These are the minutes of the last open meeting
Meeting Title: ACE Monmouth Monthly Meeting
Meeting date and time: 27th March at 7:30pm
Venue Details: Zoom
Present: Vivien Mitchell, Anthea Dewhurst, Charles Emes, Katherine Pitts-Tucker, Jess Long, Tom Kirton, Laura McCartney, Martin Sweeney, Sarah Swan, Sarah Read, Mark McManus
Apologies: Clare Catto, Nichola James, Cherry Taylor, Jem Jenkins-Jones, Imelda, Nicola Awni
Agenda and Notes
1. Welcome and apologies for absence
2. Energy Saving at Home Talk
The Severn Wye Energy Agency, who provide free advice to homeowners and tenants on aspects such as how to save energy, and reduce energy costs whilst staying warm, are holding a talk on 4th April at Bridges at 7pm.
Methods of promoting the event were discussed and Sarah and Mark agreed to help out with teas and coffees.
3. Schools Gardening Project Update
Charles provided an update on Trellech’s gardening project, which was officially opened on Monday by Gardeners World Presenter Adam Frost. They have 6 beds established with plants from fruit to potatoes.
4. Devauden Festival – T-shirt Printing
Devauden Music Festival is being held on 23rd – 25th May at Humble by Nature in Penallt.
Laura plans to run the T-shirt printing stall at the festival but still needs volunteers to commit to help get the project up and running.
Action: If you are able to help get the project started or to help out either at Devauden Festival please get in touch via info@acemonmouth.org
5. Climate Festival 2025
Holding the event before the Raft Race – Sunday 7th September was discussed, for example between 10am -12pm.
The grassed area in the Cattle Market car park is no longer a viable option to hold the event since there are now more picnic benches there, so new locations could be the Shire Hall, Beaufort Court or the Castle.
if it was held on the same day as the Raft Race it could be coordinated with the Rotary, and to learn on the river aspect, ask Friends of the River Wye to attend.
Action: A Zoom meeting for further planning is needed to decide further details.
Actions: Anyone willing to help organising the event or with a particular aspect (such as sustainability, transport or energy) please email info@acemonmouth.org.
6. Regen Farming Project Update
Cherry has been working hard on the final report explaining about the successes, the press coverage and the ongoing impact the project has had. It is an ongoing journey, which has had a great start with a shift in attitude and enthusiasm for Regen Farming.
Actions: View the videos and reports on the project here: https://www.acemonmouth.org/regen-mentoring-project/
View Cherry’s full report here: https://www.acemonmouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ACE-Full-FINAL-REPORT-v7.pdf
7. Marketing and Social Media
Cherry is going to be stepping back from social media and Hamish Blair will be taking over, handling Facebook, marketing and distributing leaflets, promoting events and emailing the database etc.
8. AOB
Cllr Tom Kirton and Martin gave an update that that Monmouth Town Council have provisionally agreed to move banks from Lloyds to Unity Trust, a more climate friendly, ethical bank.
9. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be the AGM on Thursday 17th April, via Zoom, 7:30pm.
Anyone who would like to apply for the position of Chair, Treasurer or Secretary please email info@acemonmouth.org