The Concise Oxford Dictionary describes phenology as a 'Study of the times of recurring natural phenomena esp. in relation to climatic conditions'. Typically, phenological recording involves simple measurements (such as the first sightings each year) made by amateur enthusiasts. Phenology has a long history with some European records stretching back to the early 18th century whilst some Far Eastern records associated with blossom festivals date back to the 8th century. During the period 1875 to 1947, the Royal Meteorological Society collated extensive observations from throughout the British Isles but until last year there had been no national co-ordination of phenological observations since then.

Co-ordinated by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, a pilot scheme was launched last spring, the results of which were reported in the December issue of 'British Wildlife' (contact Head Office for details). The results of the Spring 1999 survey are currently being processed but in the meantime an Autumn 1999 scheme has been launched and you are invited to participate. Copies of the recording form are available from www.nmw.ac.uk/ite/phenology/.

The new CPRW publication 'The Cottage Tradition - maintaining a living heritage' was launched at the Royal Welsh Show on Tuesday 20th July and has been distributed widely to Assembly members, planners, community councils and various other individuals and organisations. We hope that the booklet will help to raise awareness of the importance of the vernacular cottages in Wales and influence the design of new buildings in rural areas.

There is an online version of the booklet on this site. If you would like further printed copies to give to local builders, architects, councillors or other interested parties, please let us know.

This year's exhibition also featured this theme and is now available for branches to borrow. Please contact Head Office to check on availability.

The 1999 Christmas Card is a reproduction of a painting by Sir Kyffin Williams 'Cottages - Drws y Coed'. A catalogue of CPRW Christmas cards together with an order form is available on this Web site.

Cemaes 'B' (Montgomeryshire)

Nant Carfan (Montgomeryshire)

Mynnydd Hiraethog (Conwy)

Moel Maelogen (Conwy)

Cilciffeth (Pemborkshire)

South Wales situation

Mynydd Cenife, Pen Llyn

Garth Brenni (Brecon)

Hafoty Ucha (Conwy)

Updated safeguards to protect trees and woods in Wales and England have been announced by The National Assembly for Wales and DETR. These new regulations came into force on 2nd August give local authorities the ability to act quickly to protect trees and replace existing laws which are more than three decades old. For more than 50 years, local authorities have used tree preservation orders to protect trees and woodlands which contribute to the character and appearance of local areas. The new measures will simplify procedures for keeping tree preservation orders up to date, speed up appeals and establish a new scheme of compensation. Members holding the planning guidance files will be sent copies of the new regulations, available to others on request.

Environment Secretary, Michael Meacher, has announced that the legislation to protect Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Wales and England is to be strengthened.

The proposals include:

• Giving powers to conservation agencies to refuse consent for damaging activities and to introduce works orders to combat neglect
• Increasing penalties for deliberate damage and a new court power to order restoration
• Improving powers to act against cases of damage by third parties
• A statutory duty on public bodies to secure the positive management of SSSIs which they own or occupy
• Encouraging conservation agencies to continue to work in partnership with owners/occupiers
• Setting up a marine working party to look at the protection of marine sites.

To tackle the growing problem of coastal litter around the UK, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has launched a new scheme encouraging local communities to Adopt-a-Beach and care for their coast. MCS is seeking volunteers to take part in seasonal beach litter cleans and surveys. Previous MCS surveys have shown that litter on Britain's beaches has nearly doubled in the past six years with plastic continuing to be the most prevalent debris material accounting for over 50% of all litter recorded.

Further details from Greg Brina, MCS Tel. 01989 762064.

A new service is now being offered by the publishers of Planning magazine. Planning Direct enables you to access over 50,000 planning appeal decision letters dating back to July 1997. Branches with campaigns that need particular research and background information will find the service of particular use.

• telephone :0171 413 4574
  or
  
• the World Wide Web: www.planning-direct.com

Every year the people of Europe jettison nine million tonnes of rusting waste into the natural environment, in dumps and other places. This waste consists of eight to nine million old motor vehicles.

At present, motor vehicles are not manufactured with recycling in mind and contain environmentally harmful substances such as chromium, mercury and lead. Over 10% of all dangerous waste comes from old vehicles and 7% of all vehicles are dumped in the natural environment.

A common position was adopted by EU Ministers in 1997 and was discussed in the European Parliament in February this year. One of the aims was to reduce the amount of scrap and render it less dangerous by improving methods for the collection and re-use of vehicles. For example, a motor license would still be payable on an old car until a certificate from an authorised scrap dealer was produced. Part of the responsibility would also shift to the manufacturers who would, for example, have to stop using heavy metals and generally make vehicles more environmentally-friendly so that dealers could separate the parts more easily and re-use them to best advantage.

Unfortunately despite the political agreement to adopt this common position, a decision was taken by Germany, Spain and the UK to block the proposal. However we understand that it will be taken up again by the Finnish Presidency. Perhaps some lobbying of our MEPs would help!

