Bee Friendly Monmouthshire will be showing the film “Queen of the Sun” – a movie about the decline in the pollinator population and the reasons for it on 17 September from 7 pm at the Beaufort Hotel in Chepstow (doors open 6.30).  Refreshments available and a Q and A session after the 90 minute film.

Forest of Dean councillors have defied their officers and approved the Resilience community-owned wind turbine at Tidenham, community benefit outweighing landscape and heritage impacts.

The Energise Wales Network is encouraging us to respond to Welsh Government’s Energy Efficiency Strategy – click here http://dmtrk.com/2PYW-1O5A-05F28SJ98/cr.aspx for more information. Deadline 9 September.

Gwent Wildlife Trust’s annual photography competition for amateurs is now open – it closes on Monday, 31 August.  The themes are Wildlife and Living Landscapes, there are ‘under 16′ and ’16 and over’ categories, and full details are at www.gwentwildlife.org/how-you-can-help/photography-competition.

The County Council, its partners and Gwent Energy CIC as sponsor will be holding their Eco Open Doors event on 12/13 September.  Twenty two local homes or other buildings will be open to learn about their energy saving and energy generating features.  Full details at www.monecoopendoors.org.uk.

You may like to keep an eye on http://gofossilfree.org/uk where the details of the fossil fuel investments of every local authority pension fund will be released in a few weeks time.  You may then want to get involved in a campaign to get your fund to disinvest.  To find out more contact ellen@350.org.

GAVO has arranged a session at Abergavenny Community Centre (Park Street) on this topic on 24 August (9.30-12.30), relating it to the Welsh Government’s current consultation.  To learn more or book a place email mandy.moore@gavowales.org.uk.

Welsh Government is consulting on further proposed amendments to secondary legislation for development management: http://gov.wales/consultations/planning/further-secondary-legislation-for-development-management/?lang=en.  This includes proposals to make Design and Access Statements mandatory only in certain circumstances and to relax their content requirements.  Consultation ends on 26 October.

The County Council is consulting on its draft Primary Shopping Frontages Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG).  This has been produced to provide further details on Policy RET1 ‘Primary Shopping Frontages’ of the Monmouthshire Local Development Plan (LDP).   All responses must be received by 4.30pm on Friday, 2 October 2015.   Further details are at: https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/current-consultations

Subject to planning permission, Monmouthshire CC has decided to proceed with their revenue-earning proposal for a 5MW solar farm on county council land at Oak Grove Farm, Crick.  Several councillors opposed the scheme because such green energy schemes are subsidised by taxpayers.  Further information is at https://monmouthshire.gov.uk/app/uploads/2015/07/11bi-Solar-Farm-Business-Case.pdf.