Abergavenny Climate Action at the Environment Fair - 9th October 2011

the cider makers

community orchard

the cider press

woodland group members

Environment Fair - 9th October 2011

Calling all ACA members!

We've got fantastic date for your diaries coming up: on 9th October there's an Environment Fair in the Town Market organised by ourselves, Vital Villages and FoE Abergavenny & Crickhowell. There's an exciting line-up on the day with plenty to see and do, including:

* Abergavenny Community Orchard & Gardens 

* Community Energy schemes 

* Renewable Energy Installers 

* Electric Bike Loan scheme 

* Willow weaving workshop 

* Soap making 

* Vintage Vision Swish Event

* Hurdle & coracle making 

and most importantly, lots of tea & homemade cakes!

There'll be the opportunity to talk to renewable energy suppliers, get involved with hands-on workshops, and learn about how you can make a positive difference. Best of all it's a concerted effort with a number of local community groups, so you'll have the chance to meet lots of like-minded people. 

It'd be fantastic if you can make it, and if you can spread the word - even better! Look out for an e-poster coming your way which you can share with your friends and contacts. 

See you there!

Best wishes from the folk at Abergavenny Climate Action.

Main points from ACA Meeting 12th July, 7.30 at the Angel Hotel

Pathfinder Programme

Sam Froud-Powell spoke to the meeting about the Pathfinder Programme which is a 2 year project to support community groups who are taking action on climate change projects. Further details of the programme can be accessed on www.wag-pathfinder.co.uk

Abergavenny Climate Action Website

There are now two excellent pages which can be accessed by typing  ‘Abergavenny Climate Action’ into your search engine. This has links to a live blog which it is hoped will report the work of ACA members as it happens.  See http://abergavennyclimateaction.blogspot.com

Carshare competition.

There are just six weeks to go on this competition. See further details on this blog

Community orchard and community growing projects.

Watch out for a meeting in the near future to launch opportunities to join this exciting project.

The Woodland group is planning activities for the autumn.

See links to key people on this blog.

Date of next meeting – Tuesday 16^th August, 7.30pm at The Angel Hotel

Agenda for ACA Meeting on 12th July

Agenda for ACA Meeting

Tuesday 12^th July 7.30 at the Angel Hotel

1.            Apologies for absence

2.            Minutes of the last meeting

3.            Matters arising from the minutes

4.            Website

5.            Transport group

6.            Food Group

7.            Woodland group

8.            Community Garden/Allotments

9.            Pathfinder Programme – for more information visit http://www.wag-pathfinder.co.uk/

10.        Future Meeting Venue

11.        Any other business

12.        Date of next meeting 

Next Meeting of Abergavenny Climate Action

We are due to meet next at The Angel Hotel 

at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 12th July 2011

check at front reception to find out which room

a warm welcome to all

The ACA Community Woodland Group

Copy for the ACA blog June 2011

The Abergavenny Community Woodland Group has now been going for about a year, and is holding its first AGM on Tuesday 21 June 2011. The aim of the group is to enhance and support woodland management, biodiversity and environmental sustainability within the Abergavenny area. It does this by helping to manage local woodlands, in both public and private ownership, and keeping some of the products such as wood fuel. Historically, woods were productive areas, producing timber and a range of essential things like fencing, charcoal, and bean poles, and the group wants to re-develop the knowledge and skills that have been lost in recent decades for the benefit of the local community.

 It has been an eventful year for the new group. During last Autumn and Winter group members attended a number of training days run by the Green Valleys Project, learning woodland skills such as coppicing, storing and seasoning wood for fuel, and tree identification, as well as essential things like health and safety and first aid. The group now has agreements with the owners of four areas of woodland in and around Abergavenny, and whilst some work is being done on them during the summer, more major work is planned for next Autumn and Winter.

Group members have also been busy in promoting the work of the group. They were in Bailey Park (in the rain!) for the Steam, Veteran and Vintage Rally on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. The weekend before that, when the weather was much better, group members ran a stall at the Ty’r Mowydd/Mulberry House Environmental Study Centre’s Eco Activity Day – children (and some adults) had a lot of fun making bird and bat boxes which they could then take home and put up in their gardens.

Now the group is up and running, and with a successful first year behind it and plenty of woodland to work on in the coming year, we are looking for new members. If you are interested in joining or would like to learn more about the group, contact Ed Cape on 07910 212772 or e-mail him at ed.cape@vigin.net. 

The carshare competition

The launch at Mulberry House on 21st May 2011

Car Sharing Group

Petrol just 34.0 Pence Per Litre

This could be a reality if you car-shared! Plus be entered into a luxuary weekend break for two at the Bluestone Resort, Pembrokeshire!

Car sharing is a great way to share costs, cut stres, reduce pollution and prevent traffic congestion. On average you could save £1000 a year if you and your colleages took it in turns to drive each other to work.

It’s easy and FREE! The Welsh Assembly Government which Monmouthshire County Council, has set up a safe and secure database with the National Car Share Scheme experts – liftshare.

Just log on: www.sewtacarshare.com, register your journey and find people willing to share.

As part of our campaign to get more people to sign up to car sharing, we’re holding a prize draw. If your journey begins or ends within the NP7 postcode, you are eligible for entry. Simply register your journey at www.sewtacarshare.com between now and 30^th September – and you could win a break for four days in a log cabin and complimentary access to the Blue Lagoon water park – see the resort details at www.bluestonewales.com

The draw will take place on 1^st October 2011. The winner will be notified by email. Entries must be received no later than 30^th September 2011. Travel to and from Bluestone will be the responsibility of the prizewinner. The judge’s decision is final; no correspondence will be entered into. One entry per household. The break must be taken before 1^st October 2012. No cash alternative available. Promoted by Abergavenny Climate Action.