ECO Newport
Newport is a hub of eco ideas and projects. If you have any news, please send it in, whether of wildlife sitings, garden tips, eco technology, lighter ways to live, events or projects.
NEW GROUP FORMED - The Newport and District Allotment Society
For many years there has been an unmet demand in Newport for allotments. Now some land overlooking Newport has been offered by the Harwoods, and twelve families have quickly formed themselves into a Society to formally rent the land.
Several of the members come from farming backgrounds and miss the work on the land. Others are keen to take their children up to help with the digging, get some skills and an appetite for dinner.
The rapidly rising price of food is a factor in the increasing urgency people feel to find some land, another factor is the unsurpassed taste and nutrition of food you have grown and picked just before the meal. Allotments are sociable places to work too, where gardening tips, seeds, surplus produce and tools can be shared and exchanged.
The group will join the UK Allotment Association which provides advice to safeguard the interests of all parties. Vicky Moller, chair of the group says 'with the current trends to fill gardens with houses, and to skimp on new house gardens, the need for allotments is greater than at any time. We need more land to rent as allotments even in Newport. If any-one would like to consider this option, they should understand that there is no risk to their security of ownership if they adopt a standard arrangement.'
Contact: Vicky 01239 820971
Recycling
Newport and Dinas Plastic Recycling Scheme was launched by Newport Area Environment Group in January and has arranged 4 monthly collections of plastic bottles , cans and cardboard by AJ Recycling from Long Street carpark. 3.96 tonnes of recyclate has been diverted from landfill so far. Some of this material is recycled in the UK and some abroad - mainly the plastic which is sent on empty cargo boats returning to the Far East to be made into new plastic products. The scheme ends in May. The last collection will be on Tuesday 27th between 5pm and 7pm. NAEG is grateful to AJ Recycling and to PLANED for all the support given to make this scheme successful.
NAEG always viewed this arrangement as temporary, whilst we continued to press for the kerbside orange bag scheme to be rolled out into North Pembrokeshire. The County Council has now announced that Newport and Dinas will receive their orange bags on 2nd June ready for a first collection on Monday 30th June. NAEG has written to Cllr. Huw George,Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning and Regulatory Services,welcoming this scheme. Residents fill the orange bags with paper,magazines,catalogues,directories,cardboard, rinsed plastic bottles and cans and leave them out for weekly collection. PLEASE DO NOT PUT GLASS in the orange bag.
Glass must still be taken to the Long Street Recycling Bank. NAEG has now taken over responsibility for keeping this area clean and tidy and making sure the containers are not overfilled. If anyone notices a problem, please telephone Lesley Davey on 01239 820707 NAEG's ultimate aim for the area is ZERO WASTE. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to try to consume less and wherever possible reduce, reuse and repair before recycling. We will aim to set up programmes to support this happening. If you have queries or would like to get involved please ring Lesley.
Ride the Dragon to the Theatre
To help reduce car travel, emit less CO2, and provide transport for those who cannot or prefer not to drive at night:
The 15 seater bus will collect door to door, and the ticket price is just £5 return.
Several groups and individuals in Newport have regretted the lack of an evening bus home from Cardigan. Those who have no car or are unwilling to drive late at night, have not been able to enjoy the theatre. This new scheme is the beginning of putting this right. If it works well it may be possible to extend it. It also provides a chauffeur for those wanting to enjoy a drink as part of their evening!
It is possible to book the bus for other evenings, phone the relevant numbers below:
Contact Carylyn to book for the live performance nights: 01239 698 506
Vicky Moller for other evenings 01239 820971
Mary Smith for general information 01239 821095