10.30am Newport Civic Centre top car park, Newport.

Saturday 13th March                                                                           Coed Cadw Woodland Trust
Final tree planting day at Cefn Ila.  Many thousands of trees have been planted here since 2007, to create a new 72 acre native wood.  This will be the last tree planting day at the site - 10am to 2pm; park at Coleg Gwent (Usk Agricultural College), where minibus transport will be provided to get to the site.  Bring boots/wellies, cold or wet weather clothes and gloves as straw is used to suppress the weeds around the base of the trees.  Bring a spade if you have one.  Any questions please contact Gary Roberts 08452 935809.
 

Tuesday 2nd March                                                                          Abergavenny Fairtrade Forum
Fairtrade Commuter breakfasts Abergavenny rail station 7.45am to 9am in conjunction with Arriva Trains Wales.

Thursday 4th March                                                                                       Gwent Wildlife Trust
Forest School Taster Session for Adults. Tutors: Kathy Barclay & Helen John. Have you ever wondered what Forest School is? Or what your children get up to at Forest School? Why do they love it so much and why do they come back so muddy?! Why not come and find out for yourselves! An adults only session to give you a flavour of what Forest Schools are all about. 10am – 2pm Magor Marsh, near Newport Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust. Cost: £2 members, £4 non-members. Booking essential.

Thursday 4th March                                                                         Abergavenny Fairtrade Forum
Social evening for Fairtrade Fortnight with speakers from Palestinian Fairtrade Community Interest Company producing olives, oils, herbs, dates and other products under difficult circumstances in the occupied territories - Zaytoun.  7.30pm to 9.30 Salvation Army Hall, Victoria Street, Abergavenny (between library and Merthyr road).  Contact Katrina Gass 01873 855760.

Saturday 6th March                                                                             Monmouth Fairtrade Forum
Coffee morning at The Priory 10am to 12.30.  Wide range of Fairtrade products available to buy.  This event is part of Fairtrade Fortnight.  Swap your usual products for Fairtrade alternatives.

Thursday 18th March                                                                         Abergavenny Climate Action
A showing of the inspiring film "The Power of Community" about Cuba's grass roots response to the need to grow their own food in the face of the reduction in fuel available for their country.  It provides ideas as to how we might have to face similar difficulties as fuel becomes scarcer and more expensive in the future.  How will we survive in the UK?  Could we learn lessons from the Cuban experience?  The film will be shown at Mulberry House, Abergavenny at 7.30pm.

Saturday 20th March                                                                                      Gwent Wildlife Trust Opening Learning Doors for Parents. Tutor: Richard Waller. Participants will discover and explore different learning styles (visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic) as well as investigating the language of learning. We will use a range of practical activities, indoors and out, including many employed by our own Education team in their highly regarded work with local schools. 10am – 1pm Magor Marsh, near Newport Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust. Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members. Booking Essential.

Saturday 20th March                                                                                      Gwent Wildlife Trust Eggstravaganza. Leaders: Kathy Barclay & Helen John. Come along to eggsplore the Marsh with the whole family. There will be loads of things to see and do, all with a wildlife theme and the chance to get sticky toasting and eating marshmallows over a real log fire. It will be hopping good fun for everyone. (Fire provided – no need to bring your own!) 1pm – 3pm. Magor Marsh, near Newport Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust. Cost: £1 children, adults FREE.
 

Every Week                                                                                                               TFSR Cymru
Open for sales of hand and garden tools - all proceeds contribute to the projects that we are supporting in Africa. Sales - Wed to Fri 10am to 4pm and Saturdays 10.30-12.30.  Also open for refurbishing Tuesday and Thursday 7.30 - 9.30pm. Crickhowell  01874 730155

Every Day                                                                                                       Monmouth Fairtrade
The new Monmouth Fairtrade town shopping bag is now on sale at Munday and Jones Greengrocer in Church Street,  Monmouth Museum in Priory Street, Gabby's in Beaufort Yard, and Bridges, Drybridge Park, price £2. It is made from organic Fairtrade cotton and produced for Bishopston Trading by their partners in South India. Using the bag advertises Monmouth's commitment to Fairtrade producers.  It also helps to reduce the use of plastic carriers.  Since they don't biodegrade they can become permanent, troublesome clutter, fouling the landscape and harming animals, birds and sealife.

Every Week Day                                                                                              Homemakers Wales
Showroom open Mon-Fri  9am-4pm  St. Michael's Road, Abergavenny, or at the following sales;

Chepstow Senior Citizens Centre     Monday 2nd February 10am - 3pm
Caldicot Methodist Church              Tuesday 9th February 12pm - 4pm
Abergavenny Market Hall                Thursday 18th February 10am - 3pm
 

Saturday 13th March                                                                                         Wye Valley AONB  The History of Millstone Extraction 11am - 2.30pm with Bob Trett. This course includes a talk on millstone quarrying followed by a walk through Prisk wood to examine the quarries and other related features.Please note that there is some rough ground and difficult terrain. Pentwyn Farm and Prisk Wood. Booking: Essential. Cost: £5 per person (children over 10 allowed).

