For many years CPRW has been campaigning for Welsh Office to have a Rural Affairs Department and when the Labour Government came to power, the then Minister, Win Griffiths, announced that he would form a partnership to advise and make representations on rural matters. That work has now been taken forward by Minister Jon Owen Jones and the Rural Partnership for Wales, made up of government agencies, local authorities, farming unions and various non-governmental organisations, was formed last year.

The work of the Partnership has been given an added dimension and greater impetus within the context of the additional money coming to rural Wales via Objective One - the proposed new funding arrangements for European Structural Funds.

The Rural Partnership will provide a strategic framework for putting programmes forward for support from the European Commission and will help to inform the National Assembly of the needs of rural Wales. CPRW is pleased to have a full seat at this particular table and the Minister has contributed an article to the Spring '99 edition of Rural Wales Magazine.

LEAPs are integrated local management plans which aim to identify, prioritise and address local environmental issues relating to the functions of the Environment Agency, taking into account the views of local people through open public consultation. The outcome of this process will be local programmes of action for environmental improvement (Action Plans) to optimise benefit for the local environment.

In Wales 17 LEAPS are being produced. If you would like to take part in the consultation in your area do contact your local branch Secretary. Copies of the LEAPs are on the EA website:
www.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk.

Last month the Secretary of State for Wales' Alun Michael, announced that up to £3M in grant aid will be available over a three-year period to support innovative sustainable development projects in Wales' three national parks. The aid will provide money to support partnership projects which look at new ways of working towards sustainable development. Mr Michael said that cross-cutting measures can be an effective use of resources and that he will be looking to the national parks. to work with their local communities, the voluntary sector, local authorities and the public and private sectors to explore ways of how this can be done.

Views are being sought on how the new grant scheme should be developed and managed and the resources will be available from 1st April this year.

The Countryside Council for Wales' increasing concern about the continuing development of wind power stations prompted it to hold this seminar in Llandrindod Wells on 17th February to work towards:

"More understanding of the responsibilities of different parties concerning the

• development of wind turbines in Wales in a way that minimises adverse landscape impact. and
• To identify areas of agreement between different parties on how best to deal with the issue of the landscape impact of wind turbines in Wales."

It was clear from the proceedings that the divide between the two points of view is substantial and likely to remain so. Richard Kettle from the DTI was saying how successful the NFFO system had been in its objective of promoting renewable energy and particularly wind power. He insisted that the NFFO had nothing to do with the issue of siting of stations or planning, yet declared quite happily that it was the DTI who wrote planning guidance for renewable energy (PPG 22) - the source of so much of the problem of wind turbine development! Peter Hinson, National Wind Power, reiterated the overwhelming importance of wind power and that it should be promoted even more and Gordon James, Friends of the Earth (Cymru), rehearsed the usual complaint about people saying they wanted renewable energy but would not accept wind power.

Keith Davies of the CCW reminded the audience that 20% of Wales was designated National Park (and he could have added 4% AONB) and that the landscape quality of the country was a major consideration for planners. CPRW's Director, Merfyn Williams*, made the point that the production of renewable energy was the not the only case that Wales could make 'for posterity' and that our first priority should be the protection and enhancement of our unique landscape qualities. There are already 277 turbines erected in mid-Wales, another 65 proposed and a possible 475 if all NFFO awards became operational (817 in all). He asked if that is what we want for mid- Wales. CPRW is adamant that it is not. There are other alternatives that can be investigated to reach the Government's renewable targets.

Various proposals were made for the DTI and CCW to undertake or support further research with the emphasis on measuring the cumulative impact of wind turbines and to learn from other parts of the UK. Let's hope CCW's new policy will be robust enough to put a brake on this particular threat to our landscape.

Copies of Merfyn's address to the Seminar are available, on request.

In 1998, Cardiff County Council (CCC) proposed that a hedgerow survey should be carried out to contribute to the habitat and species coverage of the Cardiff Biological Database. The survey would then be used for Hedgerow Regulations assessments and in the preparation of the Cardiff Local Biodiversity Plan. A collaborative project was set up with CCC, the National Museum and Gallery, Cardiff with support from the Countryside Council for Wales.

The Cardiff Hedge Survey has now been published and the National Museum is keen to extend this type of survey elsewhere in Wales - they may also be able to supply 50% funding. Further information is available from Tim Rich on 01222 573218 (Fax. 01222 239829).

Vernacular cottages are functional buildings which were built between the 16" and 19" century using local materials and traditional construction techniques. The vernacular cottages of Wales have a distinct regional character due to the local variation of building materials available for their construction, resulting in each individual cottage being unique. These cottages represent an important link to past tradition, society and a way of life which has been central in forming the present Welsh rural economy.

