January 2025

Dear Transitioners

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here’s hoping you have all had an enjoyable time and that, in between the indoor indulgences, you have spent time out in nature and in your gardens – and in particular that you have been potting up stuff from your gardens in preparation for our plant stall at the Seed Swap on Saturday 8 February – seedlings that are surplus to requirements, chunks of perennials that need splitting etc. 

There’s still time, and also to sort out your no longer wanted books on the environment, nature, gardening etc for our book stall that day.  Please let us know how you are doing, and what you hope to bring.  If you can’t attend on the day you can leave your plants and books with me – let me know – and also if you need help with potting up.

It’s been a while since we had one of our usual General Meetings so there’s a lot to catch up on at our General Meeting next Tuesday at 7.30 via the Zoom link:-

14 January 2025 at 7.30pm:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85460607129?pwd=z8L4mBRBcbw6ncoc9lRshKKMxrCjcI.1
Meeting ID: 854 6060 7129
Passcode: 568022

The agenda and notes of the previous meeting (and also the AGM) are below – we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

Introductions

Apologies for absence

Note taker

Notes of the last meeting – copied below – and matters arising not elsewhere on the agenda

Events feedback: 

• Regen Rob

Future events:-

• Seed Swap – Saturday 8 February, 10 till 1, at Bridges Community Centre:  We need plants for our plant stall, books for our book stall and volunteers on the day.  Home made cakes/biscuits would be much appreciated
• Severn Wye Energy Agency
• FRESK
• Sewage Works and Water Works Visits

Monmouth Community Fridge

Friends of the River Wye / Friends of the Lower Wye

Green Grow

Air Quality Monitoring

Benthyg

Monmouth Placemaking Plan

Any Other Business

Date of next meeting:  11 February at 7.30

NOTES

Transition Monmouth Annual General Meeting

26 November 2024 at 7.30pm via Zoom

Present:  Bryan Miller, Claudia Blair, Helena Ronicle, Vivien Mitchell

Apologies:  Kelly Jackson-Graham, Mike Dunsbee, Cheryl Cummings, Charles Emes, Jem Jenkins-Jones

Note taker:  Vivien Mitchell

Notes of 2023 AGM: 

It was agreed that these were a correct record. 

Chair’s Report:

Bryan Miller reported on our numerous groups and activities – the Monmouth Community Fridge, the Wyesham Community Woodland, Community Orchard and our other Green Grow ventures, Benthyg, Friends of the Lower Wye (FotLW) and our new project to monitor air quality round Monmouth.  Events included the big Seed/Swap Shop, two Nearly New events, presentations at the Haberdashers Sustainability conference and others, and information stalls at Monmouth Pride, Carnival and The Hive.  We much value the collaborations we have with the Town Council, the County Council, ACE Monmouth, and others.  The full report is posted on our website https://transitionmonmouth.org and on our Facebook pages.

Treasurer’s Report:

Claudia Blair’s report showed that we had £15,676 in our account but, apart from £1,835 in the General Sub-Account, the remaining monies were earmarked as follows:-

• Food Sense whose main activity is the Monmouth Community Fridge: £4,627 – sufficient to cover expenses pro tem but will need to apply for further funding in the New Year
• Green Grow/Green Spaces: £658 – sufficient for our general expenses but a funding application has been submitted to the Town Council to cover the cost of appropriate planting in the new Wye Bridge Car Park area, a notice board for our Kitchen Garden at Monmouth Comprehensive School, and for tools, stocks of which are running low
• Friends of the Lower Wye:  £1,179 – sufficient to cover costs pro tem
• Plastic Free Monmouth:  £181
• Claypatch/Wyesham Community Woodland:  £5,397 – sufficient to complete works under the 10-year management plan on budget
• Air Quality Monitors:  £450
• Benthyg:  £1,348 – sufficient to cover expenses pro tem but will need to apply for further funding in the New Year as we now have to pay rent

Election of Officers:

Chair:  Bryan Miller – proposed Helena Ronicle, seconded by Claudia Blair – was elected unopposed

Deputy Chair:  Helena Ronicle – proposed by Vivien Mitchell, seconded by Bryan Miller – was elected unopposed

Treasurer:  Claudia Blair – proposed by Vivien Mitchel, seconded by Helena Ronicle – was elected unopposed

Admin/Secretary:  Vivien Mitchell – proposed by Bryan Miller, seconded by Helena Ronicle – was elected unopposed

The meeting closed at 8.15 pm and was followed by a Members’ Meeting

NOTES:  Transition Monmouth General Meeting

Tuesday 26 November 2024 at 7.30 via Zoom

Present:  Bryan Miller, Vivien Mitchell, Helena Ronicle, Claudia Blair

Apologies for absence:  Kelly Jackson-Graham, Jem Jenkins-Jones, Charles Emes, Mike Dunsbee, Cheryl Cummings

Note taker:  Vivien Mitchell

Events feedback:-

Wye Valley National Landscape:  Formerly AONB, introductory meeting on 14 November in Tintern:  Their aim was not clear but the food was excellent