Monday 15th March                                                                                       Gwent Wildlife Trust Hedgelaying. Tutor: Kevin Williams. A practical introduction to Hedgelaying. Participants will learn how to prepare a hedge and how to select the right trees for laying. It will include a brief discussion of the various regional styles. You will also be shown how to use and sharpen the tools provided. 10am – 4.30pm Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust. Cost: £25 members, £35 non-members. Booking Essential.

Saturday 20th March                                                                                      Gwent Wildlife Trust Introduction to Wildlife Gardening. Tutor: Veronika Brannovic. Spend the day finding out how you can have a productive, attractive garden that also provides a much needed home for some of our wildlife. Many wild creatures are beneficial to gardens by, for example, helping to control pests, but lots of theseare under threat because they are running out of places to live. Even those with the smallest gardens can help. During this workshop you will discover the basic needs of wildlife, how you can address those needs and how this will help you garden for wildlife productivity. There is a small practical aspect to this course, so you may get dirty!  10am – 3pm Magor Marsh, near Newport Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust Cost: £7 members, £12 non-members. Booking Essential.

 

April

Tuesday 6th April                                                                                        Gwent Wildlife Trust
Update on the Work of the Trust.  Speaker: Dr Richard Park.  An illustrated talk by the CEO of Gwent Wildlife Trust.  Abergavenny Group meeting 7.30pm St Michaels Centre, Abergavenny. Entry  £1.

Monday 12th April                                                                      Llanthony & District Garden Club
The Garden Club meets at 8.00pm at Cwmyoy Village Hall. Daphne Everett: Crofters "Bed to the Queen of Spain", the story of heather.  A fascinating insight into the origins of our colourful heather.

Monday 12th April                                                                                Monmouth and District FoE
Monthly meeting 7.30pm 3 Horseshoes, Drybridge Street Monmouth.  New members always welcome.

Tuesday 13th April                                                                                         Gwent Wildlife Trust
Usk local group meeting.  The Return of the Osprey to Wales with Tim Stowe.  Tim Stowe's fine slides and talk details the RSPB's success in establishing this wonderful fishing eagle within a few miles of Gwent's borders. Tim is director of RSPB Wales.  7.30pm Glen yr Afon House Hotel, Usk.  Cost: £2 adults, children FREE.

Tuesday 13th April                                                                                                  Chepstow FoE Monthly meeting at Chepstow Athletic, Mathern Road, Chepstow. 7.30pm. All welcome.

Tuesday 13th April                                                                                        Transition Monmouth Monthly meeting at the Robin Hood Inn, Monnow Street, Monmouth at 7pm. All welcome.

Wednesday 14th April                                                                                    Gwent Wildlife Trust
Reptiles and Amphibians in the Brecon Beacons National Park with Frances Baines.  Learn how to identify our native species and how to take part in a National Survey. What is NARRS? - The National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme.  How can volunteers take part? An illustrated guide to
finding and identifying our local reptiles and amphibians, and the results of three years of surveying on the Blorenge Mountain above Abergavenny.  7.30pm - 9pm Environmental Resource Centre, Ebbw Vale
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members.  Booking Essential 01600 740600.

Wednesday 14th April                                                                                         Usk Civic Society
Brian Davies Curator of Pontypridd Museum, will speak to us about William Edwards - Bridgebuilder.  library of the Sessions House, Usk 8pm, £2 entrance.

Thursday 15th April                                                                                         Transition Chepstow
Health and Consciousness Group meeting.  Coach and Horses, Chepstow 7.30pm.

Saturday 17th April                                                                           Gwent Ornithological Society
A visit to Craig Cerrrig Glisiad NNR. 8:00-11:00am.  Meet 8am at lay-by on A465 (SN971222) to look for Ring Ouzel and other mountain species. Stout footwear required.

Monday 19th April                                                                Abergavenny and Crickhowell FoE
Group meeting, The Bear Crickhowell. 8pm.  All welcome.

Wednesday 21st April                                                                                     Chepstow Society
Monthly meeting 7.15pm at the Drill Hall, Chepstow. Brigadier Ian Schapter - "Agincourt and the Long Bow".
 

Saturday 10th April                                                                                         Gwent Wildlife Trust
Spring Funday with Veronika Brannovic.  A day of springtime fun at our brand new, ecofriendly centre in Ebbw Vale. Come and have a look around the new centre - find out how it was built and how it works. Explore the wildlife garden and find out what you can do to encourage wildlife into your own. Have a go at the Spring Wildlife Challenge, find out about local wildlife and maybe bring a picnic to enjoy too.
1pm - 4pm at Environmental Resource Centre, Ebbw Vale.  Cost: £1 adults, children FREE.  No need to book.

Saturday 10th April                                                                                             Wye Valley AONB
Bushcraft for beginners with Wild Connections.  Suitable for children aged 12+.  10am to 3pm, Whitestone Woods.  Booking essential phone 01600 713977.