The National Federation of Women's' Institutes-Wales is using the Millennium as an opportunity to look at what we have of value in our communities. The 'Pathway' project is providing money and a framework for WIs throughout Wales take practical action to improve and preserve what we need for the future.

It is a three-year project, running from April 1998 to March 2001. It is supported by the Countryside Council for Wales, Lloyds-TSB Foundation and the Post Office. There is a Project Officer in the WI office in Cardiff called Sarah Thomas - phone (01222) 221712. There are two Liaison Officers per Federation, and they are being encouraged to work in partnership with others. CPRW is acknowledged as a potential local partner for projects.

A newsletter is produced every few months, listing 'Pathway' projects already up and running. The following are directly environmental projects which Branches may wish to involve themselves in, taken from August 1999's newsletter. They are listed by Federation then by Institute:

Anglesey

Carreglefn - improving cemetery

Llanedwen - maintaining churchyard whilst improving it for wildlife;

Millennium Oak Trees

Llangefni - clean up St. Cyngar's Well

Maeshyfryd - Plant 3 trees

Penmynydd - clearing community centre car park

Y Traeth - improvement to stream areas

Ceredigion

Llanon - tree planting

Llanarth - yew tree planting; produce hardwood seat

Waunfawr - outside seating for community hall

Glamorgan

Cimla - flowers at Neath Victoria Gardens

St. Fagans - Michaelston Millennium Footpath

Gwent

Cross Ash - improve a village triangle

Govilion - restoring horse trough

Llanover - keep bus stop free from litter and plant flower bed Llantilio Crossenny - maintain churchyard garden

Panteg - re-furbish area in front of Post Office and plant roadside daffodils

Penpergwm - improving eyesore and landscaping with shrubs: bench near bus stop

Pontnewynydd - plant flowers and shrubs on waste ground

Talywaun - improvement of Leisure Route: enhancement of Newport-Abergavenney cycle way

Gwynedd- Caernarfon

Dwygyfylchi - planting wild flowers and litter clearance

Llandudno Junction - tree planting

Morfa Bychan - village cleaning day and planting flowers

Morfa Nefyn - Bulb planting and provision of a seat

Rowen - planting

Trefriw - plant bulbs along well-used walk

Gwynedd - Meirionnydd

Aberdovey - replace village weathervane

Bronaber - keep footpaths open

Dolgellau - bulb planting

Pembrokeshire

Dinas Cross - renovation of bus shelter

Saundersfoot - planting shrubs and bulbs

Uzmaston - seat in Dunsary Park

Powys - Montgomery

Federation project - 'Cae Post' Plastic Recycling Fund Aid Brooks - planting

Bwlch y Cibau - constructing a nature walk; cleaning and repairing war memorial

Guilsfield - raise money to provide seats and bins in woodland area Hyssington - wildflower planting

Llangurig - grow a local food economy

This is not an exhaustive list of all projects, many of which have social, cultural and historical dimensions. For a full list please contact Sue Walton, CPRW Local Agenda 21 Officer - North Wales (01766) 771 041 / suebeic@aol.com or Sarah Thomas at the WI's national office.

1999 is the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers' 40th birthday. BTCV was established as the Conservation Corps and as part of their birthday celebrations they are trying to trace as many past volunteers as possible. If you are, please get in touch with BTCV Tel. 02920 520990 Fax 02920 522181.

These awards enable women and men from all walks of life in the UK to acquire knowledge and experience abroad. Relevant categories relating to the environment for the year 2000 include 'projects involving developing countries and the overall management of the global environment', 'transportation', and 'innovation in science, technology and/or industry'.

Further details from 0171 584 9315.

We include some tips or information to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle with each branch bulletin. Any suggestions for item for inclusion would be most welcome and a low energy lightbulb will be sent to contributors whose items are published.

Facts:

• 85% of food bought in the UK is purchased from supermarkets

• Paper makes up for over one third of all the rubbish from our homes.
• It takes over a million years for a glass bottle to degrade.
• 2 million pairs of shoes are discarded per week in the UK.
• 31 trees are cut down per second world wide to make the liners for disposable nappies.

CPRW's very successful and popular conference will be held this year ar Caer Llan Field Studies Centre at Lydart near Monmouth between Monday 25th and Wednesday 27th October . Accommodation will be provided at the Centre.

The Conference aims to highlight some of the issues facing the Welsh environment and to introduce delegates to organisations and systems involved in its protection. Particular emphasis will be given to the planning system and during the conference the delegates will study several live planning applications. They will evaluate the applications, meet the developers, visit the sites and then role play the appropriate planning committee to "decide" upon the applications.

Monmouthshire is a rural situated next to the main economic and population clussters in Wales. The conference will show the demands on open countryside for development - particularly for tourism and recreational purposes. Our aim will be that the students will gain an understanding of the interrelationship between urban and rural areas, why development is needed, areas where development is acceptable and areas which should be protected.

The conference is open to young people between the ages of 16 and 21. Further details.