On Saturday 7th September, as part of the Chepstow Local Food Challenge, members of Transition Chepstow held a 'local fruit and vegetable swap shop' at the weekly market in Cormeilles Square.

Anyone with surplus produce in their gardens or allotments was invited to bring it along and swap it, or else offer it in exchange for donations to charity.

Items on offer included apples, plums, blackberries, onions, marrows, chard and beetroot.

The event raised £60, most of which will be donated to the Disaster Emergency Committee's Syria crisis appeal.

The Local Food Challenge – 'For a month, eat as far as possible, food that is grown or produced within 30 miles of Chepstow' – is now in its second week.

Wednesday 4th September saw the Challenge get off to a great start with a 'local tapas' event at the Coach and Horses in Welsh Street.

The theme was international food, locally sourced, and dishes on offer included local venison, pork and chicken as well as beetroot and goats cheese salad, frittata, courgette fritters, not forgetting blackberry and apple crumble and Welsh cakes with home made jam and cream.

Help for those participating in the challenge – as well as local businesses who would like to source food locally – can be found at http://www.transitionchepstow.org.uk">www.transitionchepstow.org.uk