Sunday 18th April                                                                                           Gwent Wildlife Trust
Angiddy Valley with Stephanie Tyler.  Dr Stephanie Tyler is a local naturalist with a huge amount of knowledge and experience. Together with Steph, you will look for nesting dippers and grey wagtails. You may even get to see some of the broods being ringed! You will learn about these charismatic birds’ use of the river, and their interaction with other creatures that live there, such as aquatic insects. You will also get the chance to learn about the riverside trees and plants. A morning out with Steph is not to be missed!  9.30am – 12.30pm Angiddy Valley, near Tintern.  Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust 01600 740600 Booking Essential.  Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members


 

Every Week                                                                                                               TFSR Cymru
Open for sales of hand and garden tools - all proceeds contribute to the projects that we are supporting in Africa. Sales - Wed to Fri 10am to 4pm and Saturdays 10.30-12.30.  Also open for refurbishing Tuesday and Thursday 7.30 - 9.30pm. Crickhowell  01874 730155

Every Day                                                                                                       Monmouth Fairtrade
The new Monmouth Fairtrade town shopping bag is now on sale at Munday and Jones Greengrocer in Church Street,  Monmouth Museum in Priory Street, Gabby's in Beaufort Yard, and Bridges, Drybridge Park, price £2. It is made from organic Fairtrade cotton and produced for Bishopston Trading by their partners in South India. Using the bag advertises Monmouth's commitment to Fairtrade producers.  It also helps to reduce the use of plastic carriers.  Since they don't biodegrade they can become permanent, troublesome clutter, fouling the landscape and harming animals, birds and sealife.

Every Week Day                                                                                              Homemakers Wales
Showroom open Mon-Fri  9am-4pm  St. Michael's Road, Abergavenny, or at the following sales;

Chepstow Senior Citizens Centre     Monday 2nd February 10am - 3pm
Caldicot Methodist Church              Tuesday 9th February 12pm - 4pm
Abergavenny Market Hall                Thursday 18th February 10am - 3pm
 

2nd Sunday of each month                                                                            Gwent Wildlife Trust
The wardens of Strawberry Cottage Wood are now running Sunday morning work tasks, on the second Sunday of every month, at this gem of a site four miles north of Abergavenny. Sessions will start 9.30am at the lay-by by the woods and finish about 12.30pm. For more information, contact Kaf and John Faragher on 01873 851562.

From Monday 5th April                                                                                       Wye Valley AONB
Archaeological excavation at New Weir, Symonds Yat East with Herefordshire Archaeology.  An opportunity for students and members of the public to learn about archaeological techniques on this iron forge site.  Suitable for accompanied children over age 10.  Booking essential contact 01600 891527.  Cost £5.
 

Friday 16th April                                                                                            Wye Valley AONB  Lime Mortaring with Strachey and Strachey Conservation. 9.30am - 4.30pm. This course is a practical introduction to lime mortaring, led by Strachey and Strachey Conservation. You will be able to visit a limekiln nearby in order to see an example of historical lime use and then learn about the composition and application of lime mortar. Please bring gloves, steel toe capped boots or wellies, waterproofs and a packed lunch. Meet at Car Park, Symonds Yat Rock. Cost £5. Booking essential (01600 713977).

Saturday 17th April                                                                                         Gwent Wildlife Trust
This workshop is already fully booked.  Dormouse Ecology and Conservation with Tutor Jan Kinchington.  This theory course will cover dormouse ecology, conservation, legal protection and handling. It will include a supervised visit to check dormouse nest boxes. This course is aimed at those who wish to work towards their dormouse handling licence. (Going on to obtain the full licence typically takes one or two seasons of practical surveying under supervision after this course before a license may be granted.)
9.30am - 12pm Pentwyn Farm & Croes Robert, near Monmouth.  Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust 01600 740600  Booking Essential.  Cost: £80 members, £120 non-members.
 

If you are planning an event in Monmouthshire in the next few months, that will be of interest to visitors to this site, contact us.

Saturday 1st May                                                                                         Gwent Wildlife Trust
How to Find Bird Nests!  Tutors: Rodney Morris & Steve Carter.  Taking part in the British Trust for
Ornithology's National Nest Record Scheme can be a very rewarding hobby and provides incredibly useful information to assist bird conservation. The trouble is that bird's nests are not easy to find! Join two experts for an indoor talk looking at birds and their breeding habits followed by a practical
demonstration outside and the chance to practice your new-found skills under supervision. We may
visit a variety of sites depending on where the birds decide to nest. The practical session includes
difficult terrain.  10am - 4pm  Environmental Resource Centre, Ebbw Vale.  Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust 01600 740600 Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members.  Booking Essential.

Sunday 16th May                                                                                            Transition Chepstow
Second Give It Away, Take it Away event 10am to 4pm (last drop off at 2.30pm).  See the Transition Chepstow web site to find out how it works, and how you can get involved in swapping and exchanging all sorts of things.  Severn Bridge Social Club Car Park, Bulwark, Chepstow. 

Sat 29 May                                                                                        Gwent Ornithological Society
Never heard the song of a nightingale?  Here is your chance, with a visit to Highnam Wood in Gloucestershire.  Meet at RSPB car park (SO778190) 5.30pm to dusk.