Transition Chepstow
May 2012 Newsletter
More details about our projects and events can be found on our website and our Facebook site. For general enquiries, email call 07944 468052. Feel free to email this newsletter to friends and family – you don’t have to be a member of Transition Chepstow to come along to a Transition Chepstow event!
Contents
Latest News
Transition Chepstow Events
Other Events (organised by other groups)
Latest News
Green Gathering 2nd – 5th August, PiercefieldPark
Local Resident Day Tickets announced!
Transition Chepstow has negotiated day tickets at £20 on presenting evidence of an NP16 post code at the festival box office. Full details here.
Your views count!
A big thank you to the 30 Transition Chepstow members who responded to our recent membership questionnaire. The full detail of the survey responses are on our website. Key findings about membership included:
70% of respondents want to make a difference in our community.
Two thirds of respondents valued meeting like-minded people via Transition Chepstow.
Respondents were typically very concerned about Climate Change, Peak Oil/Energy Prices and the Economic Crisis.
A significant number of respondents were interested in increasing their food growing and 'eco-diy' skills.
All our regular activities (e.g. Apple Day, Give It Away – Take It Away) showed a good or very good level of support from respondents.
Weekday evenings and weekend afternoons seem the best for members who want to be involved.
Almost all respondents use the email newsletter and event reminder emails for staying in touch. 85% of respondents use the website to stay in touch.
If you have any feedback or comments, please email Janet at
WalesCoast Path Clean Up
Overcoming atrocious weather conditions, over the weekend 28/29th April, Transition Chepstow Litter Action Group completed a litter pick of the section of the Wales Coast Path from Garden City through to Mathern church. This was part of a co-ordinated task organised by Keep Wales Tidy in advance of the official opening of the Path the following weekend. Litter picks were also carried out in Rogiet, Sudbrook & Black Rock Picnic Site. For details of future tasks, please see the Events page of the Transition Chepstow website.
Chepstow Walkers get footprint of approval
It's official, Chepstow is now officially a Walkers are WelcomeTown - the first in Monmouthshire! Accreditation was received in mid April. Chepstow Walkers are Welcome held a launch event on the River Green & Tourist Information Centre on Saturday 5 May to coincide with the official opening of the Wales Coast Path which starts & finish in the town. For more details go to:
Walking with Wildlife
Despite the challenging weather over the last few weeks the Wildlife In Transition group had two very interesting and well attendedexpertly-guided wildlife walks. In April we walkedin the Forest of Dean where we learnedmore about the Forestry conservation work and saw plenty of evidence of wild boar activity. The drizzle kindly stopped in time for our picnic lunch at Mallards Pike afterwards. In May we managed to choose a sunny morning for our walk in the woods below the Bulwark allotments and above the Garden City areas of Chepstow. We identified and recorded a huge diversity of plants, including severalindicators of ancient woodland. This is important information for future local conservation work, consultations etc..
Our next walk will be at the Tidenham Landshare site on Saturday 9 June - we plan to identify and record plants, birds and insects on the organic farm in the area around the Transition Chepstow plot. All welcome - please check the 'Events' pages of the website for full details.
ChepstowLibraryReadingGarden
This is a relatively new project and was opened on World Book Night in April 2012. Much has happened since the inaugural meeting in November 2011 which attracted a group of local people who have gone on to form a `Friends of the ChepstowLibraryReadingGarden’ the first AGM of which was held on the 8th of May at the library.
Two members of Transition Chepstow are on the Friends group: Michael Peterken (Treasurer) and Nigel Lees (Secretary). The garden is being created from a very under-used space behind the library which was previously a cut through to the car park and was often covered in litter and other rubbish. Thanks to the library refurbishment this space has been enclosed, made secure and has wheelchair access from the library. Some replanting has been achieved thanks to local donations especially from the Garden City Community Group and the WI. New planters were commissioned, and built by Usk Prison Service. The Friends group will start working soon to raise funds for more planting and development.
The LibraryReadingGarden will be used as an all purpose space and already has a pet themed story time and pet ownership event on 5th May, and Tai Chi in the garden on the 16th May. For further information, please contact Nigel or Michael via
Transition Chepstow Events
Give it Away ~ Take it Away
Sunday May 20th, 10am -4pm
Severn Bridge Social Club Car Park, Bulwark
Transition Chepstow's Reuse & Recycling Group's Spring 2012 'Give it Away ~ Take it Away' reuse event will be held in the Severn Bridge Social Club's car park, opposite the Bulwark shops. Drop off any unwanted items before 2:30 and reduce your carbon footprint by picking up useful items rather than buying new. More details on the website. Please contact Janet on 625977 if you can spare an hour or two to help marshall the event.
