Since its launch, this summer’s Nature isn’t Neat online Survey has received more than 1,000 responses from across Monmouthshire and the wider Gwent area.
The survey, which closes on Friday 30th September, has been designed to capture residents’ thoughts on the Nature Isn’t Neat approach, which promotes letting grassland in parks and along verges grow in the spring and summer to create meadow areas and space for nature. The feedback received will help inform future management of green spaces.
Nature isn’t Neat’s ethos is that grassland in Gwent’s green spaces should be allowed to grow and flourish with wildflowers, providing food and habitat for our pollinators. It’s also about finding a balance between nature and recreation throughout the year. Monmouthshire County Council is continually assessing how well they’re managing green spaces for nature and for residents. The survey will continue into the autumn so there is plenty of opportunity to provide feedback by completing the survey at www.monlife.co.uk/outdoor/nature-isnt-neat/complete-our-survey/
As late summer approaches, many plants have finished flowering and are beginning to set seed, leaving meadow areas looking grassier. Whilst they may not be as colourful, they are still full of grasshoppers, moths and butterflies which are living and feeding in the grass. It’s vital that wildflowers and meadow grasses can produce and disperse seed before being cut, so we get more flowers next year. At the end of the season, the council’s grounds teams will be starting their grass cutting regimes across sites, by cutting and collecting the arisings like a traditional meadow they are removing nutrients and reducing the dominance of grass next year and encouraging more biodiverse habitats.
The project is supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development:Europe Investing in Rural Areas and is funded by the Welsh Government’s Enabling of Natural Resources and Well-being Grant.
Within this link you will be able to re-register your account if you have been a pay as you go or previous member up until the 1st of September 2022.
Once registration is complete you will be able to login to your online account to manage bookings and your membership profile or even set up a new MonLife Active membership.
Additionally, if you are a new to MonLife you can “Sign Up” as a free casual member, or purchase a new membership.
As with all new systems we hope that everything run smoothly but please bear with us if we experience any technical issues.
I would also like to remind you that the Leisure Centres will be closed on Monday 19th September for the state funeral of Her Majesty The Queen.
Over the last few weeks as you are aware, we have been working on implementing the NEW Leisure Management System at our MonLife Active Leisure Centres.
This system will enhance your user experience and make managing your membership and bookings with us even easier. Please see below a list of Frequently Asked Questions that we will be updating as the project develops:
FAQ’s: Last updated 6th September 2022
How will the changes affect me from Tuesday 6th September?
From Tuesday 6th September this is the last day until the NEW system launches on the 14th September that you can book 7 days in advance.
This is also the day that the NEW Home Portal for Learn to Swim Customers was launched which you can access with your existing username and password by clicking on the link below https://monlifeswim.courseprogress.co.uk/
How will I be able to access the new system?
From the 14th September when you log into the NEW online portal that we will share you will see that it has a new appearance. You will then Register to gain access to the new system using your email address that we have for you currently. If you need to clarify or change your email address, then please contact the relevant Leisure Centre. The link to the new system will be added here and shared with you via email and social media platforms closer to the date. We will also be adding a guide shortly for you to follow.
How will this NEW system change the way I book Activities?
From the 14th September any bookings made will need to be paid for at the time of booking. Also, all customers, even if you have booked and paid for your activity online will need to register with your MonLife Card at reception before attending. If you no longer have your card, then please visit reception where we can issue you with a new one.
Will there be any changes to class bookings?
We are implementing a class waiting list where if a class is full you can add yourself onto this list online and an automated email will be sent if a space becomes available.
On behalf of everyone at MonLife I hope that you are healthy and safe at this time.
I wanted to let you know of a few exciting changes that you may see over the coming weeks while we install the NEW Leisure Management System at our MonLife Active Centres.
Over the last few weeks, we have been working in the background on implementing this new system that will enhance your experience and make managing your membership with us even easier. The new changes are as follows:
Faster sign up process if you want to join as a member
Effective communication platform through email, push notifications and SMS
View, join and pay for any of our Active Membership options via the App and online
Easier to view, book and pay for classes or activities whenever it suits you and on any device.
View manage and update your personal details.
Login using email and password instead of your membership number
Integrated social sharing options allowing you to share details of your bookings with friends and family.
We would like to reassure you that during the migration from our old Leisure Management System to our new one we are fully GDPR compliant and all of your data will continue to be safe and secure.
As with all new systems we hope this migration runs smoothly but please bear with us if we experience any technical issues.
Our priority as always is to ensure that this will not impact on your experience. Our team will be regularly updating our website and social media channels with up to date information.
Please be assured the MonLife team are working tirelessly to get this new system in place and we hope you enjoy the new and improved customer interface.
