A message from Alison Willott, Chair of the Monmouth branch of GWT

Our gardens at Coed Cefn will be open from 2-6p.m. on Sunday May 20th in aid of the Gwent Wildlife Trust. We are about 5 minutes’ drive from the A40 at Raglan, and it will be signed from the Raglan roundabout. Parking will be at the top of our field, and visitors will then walk down through the field, so unfortunately it is not suitable for wheelchairs. Please bring wellies, as the lawns and paths are likely to be wet.

The gardens consist of a 13-acre field, half of which has just been planted up as a Jubilee Wood. There are five further acres round the house, laid out in various sections, including an old orchard, a walled veg and fruit garden, and an 80-ft laburnum tunnel which should be in flower by then. The garden is mostly managed just by the two of us, and is designed to provide a wide range of wildlife habitats, as well as being a pretty garden in its own right. We shall be putting up notices round the garden indicating the wildlife considerations in each area.

Monmouth Fairtrade Forum will be providing tea, coffee and cakes. Transition Monmouth will be bringing their Swap Shop for seeds/plants/produce and there will be a “grow your own veg” event with seedlings/small plants available. Tools for Self Reliance Cymru will be bringing a selection of refurbished garden tools and Fairtrade tools imported from Tanzania. Donations of unwanted tools in need of attention are always welcome. And there will be a stall selling home-made jams and chutneys.