Steering Group Meeting
Monday, May 21st, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Regency Room, Beaufort Hotel, Chepstow
Interested in helping to shape the direction of Transition Chepstow’s projects?
Drinks in the bar afterwards. New faces welcome. Please email Janet via .
Peak Water, Drought and Human Health – Group Discussion
Transition Chepstow - Health & Consciousnesss Group
Thursday, May 24th, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Coach & Horses Inn, Welsh Street, Chepstow
Food Group Meeting - Transition Chepstow
Thursday, May 24th, 2012 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Regency Room, (upstairs) Beaufort Hotel, Chepstow
Interested in helping create more local and sustainable food supplies for Chepstow? Drinks in the bar after the meeting.
For more details contact Marcus via 07944 468052 or
Litter Clean Up
Saturday May 26th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Dell, Chepstow.
Meet by arch next to playground. For details, contact Paul via
Chepstow Energy Meeting - Transition Chepstow
Wednesday June 6th, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Bar, Beaufort Hotel, Chepstow
All welcome to discuss energy issues as they relate to Chepstow and surrounding villages. For more information contact Phil via:
Wildlife Walk
Saturday June 9th, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Tidenham Landshare site
Transition Chepstow’s landshare plot is on a local organic farm and we enjoy seeing and hearing the wildlife as we garden! On 9 June we’ll be taking time out from weeding etc. to look in detail at the wildlife around the plot and record what we discover. All welcome. Optional picnic lunch beforehand at 1.00pm. Please contact Rose for directions and more details on 01291 621914 or email . If the weather is poor please telephone before 10.00am on 9 June to check whether or not the walk is going ahead.
Big Bike Fix
Saturday June 16th
ChepstowTown Centre
Following our CTC maintenance training at the end of March, Bike Club are organising a Big Bike Fix? Older children will be encouraged to teach younger children basic bike maintenance skills under the supervision of our trained team.
Beginner's Cycle rides
Meet at Chepstow Library
Sunday June 17th, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Beginner’s Cycle Ride for Team Green Bike Week, max. 5 miles. Families welcome. Bring wet weather gear.
Wednesday June 20th, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Beginner’s Cycle Ride for Team Green Bike Week, max. 10 miles. Families welcome. Bring wet weather gear.
Sunday June 24th, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Beginner’s Cycle Ride for Team Green Bike Week, max. 10 miles. Families welcome. Bring wet weather gear.
Litter Clean Up
June 24, 2012 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Fishermans Walk (WalesCoast Path).
Meet at allotments off Strongbow Road. For details, contact Paul via
FREE Film Showing - In Transition 2.0 - Transition Chepstow
Friday July 13th, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Drill Hall, Chepstow
An engaging and inspiring overview of how people across the world are creating resilient communities. The film trailer can be seenhere.
Other events (organised by other groups)Skill Share EventSaturday May 26th, 10:00 am – 4:00 pmRagmans Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, GL17 9PAProgramme includes: Farm tours, Aerated Compost Tea, Heating with wood, Setting up a Community Bakery, All you ever wanted to know about Willow, Make something useful for the garden, Herb Walk, Sustainable Beekeeping (tbc), Ragmans Farm Shop, Networking.Cost £10 - Includes delicious lunch and refreshments. Please book your tickets in advance.Go to for more information and booking forms.Outdoor programme, be prepared with sturdy footwear and water proofs! Sorry no dogs/animals permitted on site. Sponsored by the PermacultureAssociationLAND Project. Tel: 01594 860244 email:
Bristol's 'Big Green Week'
June 9th to 17th
A world class festival of sustainability
A world-class week of big green ideas from 9th to 17th June. With talks, film, theatre and art, Bristol’s BIG Green Week 2012 will be the UK’s 'must attend' environmental event, attracting a wide range of visitors to the city.
For full details visit here.
‘Green Gathering’ Festival
August 2nd to 5th
PiercefieldPark, Chepstow
Day Tickets For Local Residents – £20 per day!
Bring evidence of your NP16 postcode to the Green Gathering Box Office on the day. For full details visithere.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Transition Chepstow
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