Nearly New Sale:  Children’s stuff from bump to teenage, 16 November:  Held at Overmonnow Primary School, about 50 people attended and spent well, with the lower quality stuff in high demand.   However, the venue was not popular and the timing was bad with so many other pre-Christmas events.  More funding – £500 per sale – is required but the plan is to revert to Bridges albeit on a smaller scale to reduce hire costs.  Monmouth Charity to be approached for funding

Future Events:-

Regen Rob:  7pm, Thursday 28 November at Bridges.  This has been widely advertised and a good audience seems assured

Severn Wye Energy Agency:  ACE plans to hold this, possibly jointly with Transition, in January

FRESK:  The two events held by ACE during Wales Climate Week were a great success and further events are planned throughout the year to include as many people, including children, as possible

Friends of the Lower Wye (FotLW):  Mike continues to work with Haberdasher pupils on water testing and looking at how river pollution has affected wildlife.  No response yet from the Comprehensive, but he will persist!

Green Grow:-

• The outcome of our application for funding to Monmouth Town Council will be reported at their meeting on 2 December – post meeting note:  Application successful
• Vivien reported on the distress caused to the occupants of the flats in Granville Street by the Highways Agency cutting down mature cherry trees which had been planted to shield the residents from noise, pollution and provide privacy.  One of the residents, Jewels, has contacted the Agency but is getting little information.  The only help we could suggest was for us to provide some new trees from our tree nursery
• The MCC wooden planters in Monnow Street are to remain.  MTC has taken responsibility for them, assigned a budget, and is working with Cheryl Cummings on a planting plan
• We have saplings for a hedge to divide the wildflower meadow at the Comprehensive from the woodland area (to make it clear to grounds maintenance where they should cease their cutting).  A working party to plant the hedge is planned after Christmas

Any other business:  Helena is undertaking restoration work in Staunton – help required!  We agreed to post on Facebook

Date of next meeting:  14 January 2025 at 7.30pm

#AGM #Announcements #books #ChairReport #entertainment #MembersMeeting #News #sports #technology

Transition Monmouth Chair’s Report – November 2024

Once again, I have the honour of summarising the myriad projects and activities that our tireless members make possible through their generosity in time, skills and enthusiasm – united in building resilient and sustainable communities to combat climate change!

Following on from the longer format report last year, this will just be a short overview. If you need any further information or have ideas and skills to contribute, then do get in touch.

Monmouth Community Fridge – this flagship project is about reducing food waste while at the same time supporting the local community.  Volunteers visit local supermarkets at the close of business and collect near use-by and surplus food and flowers. These are sorted back at the base unit at Bridges Centre, from where it is distributed freely from a friendly and supportive ‘front desk’. For many customers this represents more than just food, with social interaction, advice and signposting to other services all par for the course. As we’ve seen the cost-of-living crisis continue, many people describe the Fridge as vital to maintaining their household.

Just a few highlights;

• Averaging 2.5 tons per month of distributed quality food
• Moving to a larger unit (next door) – required full strip out and renovation, but now gives more space with adaptable layout and new racking system. The larger room has enabled sharing with Benthyg Monmouth (another of our ‘Circular Economy’ projects) for better interaction, shared rent and opportunities for cross-over of marketing and use of the two community services.
• Regular distribution through other community centres – Monnow Vale Hospital, Monmouth Library, Leisure Centre and the new Welsh Primary School (@Overmonnow)
• Close working with Wyesham Warren to extend distribution of gluts to Wyesham area
• Hubbub grant application success, for marketing and branding activities
• Distribution of reuseable period products from Monmouth County Council
• Moving to a 6-day service – reduced volunteer and coordinator fatigue, allowed time for fridge repairs and general cleaning and administration
• We said goodbye to valuable volunteers – Carol (4 years), Mark (3 years), Zoe (3 years), Corrine and Ed (6 months) – but maintained a strong core
• Future activities – updated leaflets, display board graphics, and possible Bridges Centre partnership using food to cook meals

Wyesham Community Woodland – this woodland in the heart of Wyesham (off Wyesham Road) is home to a group of volunteers who carry out maintenance according to its long-term management plan whilst putting on varied community events throughout the year.

Apple Pressing – this regular Autumnal event was held at St James, Wyesham this year and attracted a crowd of young and old, new and familiar faces. Tonnes of local apples were crushed, squeeze and bottled for all to try and take home. New friends from the Monmouth Allotment Association came along for training and practise on the equipment and have booked to hire for their own event next year. Through our lending library (Benthyg Monmouth) there was a record breaking seven loans on this specialised set of equipment to other groups and general public this year.

Community Orchard – Two Rivers Meadow – the bi-annual pruning maintenance of the fruit trees – a late winter prune of soft-centred fruit followed by a mid-summer prune of hard-centred fruit trees – was continued by local expert Helena Ronicle.  Please get in touch if you want to join in or be added to a mailing list for event notifications. This is always a fun session where you will develop new skills to take back to your own trees.

