Dear Transitioners
Plastic Free is definitely taking off in a big way. We held a great workshop last week – many new faces, many children! It was particularly heartening to see the children participating, + also to have Roger Hoggins (MCC Head of Operations) attend. We now have groups taking the project forward under the headings of:-
- Schools
- Local Businesses
- Individual/Household Action
- Community Spaces + Groups
- Events
- Town Council
If you missed the workshop but want to be involved please contact Anna Hill – plasticfreemonmouth@gmail.com or via the Plastic Free Monmouth Facebook page – stating your particular interest/which group you want to join, or just to be kept informed.
We are also working with similar groups not only in Monmouth but also in Chepstow, Abergavenny + Usk with the aim of having a Plastic Free Monmouthshire + will be presenting at the Strong Communities Select Committee on 24 May when we hope to obtain MCC commitment to become a plastic free county. An excellent report has been prepared by MCC Officers for this meeting – email vivienmitchell@yahoo.co.uk for a copy.
Lunches for children during the summer holidays – part of our Food Sense project working with the wonderful people at the Ty Price Community Hall – is looking feasible so we are working very hard to make it happen. What we need now is some funding – please let us know if a local business or charity might support this – we estimate we need a total of £1,000. We also need more people to make up packed lunches each weekday morning over the period 30 July to 23 August – so, if you have the time to get your sleeves rolled up, please let us know your availability for a 9.30 am start at the Ty Price Community Hall – email vivienmitchell@yahoo.co.uk + we will set up a rota.
Now here’s the diary for the next few weeks:-
Members’ Meeting: Tuesday 15 May, 7.30 at the Robin Hood – Plastic Free Monmouth, Monmouthshire Well-Being Plan, food poverty (making progress), flood prevention, woodland management (both going brilliantly), Chippy Playground (showing signs of moving!) + anything else you want to talk about!
Community Canteen: Saturday 19 May, 7 for 7.30 at Holy Trinity Church Hall – a mild Thai red curry with pumpkin followed by rhubarb + orange cake – raising money for the Abergavenny Food Bank – book at abercommunitycanteen@gmail.com
Bee Friendly Monmouthshire: Sunday 20 May, 10 to 4 in the Nelson Garden – interactive street theatre by Artizani, bumblebee walks + talks, local plants + flowers for sale, flower guessing, honey tasting, ‘bug’ hunt, tombola, stalls – come!
Gwent Wildlife Trust Open Garden: Coed Cefn, Tregare: Sunday 27 May 2-6 – a beautiful garden with much for children to explore, + Swap Shop for seeds/plants/produce, + Fairtrade tea/coffee, sandwiches + homemade cakes. Transition Monmouth is doing the refreshments – offers of help would be much appreciated – email anneggleton@waitrose.com if you can provide a cake, sandwich filling, or help out on the day
Big Lunch: Sunday 3 June, starting at 10am at Claypatch Woods, Wyesham – more details soon on the Wyesham Community Woodland Project Facebook page
Food Sense: Wednesday 6 June, 7.30 at Ty Price – Lunches for children in the school holidays, a community cupboard, food surplus schemes, lunch clubs, + any other ideas on food poverty/food surplus + waste. All welcome!
Food Sense – lunches for school children during the summer holiday: Thursday 7 June, 7.30 at Ty Price
Members’ Meeting: Tuesday 12 June, 7.30 at the Robin Hood
Transition Monmouth Coffee Morning: Saturday 16 June, 10 till 12 at Ty Price
And, as ever, there are your Local Produce Markets:-
Grosmont – Saturday 13 May – 10 till 2 – plant themed event
Usk – Saturday 20 May – 10 till 1
Abergavenny – Thursday 24 May – 9.30 to 2.30
Usk – Saturday 2 June – 10 till 1
Grosmont – Saturday 9 June – 10 till 2 – see the Grosmont Market Facebook page
We hope to see you soon, hopefully at the Robin Hood for the Members’ Meeting on Tuesday 15 May + other of the great events happening in the next few weeks.
Ann Eggleton, Chair
Bryan Miller, Deputy Chair
Transition Monmouth 