Author: Rhys Gregory

The annual task of pleaching a 168 lime trees at Erddig, North Wales is underway and estimated to take a total of 65,000 snips for a small team of staff and volunteers to complete, ready for them to burst into leaf by mid-May. The avenues of lime trees were planted at Erddig, North Wales in 1976 by Head Gardener Mike Snowden who set about restoring the Grade I listed garden to its 18th-century formal design. Earlier this April, Head Gardener Glyn Smith started the annual task of pleaching the lime trees which involves trimming each branch by hand, estimated to…

A Welsh architect has called for design and sustainability standards to push further boundaries in Community focused projects such as schools, hospitals and social housing – despite rising pressures in costs and environmental performance. Dennis Hellyar Architects (DHA) has become an important player in the social housing sector in Wales, delivering projects valued in the tens of millions in the last two years. As the cost of buying a house rises beyond the reach of many, the Barry-based firm is proud to be working closely with leading Welsh housing associations creating innovative and well-designed social housing to meet modern needs.…

Two outstanding volunteers from Cardiff have been recognised by Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort, as part of the official Coronation celebrations in conjunction with Royal Voluntary Service. Molly Fenton, who campaigns on period poverty, and Samia Egeh, co-founder of Grangetown-based youth organisation United2change, have been recognised for their contributions and crowned Coronation Champions. This follows a call out to the nation to nominate their volunteer heroes. Almost 5000 entries were received, with nominations made for individuals aged 14 up to 103. Both women impressed judges with their tireless commitment to their respective causes. Molly campaigns to raise…

According to the Health and Safety Executive, in  2022 alone 565,000 working people sustained an injury at work. A total of 36.8 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury. April 28th marks World Day For Safety And Health At Work and St John Ambulance Cymru is continuing its mission to enhance the health and wellbeing of communities in Wales by encouraging workplaces to think about first aid training and sign up for one of their many training courses. Kate Evans, Head of Commercial Training for St John Ambulance Cymru, said, “At St John Ambulance Cymru we offer…

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR) will stage an Anniversary Gala weekend on June 17 and 18 to celebrate two significant events, one exactly twice as old as the other. On April 6, 1963, 60 years ago, the W&LLR reopened as a heritage railway run by volunteers. Another 60 years and two days earlier, on April 4, 1903 the line had opened for the first time with much pomp and ceremony in both Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion. When the preservation company began operations in April 1963, it was in a very uncertain environment. At the time there were just two…

Following a recent successful pilot of new electric vehicles (EVs) by the social care work force, Bridgend County Borough Council has taken delivery of two, new electric cars. The social services directorate trialled the use of an electric vehicle with a team of social care staff, including team leaders, which resulted in positive feedback from all who engaged in the three-week trial. As a result, staff could soon have access to an electric vehicle to carry out their visits across the county borough, reducing the use and wear and tear on their own vehicles. It is hoped that by being able to access…

Lost and stray dogs from across Cardiff will soon be able to live in luxury while they wait to be reunited with their owners or permanently rehomed, after a fundraising campaign spearheaded by local charity the Rescue Hotel, and Cardiff Dogs Home Ambassador, Sam Warburton, raised more than £500,000 to refurbish the kennels at Cardiff Dogs Home. The success of the campaign, which will see larger and more comfortable kennels installed in the Cardiff Council operated Dogs Home, comes on the back of a significant Pets at Home Foundation Grant of £180,000. Speaking about the fundraising campaign, former Wales Rugby…

At a public meeting held in the Margam Park’s Orangery on Monday, April 24th, 2023, volunteers and representatives from across Neath Port Talbot supported an invitation for the Urdd to host the 2025 Urdd Eisteddfod at Margam Park. Siân Eirian, the Urdd’s Arts and Eisteddfod Director said: “On behalf of the Urdd I am pleased to announce that Margam Park will be the home of the 2025 Urdd Eisteddfod.  It was great to see unanimous and enthusiastic support from representatives from across the county at the public meeting tonight to invite the Urdd Eisteddfod back to the area. “The Urdd…

June will see the return of the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer to Pembrokeshire including the first mooring at Tenby for more than 30 years. This summer’s sailings of the Waverley includes visits to Pembrokeshire on June 17th and 18th, with cruises around the south coast, Caldey Island, St Govan’s Head and Skokholm, Skomer and Ramsey Islands planned. The paddle steamer, launched in 1947, was gifted for £1 to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in 1974 and is owned and maintained by registered charity Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd on its behalf. Waverley is named after Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley…

An event is planned to be held at 3pm on Friday 28th April to officially open a new memorial in Lansbury Park. The memorial has been installed by Caerphilly County Borough Council on green space in Maxton Park to commemorate Darren Smith who was posthumously awarded The Queen’s Gallantry Medal for exemplary bravery. Darren lost his life trying to save two-year-old Geraint Lewis and his nine-month-old sister Jade from a fire in their home on the estate in December 1989. It replaces the commemorative plaque that was located in the former GP surgery in Lansbury Park and also incorporates the…