Green Grow – this project covers development of woodlands, hedgerows, wildflower areas and other planting schemes and activities around our town, always with the aims of sustainability, increasing biodiversity and wildlife habitat, improving soil health and natural flood management.   Vivien continued to update the overall schedule, with various planning and working party activities taking place throughout the year.  A funding application to Monmouth Town Council for a Community Grants was made for appropriate planting at the Wye Bridge Street car park, general tools, and signage for the Kitchen Garden at Monmouth Comprehensive School.

Benthyg Monmouth – this community lending library is supported by Monmouthshire County Council and run by Transition volunteers.  Over two lunchtime sessions a week, Mondays and Fridays, it lends from an online catalogue of over 500 items to the community – reducing cost along with carbon (reduced manufacture of new items).  Highlights of the year:-

• Increase in lending activity, attributed to cost of living rises and wider promotion of the service – 700 loans from Monmouth (year to date) – we are one of the busiest lending libraries in Wales. This is along with increased membership – over 1,200 currently
• Big push on promotion by our volunteer Louise, giving us a fresh new presence in the community through social media, leaflets, pop up displays, banners and written articles
• Moving to new premises shared with sister project Monmouth Community Fridge for a bespoke layout room that can be adapted for use by either group. Better facilities and shared resources, along with cross-pollination of ideas.  Additional costs (rent share and internet) are expected to be met though the lending fees
• Donations of items from the community – testing and making ready for re-use as loans
• Working with MCC with a focus on cost-of-living crises – new loan items purchased like an air fryer and energy meters, to attending community events to promote the service
• Supporting other Monmouthshire branches in Abergavenny, Chepstow and Caldicot with our learning points as the first branch to open in the County
• Recognised with the Environmental Volunteer Award at a Bridges Centre gala evening
• Celebrating our third year of operations with continued growth

Friends of the Lower Wye (FotLW) – having been formally adopted last year, this group have continued their good work in promoting and agitating for change in the health of our river. They work at all levels, from community events right up to engagement with ministers and statuary bodies. They have undergone structural changes this year, in that they have merged with the Upper Wye to form a coordinated voice for the whole river. We continue to support them, especially their activities of citizen scientist river testing and local engagement. The breakfast meeting and subsequent media buzz with Feargal Sharkey I will particularly remember!

Air Quality Sensing – this project was formed with the purpose of collecting and sharing air quality data around the town, something very much lacking or otherwise inaccessible. Work is in collaboration with Make Monmouth, a local Community Interest Company of creators and technology enthusiasts.  For rapid results, one stream of this project led to installation of an off-the-shelf sensor in Drybridge Street, the first, and still only, internet available air quality measurement. The second stream is development of a waterproof mobile sensor with communications system by Make Monmouth, allowing more flexible measurements by citizen scientists without the need to tether to power or Wi-Fi.  There have been a number of technical challenges to overcome, but we are at the prototype testing stage which looks very positive. This project has been supported by ACE Monmouth (Action on Climate Emergency), a Transition Together Seed Funding grant, and Milking Solutions Ltd (local agricultural products company).

Monmouth Placemaking Plan – we are engaging with the plan development process through attendance by Emma and Jem, which is led by consultants to explore the vision, challenges and opportunities with stakeholders.

Replacement Local Development Plan – we were delighted to welcome Paul Griffiths (MCC) to our meeting in February to receive his detailed presentation on this new proposed revision – a difficult balance to meet the often-conflicting requirements – jobs, housing, schools, and travel while at the same time caring about the environment.  We look forward to its acceptance and implementation.

Nearly New Sale – we were delighted to support the restart of this popular biannual event, under the stewardship of Helena and her team, selling preloved items suitable from bump to teens. Each event provided the opportunity for over 1,000 items to find new homes and families to save money.

Events – in order to broaden our reach, we participated in the following:-

• Green Libraries Week – promoting our projects with a display in Monmouth Library
• Monmouth Pride – a stall demonstrating our range of activities
• Monmouth Carnival – a stall promoting Transition projects
• The Hive @ Wyesham – a stall at this one-day promotional event for a new community facility
• Sustainability Conference @ Haberdashers – Claudia made a well-received presentation on the Community Fridge
• Wildflower Guided Tour @ Coleford – evening walk with our local expert Helena
• Seed Swap @ Bridges – popular spring event where the community meets up to swap and buy seeds, plants and books
• MCC Cost of Living @ Bridges – the Community Fridge and Benthyg were represented at this one-day event by Claudia and others

Connections – we cannot achieve these results isolation and are proud of building new and growing existing relationships with like-minded groups and organisations:-

• Town and County Councils – we continue to enjoy the support of our local councillors and officers and have a number of members elected to those positions.  We collaborate on many of the above projects as well as receiving direct financial support through grants.  We are particularly pleased with our County Council for having the foresight to create the position of Circular Economy Officer, supporting us across many projects. This position was filled by our very own Claudia – congratulations!
• Action on Climate Emergency (ACE) Monmouth – due to joint projects, membership overlap and aligned ethos we work very closely and support each other.  I believe we are complementary and bring different strengths for the benefit of environmental projects in Monmouth
• Companies – particular thanks go to Milking Solutions (a local family-run business) that support many of these projects in a variety of ways – from printing paperwork, buying and hosting the air quality sensor, and allowing the flexibility for staff to volunteer their time and skills.  Thanks also to Welsh Water, who are in the process of organising site visits to sewage and water treatment works.

