Author: Alice Gregory

Dwr Cymru’s Elan Valley Visitor Centre has recently donated several beech tree rounds to Crossgates Primary School for pupils to use as seats or tables as part of their outdoor learning. “We came up with the idea of donating felled wood on an Outdoor Learning Practitioner training course, when a fellow course mate from Crossgates Primary School mentioned that their existing rounds were rotting and no longer usable,” said Dŵr Cymru Ranger Beth Rees. “As we were felling beech trees the next day, we thought that while the brash could be left as habitat, we could donate some beech rounds…

The US government has a long history of involvement in assassinations and assassination attempts, from Fidel Castro to Qassem Soleimani in 2020. In his new book, The President’s Kill List: Assassination in US Foreign Policy Since 1945 (Edinburgh University Press), Dr Luca Trenta, a specialist in US Foreign Policy and associate professor of International Relations at Swansea University, provides a comprehensive overview of the US government’s involvement in assassinations from the early Cold War to the present day. The book reveals the variety of methods employed, from poison and sniper rifles to hitmen and local actors. It delves into how…

THOMAS H Wood, a leading Cardiff estate agent, is once again supporting its local cricket club as a lead sponsor. Thomas H Wood, which has a showroom in Whitchurch as well as Radyr, has become the club’s lead sponsor for the next three years, providing financial support to fund the running and upkeep of the club and ground. As part of the sponsorship, Thomas H Wood has also signed a three-year front of shirt deal with the club. Whitchurch Heath has four senior league sides and a popular youth section with teams from age 9 up to 15. The club…

Multi-award-winning soft drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills, which won the Powys Business of the Year 2023 Award, has spoken of the importance of acknowledging business success in the county. The family-owned soft drinks manufacturer, which has a workforce of 262 at Heartsease, near Knighton, will be sponsoring a new Business in the Community category to recognise businesses that put something back into their community. Last year, Radnor Hills won both the Powys Business of the Year and Excellence in Sustainability Awards. “Powys Business Awards are very important for the county because they acknowledge and recognise those businesses, organisations and social enterprises…

Following two smash hit West End seasons, a record-breaking run at The Other Palace and winning the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Musical, Heathers The Musical, the black comedy rock musical based on the eponymous 1988 film, returns to Cardiff from 13 – 17 August 2024. The 2024 class of Westerberg includes 13 cast members who have just made their West End debuts at @sohoplace in Heathers, with Jenna Innes (Les Miserables) making it beautiful in blue returning as Veronica Sawyer, having wowed audiences up and down the country last year when she first took on the role. She is…

Over 2,500 children at 11 primary schools in Cardiff have benefitted from improved libraries as part of the Chase school libraries programme, which aims to help children and young people unlock their future potential by improving access to school libraries in under resourced communities throughout the U.K. The programme – in partnership with the National Literacy Trust (NLT) and supported by Penguin Books who donated 400 new books – is now in its third year in Wales. To date, it has transformed a total of 46 school libraries and reading spaces across Newport and Cardiff, to spark a love of…

68-year-old Peter Walker has completed the mammoth 186-mile Pembrokeshire coast walk and raised over £13,890 for The Christie Charity. Peter, who lives in Pembrokeshire, organised the well-known Tour of Pembrokeshire cycling event for many years. A keen cyclist, Peter was due to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats last year as a fundraiser with his good friend Nick Slevin but just a few weeks before the ride, Nick’s wife Carrie was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and has since been receiving treatment at The Christie hospital, a specialist cancer centre in Manchester. The bike ride was postponed but as…

A mum-of-two will be running the Ogi Porthcawl 10K in July for her firefighter husband and for her children to help keep their daddy’s memory alive. Amy Griffiths will not only be raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity but will also be spending time at Rest Bay with her family – the place where they spread her husband, Stuie’s, ashes. Amy said: “Stuie was a Firefighter for South Wales Fire and Rescue. He was an incredible person, and the best dad. He was the ‘DIY’ man with the biggest smile, a real keen runner and cyclist.” Stuie Griffiths tragically…

Caring for parents of premature babies, in turn, enables them to be on top form to help their little ones, a grateful mum has stated. Bethan Wyn Evans underlined the importance of family accommodation for those who have a baby or babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) when she shared the story her own daughter’s traumatic start to life. Bethan, from Llangunnor in Carmarthenshire, has spoken out to help support Swansea Bay Health Charity’s Cwtsh Clos Appeal, which aims to raise £160,000 to refurbish and re-equip a terrace of five homes in the grounds of Singleton Hospital, made available…

A film made by pupils at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire today won Best Film at the Into Film 2024 Awards. ‘The Language of Cymraeg’ was announced the winner of the Best Film 12-15 category at a star-studded event held at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in London. The winning film sees children in a classroom in Wales being taught about the history of the Welsh language, from Henry VIII’s attempts to ban it, to those who have fought to keep it alive. “We can’t believe we won!” said pupils Taran and Joseph, who were presented the award by actor Stephen Merchant. “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve…