In May Vivien Mitchell, leading member of the Transition Monmouth voluntary group, visited HMSG to meet members of the Eco-School Committee. Vivien gave a thought-provoking presentation on the aims of the Transition Monmouth movement, which started up in 2008.  Transition Monmouth aims to find creative local approaches to tackling two key issues of our times:  climate change and peak oil.  By tackling these together on a local basis, they aim to develop our local resilience towards a sustainable future.  Transition Monmouth has a number of working groups which are starting to devise local strategies for many issues including:  Energy, local food, waste and recycling and sustainable transport.

In April 2009 the Transition Monmouth Food Group decided to make a community orchard a priority.  Permission was granted for part of Monmouth’s Millennium Field to be used to create a new community orchard.  In November during National Tree Week the first 29 fruit trees were planted.  Members of HMSG’s Eco-School Committee attended the Inaugural Planting Event on the 28^th November, when Councilor Ann Were, the Mayor of Monmouth, planted a celebratory tree.

To show continued support of this important local environmental project, the Eco-School Committee presented Vivien Mitchell with a cheque for £120.  This money will be used to sponsor a number of fruit trees and bushes in the next phase of planting this autumn.  The group were particularly interested in local apple varieties, including the Monmouth Green, plus the odd sounding medlar.  Medlar fruit are very hard and acidic.  They become edible after being softened ("bletted") by frost, or naturally in storage given sufficient time.  They can then be eaten raw, often consumed with cheese as a dessert, although they are also used to make medlar jelly and wine.

The Eco-School Committee plan to invite Vivien back to HMSG in the Michaelmas Term to get an update on the community orchard and work of the Transition Monmouth group.