Looking for a truly historic half-term? Welsh Museums Festival has it covered

Dragon lore, Pirate Codes, Time Travel and Treasures, and Crafts are on offer as museums across Wales are busy brewing a potent potion of inspiration for a bumper historic half term, as the Welsh Museums Festival ensures plenty of activity to delight locals and visitors of all ages. And with the cost of living soaring, this year’s festival will have more FREE festival activities than ever before.

Speaking about the festival, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden said: “Wales’ excellent museums support our sense of nationhood and wellbeing. They are also key to our tourism economy. At a time when families and individuals across the UK are struggling with increased living costs, we feel passionate that Wales’s story and our treasures remain accessible to all. Welsh Government is therefore proud to support Welsh Museums Festival to offer a packed fortnight of events for all ages, welcoming visitors and supporting our communities, with an engaging array of events and activities in museums across Wales. And importantly, enabling more of these events than ever before, to be offered free of charge.”

Welsh Museums Festival is made possible by funding from Welsh Government. It is an annual event presented by the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, which is the advocacy body for museums and galleries and those working in this sector within Wales. It currently represents over 100 unique Accredited Welsh museums, from small independents to national museums. Together, these invaluable collections tell the story of Wales, and are a treasured resource for learning, exploration and knowledge about our local and national identity, and how we have lived here in Wales since the dawn of time.

Launching the programme for this year’s Festival, Nêst Thomas, President of the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales said: “I’m grateful to our fantastic museums for taking up the gauntlet of participating in a longer festival this year, so that we can support local tourism economies and our communities to have a historic half term. It feels particularly important at this time of increased financial hardship, to do as much as we can to support our visitors’ wellbeing, and so we’re delighted that more Festival activities than ever will be free of charge. Come along to discover our treasures, to enjoy historic hullabaloo, to solve riddles, to learn, to make and craft, to discover a wealth of stories, to time travel and enjoy.”

In Monmouthshire, MonLife Heritage is offering a number of free activities in partnership with the festival.

A key theme of this year’s festival is ‘treasure’. Festival events will explore treasures held in museum collections and asking questions such as ‘what do you treasure?’ and ‘why?’. To that end, the festival will be engaging visiting teenagers in a Photography Competition which encourages them to creatively explore some of their ideas about treasure, while children will enjoy hunting for Black Bart’s treasure chest by solving a series of riddles and cracking a secret code.

Oh, and did we mention dragons? Look out because ‘Here Be Dragons’! A clutch of baby dragons has hatched and run a mock in a number of our museums and sharp, young eyes are needed to help track them down. All through Welsh Museums Festival, afflicted museums will be engaging visitors help round them up and return them to the wild so that they can grow big and mighty like the dragon on the Welsh flag.

We are also running specific events. Whilst the leaves are turning and our wonderful wildlife is getting ready for the colder days ahead, drop in and join us for free half term fun with our autumn animal clay play days from 11am-3pm on the following dates:

Monday 31^st October at Shire Hall Museum, Monmouth

Tuesday 1^st November at Abergavenny Museum and Castle.

Thursday 3^rd November at Chepstow Drill Hall.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. No booking required.

Cllr. Sara Burch of Monmouthshire County Council said: “There are plenty of playful family activities at Abergavenny and Chepstow Museums this week. There are opportunities for children to dress up in costumes, play a game of ‘throw the fish in the basket’, chalk the longest line you can, or grab a ‘horse’ and canter down the corridor. From mud kitchens and chalkboards to dressing up and toys and games, there is something to make a visit full of fun.”

The time travel ends on 6th November full programme details will be available on https://www.monlife.co.uk/autumn-animal-clay-play-plus-much-more/ on the festival’s website www.museums.wales

Community Nature Spaces Coming to Chepstow

Chepstow will soon be the latest town in Monmouthshire to benefit from the Community Nature Spaces Project, which aims to improve our green spaces for nature and help support opportunities for health and wellbeing. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as by planting trees, adding raised beds for community food growing and increasing wildflower planting for pollinators.