In summary, it is clear that our most precious resource are our members and that they drive these projects with energy and passion. My thanks to all the coordinators, volunteers and members who strive to build a more resilient and sustainable community in Monmouth – you should all be proud of your combined achievements this year.

As always, it only leaves me to thank my fellow officers for all the hard work they do, mostly behind the scenes, to maintain this momentum – Helena Ronicle (Deputy Chair), Claudia Blair (Treasurer) and Vivien Mitchell (Admin/Secretary).

Bryan Miller

Chair – Transition Monmouth                                                                                                                 November 2024

#ChairReport

November 2024

Dear Transitioners

Another year, more projects, more wonderful volunteers, more progress in making Monmouth, and the world, a better place to live, work and enjoy.  It’s our AGM on Tuesday and Bryan in his Chair’s report will be reminding us of our amazing achievements – always a salutary and uplifting experience so please come and join us.  Claudia will give her Treasurer’s report.

All of the officers will then come to the end of their term and so yes – we need nominations for people to take on the roles of Chair, Deputy Chair, Treasurer and Secretary/Admin.  You can make nominations at the meeting or send them in to mail@transitionmonmouth.org but please join us to listen, discuss and give us your ideas for our way forward in the coming year:-

26 November 2024 at 7.30pm:

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 848 6920 4438
Passcode: 551082

The AGM will be followed by a brief General Meeting.  The agendas and notes of previous meetings are below – we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

Agenda:  Transition Monmouth Annual General Meeting via Zoom

Tuesday 14 November 2023 at 7.30

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 848 6920 4438
Passcode: 551082

Introductions

Apologies for absence

Note taker

Notes of the last meeting – copied below and matters arising

Chair’s Report:  Bryan Miller

Treasurer’s Report:  Claudia Blair

Election of Officers:-

• Chair
• Deputy Chair
• Treasurer
• Secretary/Admin

NOTES:  Transition Monmouth Annual General Meeting

14 November 2023 at 7.30pm via Zoom

Present:  Bryan Miller, Vivien Mitchell, Charles Emes, Mary Boase, Catrin Maby, Averil Macdonald, Jem Jenkins-Jones

Apologies:  Kelly Jackson-Graham, Claudia Blair, Waltraud Englefield, Mike Dunsbee

Note taker:  Vivien Mitchell

Notes of 2022 AGM: 

It was agreed that these were a correct record.

Chair’s Report:

It is always a good idea to take stock of the past year, and Bryan Miller’s report was indeed heartening – the Wyesham Community Woodland, Monmouth Community Fridge, apple pressings, our Community Orchard and our other Green Grow ventures, Plastic Free Monmouth, Benthyg, and our new project Friends of the Lower Wye (FotLW).  Events included the big Seed/Swap Shop, The Big One, Working Together and Wye July – both organised by FotLW, the ACE Climate Festival, and Green Library Week.  We much value the collaborations we have with the Town Council, the County Council, ACE Monmouth, Bees for Development and others.  As ever, much effort has been expended on fund raising for our ever-increasing range of projects.  The full report is posted on our website https://transitionmonmouth.org and on our Facebook pages.

Treasurer’s Report:

Claudia Blair’s report showed that we had £22,256 in our account but, apart from £1,085 in the General Sub-Account, the remaining monies were earmarked as follows:-

• Food Sense whose main activity is the Monmouth Community Fridge: £8,523 – sufficient to cover expenses for much of the coming year
• Green Grow/Green Spaces: £857 – sufficient for the coming year
• Friends of the Lower Wye:  £1,854 – additional fund raising will be needed to cover costs
• Plastic Free Monmouth:  £181
• Claypatch/Wyesham Community Woodland:  £5,397 – sufficient to complete works under the 10-year management plan on budget
• Benthyg:  £2,158 – sufficient to purchase additional stock, but not if we need to pay rent

Election of Officers:

Chair:  Bryan Miller, proposed by Vivien Mitchell, seconded by Charles Emes, was elected unopposed

Deputy Chair:  Helena Ronicle, proposed by Bryan Miller, seconded by Vivien Mitchell, was elected unopposed

Treasurer:  Claudia Blair, proposed by Bryan Miller, seconded by Vivien Mitchell, was elected unopposed

Admin/Secretary:  Vivien Mitchell, proposed by Bryan Miller, seconded by Charles Emes, was elected unopposed

The meeting closed at 8pm and was followed by a General Meeting

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AGENDA:  Transition Monmouth General Meeting

