Meeting Title: ACE Monmouth Open Meeting
Meeting date and time: 18th September at 7:30pm
Venue Details: Wye Room at Bridges Centre and Zoom
Present: Cheryl Cummings, Vivien Mitchell, Charles Emes, Sarah Read, Richard Henson, Anthea Dewhurst, Charles Emes, Chris Seabury, Jess Long, Cherry Taylor, Hayden Cullen-Jones, Jem Jenkins-Jones, James Foster, Sam Foster-Fairman, Megan Foster-Fairman, Emily Fairman
Apologies: Katherine Pitts-Tucker, Peter Davies, Clare Catto, Nichola James, Bob Handley, Fiona Wilcox, Jen Bara
Agenda and Notes
1. Welcome and apologies for absence
2. Monmouth Youth Forum project
Members of the Monmouth Youth Forum were welcomed and spoke about their interest in improving the biodiversity in Monmouth and installing bird and bat boxes (which they would make themselves), starting in Wyebridge Street car park. They asked if ACE would consider helping with funding for this project.
Anthea Dewhurst suggested current projects the forum members could get involved with to further their knowledge, which include Two River Meadows and Osbaston Cemetery, where work is ongoing to improve the biodiversity.
Vivien Mitchell explained the hard work already being carried out by a working group of nearby residents to clear the flowerbeds of weeds and plant wildflower plants and seeds at the Wyebridge St. car park.
Hayden Cullen-Jones suggested the forum could contact Wye Valley Natural Landscapes to enquire about funding available through them too for this sort of project.
Next Steps: it was agreed that ACE would consider funding items needed for this project, and assist with holding any other funds raised for such work within ACE bank account.
3. Regen Farming Project Update
Cherry Taylor provided an update on the Regenerative Farming Project which has been running throughout the year.
Three farms have participated in the scheme, Square Farm (Monmouth), Llanover Estate (Abergavenny) and Lower House Farm (Chepstow). Each farm is different in terms of size, farming type and ownership status, and each has been working with Ben Taylor-Davis (Regen Ben), to start / continue their regen journey. Square Farm and Llanover Estate have completed their 6 sessions with Ben and Lower House Farm still has 2 sessions to go, after which Cherry will organise debrief meetings to get each farm’s views on how the project has gone and to see if the farms have made changes to the way they farm and / or made progress on their regen journey.
ACE was delighted to have Rob Whittal from Square Farm and Laura Pollark from Lower House Farm talk at the ACE Monmouth Feast event at Habs back in June about their farms and the project. In addition, Square Farm hopes to work with ACE going forward on various projects, including holding an Open Day and farm tour!
Next steps: Katja Klein will lead on conducting soil biology sampling on each farm to show the current levels of soil health. ACE agreed to fund any shortfall in funding for the soil biology testing.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: ACE would like to gather a small group together to work with Square Farm going forward on various elements of regen, as well as helping to organise on-farm events to involving the Monmouth Community. Anyone who is interested, please email farmers@acemonmouth.org
4. Garden Mentoring Scheme
Cheryl Cunningham’s mentee lives in Osbaston and wanted help making her recently landscaped, paved garden with a lawn and small pond more wildlife friendly. She was already quite knowledgeable about plants and Cheryl discussed plants to grow and management based on her garden and aims. The plants have grown well and as a result, there has been an increase in birds and insects in the garden, and they have now moved on to the front garden, with plans to plant trees there.
Cherry’s mentee lives in Overmonnow and wanted help turning her front garden into a no dig vegetable patch. With Cherry’s mentorship she has created vegetable beds with wildflower margins, and fruit bushes.
Jen Bara and Sam’s Wildlife Gardening mentorships were also a success, and they will provide updates on them at a later date.
5. Welsh Climate Week 11-15th November
Sarah Read volunteered to hold a Climate Fresk as a general community event to take place during Welsh Climate week. It would be a 3 hour activity for 2 tables of 4-8 people per table that could be held at Bridges, or Estero Lounge in the evening and/or on Saturday.
Action: ACE could have a stand at Green Libraries Week which is between 7th- 13th October to promote the Climate Fresk.
6. AOB
Monmouth in Bloom was raised and the importance that the flowers chosen to be planted were also chosen to follow Monmouth’s Bee Friendly town principles and were beneficial for insects and pollinators was discussed.
7. Date of next meeting
Tuesday 22nd October, via Zoom, 7:30pm.
Opportunities for Action:
Doing small things together makes a big difference. This is your chance to take action on the climate and nature emergencies!
If you have an idea how ACE can get the local community engaged in actions that will help reduce climate change, please email info@acemonmouth.org