The project will be supported by Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature funding, and will create places that will bring communities together. They’ll also be places to get up close to nature and get active.

Illustration showing a hedge and the way it supports wildlife

Cllr. Catrin Maby, Cabinet Member for Climate Change & the Environment said: “Creating spaces that support nature within our towns is good for people and for nature. It helps to protect and support biodiversity, but it also gives us green and beautiful spaces to enjoy and relax in.”

Cllr. Sara Burch, Cabinet Member for Active & Inclusive Communities said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to provide a network for wildlife and people in the very heart of our towns and engage with nature, which is good for everyone’s health and wellbeing. We’d love as many people as possible in and around Chepstow to have their say about their Community Nature Spaces, to make sure it offers the very best for the town and its people.”

Illustration showing food growing techniques for vegetables in beds

In order to get a full understanding of what the Chepstow community wants, Council Officers are working with the elected Town and County Councillors as well as local interest groups. Please visit https://www.monlife.co.uk/community-nature-spaces/ where you will find a link to a questionnaire about green spaces in Chepstow, how you use them and how you would like to see them used in the future. There will also be paper copies of the questionnaire available at Chepstow Hub. The first stage of the consultation will close on the 11^th November but residents and stakeholders are welcome to get in touch about the project at any time.

‘Food and Fun’ programme provides children with healthy meals during summer holidays

The school holidays can put all kinds of pressure on families. To help out with mealtimes, the Welsh Government’s Food and Fun Enrichment programme provided healthy meals and activities during the summer break across five host schools that met the criteria.

Food and Fun is a school-based education programme that provides food and nutrition education, physical activity, enrichment sessions and healthy meals to children from disadvantages areas during the school summer holidays. Access for the scheme is co-ordinated on a referral basis with education from the host schools.

Starting as a pilot run by Cardiff Council in 2015, Food and Fun has developed into a national, fully funded Welsh Government programme administered by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). In 2021, 137 schools in Wales delivered the programme and provided over 7500 places for children each day that it ran and is taking place in several Monmouthshire primary schools this summer. This summer has seen a total of 2005 attendances recorded in the Food and Fun provision, with 4010 breakfast and lunches provided. Dewstow, Kymin View, Overmonnow, Deri View and Thornwell primary schools are all welcoming the Food and Fun programme, providing pupils with the opportunity of staying active over the summer whilst receiving nutritious meals.

Councillor Sara Burch, Cabinet Member for Inclusive and Active Communities, attended the Food and Fun sessions at Deri View Primary school on Thursday 4^th August. Cllr. Burch said “It was great to see what the MonLife team are doing for children over the summer holidays across the county. These Food and Fun sessions are a great way for children to keep active, have fun and stay in contact with their friends whilst enjoying delicious, nutritious food. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who is working hard to make sure these important sessions run, and most importantly, making sure these children have a great summer holidays.”

Green Flag Awards awarded to popular sites across Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire’s green spaces and parks have been placed in the spotlight again in this year’s Green Flag Awards. The awards, presented by leading environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy, give recognition to the locations that offer excellent facilities while demonstrating an ongoing commitment to delivering great quality green space.

This year sees Caldicot Community Garden, Garden City Sensory Garden and Rogiet Wildlife Friendly Village receiving their first Community Awards, while four of the county’s locations are celebrating repeated success: Tintern Old Station (award winners since 2009), Caldicot Castle Country Park (since 2013),~~and~~ Castle Meadows Abergavenny (since 2014) and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (since 2020).

Tintern’s Old Station is a popular attraction, and situated in a scenic wooded area next to the River Wye it’s described as a hidden gem, while Caldicot’s magnificent medieval castle is set in fifty-five acres of beautiful country park offering an ideal setting for picnics and walks against the background of the castle walls, with picnic tables and barbeques. Abergavenny’s tranquil Castle Meadows on the banks of the River Usk provides a peaceful setting just a short stroll from the centre of the town.

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park with a stretch from Gilwern to Mamhilad within Monmouthshire. This quiet and scenic waterway is popular with boating beginners and offers incredible mountain views and some of the darkest night skies in Britain.

Twelve other locations across the county have received special recognition with a Community Award: Caldicot Community Garden, Garden City Sensory Garden, Rogiet Wildlife Friendly Village, Incredible Edible Usk Garden at Monmouthshire County Council’s County Hall in Usk, as well as Mardy Park and Bailey Park, both in Abergavenny, Crick Woodland and Crick Meadow, Crucorney Allotments, Goytre Community Garden, Laurie Jones Community Orchard and The Cornfield in Portskewett.

Cabinet Member for Inclusive and Active Communities, Councillor Sara Burch said: “It’s so great to see the hard work and commitment of the many volunteers and community groups that look after these beautiful green spaces receiving these fantastic awards. On behalf of my colleagues and myself, I would like to express our gratitude for all their hard work.”

The Green Flag Award programme is delivered in Wales by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy, with support from Welsh Government. Independent green space experts volunteered their time in early autumn to judge applicant sites against eight strict criteria, including biodiversity, cleanliness, environmental management, and community involvement.

A full list of award winners can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website www.keepwalestidy.cymru

For more information on the many attractions and places to visit in Monmouthshire take a look at: Visit Monmouthshire https://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/

MonLife committed to enriching young people’s lives with a Summer of Fun

MonLife is getting ready to welcome children and young people in Monmouthshire to its exciting wealth of activities and fun across the county this summer. The Monmouthshire Games, indoor play centres, theatre events and many more activities have been organised with the intention of keeping children and young people active and entertained during the summer break.

The Summer of Fun initiative, with the help of significant financial investment from the Welsh Government, will encourage young people to engage in social and cultural play and physical activities outside of formal learning.

Play provision, and creating spaces to play, is an essential element to support children and young people’s wellbeing. The Summer of Fun programme, supported by MonLife’s wider play offer, ensures a variety of activities are available for children and young people this summer. Plus, with free activities available in both Welsh and English across the whole of Wales to support young people and help families with the rising cost of living over the summer months, there’s something suitable for everyone.

The Summer of Fun activities kicks-off with The Monmouthshire Games taking place between July 25th and August 26th, with action-packed days offering more than 30 different sporting activities that can be enjoyed by children and young people – aged 5-11 years old – at all four of the county’s leisure centres (Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth). The Monmouthshire Games (TMG) provides a unique opportunity for both children and parents. Participants can meet new friends, develop new skills and confidence, whilst parents are content knowing that their child is safe, happy and having hours of sporting fun.

The Summer play sessions will also be taking place to provide craft-based make-and-take activities inspired by the collections, themes and stories at Chepstow Museum, Abergavenny Museum and Castle, Caldicot Castle, Old Station, Tintern and Shire Hall, Monmouth. The project will take place over 2 weeks focusing on the themes of Medieval mayhem and Playtime through the ages. You can find out more information here: https://www.monlifeholidayactivities.co.uk/monlife-heritage/

Open-air theatre events at Abergavenny Castle grounds have also been scheduled this summer, with Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare taking place live on stage on 29th July. There are other theatre events on at Abergavenny Castle throughout summer for all the family to enjoy, including The War of the Worlds (12th August) and David Walliams’ Awful Auntie (19th August). To book, click this link: https://www.monlifeholidayactivities.co.uk/theatre-events/

Families can also book a visit to MonLife’s indoor play centre at Monmouth Leisure Centre this summer, which features an exciting three storey, action-packed climbing maze and a unique ‘beat the clock timing’ system. All of Monmouthshire’s leisure centre swimming pools are open for the summer holidays, including family bubble sessions, junior swim lessons and aqua classes. Local swimming timetables can be found here: https://www.monlifeholidayactivities.co.uk/swimming/

Monmouthshire’s Leisure Centres have a packed pool programme including free swim, spin and gym sessions for young people aged 12-18yrs, as well as free access to 3G facilities and £1 pay and play sessions at designated times.