Tuesday 26 November 2024

Introductions

Apologies for absence

Note taker

Notes of the last meeting – copied below and matters arising

Events feedback:-

Wye Valley National Landscape meeting (formerly AONB):  14 November

Nearly New Sale:  Children’s stuff from bump to teenage:  16 November

Future events:-

Regen Rob:  7pm, Thursday 28 November at Bridges:  Square Farm has been mentored by Regen Ben for the past year.  Rob Whittall is a hugely enthusiastic advocate and will be talking about the resulting changes at Square Farm

Severn Wye Energy Agency

FRESK

Any other business:-

Green Grow

Date of next meeting

NOTES:  Transition Monmouth General Meeting

Tuesday 22 October 2024 at 7.30 via Zoom

Present:  Bryan Miller, Vivien Mitchell, Helena Ronicle, Claudia Blair, Emma Bryn, Cheryl Cummings, Joanna Poulton, Mike Dunsbee, Patrick Hannay

Apologies for absence:  Kelly Jackson-Graham, Jem Jenkins-Jones, Frank Brehany, Charles Emes, Mary Boase, Simon Cook

Note taker:  Vivien Mitchell

Friends of the River Wye (FotRW):  Mike explained that while Friends of the Lower Wye (FotLW) has merged with FotRW, this applies to the wider picture – campaigning, negotiating with the agencies and so forth – but that he will continue work solely on the Lower Wye (from Monmouth to Chepstow).  In particular he will concentrate on working with the youth and, following a presentation at the Haberdashers School he has a group every Wednesday undertaking additional testing for ammonia and pH, and recording wildlife.  He hopes to also involve Monmouth Comprehensive (through Miss Fry, Geography) and Chepstow Comprehensive.

He is looking at how the 14- to 17-year-olds communicate on social media and hopes to get something similar to the extremely successful FotLW Facebook page going

Transition Together:  Joanna Poulton writes:

I am Jo, organic vegetable grower based in Shropshire (but soon to be moving to Bristol).  I am also a Network Weaver for Transition Together. There are five Network Weavers working in different regions of Wales and England all doing the same job (part-time). It’s the best job in the world because I get to meet and learn all about the fantastic Transition groups across Wales and the Marches and share information between groups wherever I can spot moments for cross-pollination.  As Transition Together moves into a period of an unknown funding future we will be gearing up towards the Transition Assembly and encourage as much peer-to-peer support across the groups.  The assembly will be a three-day event in Wilmslow (just outside Manchester) Friday 7 to Sunday 9 February.  Friday evening will be arrivals and an optional shared meal, Saturday will be an Assembly with whispers of Rob Hopkins attending, Sunday will be how do we take our vision into tangible next steps. We have a cap of two representatives from each Transition Group so if you want to come we encourage you to take a look at the link below, discuss amongst your group who you will send and consider booking before the end of November.

Handy links:-

You can read more about Transition Together here: https://transitiontogether.org.uk/

What Network Weavers like me are up to here: https://transitiontogether.org.uk/a-stepping-stone-to-the-next-part-of-the-transition-movement/

More about the Assembly and the booking link can be found here, there are limited tickets so advice is to book in the coming weeks once you’ve decided who your two reps will be: https://transitiontogether.org.uk/about-transition-assembly/

The ethical social media platform for members of Transition groups across the UK is called Vive and it’s free to use and sign up (no adverts!).  I have been posting my favourite story from each transition group I have been meeting in my weaving in the ‘Town Square’ https://vive.transitiontogether.org.uk/s/transition-together/calendar/entry/view?id=208

Discussion centred on the way in which groups evolve;  the difference between Monmouth (coordinated) and Abergavenny (fragmented) was noted.  Thanks to Patrick there is however good communication and support between the various eco groups in Abergavenny

Events Feedback:-

• Apple Juicing at Wyesham:  We produced a large amount of juice but the event was not as well supported as in previous years;  maybe we should go to Rockfield next year.  The apple press has been out on loan from Benthyg each week during September and October and is already booked for 2025!  Acquisition of a manual scratter by Benthyg to be considered
• Nature and Sustainable Food Celebration:  A nice, mainly in-house, event showcasing the MCC Food Project
• Green Libraries Week:  A low key event at which we provide our display board and information leaflets.  Library staff were happy to be able to display their books.  We now have TM, Fridge and Benthyg leaflets on permanent display
• Greener Abergavenny Fair:  The weather was bad and attendance lower than last year but nevertheless it was a buzzy, busy event with many activities, displays, singing etc.  The organisers will consider when/how this should be repeated

Future Events:-

• Wales Climate Week:  11 to 15 November: Shaping a Climate Resilient Future:  Further information and sign up at https://www.climateweek.gov.wales/EN/pages/Virtual_Conference_2024
• Nearly New Sale:  Children’s stuff from bump to teenage:  16 November at Overmonnow Primary School:  Bryan will advertise on Sunshine Radio and the Beacon, flyers will be available for distribution

Haberdashers:  FotLW with Mike Dunsbee have an on-going programme with the school but they have not taken up any of the other activities we suggested

Monmouth Placemaking Plan:  Stakeholder and public meetings are being held, and also in the schools.  Vivien to put our representatives, Emma and Jem, in contact with Patrick

Air Quality Monitoring:  The monitor we have operating in Drybridge Street needs to be hooked into a Wifi source and is thus not fully portable.  Making a fully portable monitor is complex, but nevertheless we hope to eventually to be able to roll this out to the schools so they can build their own.