Caldicot Links Phasing PlanCaldicot LinksCaldicot Multiuser Route through castle country park
Objective:
Monmouthshire County Council is working to improve the local walking and cycling network around eastern Caldicot, Crick and Portskewett, to make local active travel more accessible, more enjoyable and safer for the whole community.
Implementation:
Two sections of interconnected route are being developed: one through Caldicot Castle Country Park (the 1km long Caldicot Multiuser Route) and one along the former MOD railway line, now disused, from Portskewett to Crick, running alongside the castle country park and the Severn Bridge Industrial Estate (the almost 3km long Caldicot Links).
As part of the project development a stakeholder consultation was undertaken by connecting with over 200 people in live engagement sessions, working with pupils and staff from two local schools, setting up a project webpage inviting feedback, sending out letters and posters locally and holding online stakeholder meetings.
Results:
Results showed significant local support for the proposals, resulting in over 800 ideas being shared with us for consideration in the detailed design.
Current progress (as at July 2022):
Caldicot Links Phase 1 (southern section below the castle country park) – a wide range of surveys and assessments completed, the old rail has been removed, currently applying for permissions, funding secured for construction by March 2023 (subject to permissions being in place).
Caldicot Multiuser Route and the Links Phases 2&3 – further ground and ecological surveys and assessments and design development are underway, working up to applying for all permission.
The Gwent Green Grid Partnership (GGGP) is a three-year project running from March 2020 to March 2023. The partnership includes the five Local Authorities of Gwent (Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Newport and Torfaen), as well as Natural Resources Wales, Forest Research and Severn Wye Energy Agency.
The GGGP aims to improve and develop green infrastructure – a term used to describe the network of natural and semi-natural features, green spaces, rivers and lakes that intersperse and connect villages, towns and cities – as well as provide green job opportunities within the area. Green infrastructure has a crucial role to play in addressing nature, climate change and health emergencies.
Implementation:
The GGG Partnership is delivering across five workstreams:
Workstream 1: Regional Green Infrastructure Strategy and Partnership:
The GGGP demonstrates a pioneering way of working collaboratively to deliver strategic and local outcomes to provide a regional approach to Green Infrastructure in Gwent.
Workstream 2: Gwent Green corridors
Looking at access issues at a regional scale will support best practice and support the delivery of works of the ground locally and regionally. Four trainee countryside rangers are employed by the partnership to delivery access improvements and gain skills and qualifications in countryside management.
Workstream 3: i-Tree Eco Study
i-Tree is a software application which is used to quantify the structure and environmental effects of urban trees. The data from these surveys can be used to help those who look after trees to make informed management decisions.
Workstream 4 : Gwent Green Projects
In this workstream green infrastructure improvements are being delivered across the region, including landscape enhancements, implementation of pollinator friendly management, tree planting and access improvements.
Workstream 5 : Pollinator Friendly Gwent
Green spaces are being managed the ‘Nature isn’t Neat’ way, letting grassland in parks and along verges grow in the spring and summer to create meadow areas and provide better habitats for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies as well as a variety of other wildlife.
Results:
On the ground works can be seen across Gwent. Some improvements being made in Monmouthshire include:
Tree planting across the county
Pollinator friendly grassland management
Engagement events with local communities
The GGGP team will be buzzing with activities and events in 2022, so follow us on Twitter @Gwentgreengrid for all the latest news and please re-tweet and share widely.
Residents of Abergavenny and from across Monmouthshire are invited to help create community art inspired by nature. The Nature Isn’t Neat team and visual artist Stephanie Roberts will be holding two workshops for local people, during which a lasting legacy to the Nature isn’t Neat campaign will be created.
Booking is not necessary to attend the workshops, which are taking place at the Rugby Club at Bailey Park between 9.30am and 1.30pm, on both the 30th June and 11th August. You can drop in at any point during the morning and stay as long as you like at the free sessions, which are suitable for all ages.
The first workshop will involve the design of the artwork using a combination of hand drawn, collage, print and stencil art processes, and will be inviting thoughts and ideas that will inform the artwork. The second workshop in August will focus on making the final mosaic artwork alongside the artist.
Councillor Sara Burch, Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Inclusive and Active Communities, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to help create a lasting piece of artwork that reflects the beauty of nature in Monmouthshire, and the Gwent area as a whole. We’d love everyone to spread the word about the workshops. The more people that get involved the better as we want this artwork to reflect the local community. We’re all looking forward to seeing what will be created as a lasting testament to Nature Isn’t Neat and the positive effect its principles have had on wildlife and pollinators across Gwent.”
Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, Cllr Catrin Maby said: “The impact of Nature Isn’t Neat across Gwent cannot be overstated. The selective mowing approach that allows grasses and wild flowers to thrive for longer is supporting pollinators and a diverse range of wildlife generally. To have the community come together to help celebrate this is truly wonderful. I encourage everyone not only to get involved in these workshops, but also in the Nature Isn’t Neat ethos.”
