Dear Transitioners

We still can’t quite believe it.  As of last week, Monmouth is now represented by three long-standing Transition members – Emma Bryn elected for Wyesham, Catherine Fookes for Town, and Catrin Maby for Rockfield – yay!  But more good news – Steve Garratt who now represents Overmonnow has already joined us.  Congratulations to the four!  What a turnaround!  We so look forward to working with these new Councillors.  They are all planning to come and help at Beictown on 26 June, so if you haven’t met Emma, Catherine, Catrin or Steve, this is your opportunity. 

And more amazing news, this time on the Monmouth Community Fridge.  Over the 18 months since it opened, the dedicated team of 50+ who collect food from the supermarkets each evening and open the Fridge to customers the following day have saved an astonishing 42 tons of food and 4,800 bunches of flowers from going to waste.  Just imagine the carbon footprint of producing this mountain – including a lot of meat and fish – only to throw it away and incur a further carbon footprint in its disposal.  Our grateful thanks to the Fridge team, and to the 12,000+ customers who have put the food and flowers to good use.

Now for a couple of requests.  At the Bee Festival in early July we will be having a plant swap/sale and we need plants – so if you have any to spare, please keep them for us.  Stuff from other people’s gardens always does well and is much appreciated.  And we also need helpers at our stalls for the Wye Valley River Festival, Beictown, the Bee Festival and Wye July.  Please let me know of your availability – there are a lot of hours to cover and every hour you can spare would be a great help.  Details of these events are below.

So here are those diary dates when we hope to see you …..

ACE Monmouth Meeting:  Tuesday 24 May, 7.30 at St James Community Hall, Wyesham NP25 3NE – come and hear about the new ACE identity and plans for the coming months including a little Festival at the end of September

Wye Valley River Festival:  Monmouth Mischief Day, Saturday 28 May from 11 till 5 in Agincourt Square, Monnow Street and at Monnow Bridge for a day of family-friendly entertainment, performance, music and merriment with the Bicycle Bistro, the Pif-Paf Theatre Company, All At Sea with Acrojou and more ….  We will have a stall on the green near the Old Monnow Bridge

Transition Monmouth Members’ Meeting:  Tuesday 14 June, 7.30 – more details soon

Repair Café:  Sunday 19 June, 2 till 4 at St James Community Hall, Wyesham NP25 3NE – note the different venue.  Bring your electrical, mechanical, sewing etc repairs and get them sorted – and you will also be offered a cuppa!  However, help on the day is always needed so please let us know if you can help with admin, repairs or catering – repairmonmouth@gmail.com

Beictown:  Sunday 26 June, starting with the Vintage Ride at 10am from the Old Monnow Bridge – get out your old tweeds, hats and dresses!  But also bring along your bikes for repairs, maintenance and security labelling, and bring along the family for there will surely be fun to be had

Bee Festival: 

Saturday 2 July, 10 till 4:  We will have Open Garden at the Kitchen Garden and wildflower meadow outside Monmouth Comprehensive School with a plant and book stall – all contributions appreciated

Sunday 3 July:  A huge range of activities on Chippy and in the Nelson Garden on the Sunday.  It was brilliant last year and the plan is for an even better event in 2022.  We will be there with our plants and books

Wye July:  Sunday 10 July, 11 till 3:We will be joining Friends of the Lower Wye and will have a stand at their event on the green near the Old Monnow Bridge

We look forward to seeing you all soon!