The national debate into the issues surrounding Genetic Modification (GM) began earlier this month. Designed to encourage people who have not previously expressed an opinion on the issues surrounding genetic modification, GM Nation? is an innovative and challenging opportunity for citizens to contribute to the national public debate.

The Government is funding the debate but an independent steering board has been set up to organise the debate at arm's length from Government. The Steering Board will report to the Government in September 2003 on public views on GM emerging from the debate. The Government has undertaken to respond formally to the report and to show how it has taken into account the public views expressed in developing policy on GM.

After the formal business of CPRW's AGM, to be held at 2pm on Saturday 28th June 2003 at Plas Dolerw, Milford Road, Newtown, CPRW members and friends will be addressed by Ms Clare Devereux who is Director of 'Five Year Freeze' and an independent member of the GM Debate Steering Board. She will give an explanation and overview of the debate and will lead a discussion on the subject.

Further information about the debate can be found at www.gmnation.org.uk or tel. 020 7261 8616

Readers will probably be aware of the campaign against light pollution launched by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (note the new name!) and the British Astronomical Association (BAA) last month. They published pioneering maps, based on satellite data, which show in detail the extent of light pollution across the UK and its rapid spread over the past decade. The most light-polluted areas are coloured red and yellow on the maps. The least light-polluted areas, to be found in the more remote and thinly populated parts of the country, are coloured dark blue with bands in between of blue and light blue. Corresponding maps using 1993 data have also been published and it is interesting to note the changes which have occurred in the last decade.

The Wales data is as follows:

Since 1993, 19% of Wales has moved up a band (getting brighter) and 4% has moved down a band.

Whilst 46% of Wales is in the dark blue band (compared to 11% of England, 8% of Northern Ireland and 62% of Scotland) even people living in these areas may have their view of the night sky obscured by a single bright light close to them.

As the CPRE/BAA Report says:

"The night sky is the ultimate Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Site of Special Scientific Interest. But while earthbound AONBs and SSSIs are designated by Government and have at least some formal legal protection, there is nothing whatsoever to prevent our view of the heavens - the birthright of us all - from being destroyed.

"And that is what is gradually happening. The grandeur, awe and beauty of the night is being blown away by our careless, wasteful use of electric light outdoor."

The Report goes on to suggest actions we can all take to reduce the problem, including:

• Angle outdoor lights downwards and encourage others to do likewise
  
  
• Ask DIY stores etc to only stock lights with a maximum wattage of 150
  
  
• Lobby Councils to replace street lighting with with Full Cut Off lumininaires
  
  
• Ask planners to attach conditions controlling lighting to new planning permissions
  
  
• Encourage Councils to include policies to control light pollution in their development plans

* Lobby polititians to encourage Government to develop indicators and set targets to prevent the problem getting worse.

These and many more suggestions for action are included in both the full report and an A3 summary leaflet - both available from CPRE's website www.cpre.org.uk where the maps can also be viewed and downloaded. For hard copies call 020 7981 2800.

In April, the Economic Development Committee of the National Assembly for Wales published its final report on Energy Efficiency as part of its Review of Energy Policy.

Their final conclusions and recommendations are that the Welsh Assembly Government should:

Copies of the full report can be obtained from Sian Wilkins on 029 2089 8224 Economic.comm@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Solar Grants:

The Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) has been offering solar grants for the installation of solar electricity since May 2002. They can provide up to 50% 'fixed' grant funding for small scale applications (0.5kWp-5kWp) in domestic households, small to medium enterprises and small scale building projects, and up to 65% 'fixed' grant funding to large scale applications (5kWp to 100kWp). To qualify for the small scale application household grant, you need to own your own dwelling and use an accredited installer.

These grants are awarded quarterly and you have six months to install your system once your grant has been approved. The full criteria and an application form are available on the solar grants website. www.solarpvgrants.co.uk Tel. 0800 298 3978

Clear Skies:

Clear Skies is a new DTI initiative, offering grants for a range of different alternative technology installations in the home and community. Homeowners can receive between �500 and �5,000 for fitting a recognised system with an accredited installer. The different technologies eligible for Clear Skies grants are: solar water heating, wind power (0.5kWe-5kWe), micro-hydropower, ground source heat pumps, wood fuelled boiler systems and automated wood pellet stoves. Household grants (have been) available (since) April 2003 and are expected to take one to two weeks to process. There is a maximum of two grants awarded per household, provided they are for different technologies, and grants must be spent within one year of the offer being made. You can find out more and download an application form on the Clear Skies website - www.clear-skies.org Tel. 08702 430 930. Clear Skies supports projects in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Other Grants:

There is a variety of other local grants available for renewable energy projects in your home. The best way to find out about these is by contacting your Energy Efficiency Advice Centre - you'll find a list of these at www.natenergy.org.uk/leac2.html 

Energy Efficiency Advice Centres 0800 512 012 will connect you to your nearest center. 
www.energy-efficiency.gov.uk

More information:

CAT's information service is on hand to help you with any queries about renewable energy technologies: info@cat.org.uk Tel. 01654 705989 Thanks again to CAT

Community organisations being encouraged to apply for funding include housing associations, schools, local authorities, charities and hospitals. The renewable technologies being promoted are: solar thermal, wind, small-scale hydro, biomass and ground source heat pumps. The deadlines for community applications are 1st August 2003, 31st October 2003 and 30th January 2004.

For community organisations the grant size is �100,000 or 50%, whichever is the lower. Funding is also available for feasibility studies of up to 75% of cost and up to a maximum of �10,000.

Technologies included under the scheme could be used for:

• A 'solar street' where water heating panels are fitted to the roof of every house in a street;
  
  
• A small-scale hydropower project in a school;
  
  
• Installing a wind turbine to provide electricity to a hospital;
  
  
• Using energy crops, such as willow or poplar, to provide heat for a community farm.

If you want to learn more before you apply, Green Dragon are running one of their Introduction to Renewable Energy Weekend Courses at the Centre of Continuing Education, University of Wales, Aberystwyth on Friday 4th, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July.

The course will give an overview of the technology and outline the basic principles of solar electricity, small scale wind power and microhydro and their applications for homes, businesses and farms.

The course is aimed at those in the business, non-profit, public and academic sectors who wish to get a comprehensive introduction to renewable energy electrical technology in general, as well as those wishing to install RE systems in both urban and rural settings.

The emphasis will be on how things work, what it is practicable to do, and participants will have the opportunity to develop their own projects. At the end of the course, participants should be able to do basic designs for RE systems.

Course times: 10.00 - 16.30

Fee: �35 (Concessions �25) Food and accommodation are not included in the fee but the Tourist Information on 01970 612125 or aberystwythtic@ceredigion.gov.uk can provide details of B&B etc.

For further details about the course, contact:
 Green Dragon Energy on 01974 821 564  or dragonrg@talk21.com

In the Summer 2002 edition of Rural Wales Magazine, we published an article 'The Pyramid and 'The Broad & Shallow'' giving a summary of a discussion paper, presented in April 2002, to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs by Wales Environment Link, of which CPRW's Director is Chair. The proposal put forward was to have a tiered system of agri-environment measures across all of Wales. This would be more accessible and targeted to deliver broad conservation and access goals across Wales combined with financial rewards for farmers for the work they do managing the land and landscapes of Wales.

The paper went on to explain that the scheme could be strengthened by enlarging the scope of Tir Gofal and making it more accessible to farmers by adopting a comprehensive tiered structure as represented by a Pyramid: The Broad and Shallow Pyramid was used to illustrate the article in Rural Wales Magazine.

Wales Link also put forward its proposals within the CAP Reform Agri-environment Working Group set up in 2002 by the Welsh Assembly Government and had met with the civil servants working for the Agriculture Committee in preparing their report following a consultation.

The Director of Wales Link was in the CPRW officers one morning in late May when the Agriculture & Rural Development Committee's Report 'The Future of Agri-environment Schemes in Wales' arrived in the morning post. We were all delighted to read: "..the Committee supports the introduction of an integrated suite of agri-environment schemes within the pyramid framework.. This would see the introduction of a so-called broad and shallow entry level scheme where a majority of farmers would receive relatively modest payments in return for meeting basic environmental requirements such as safeguarding hedgerows, walls and other features or producing a simple resource and conservation management plan. Above this, smaller numbers would gain higher payments for more challenging obligations broadly in line with the existing requirements of Tir Gofal. Higher payments still would be available for groups of farms operating suitable co-operative schemes."

And there, in all its glory, reproduced as Annex 2, was the Link Pyramid, as first seen by many in Rural Wales Magazine almost exactly one year ago.