Frank Brehany continues with his work on air quality in a personal capacity while fully supporting Transition Monmouth, and is due to make a presentation to MCC Full Council

Benthyg:  A case of model making equipment has been donated to Make Monmouth as it was deemed too dangerous to go out on general loan.  Monmouth has the busiest Benthyg in Wales with one or two new sign ups at each session

Monmouth Community Fridge:  Continues to operate well.  An unexpected huge donation was received from the filming of the market scene in Young Sherlock and yes, we distributed nearly half a ton of veg within two days!

Green Grow:  Vivien is putting together a funding application to include planting at the Wye Bridge Street car park, tools for general use (to date these have been supplied by Vivien but wear and tear, and with tools occasionally going missing, inevitably, our stock is too low), a permanent sign explaining about the Kitchen Garden.  The MTC Community Grants is open for applications until 15 November.  The Fridge and Benthyg do not need to do so at present

Emma and Helena are considering planting on Wyesham Green and will keep us informed

Any Other Business:-

Sewage and water treatment works visits:  Still awaiting dates

Severn Wye Energy Agency:  The Agency is offering bespoke sessions to:-

• Save energy in the home​, manage debt and large energy bills, advocate on their behalf with energy suppliers​, empower them to manage their own domestic energy situation in the future​ and in the process will address: – 
• Fuel poverty: What is it & why does it happen?​ 
• Implications of Fuel Poverty and Cold Homes on Health and Well-being 
• Spotting the signs of Fuel Poverty ​ 
• How Monmouthshire Advocacy can help 

Charles Emes is suggesting such a session in Monmouth – maybe a joint ACE/TM one;  he has written asking for this but as yet not had a reply

Wye Valley National Landscape (formerly AONB):  Is holding an event in Llandogo Village Hall at 6pm on 14 November.  Vivien to send details to Helena and Mike, and advertise on Facebook

Regen Rob:  Square Farm has been mentored by Regen Ben for the past year.  Rob Whittall is a hugely enthusiastic advocate and will be talking about the resulting changes at Square Farm at an ACE event on 28 November

Cost of Living Advice Events:  At Bridges on 29 October:  Claudia will be showcasing Benthyg and The Fridge

Date of next meeting:  26 November 2024 at 7.30pm:  This will be our AGM and the four officers, Bryan, Helena, Claudia and Vivien will be resigning.  We will call out for nominations for the posts of Chair, Deputy Chair, Treasurer and Secretary/Admin.  It will be followed by a short General Meeting

#Announcements #News #MembersMeeting #ChairReport #AGM #books #entertainment #technology #sports

Transition Monmouth Chair’s Report – November 2023

As Chair of Transition Monmouth, it gives me great pleasure to summarise the year that’s just been. As a result of the time and effort invested by our members, our existing projects continue to go from strength to strength and we find the capacity to take on new endeavours. In a time when other groups struggle to attract volunteers, we are in the privileged position that our members bring such depth of energy and skill to drive forward our significant programmes of work. We really are building resilient and sustainable communities to combat climate change.

Whether you are active across multiple projects and or yet to come onboard, I’m sure you’ll appreciate the breadth of activities summarised below. Please come forward if you want to know more, get involved or indeed have another environmental project in mind. Who knows where a spark of an idea may lead?

Wyesham Community Woodland – the volunteers in Wyesham continue to manage the woodland whilst putting on varied events for the community. Activities include;

• Clean up and litter picking sessions
• Laying down of wood chip on the pathways to retain mud-free access
• Repairing and building new benches around the fire pit
• Selective felling of diseased and dead trees
• Trees have been marked ready for a felling licence in line with the management plan, which has needed to be amended slightly due to the prevalence of Ash die back. Springtime should see a lot of this carried out
• The child friendly Halloween trail and storytelling session was well attended
• Green wood workshops are in the pipeline, being run by Llais Y Goedwig; this will lead to recommencing the monthly maintenance sessions

Monmouth Community Fridge – has been operating from its permanent base at the Bridges Centre Stables for three years. This complex seven-days-a-week project takes much coordinator and volunteer resource to run smoothly, including maintaining a 5* Food Hygiene rating! Every evening there is a collection of near use-by and surplus food from local supermarkets to be distributed the following day. Though often confused with the food bank, its purpose is the environmental saving of good food from being wasted.  This food is available to everyone. The coordinators have also worked hard at fund raising in order to ensure financial sustainability in the medium term, despite the rising running costs of the operation. In addition to food and flowers, the project has become a distribution channel for environmentally friendly period products supplied by Monmouthshire County Council. This has enabled volunteers to develop, taking on more responsibility for operating this new service.