There is no need to pre-book, but the organisers would appreciate it if those planning to attend let them know by emailing gwentpollinators@monmouthshire.gov.uk so they can get a rough idea of how many are likely to take part. To find out more about Nature Isn’t Neat visit www.monlife.co.uk/outdoor/nature-isnt-neat
This community art project is supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe Investing in Rural Areas and is funded by the Welsh Government’s Enabling of Natural Resources and Well-being Grant.
This is the question we are hoping to find the answer to! We are four young people from the area working on ways to improve the museum service for young people like us. Working with MonLife Heritage and the Federation of Museums in Wales, the four of us are consulting with both museums and young people in the area for this project; visiting heritage sites to assess the current museum service; and speaking with a variety of young people face-to-face and online to work out how best to develop our museums. We also have an online survey to ensure everyone can be involved in improving our museums.
Our aim is to ensure a museum service that better serves young people, and encourages the next generation to become engaged with the heritage sector and the history of their community. This project also will provide a foundation for the heritage sector to build on, informing the ways we develop the museum service into the future.
If you’d like a say in the future of our museums, fill in our questionnaire using the link below. We are so excited to be working on this project with you! To access the survey CLICK HERE
Are you aged 19-25 and passionate about making a tangible difference to your community? Then join MonLife’s new Youth Panel for Culture and Heritage!
We are looking for a final member to join the panel. You will be part of a group of 8 young people (aged 16-25) from the county who will directly influence the provision of MonLife Heritage activities for young people. This is a great opportunity to develop your skills and meet other young people in Monmouthshire, alongside being excellent experience to add to your CV.
The next meeting of the Youth Panel will be in the Shire Hall in Monmouth on Monday 10th October, 5:30 – 7:00 pm. You will receive a £25 gift voucher for attending.
There are
plenty of fun events and inspiration for days out in Monmouthshire this coming
half term, many of which are free.
Monmouthshire
County Council’s MonLife, which runs many of the county’s museums, attractions
and leisure centres is offering a chance to make Brilliant Banners and Super
Scrapbooks. Families can create their own family banner using printmaking
techniques or make a scrapbook to collect and preserve all favourite keepsakes
and memories. It’s messy fun for all the family so do take along an old shirt
or apron. There’s no need to book but children must be accompanied by an adult.
Suitable for children 4 years and above. The sessions run from 11am – 3pm on
the following days: Monday 30th May at Shire Hall, Monmouth; Tuesday
31st May at Abergavenny Museum; Wednesday 1st June at
Chepstow Drill Hall.
Monmouthshire
County Council’s new cabinet member for Inclusive and Active Communities, Cllr
Sara Burch said: “This is a truly historic half term holiday with its four-day
celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. After the past two years of
extremely restricted social events due to the pandemic, Monmouthshire’s
communities will undoubtedly enjoy the opportunity to come together and
celebrate with friends, family and neighbours. I am pleased to also see so many
fantastic fun, free activities planned across our leisure centres, museums and
Community Hubs for this coming week.”
Monmouthshire’s
Community Hubs are hosting some special free activities as well. On Monday 30th
May, Chepstow Hub is asking children (4-8yrs) to help them celebrate the
occasion by decorating special jubilee bunting and join in a special story
time, from 2pm. The following day, on Tuesday 31st, also at 2pm, Chepstow Hub
is hosting a Baby Rhyme Time for babies. Caldicot Hub is also hosting Baby
Rhyme Time on Tuesday 31st May, between 10.30am-11am, followed from
3pm-4pm by a Decorate a Jubilee Bookmark and Royal Themed Story Time for ages
4-8 years.
At Usk Hub
there’s a free Story Time and Crown Craft session at 10.30am on 1st
June for children up to the age of 7 years. At Abergavenny’s Hub there will be
a free Jubilee Stories and Crafts day on 1st June, with children of
all ages welcome between 10.15am-10.45am and 2.15pm-2.45pm. Monmouth Hub is
also offering free fun, with a Baby Rhyme Time from 10.30am-10.50am on Monday
30th May, and a Queen’s Hat and Making A Crown session from 11am on
Wednesday 1st June for ages 4-7years. Gilwern Hub is also hosting a
free Drop-In Craft and Colouring opportunity on Tuesday 31st May and
Wednesday 1st June.
The
Monmouthshire Games returns for more action packed half-term fun from 30th
May – 1st June (8am-5pm; £21 per day) for children aged 5-11 years.
There are new activities to try each day, learn new skills and make new
friends. Call 01633 644800 or visit https://www.monlife.co.uk/monactive/childrens-activities/the-monmouthshire-games/ to book.