But, omitted from the first sentence of the above quote are the words: "Assuming adequate funding can be secured,"

Copies of the Committee's Report can be obtained from Ruth Hughes Tel. 029 2089 8617

CAMRE Draft Strategy for Public Paths

CCW Publication- undated:

"In 1991, the Countryside Council for Wales (hereafter 'the Council') set itself a target of ensuring that a public rights of way network would be in 'good order' by 1995."

"The Council has also stated that it would like to see the entire rights of way system in Wales to be in similarly good order by the end of the century."

CCW Press Release - 21st May 2003:

"A National Survey to assess the condition of the public rights of way network in Wales reveals that around half of the 33,000km of paths were in an unsatisfactory condition and that around one third was unusable.

A report presented to the Countryside Council for Wales' members reveals the shock statistic about the state of Wales' paths. This led to a call from the Council members for more radical and effective ways of making sure that public rights of way in Wales are fully opened."

The proposed removal of parish/community councils boundaries from 1:25,000 scale Explorer maps (See Page 5 of Branch Bulletin 74) has been withdrawn following strong lobbying by various organisations, including CPRW. Ordnance Survey announced that these boundaries will continue to be shown but they will appear in magenta rather than black. However OS have decided not to show National Park boundaries on the maps themselves but 'simplified National Park boundaries' will be shown on the map cover. They say that trials indicated having the NP boundaries caused considerable confusion with access land. National Park boundaries will continue to be shown on other OS products, including the pink-covered 1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map series, the OS Travel Map-Tour series, and large-scale digital map data.

On the 1.25,000 scale Explorer maps, the extent of the new access areas will be indicated by a pale yellow tint with a pale orange border.

In Branch Bulletin 74 (page 8) we carried details the North American/UK Countryside Exchange 2003. At that time, in March, the organisers were recruiting for people to take part. Now they are recruiting for projects.

One of the aims of the Exchange is to address specific problems being faced in particular rural and urban fringe areas and provide new ideas and solutions,

The projects can involve issues such as bio-diversity, economic development, local landscape character and cultural heritage; sustainable farming and forestry; community empowerment and coalition building; funding co-ordination and others in the search for a sustainable social, economic and environmental future for the countryside and coast.

Further details including the Selection Criteria and an Application Form are available from CEI Associates Tel. 0161 975 6140 cei@cei-associates.org

The aims of this operation are:

* To study the migratory flux in order to detect changes in populations;

* to study the impact of pigeon hunting on these species;

* to inform the public about the extraordinary phenomenon of migration and the risks upon the European bird fauna by ever invading and perfected hunting.

The programme 'Transpyr' takes place on three principal sites in the Pyrenees during the autumn migration of pigeons in the Basque Country (in the French Department Pyrenees Orientales. The most easterly one, Organbidexka (migration to be followed between July 15th and November 15th) is one of the three most important migration sites in Western Europe. The other two sites, Lindux and Lizarrieta are less intensely followed between September 15th and November 15th for the passage of red kites and pigeons.

There is no need to be a professional ornithologist to take part as the local, permanent members of OCL will give any necessary training.

Limited accommodation and a minimal contribution towards food are available.

To register, contact OCL Tel. 00 33 5 59 62 03 Email ocl@wanadoo.fr
 www.organbidexka.org

A pair of avocets have nested in Wales for the first time ever. They have nested and are now rearing their four chicks on an island in one of the specially created saline lagoons on the Gwent Levels Wetlands Reserve in Newport.

Avocets - although very shy and difficult to see - are unmistakable by their snow-white feathers, boldly patterned with black and their up-curved, slender black bill. They are the bird featured on the RSPB logo.

For details of the Reserve's Programme of Events Tel. 01633 275567

There are estimated to be six times more scientific names for species in the British Isles than actual species, creating obvious difficulties for scientists identifying, naming and working with them. In a bid to reconcile this, the Natural History Museum and National Biodiversity Network Trust (NBN Trust) have launched the Species Dictionary at www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn - a free online reference of British wildlife names. Using expertise from national institutions and amateur naturalists, this ambitious project aims to bring all the known common and scientific names of native wildlife in the British Isles in one place for the first time.

The site, hosted and managed by the Natural History Museum, enables users to search for a species by its scientific or common name, view a list of its other associated names and find out about the conservation and legal status of the species. Site visitors can also link to other NBN sites to view interactive maps showing species' distribution compared to associated wildlife together with their occurrence on designated sites.

