Monmouthshire Partnership To Promote Environmental Events Featuring Sustainability

A partnership of community groups, renewable energy companies and the county council is to raise awareness about environmental issues with a series of events – dubbed Energy Days – throughout June. Monmouthshire Community Climate Champions will examine and focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable living at Energy Days across the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Coed Cefn in Tregare near Raglan hosts an afternoon dedicated to sustainable gardening and growing food. It takes place from 2 to 6pm on Sunday June 12th and visitors can stroll the beautiful organic gardens and orchards. The Transition Monmouth group will hold a swap shop for seeds, plants and produce while Tools for Self Reliance Cymru will make available a range of Fairtrade tools from Africa. Entry is £3.50 with proceeds going to the Gwent Wildlife Trust. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Old Lands, a new community-supported agriculture project at Dingestow Court near Monmouth will open from 12 to 5pm on Saturday 25th June for tours of the scheme, sale of plants and produce, refreshments and forest school activities for children. Admission is free. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The South East Wales Energy Agency will pass on tips to save money on gas and electricity bills with its popular advice surgeries at two of the council’s community hubs – in The Rolls Hall, Monmouth on Wednesday 15th June from 11am to 2pm and in Maryport Street, Usk on Thursday 16th June from 9.30am to 1pm. Advice on available grants will be given. An additional surgery takes place from 1 to 4pm on Monday 13th June in the Alway Centre, Ringland, Newport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An introduction to electric cars, their environmental properties and financial benefits will be offered by owner John Payne of Ingleside, Penallt near Monmouth on Friday 17th June from 10am to 1pm and 2 to 4pm. Mr Payne will also demonstrate his biomass boiler, wood fired cooker, woodworking workshop and much more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nearby and on the same day, visitors to New Grove Farm in Trelech can discover a Gwent Energy pilot project using batteries to store excess electricity produced by solar panels and a wind turbine. When the sun fails to shine and the wind isn’t blowing, energy from the batteries steps in to provide power. New Grove Farm also features the Nissan Ampera, an electric hybrid and an electric Renault Kangoo car. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Guardian columnist, environmentalist and activist George Monbiot will discuss restoring the natural world at 7.30pm on Friday 17th June at the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth. Tickets costing £15 are available from the venue. George Monbiot will outline a vision for reinstating ecosystems, not only of the natural world, but also the lives of individuals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Phil Hobson, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member for sustainability said: “Monmouthshire Community Climate Champions have arranged a programme of Energy Days which will appeal to everyone. These events are designed to raise environmental awareness and demonstrate how innovative ideas have been embraced across the county.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​