CPRW is concerned abut the future of vernacular cottages in rural Wales and believes that concerted action is needed to raise awareness of the loss and the need to protect the few remaining examples of these cottages. CPRW is also concerned about, the standards of conversion and the extraneous materials used in restorations which can significantly alter their character.

A campaign is being mounted which, hopefully, will help to address these concerns. An easy to read document will be published and an exhibition produced, both with technical support from CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments. These will make their first appearance at the Royal Welsh Show in July when it is also hoped to make special Rural Wales Award presentations to owners of vernacular cottages which, have been successfully renovated with suitable materials. If you know of any such examples which have retained their individual character and features, please contact Head Office or your local branch secretary.

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

• Babies need an average of 2100 nappy changes each year, a total of 5,300 in two and a half year. Disposable nappies account for 4% of household waste and currently £40 million is spent annually on collection and disposal of 800,000 tonnes of nappy waste throughout the UK. By changing to reusable nappies for their babies, parents can make a real contribution to reducing the mountain of nappy waste which is threatening to overwhelm landfill sites and they will save money too! For more information contact Claire Morgan (CPRW's Local Agenda 21 Officer for mid Wales) 01874 624437.
• Plugging the sink when you wash dishes or peel vegetables can save 9 litres of water a minute.
• A 1% reduction in the temperature of your home can save 8% of central heating bills.
• As part of a new Energy Savings Trust scheme, state pensioners or those on certain benefits will be able to buy an energy efficient fridge for just œ25. The Fridgesavers project can be contacted on 0131 554 2532.

Our Monmouthshire Branch showed great initiative last year with two collaborative projects.

Together with Monmouthshire County Council they organised a competition for local primary schools on the theme of trees and hedges. The schools were invited to enter a poem or story, or a painting or poster about the importance of trees and hedges to wildlife and people. At the prize giving ceremony the branch chairman, Richard Mitchley, presented prizes to individual children and the Council chairman, Cllr. Tony Carrington, presented a tree to each of the participating schools.

Later in the year the Branch co-sponsored a hedging and stone walling competition organised by the Llanthony Valley and District Show Society. Ten competitors took part in the dry stone wall competition and fifteen in the hedging and their efforts attracted over 200 spectators who marvelled at the display of country skills exhibited during the day.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting will be held at 2pm on Saturday 26' June 1999 at Maesmawr hall Hotel, Caersws, near Newtown, Powys. President John Elfed Jones CBE DL will be in the Chair and the Guest Speaker will be Jonathan Jones, Chief Executive of the Wales Tourist Board.

Rural Wales Awards

Rural Wales Awards are given by CPRW Branches to projects and/or individuals who have made an important contribution to the environment and community life. They provide excellent publicity and an opportunity to show appreciation of environmental good practice with the aim of encouraging others to follow the examples set.

In addition to the Vernacular Cottages Awards (see above), Branches are requested to consider candidates to receive other Rural Wales Awards. At its meeting in November, CPRW Council recommended that Branches should be encouraged to look at good examples of hedgerow trees when considering their Rural Wales Awards.

The Awards are again sponsored this year by the Post Office and can be made at any time during the year. If you have any suggestions for possible recipients please contact your local branch secretary or Helen Mrowiec at Head Office.

Raffle

A raffle which takes place during a single event and for which tickets are not available elsewhere does not require a license - but others do. Jenny Smith at Head Office holds such a licence and is willing to be the promoter for any raffle which branches may wish to hold. Please contact her before ordering tickets etc. as she will advise on the necessary wording and other requirements in order to satisfy the licensing laws.

WCVA Small Grants Scheme

Our Pembrokeshire Branch has recently received a grant from the WCVA Small Grant Scheme which has enabled them to purchase a new fax machine. Grants are available, up to a maximum of £500. Further details and an application form are available from Helen Mrowiec at Head Office.

Copies of the consultations and or our responses will be sent on request

• 'Breaking the log jam' - Comments by 31st March 1999
• 'Welsh Agriculture' - A Sustainable Future - Comments by 1st March 1999
• 'Draft guidance on local transport plans in Wales' - Comments by 30th April 1999
• 'UK Climate Change'

We have responded to:

• Landscape Design Associates: 'Cumulative effects of wind turbines'.
• Welsh Office: 'Draft Tan 20' 'Sustainability Counts',
• Wales Tourist Board: 'New Tourism Strategy for Wales'

The following have been added to our library and may be borrowed, on request:

Further details from CPRW Head Office