Local Group and Organisation Websites

Monmouthpedia Monmouth is the first town in the UK to have its own dedicated Wikipedia project.  The project will grow as more people get involved and contribute entries to it.  Already there are hundreds of photos and images of places and events in the town, and articles about buildings, people and places in and around the town.

Chepstow Town Council web site with some information about local events, attractions and clubs.

Circle of Legends A website dedicated to some legendary figures associated with Monmouthshire history including King Arthur, King Tewdric and Sabrina.  Descriptions of the various characters’ links with the County, suggested walks to find out more and visit some of the locations.  There is a circle of carved figures at Old Station, Tintern linked to these historical men and women.  

Statutory and Government bodies

Monmouthshire County Council – Council in South Wales outlines its performance indicators and features a directory of community organizations. Browse the local attractions.

Monmouthshire Rights of Way: http://access.monmouthshire.gov.uk

Monmouthshire Countryside: https://monmouthshirecountryside.wordpress.com/

Monmouthshire Tourism: http://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/

Welsh Government – Provides details about this Welsh governing body established in 1998. With a record of proceedings and departmental reports.

Brecon Beacons National Park – The Brecon Beacons National Park is a ‘working’ landscape, evolving over the centuries as a harmonious blend of natural beauty and human history.

Natural Resources Wales – Wales’ environmental body undertakes statutory responsibilities ranging from regulating polluting industries, maintaining flood defences, maintaining and developing Wales’ public forest estate, ensuring adequate protection for species and landscapes and advising Welsh Government on a range of environmental issues.

Powys County Council – Welsh council posting an A-Z directory of its services, plus contact details for county councillors.

Torfaen County Borough Council  – A-Z directory of services, what’s on in the Torfaen area.

Abergavenny visitor guide: www.visitabergavenny.co.uk or www.abergavenny.org.uk

Blaenavon World Heritage Site: http://www.visitblaenavon.co.uk

Cadw: http://cadw.gov.wales/?lang=en

Campaigning Groups

CPRW (Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales) – Find out what the group is doing to doing to protect the Welsh landscape and its inhabitants. Become a member or read bulletins.

Friends of the Earth – International alliance of environmental groups campaigns on national and local levels to bring about change in environmental concerns.

Greenpeace – Veteran environmental group campaigning on a range of issues including GM, pollution, unethical fishing practices, nuclear power etc.

Conservation Groups

The Conservation Volunteers – UK-wide organisation training people in practical land management and conservation skills (formerly British Trust for Conservation Volunteers).

National Trust – Preserves places of historic interest or natural beauty in the UK. News and events, places to visit, holidays and travel plus info for schools.

RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) British charity operates bird watching reserves. Review membership benefits, news and conservation issues.

Campaign for National Parks – Charity promoting the conservation, enhancement, enjoyment and understanding of the National Parks of England and Wales. With press and campaigns.

Brecon Beacons Park Society – Voluntary society that acts as a critical friend to the National Park Authority, monitoring planning applications, policy developments, condition of footpaths and supporting many of the activities and initiatives of the National Park such as the Forest Ffawr GeoPark and Dark Skies projects.  Guided walks are organised alongside many other activities to raise awareness of the special qualities of the National Park.

Education

Cynnal Cymru/Sustain Wales – Independent not-for-profit organisation promoting sustainable development in Wales and providing practical advice on sustainable living.  There is a searchable directory of projects in Wales, to find out what is happening in other areas.  Cynnal Cymru also supports the office of the Commissioner for Sustainable Development in Wales.

Transition Network –  Network of community groups working on finding local responses to the dual challenge of peak oil and climate change.  Lots of useful information, ideas and inspiration from communities who are doing it for themselves, making it up as they go along and sharing it with the world.

Centre for Alternative Technology – Welsh organisation that promotes sustainable and ecologically-sound lifestyles. Includes examples of technology and a shopping guide.

Women’s Environmental Network – Organisation for men and women promotes education of different environmental and civil liberties topics. Resource includes news and volunteering instructions.

Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

Community Energy Online is a website from Department of Energy & Climate Change aimed at supporting local authorities, community groups and others who are working on low carbon and renewable energy projects.  The site includes case studies and communities that were successful in winning Low Carbon Communities Challenge funding.

energyshare is a new initiative that aims to celebrate and share good practice on renewable energy projects across the UK, and inspire and enable more community energy projects to get started.

Awel Aman Tawe is an inspiring community energy project regenerating an area formerly dominated by coal mining.  The project provides energy efficiency advice, reduces energy costs for local homeowners,  provides training and new skills to local people in energy efficiency and renewables installations, and generate their own energy to raise funds for further project development.

Talybont on Usk another inspiring community energy generation scheme, this time using water power. 

Cwmdu Sustainable Environment Group is associated with The Green Valleys (see link below) and is a group of local residents in the Brecon Beacons National Park dedicated to sharing experiences of energy saving measures with the wider community.

The Green Valleys Brecon Beacons National Park project to initiate and promote community action on energy conservation, renewable energy and habitat improvements that face up to the challenges of climate change in multi-faceted ways.

Renewable Energy – The Green Alternative Way to Heat Your Home A summary guide to different forms of domestic heat, covering efficient use of conventional fuels and the use of renewables.  German website but with excellent English translation, and written for UK readers.

Waste Management and Recycling

Waste Watch UK – British charitable organization attempts to protect the environment through recycling advocacy. Order publications or read news.

Agriculture and horticulture

Farmers’ Markets in Wales lists locations of farmers’ markets in Wales each month, and also includes searchable list of producers, and news for farmers, growers and farmers’ market customers.

Soil Association – Group promoting organic food and farming. Find 10 reasons to go organic, educational resources and links to companies.  Features library resources, news, clean food facts and info on the campaign against GM crops.  

Garden Organic is the new name for the Henry Doubleday Research Association, a great source of information for all matters organic.

Bees for Development is a Monmouth based, international charity that helps small farmers and producers in African and other developing countries to keep bees.  The charity provides support, advice and training, helping beekeepers to become better apiculturists, and provide a sustainable livelihood for their families.

Transport

Sustrans – Organisation that constructs bike and walking routes and tracks. Includes publications and maps, news, advice, and links.

Green Burials

Native Woodland – Natural burial sites, including a site near Usk.

Project Dirt Green social network of individuals and groups involved in practical environmental projects.  The website includes geographic clusters of eco-projects and so enables closer networking.  It’s also a great way to see what’s happening elsewhere in the UK, and learning from other people’s experience of establishing and running projects – a useful resource.