MonLife Connect’s Youth Work Team are hosting a five-week programme of activities for young people aged 11 plus which includes Skate Jam, football tournaments, swimming trips, plus much more. Click here for further information: https://www.monlifeholidayactivities.co.uk/youth-service/

Cllr. Sara Burch, Cabinet Member for Inclusive and Active Communities, said: “MonLife has done a great job making sure there’s something fun for every child to do this summer. Whether you are sporty, creative or just like splashing about in the pool, there’s something for you. We know family budgets are tight, so we’ve kept costs down thanks to funding from the Welsh Government. And if you are looking for a low cost family day out, we can all head for the hills on Monmouthshire’s miles of countryside footpaths, visit the castles and museums or take a picnic to the park. Have a great summer holidays.”

For a full list of all the activities taking place across MonLife and for the Summer of Fun please visit www.monlifeholidayactivities.co.uk

MonLife’s ‘Extraordinary Summer’ membership offer launched

Now’s the perfect time to focus on your health and wellbeing journey, thanks to MonLife’s Extraordinary Summer campaign. MonLife has just launched a new Active membership offer that gives a limited six-week membership for £49. This price includes access to all the leisure centre facilities during that time, plus a free induction session. If you’re new to keeping fit, or returning after a long break, what better way to see if it’s for you than this short ‘taster’ during the summer, so you can discover everything that’s on offer.

MonLife’s Active membership includes 1-2-1 personal support and gym training programmes to help you achieve your goals. Plus, there are four leisure centres you can visit – Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth, each offering wide range of facilities including pools, gyms with Technogym equipment, over 160 fitness classes including Les Mills, and access to sauna and steam rooms to help you relax (each leisure centre is unique, so visit the website to see the timetables for classes and swimming, and other facilities).

Membership also includes free access to MonLife Live and On Demand, via MyWellness app, for days when you can’t make it to the gym. A free induction will familiarise you with the equipment, and a full personal Fitness Membership Journey, including segmental body composition with the Tanitor monitor, which helps provide analysis of your health and fitness.

The friendly instructors can build a personalised programme for you, to help achieve your goals, which you can track on the MyWellness free app.

You have until 12^th August 2022 to sign up to get six-weeks’ membership for £49, so pop into your nearest MonLife leisure centre as soon as possible. There’s free parking on all the sites, no joining free, and no additional costs. More than 160 fitness classes, including Les Mills, are waiting for you to discover.

For more information visit: https://www.monlife.co.uk/summer-campaign-2022/ or call 01633 644800 to speak to one of the team.

Monmouthshire’s plans for Active Travel following Welsh Government funding

Monmouthshire County Council has received Welsh Government Active Travel funding of £3.4m for the financial year 22/23 with the aim of reducing everyday car journeys, and making walking, cycling and wheeling the easiest option.

Monmouthshire’s Active Travel strategic focus is on journeys shorter than 3.0 miles to education, employment, shopping, health destinations, bus and rail stations, and details of the schemes will be developed in partnership with local people.

How is this funding being distributed across the county?

Caldicot

Construction of phase 1 of Caldicot Links (subject to planning) – Changing disused MOD railway into walking and cycling link.
Scheme development (design work) of multi-user route through Caldicot Castle County Park to link Caldicot Links to Church Rd.
Construction of phase 2 on Church Road.
Scheme development of Newport Rd (West).
Scheme development of Education and Leisure Centre based project.

Abergavenny

Furthering the design work on Castle Meadows and the Active Travel bridge over the river Usk.

Monmouth

Furthering the design work on Kingswood Gate to Williams field Lane.
Williams Field Lane links to Monnow bridge & Monnow Street.

In addition, the council has received £500k in core funding, which is to be used for:

Scheme development of the Wye Active Travel bridge and Wyesham links projects.
Quick wins around the county, focussing on minor improvements to Active Travel routes, bringing them up to audit pass standards.
Barrier removal – making access to Active Travel routes easier and more accessible.

Cllr. Catrin Maby, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, said: “It is very good news that Monmouthshire County Council has received this funding from Welsh Government. There is much more to do, but this is a positive step in the right direction by making it easier for people to walk, cycle or wheel, rather than using a car.”

