Author: Rhys Gregory

Urgent action to save Wales’s most vulnerable wildlife is set to get underway this summer, thanks to the players of the National Lottery. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the Natur am Byth partnership of over £4.1m after two years of detailed planning. 67 species facing the greatest threat of extinction in Wales have been identified for action including the shrill carder bee, pink sea fan, spotted rock rose, eagles claw lichen and chough. Not only will this be one of the most ambitious conservation programmes ever undertaken in Wales, but it will also offer a host of engagement…

The artistic director of an international music festival is stepping down after 20 years at the helm. The announcement that Ann Atkinson is bowing out was made at the launch concert for the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral. The concert was a curtain raiser for this year’s festival that’s taking place from September 15 – 30, 2023. The festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, was founded by the acclaimed royal composer, Professor William Mathias. Ann became the third person to be the event’s artistic director, following in the footsteps of Prof Mathias and her…

A new pop-up exhibition in Cardiff’s St David’s Centre highlights the increased dangers of trespassing on rail tracks since the introduction of electrified Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) in Wales. Set up by Transport for Wales (TfW) as part of its ‘No Second Chances’ campaign, the pop-up may look like many familiar clothing shops seen around Cardiff city centre but is in fact is a stark, visual representation of the damage OLE can do by electrification using the damaged clothing of fictional victims. Visitors will be confronted by displayed clothing of all shapes, sizes, styles and age-ranges, highlighting the indiscriminate dangers…

The Welsh wine industry has been handed a boost and developed stronger links with UK hospitality and retail audiences, as well as increased consumer awareness following Welsh Wine Week. During the celebration (2-11 June 2023) several events, guided tours and promotions were held to give wine lovers the chance to discover Wales’ picturesque vineyards and sample the wide range of award-winning wines available. A trade event featuring six Welsh vineyards took place in Cardiff on 6 June giving attendees from wine merchants, small independent businesses, chefs, and wider industry influencers the opportunity to sample the very best of Welsh wine,…

There’s a great new way for people in the north of Cardiff to save money, improve their health, reduce air pollution and combat climate change. How? By making use of the impressive new cycle path that makes it easier for people to ride their bikes all the way from the Heath hospital to the city centre without having to mix with traffic. It’s all thanks to the completion of a major section of Cardiff’s Cycleway 1.  Local cycle campaign group Cardiff Cycle City has tested the new route and, whilst there are still some minor improvements that could be made,…

Wales’ no.1 junior tennis player, Mimi Xu, will once again be gr-acing the grass courts at Wimbledon after receiving a wildcard entry to the upcoming, prestigious Ladies’ Qualifying event. Ranked among the top 40 junior players world-wide, Swansea-born Mimi (15) will compete in her first play-off match this week (Tuesday, 27 June) — before the Junior Wimbledon Championships begin on 08 July. Mimi is no stranger to success on the court — with recent accolades including being crowned singles champion at the 2022 LTA Under-18 Junior National Championships and doubles champion at the ITF JA Merida in December 2022. Setting…

Keyhole surgery for people with a debilitating spinal condition has been carried out for the first time in Swansea Bay. For some patients the minimally invasive procedure, known as an endoscopic discectomy, avoids the need for an overnight hospital bed. The first case was successfully carried out at Neath Port Talbot Hospital by consultant spinal surgeon Ben Boreham, who described it as an elegant solution to a common problem. Mr Boreham removed a herniated disc from the spine of 44-year-old telephone engineer David Williams, from Carmarthenshire, who has suffered with sciatica-like nerve pain in his legs for years. “After the…

The first 2023 Football Association of Wales (FAW) PAWB Fund panel has awarded over £11,000 to support young people and families across Wales in accessing football opportunities and equipment. The FAW PAWB Fund is predominately raised by generous donations at Hospitality of Cymru’s Senior International Home fixtures and helps provide vital equipment like boots, shin pads, goalkeeper gloves, sports goggles, contact lenses, hijabs, in addition to travel costs and membership fees. The PAWB Fund aligns to the FAW’s key strategic objectives to provide a flexible and inclusive playing offer and make football accessible and affordable for people from different socioeconomic…

For decades it went unvisited and became overgrown to the point of being inaccessible. Now the Victorian Garden at Fonmon Castle is open to visitors, offering beautiful nature walks in a hidden valley. The garden was created in Victorian times as a place for Fonmon’s residents and visitors to take tea and get close to nature. As it became overgrown, people stopped visiting it – to the point that the castle’s previous owners reported that nobody had ventured there for decades. When new owner Nigel Ford took on the castle in 2019, he initiated projects to restore the castle and…

Below are some tips to help you make the most of the largest free-entry event in Wales, organised by Swansea Council. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “We look forward to welcoming tens of thousands of people to this exceptional annual show. “There’ll be a huge amount to enjoy with air and ground displays for all the family, and we’d encourage everybody to plan ahead in order to maximise their enjoyment of the event. “We thank those whose daily routines may have to change due to the road changes which are in place for the safety of all. “We also…