Torfaen Sustainability Week kicks off on Saturday 10 October, with a local producer market at Greenmeadow Community Farm.
The aim of the first ever Torfaen Sustainability Week (10-16 October) is to encourage people to live their lives in a more sustainable fashion.
The motto of the week is ‘Changing by Degrees’, which shows how, by making minor adjustments to the way people live, everyone can help reduce consumption of the earth’s resources and atmospheric emissions.
The message – help us create a cleaner, greener future for everyone.
The leader of Torfaen council, councillor Bob Wellington, said: “The local producer market is the perfect way to launch our week of sustainability events.
“This is the latest in a series of markets being held across the borough, offering a vast selection of farm-fresh produce and other locally-produced goods from Torfaen and beyond.
“When our residents buy locally produced food and drink, they are supporting our rural communities and businesses, as well as enjoying high-quality food. The standard of locally grown food is extremely high, with enhanced ‘just picked’ flavour and freshness.
“As the produce hasn’t had to travel huge distances to get to the market stall and therefore your dinner plate, your carbon footprint is reduced.”
The local producer market will run between 10am-2pm and will also feature information stalls where visitors can find out more about growing vegetables (with Torfaen Allotment Society), days out locally for all the family, healthy eating and Torfaen‘s Rural Development Plan.
There will also be the opportunity for people to find out more about the Ancient Cwmbran and Cistercians Partnership, with a special guided walk along the nearby pilgrim route at 2pm. Meet at the car park in front of the Greenmeadow Community Farm. Sturdy footwear is essential.
The Heritage Lottery Fund recently awarded £48,000 to the Ancient Cwmbran and Cistercians Partnership to research several sites of archaeological interest in Thornhill and Greenmeadow.
The partnership, which oversees the development and implementation of the project, consists of Cwmbran Historical Society, Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust, University of Wales, Newport, Torfaen Museum Trust, Communities First Thornhill, the Co-Star Partnership and Torfaen council.
The project, which is also being funded by the Cwmbran Regeneration Partnership and Torfaen council, will be carried out with the help of volunteers over the next 12 months.
A range of events has been planned across the borough for Torfaen Sustainability Week, with a sustainability conference at Greenmeadow Community Farm on 12 October taking centre-stage.
Each of the seven days has a sustainability theme, from biodiversity to green travel. The week will be launched on Saturday 10 October, Keep It Local Day, with a local producer market at Greenmeadow Community Farm, and ends on Friday 16 October, Green Travel Day.
More information and a programme events is included in October’s Torfaen Talks and is available in the Torfaen Sustainability area of the webiste. For more information about the local producer market, call 01633 647662.
Further details about the Ancient Cwmbran and Cistercians Partnership are available from 01633 648072 or email: [email protected]