This total funding of £3.9m is the largest ever Active Travel award achieved by Monmouthshire County Council, showing the continued commitment to improving walking, cycling and wheeling routes within the county. Previous awards included £3m in 21/22 and £1.8m in 20/21.

For more information regarding Active Travel in Monmouthshire, visit: Active Travel – MonLife

First Minister celebrates 10 years of the Wales Coastal Path with visit to Chepstow

The Wales Coastal Path is celebrating its tenth anniversary this week, with celebrations beginning with First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, meeting with local walkers, artists and pupils in Chepstow on Thursday 11^th May.

With Chepstow being the official start (or finish) of the Coastal Path, Mark Drakeford met with local walkers and creatives in the town after being greeted by pupils of the Dell Primary school. The 870-mile (1,400 km) long-distance walking trail runs from the Welsh border near Chester to Chepstow, connecting historic coastal trails, such as Anglesey, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

Award winning broadcaster and National Poet of Wales, Ifor ap Glyn wrote a poem especially for the milestone, naming it ‘A Wales Coast Path Blessing’. The poem was presented by Ifor at Thursday’s event just after the First Minister unveiled a bespoke, handcrafted bench designed by Tony Bonnici from Newport Wrought Ironwork, which celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the Coastal Path.

*Ifor ap Glyn* *reading his poem ‘A Wales Coast Path Blessing’ to pupils of The Dell Primary*

Thursday’s event in Chepstow also showcased art installations from local artists Sheila Moya Harris and Toby Garratt, showcasing examples of seal sculptures, linking to the importance of the environment along Wales Coastal Path. The sculptures will be exhibited by the riverside in Chepstow as part of the Festival of Arts on July 16^th,and then placed on a seal trail around the town’s landmarks for the rest of the year.

*Local artists Sheila Moya Harris & Tony Garratt*

Year 2 pupils from the Dell Primary School gave a delightful performance of Penblwydd Hapus/Happy Birthday to celebrate the 10-year milestone, accompanied with handmade cakes made from Chepstow School’s year 9 ‘Bake off’ winners.

The Wales Coast Path has made it easier than ever to explore Wales’ coastline. In Monmouthshire, you can enjoy the trail in short sections or walk the whole 14-mile (22km) length from Chepstow to Magor. Black Rock is a popular spot along the Coastal Path as it offers spectacular views of the Severn Bridge and the Prince of Wales Bridge, and a peaceful spot to enjoy picnics and bird watching.

*Year 2 pupils from The Dell Primary celebrate the milestone*

A year-long programme of events and activities celebrating the Wales Coast Path will take place throughout 2022, including walking festivals, virtual challenges and art installations. Since its opening in 2012, the Wales Coast Path has established itself as a beacon of our nation’s natural beauty. The path guides walkers along Wales’ picturesque coastline, weaving its way past a hundred beaches and 16 castles.

*Tony* *Bonnici presents his bespoke, handcrafted bench to the First Minister*

First Minister Mark Drakeford, who spent time meeting all the people involved in the celebrations, said: “The coastal path is one of the crowning glories of Wales and one of the proudest achievements of devolution. I would like to thank all those involved in the management of the path. Particularly the staff and volunteers, who are out in all weathers, working hard to maintain the path to such high standards. If I had to choose my favourite stretch of the path, the portion between Pendine and Amroth would be a candidate: starting in my own home county of Carmarthenshire and ending in Pembrokeshire. It may not be the most well-known part of the path, but it offers huge variety: some challenging climbs, outstanding variety of flowers, secret coves and plenty of historical interest.”

*Chepstow School’s ‘Bake off’ winners talk with the First Minister*

The Welsh Government will build on the successes of the first ten years so that more people are able to enjoy the path, from more backgrounds, more easily, and with more benefits for local communities, businesses and the environment.

If you would like to walk a stretch of the Wales Coastal Path in Monmouthshire, you can find out more information here: Wales Coast Path – Visit MonmouthshireTags: Chepstow, First Minister, Mark Drakeford, Monmouthshire, Wales Coast Path, Wales Coastal Path

New trees planted in Bailey Park to improve Green Infrastructure

With help from Cantref Primary School’s eco club, Abergavenny’s Bailey Park now has five brand new English Oak trees and five Copper Beech trees, which have been dedicated to Her Majesty the Queen for the Platinum Jubilee under the Queen’s Green Canopy project.