All this hard work is recognised far and wide and often held up as an example of best practice. The project was recently presented with the Highly Commended certificate at the GAVO/MHA Monmouthshire Volunteer Awards – Environmental Category – for those who go the extra mile to save the planet. Thanks to MTC Councillor Martin Sweeney for nominating. This well-deserved recognition for the entire team is built on day-to-day commitment, reflected in these all-time statistics (see appendix):

• Food diverted from landfill = 75.8 tons
• Equivalent CO2 emissions avoided = 189.6 tons
• Customer visits = 23,095
• Bunches of flowers redistributed = 9,302
• Volunteers managed = 45
• Facebook followers engaged = 2,000

We were sad to say goodbye to Kate Rees, who moved out of the area. She was instrumental from the inception and setting up a permanent project base, with all the logistical and procedural systems that were needed. Many thanks to her and all the volunteers that have yet again kept this project going from strength to strength this year.

Apple Pressing – because of the ACE Festival, we adjusted our usual format and kicked off with a Saturday pressing session as part of the festival on the Cattle Market green. Our stand was particularly well attended and engaged many new people. As part of the Waste Reduction Zone, we had conversations with many apple tree owners who previously let their apples drop not knowing how to make use of them. This resulted in further interest in borrowing the equipment (see Benthyg Monmouth) as well as donations towards bottled and freshly pressed juice. We are collecting useful contacts with people who own apple trees and are happy to donate their fruit for future pressings.

A further pressing event was held at St James in Wyesham, though attendance was down on previous years possibly due to the short gap/late notice after the Festival event. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable morning for the participants.

Community Orchard – Two Rivers Meadow – we continue with our bi-annual pruning to maintain the fruit trees – a late winter prune of soft-centred fruit followed by a mid-summer prune of hard-centred fruit trees – led by local expert Helena Ronicle. Do get in touch if you want to join in and learn the why and how of pruning techniques. General upkeep of the notice board has also taken place. We also hope to contribute to a site management plan in the future, including grass cutting regime.

Peter Morgan Community Orchard – this was a recent project intended to create a brand-new community orchard habitat along the Redbrook Road in Wyesham. A substantial amount of preparation work led to a successful Lottery Heritage application, the largest by far for Transition Monmouth. Unfortunately, the land to be gifted for our use has been held in dispute with the Land registry and so we have paid back the Lottery monies. We have not given up hope, but have to wait for the legal case to play out.

Green Grow/Green Spaces – develops planting schemes around the town. These have been a core Transition Monmouth activity since September 2009 with the now mature community orchard on Two River Meadow. Projects include woodland areas and hedges, wildflower verges and meadows, pollinator gardens and community gardens.  These are all on public land with much of the maintenance undertaken by Nigel Leaworthy’s marvellous MCC green spaces team. Vivien Mitchell has been the at the heart of these projects and has put out an appeal for others to take on the physical management of these sites.

Thanks to a Rotary Monmouth award, we have purchased a replacement notice board for the Pollinator Garden (by Monmouth Bus Station), which will be fitted imminently. This is important to explain the ethos of the site as it can appear unkempt at times of the year but is always for the benefit of the pollinators – nature isn’t neat! Looking to the future, a further notice board is envisaged for the Kitchen Garden at Monmouth Comprehensive School.

Plastic Free Monmouth (PFM) – the project is being pushed forward by Beccy MacDonald-Lofts, engaging with council representatives, enhancing relationships with businesses to achieve bronze/silver/gold status and working with schools, particularly Overmonnow Primary. She keeps us abreast of legislative change, like the Motion for the Ocean, contributes regular written articles for Living magazine and engages the public at various events.

Benthyg Monmouth (Library of Things) – this is a community lending library supported by Transition Monmouth and Monmouthshire County Council. It is run by volunteers and opens twice a week in Bridges, charging small amounts for items you may just need occasionally such as carpet cleaners and jet washers. It is much better for the community and environment to share resources whilst saving money. There are over 400 items including marquees, tables and chairs used at the events described here, see the website for the full range. The Baby Benthyg initiative was launched at the start of the year offering sets of reuseable cloth nappies for hire, made possible with a Monmouth Town Council grant.

We’ve been joined by volunteer Louise Martin to help get our message to a wider audience. Facebook posts have become more regular and targeted and we are working on promotional flyers and printed articles to encourage those not on social media. There is also a planned ramp up of publicity as we approach our second birthday in February – it’s a great story to tell with over 660 lends to date.

Friends of the Lower Wye (FotLW) – we were delighted to formally adopt this group as a Transition Monmouth project in April. Mike Dunsbee and Nick Day have dedicated themselves over the last two years to raising awareness of the river quality and we are happy to provide the framework of our constituted group along with our proven fund-raising expertise to enable this to go further.

