MADAM,

I am writing on behalf of the Friends of Vauxhall Fields to inform everyone that in association with Transition Monmouth we have been awarded a tree planting pack by the Woodland Trust.

The pack consists of 420 small ‘whips’ which we have approval to plant on an area of rough ground that is not currently mown and is gradually turning into a bramble patch. Planting trees will help reduce water runoff and flooding. See the small area proposed for planting on the attached sketch map.

Help in planting would be greatly appreciated. A preparatory work party is planned for 22nd and 23rd October and planting is to take place the weekend of 19th and 20th November.

Several people have suggested that they would like more benches in the area. Anyone who would like to commemorate somebody who enjoyed the fields, please contact me to discuss further.

We are very disturbed at the damage to the new fences installed along the footpath from Tibbs Bridge. The farmer who owns the land reinstated a stile facilitating access to the riverside path to the Nature Park but someone has used tools to create a large opening in the fence adjacent to the stile, meaning sheep could now escape from the field. My understanding is that there is not a public right of way by the river and the field between Tibbs Bridge and the Nature Park is private property. We ask all members of the public to respect the rights of the farmer to both install the fence and manage his land as he sees fit.

Finally having increased the number of bins significantly over the past few years please use the bins provided to dispose of litter and dog waste, a proven health hazard. We would particularly like to thank the Monmouth Parkinson Group and other volunteers for their efforts to help keep the fields free of litter.

Bob Handley

(Osbaston)