For more
half-term inspiration take a look at the VisitMonmouthshire.com website which is packed with inspiring ideas
for days out across the county, many of them with a Royal theme, such as
Jubilee Party Racenight at Chepstow Racecourse on Saturday 4th June
(4pm-9pm), a special garden party at Raglan Castle (4th and 5th
June) and the Welsh Cider and Perry Festival is taking place at Caldicot Castle
between 2nd and 5th June.
All this, plus
countless community events will make this half term truly memorable. If you’re
planning a community street party to celebrate the jubilee, the message this
year is “ditch the disposables” and not buy single-use tableware. There’s are
environmentally friendly alternatives, such as encouraging visitors to each
bring their own plate and cup, or borrowing party sets from one of the Library
of Things (benthyg-cymru.org) or perhaps buy a pre-loved selection of china
tableware from one of the Reuse Shops. Based in Llanfoist and Five Lanes
recycling centres, the shops sell second-hand essentials at bargain prices and
the profits go to tree planting in the county. They’re open from 10am-3pm on
Tuesdays (Llanfoist) and Wednesdays (Five Lanes).
MonLife celebrates first birthday of Active 60 programme
This week marks the one-year anniversary of MonLife’s Active
60 programme, which is available for people aged 60 & over to become more
physically active through in-person or online classes: including yoga, Pilates,
tai-chi and gentle exercise.
Over the last year, MonLife’s Active 60 programme has proved
a great success, providing members with not only a fitness programme, but
positive mental wellbeing through connecting with others in the community.
Active 60 members will be able to link their physical activity to MonLife’s My
Wellness app via smart phones and watches creating a digital eco system
where activity can be monitored by attending sessions. The most active members
from each leisure centre will receive acknowledgement and fitness rewards from
MonLife.
Abergavenny’s winner, Alex, started coming to the gym as he
wanted to gain strength to push his wife’s wheelchair, finding that exercise
improved his general well-being too. Chepstow’s winner, Eve, has been
consistently attending swimming and fitness sessions, completing over 40
sessions since signing up. Gordon, Monmouth’s winner, said he is very appreciative and is making great
success with membership, donating MonLife’s t-shirts to a local group sending
items to Ukraine. Similarly, Caldicot winner, Lynne, was over the moon with her
prizes, and has found the team at Caldicot very supportive and helpful,
benefiting her health and wellbeing.
The programme offers a variety of different fitness classes
suitable for this age group to help encourage enjoyment through sport, as well
as being a social space as people can meet others and chat. MonLife will join with other Welsh leisure providers to deliver
its 60 Plus Fit4Life initiative, made possible thanks to funding from Sport
Wales.
With over 150 members, MonLife have exciting plans to
introduce new sessions for members which includes multi sports, dance, walking
sport, walking netball and table tennis. The Sport Development team are looking
for alternative exit routes for the programme into local community clubs, such
as walking hockey, bowls, touch rugby and park runs, generating a wider variety
of activity. This also give these members options to increase social outlets
and improve health and well-being.
The first 8 weeks of membership
is free for members, being funded by Sport, and £16.50 p/m afterwards.
For more information on how to
sign up, click this link: Active
60 – Monlife
Abergavenny Museum welcomes
exhibition of Monmouthshire born author Arthur Machen
Abergavenny
Museum is playing host to some impressive works by Welsh artists this year, all
inspired by Monmouthshire’s own Arthur Machen, best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction.
This
exhibition features artworks by Jon Langford, Pete Williams and John Selway,
created to illustrate the writings of Arthur Machen (1863-1947). Machen
drew inspiration from his native Monmouthshire, its landscape, history and
Roman remains, as well as the strange and supernatural, the weird and the
wonderful. World famous horror author Stephen King describing Machen’s The Great God Pan (1890;
1894) as “Maybe the best [horror story] in the English language”.
The
exhibition showcases both original works, as well as print reproductions of
artwork commissioned to illustrate recent reprints of Arthur Machen stories by
the Newport based publishers The Three Impostors. This includes a new
edition of one of Machen’s early works ‘The Chronicle of Clemendy’, which has
just been launched as a series of stories set in medieval Monmouthshire,
complemented by artist Jon Langford’s illustrations. There are also first
editions of Machen’s works, manuscripts, letters and photographs.
Established
ten years ago, The Three Imposter’s aim is to produce high quality,
scholarly versions of interesting, rare and out-of-print books, along with
other related new writing. Their first project was the republication of Arthur
Machen’s three volumes of autobiography, continuing to reprint some of Machen’s
novels, series of short Machen related stories, and also new and original works
by Welsh authors.
The
exhibition is now open and will run at Abergavenny Museum until December 18th
2022. It is free admission and open daily from 11am – 4pm except Wednesdays.