After inspections of Bailey Park’s green infrastructure, a number of the trees in the park had to be removed for safety reasons. To compensate for the loss, 21 trees have been planted this year. Working well as a team in some challenging weather, Cantref Primary School’s eco club gave a helping hand to the council’s grounds staff with the planting of ten of the new trees, five English Oak and five Copper Beech. The Friends of Bailey Park have also planted wildflowers during the winter and plan to improve the park’s green infrastructure will be developed this summer, including a review of the brook and a long term tree management and planting plan.

Grants from Welsh Government, through the Gwent Green Grid Partnership (GGGP), have allowed the council to improve and develop green infrastructure in Monmouthshire, with Bailey Park being the latest beneficiary. The GGGP is a three-year project running from March 2020 to March 2023.

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 providing green job opportunities within the area.

A spokesperson for Monmouthshire County Council said: “Improving our green infrastructure is so important to our green spaces. The Gwent Green Grid Partnership aims to improve green infrastructure in the Gwent area, providing real benefits to local communities. Green infrastructure has a crucial role to play in addressing nature, climate and health emergencies. It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm of local school children planting trees in Bailey Park to improve our natural environment, and their local park.”

Monmouthshire County Council, working with Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Newport and Torfaen councils as well as Natural Resources Wales, Forest Research and the Severn Wye Energy Agency, leads the GGG Partnership. The organisations will work together to ensure that the area’s natural resources are healthy, resilient to pressures and threats and thereby better able to provide vital health and well-being benefits for current and future generations.

This 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.

The next steps in the improvement of Chepstow Leisure Centre

At Wednesday’s meeting of Monmouthshire County Council’s full cabinet, the ongoing improvements to Chepstow Leisure Centre was discussed, which when completed will represent a total investment of more than £1.6million.

The programme of work, which has been underway since March 2021, forms part of the council’s ‘Looking Ahead, Delivering Now Our Strategy to Summer 2022. Chepstow Leisure Centre is benefiting from significant improvements to facilities which include the sports hall, outdoor playing facilities and pitches, swimming and fitness facilities. The investment is also testament to Monmouthshire County Council’s MonLife commitment to addressing the issue of health inequality, enabling more people have an improved experience in its leisure centres, and more opportunities to continue to increase their health and wellbeing.

There are three main phases of the investment for the overall project at the Chepstow site. The first phase included measures as part of the council’s aim to reduce its carbon footprint and is already completed. Improvements included LED lighting and shower upgrades, swimming pool plant and boiler replacements and a refurbishment of the pool hall.

The second phase starts next week and is expected to be completed by July. This will see health, fitness and wellbeing improvements including an upgrade of the fitness and studio equipment.

The third and final phase of proposed improvements to the outdoor facilities and pitches see improvements to the outdoor play areas and pitches. In December 2021, MonLife was invited to apply for a grant from the Welsh Government, via Sport Wales, and a separate grant from Football Association of Wales, to develop the outdoor playing facilities and pitches at Chepstow Comprehensive School and Leisure Centre. The overall total project funding and grant funding was £101,997 from Monmouthshire County Council, with an additional £433,058 sought from the funding bodies.

The proposed project of improvements has been developed in consultation with Chepstow Leisure Centre, Chepstow Comprehensive School, Sport Wales, Football Association of Wales, Hockey Wales and Monmouthshire Junior Football League.

Cllr. Lisa Dymock, cabinet member for Social Wellbeing said: “These proposed improvements will see the Chepstow site future-proofed, with the ability to enhance and improve many different sports, enabling growth and providing opportunities for all.

“The sustainability of outdoor facilities, fresh air and the ability to exercise and play in a safe, secure environment.is more important than ever before. The leisure centre will continue to build on the excellent work already being undertaken to increase provision and an improved community sport hub.”

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