WINTER MEETINGS --At the last of the winter meetings of the Kington branch of the Herefordshire Nature Trust, a large audience enjoyed an excellent talk about the county's butterflies given by Andy Nicholls. He started with the earliest butterflies to emerge in the spring and progressed through the summer season, describing the food plants and habitat of the various species. He illustrated his talk with excellent slides. Mr Nicholls also showed his extensive field knowledge of where the various butterflies are to be found in Herefordshire and how they can be encouraged into our gardens.

TOURIST GROUP -- Chairman Ann Edwards, treasurer Alan Carter and secretary Ruth Barker were re-elected for another year at the annual meeting of the Kington Tourist Group, but after the retirement of vice-chairman Geoff Tutt, the post remains unfilled. With the exception of Anne Green, who did not wish to stand again, the committee was re-elected en bloc and Geoff Cooper was re-elected to replace her. Members were told that the Kington Tourist Information Centre (TIC), manned by volunteers throughout the season, now holds leaflets on more than 600 different attractions in the county and further afield. It aims to provide a service for local people as well as visitors. The meeting also heard a talk by Kate Tudge, tourism marketing officer for Herefordshire, who stressed the importance of keeping TICs up-to-date with the latest information about what attractions are open in the present emergency. She said Herefordshire Tourism Council would do its best to disseminate information through e-mails and the Visitor Link service. She also told members about the Flavours of Herefordshire award scheme to promote the use of locally-produced food by businesses within the county.

CO-ORDINATOR -- Lyn Bright has taken up the post as regeneration co-ordinator for the town of Kington and the surrounding area. Her appointment, for a three-year term, has been made possible through funding from Advantage West Midlands, Kington Town Council and Herefordshire Council. Councillor Chris Chappell, Herefordshire Council's Cabinet member for economic development, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Lyn into this post. We know there was considerable disappointment in the town when the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) bid failed, but this appointment demonstrates a real commitment from the Rural Development Agency and the Kington Regeneration Partnership to ensuring that a programme of projects to regenerate Kington will still go forward."

Bob Widdowson, chairman of the Kington Regeneration Partnership, said: "Now that we have our co-ordinator in place, we are ideally placed to move forward with the key initiatives for Kington and the surrounding area." Ms Bright will be based in the town and her work will be steered by the Kington Regeneration Partnership which, together with the local community, will be progressing a number of regeneration projects involving the town and the surrounding parishes. Her crucial role will support the Kington Regeneration Partnership in its quest to identify and secure funding for the regeneration of Kington and the surrounding area over the next 10 years, according to a Herefordshire Council spokesman. Plans for that regenerations are understood to include investment in training for local people, marketing the area and employment, the improvement and enhancement of the built environment, and actions to reduce social exclusion and increase community participation. Among members of the Kington Regeneration Partnership are representatives of the Herefordshire Council, West Mercia Constabulary, Kington Town Council and Kington Chamber of Trade, along with the private sector.