The group is strongly anchored around two complementary activities. Firstly, they have built up a citizen science programme with volunteers taking regular samples at 40 points along the river between Hereford and Chepstow and on some of the tributaries. This gives detailed and credible data, with which they collaborate with Cardiff University and others. Secondly, they collaborate with councils, government agencies, food producers and other interested parties. By bringing these groups together they can stimulate solutions to multi-agency issues whilst encouraging greater ambition on water quality.

The pair raise much publicity for the cause and often appear on air, in written articles and at the various local events. During the year they also managed to host a number of high-quality events like Saving the Wye Symposium (attended by NRW, Environment Agency and River Action, chaired/recorded by BBC reporter Nicola Goodwin) and Wye July (over 50 stalls with parade and entertainment). With so much going on I would encourage you to sign up to their newsletter.

Events – looking back it has been another busy year where our individual projects or the overall group have been meeting the public, improving environmental awareness and driving discussions around solutions for our resilience and sustainability issues.

• Seed/Plant Swap at Bridges, always a good event to meet and talk to the public and fellow stall holders after the quiet winter months. Gardening and nature books from our stall are increasingly popular, along with our traditional home gathered seeds and propagated plants
•  The Big One was a mass April rally in London, organised by Extinction Rebellion who kindly laid on coaches from Abergavenny. A handful of us went in support and could promote our group during the conversations that were had in the electric atmosphere these large protests can generate
• Working Together – Saving the Wye (FotLW) symposium was held in May and brought together a number of authorities and interested group, chaired by the BBC investigative reporter Nicola Goodwin. We had our display and literature as a foil to engage the public with our work
• Wye July (FotLW) provided an informative and entertaining festival on Chippenham Field, linking environmental groups concerned with the state of the river. We had a prime position at the entrance where we could introduce the public to a range of Transition projects
• ACE Climate Festival put on another packed event, filling the weekend with informative and fun engagements for the whole family. Transition were based in the Waste Reduction Zone on the Saturday with the largest presentation of individual projects to date.  Each stand was separate but adjacent, giving a great representation of the breadth of what we do – Apple pressing, Benthyg Monmouth (Library of Things), Transition Monmouth (plants & books), Plastic Free Monmouth and the Community Fridge. The collective nature of the stalls also helped share the load of the infrastructure setup and staffing during the day. The good weather and popular location also contributed to this being a successful event in terms of engagement, profile raising and donations
• Green Library Week was a coordinated effort across the libraries of the UK to raise awareness of the environment and sustainability during October. We were invited to have our display and literature set up at Monmouth Library for the week. It is difficult to gauge the success of this kind of ‘hands off’ promotion, but it was easy to setup and contributes to our continual messaging and hopefully reaches new people

Collaborations and Discussions – during the year, we take the opportunity to engage with other people and groups with a similar ethos or that could be part of the solution. This ranges from schools, charities, business and local groups to Government bodies at all levels and these working relationships have developed over a number of years. They include:

• Town and County Councils – we enjoy the support of our councillors and officers and have a number of members elected to those positions who further our aims. Community Climate Champions is one such network we attend to share information on issues such as active travel and flood risk management and where we discussed the successful funding application by MCC to take forward previous work on Natural Flood Management in areas identified around Monmouth. In addition, we had a highly informative update from Mark Hand (MCC) on the Local Development Plan and phosphate situation. We appreciate this shared current thinking on provision of affordable housing, ‘net zero ready’ homes, active travel connections and upgrades to waste water treatment works
• Action on Climate Emergency (ACE) Monmouth – due to joint projects, membership overlap and aligned ethos we work very closely and support each other
• Bees for Development – we had a presentation by Jenny Handley (Comms and Fundraising) outlining the origin, structure and future development leading to discussions around the Hedgerow Manifesto and format of next year’s Bee Festival
• Public Transport – discussions with Matt MacDonald-Wallace on the issues around rural bus network and interconnectivity to major transport hubs have sparked conversation in various groups on possible solutions and the political will needed to make that happen
• Community Owned Low Carbon Heating Schemes – presented by Philip Jenkinson on the hurdles and opportunities of a blend of technologies and how it may be implemented locally. He has gone on to establish a Community Interest Company to focus collaboration around this issue
• Air Quality Monitoring – discussions have begun with Make Monmouth (local creators and technology enthusiasts), FotLW and others to scope out a potential project around citizen scientists collecting and sharing air quality data from around the town. The format is being developed in order to begin grant applications next year to build bespoke sensor/data loggers and robust procedures for their use

These interactions help stimulate our minds, raise awareness of further possibilities and develop friendships with those on similar wavelengths.

At the heart of our projects are our members, who day after day volunteer their precious time and energy to further our aims. You continue to build a more resilient and sustainable Monmouth community, for all our benefits – for this I thank you all.

Lastly, I can’t thank my fellow officers enough for all that they do to keep this great endeavour on course and all their time this takes up – Claudia Blair (Treasurer) and Vivien Mitchell (Admin/Secretary).

Bryan Miller

Chair – Transition Monmouth                                                                                November 2023

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