The Natural History Museum and NBN Trust are calling on professional and amateur naturalists across the UK to help keep the Species Dictionary comprehensive and up-to-date. Experts on particular species or groups of organisms who would like to help should contact the Species Dictionary data manager at speciesdictionary@nhm.ac.uk

To help save some of Britain's most threatened species, professional scientists are calling on the UK's 100,000 amateur naturalists again to share their expertise. The Natural History Museum will be running a series of projects across the UK as part of the new Amateurs: the Experts scheme, with the aim of encouraging naturalists to help monitor and record Britain's wildlife.

For details of projects relevant to Wales, contact Sarah Hoyle Tel. 020 7942 5654 Email: s.hoyle@nhm.ac.uk

CCW Council meetings will be held on:

1st September: Llandrindod Wells
 

6th October: Aberystwyth
 

5th December: Bangor

Members of the public are welcome to attend and the meetings are expected to last just over 2 hours. After the close of each meeting and following a short break, the Chairman, Chief Executive and Senior Officers will be available to answer questions on agenda items discussed.

Copies of the agenda are available a week before each scheduled meeting and can be obtained from CCW Head Office on 01248 385629, Fax 01248 385506 or e-mail b.roberts@ccw.gov.uk . You can request papers from selected agenda items in advance on the condition that they are kept confidential until the meeting. Please let CCW know if you will be attending in order that they may make the necessary seating arrangements and have an adequate supply of the papers.

CPRW will be in the Countryside Care Area at the Royal Welsh Show between Monday 21st and Thursday 24th July. Just look for the flags!

At the National Eisteddfod being held, in Meifod near Llanfair Caereinion, Montgomeryshire between Saturday 2nd and Saturday 9th August. we will be in the Countryside Pavilion. Do call in and see us. If any members would be willing to help on the stand, please contact Deb Wozencraft or Helen Mrowiec at Head Office.

Carys Matthews - It's a girl!

Office Manager, Carys Matthews, gave birth on Sunday 15th June to a 7lb 3oz baby girl, Katie. Both are well.

Carys is now, of course, on maternity leave but will be keeping in close touch with the office and calling in on a regular basis to see how we are coping.

The formula for calculating the dates of Executive Committee meetings is as follows: Meetings of Executive Committee take place on the 2nd Thursdays in February, May and September and the 1st Thursday in November.

Normally, meetings of Council take place on the 2nd Saturday in March, the 4th Saturday in June (same day as the AGM) and the 3rd Saturday in November.

Therefore the remaining meeting dates for 2003 will be:

As previously stated, the AGM will be held at Plas Dolerw, Milford Road, Newtown at 2pm on Saturday 28th June. It will follow a meeting of Council which will start at 11am and which is open to all members. Lunch will be available - but only if booked in advance with Head Office. Following the formal business, the meeting will be addressed by Ms Clare Devereux on the GM Nation? debate.

Hon. Treasurer:
One nomination has been received for the vacant position of Treasurer - John Townsend.

Elected Members of Council:
There are four 3-year terms and two 2-year terms to be filled. Shirley van der Bijl, is standing for re-election and J.B.Hughes, Ivor Russell, Mary Sinclair, Arthur Thomasson and Vic Warren have also been nominated.

Would Branch Secretaries please send, if they have not already done so, to Head Office a signed copy of their Constitution so that we have copies on file.
Please also ensure that all agendas and minutes are sent to Head Office. This is to enable the charity trustees to consult these at any given time. Many thanks

Merfyn Williams merfyn@cprw.org.uk (office)
merfyn.williams@virgin.net (office at home )
Helen Mrowiec helen@cprw.org.uk
Jenny Smith jenny@cprw.org.uk
Deb Wozencraft deb@cprw.org.uk
Alun Williams alun@cprw31.plus.com
Geoff Sinclair geoffrey.sinclair@virgin.net

Would you prefer to receive the Bulletin by e-mail? If so, then please send us a message (if you have not already done so).

CPRW, T Gwyn, 31 High Street, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 7YD 
Tel: 01938 552525/556212 Fax: 01938 871552 
E mail: info@cprw.org.uk     web site: www.cprw.org.uk 
Branch Bulletin Issue 75 June 2003