Author: Rhys Gregory

A new family entertainment centre has opened in Llanelli, creating 30 jobs with 17,000 square feet of soft play facilities, a bowling alley, sports court and indoor go-karting. Run by Georgia and David Edwards who previously owned The Play King in Dafen, Pinopolis has opened in the former CEM Days car showroom on Sandy Road. The fit-out was part-funded by a six figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales following an introduction by Visit Wales. With Wales’ first and only immersive Brunswick Spark Bowling lanes, Pinopolis is open from 10am to 10pm seven days a week and has a…

At Powis Castle and Garden in Welshpool, the Wisteria Floribunda is now in full bloom. The seasonal must-see that stretches out across the garden’s Italianate Terraces is thought to be over 150 years old. Dotted with huge yew hedges and topped by the striking medieval Welsh castle, the world-famous garden cared for by National Trust Cymru is open everyday, 10am-5pm. To catch the wisteria at its best plan a visit to Powis Castle and Garden within the next week or two

A fantastic, fun-filled couple of days was enjoyed by thousands of visitors to the Royal Welsh Smallholding and Countryside Festival in Llanelwedd at the weekend. The two-day event was a celebration of rural life, showcasing the diversity of the Welsh countryside, and proved to be a great day out for young families, smallholders and anyone with a love for the great outdoors. With opportunities to benefit from a wide variety of information at the Smallholder’s Centre, smallholding farmers were able to learn about all sorts of interesting activities, including talks on getting started with their farming journey, beekeeping and goat…

Cardiff Dogs Home has received a £95,000 grant from the National Lottery to support its thriving volunteer project, which currently sees between 30 and 40 new volunteers inducted each week. Every year the award-winning team at Cardiff Dogs Home care for hundreds of lost or stray dogs while they wait to be reunited with their owners or found a forever home. Volunteers play a significant role in that team, helping carry out many different tasks, but mainly taking the dogs out for walks. The National Lottery grant will help fund a Volunteer Co-ordinator role, as well as volunteer training, regular…

COMMUNITIES across Swansea are getting hundreds of new waste bins to encourage residents and visitors to play their part in keeping the city clean and tidy. Over the past six months more than 400 new bins have been installed to replace existing bins in parks, streets and at beaches as part of a range of measures that will improve bin provision and help deal with litter and dog waste. Out-dated dog waste bins are being replaced by larger bins that can accommodate litter and dog waste as part of the Council’s promise to create a cleaner environment for everyone and to encourage…

The opening of a refurbished children’s play park in Tonna, Neath, has been welcomed by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Wellbeing, Cllr Jeremy Hurley. The Hunters Ridge Play Area renewal project was funded largely from a £187,956 “Community Contribution” intended for open space and play facilities from the Barratt Homes development at nearby Cwm Celyn in Tonna. The scheme was managed from inception to completion by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Project Development and Funding Unit. The existing play area had many ‘tired’ pieces of play equipment in need of renewal…

A sensational evening of live jazz, classical, rock, and film score music was enjoyed by many people in the beautiful grounds of Scolton Manor in ‘Music at the Manor’. Presented by the Pembrokeshire Music Service, the musical celebration gave young people from across the county the opportunity to perform for family, friends and the wider community in a relaxed environment. For many of the young musicians it was their first public concert. Outstanding performances were given by the County Brass Band, Training Orchestra (featuring the Second Steps group), Concert Band, Rock and Pop bands, Rock Strings, and the Symphonic Wind…

There are still funds available to support fishing businesses but the deadline to apply is the end of this month. Grant aid is available under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund programme 2014-2020 to contribute to the promotion of competitive, environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially responsible. Pembrokeshire fishing businesses are encouraged to apply via the Welsh Government to potentially access funds to improve value or quality of the fish caught, to address the threat of market price declines. There is a list of eligible investment items related to the processing, marketing and direct sales of catches, improvements to fishery…

Politicians came together to celebrate Wales Tourism Week and hear first-hand from businesses in a small Welsh town where the NHS was dreamed up 75 years ago. Nick Smith MP, Alun Davies MS and Cllr John Morgan, Cabinet member for Place and Regeneration met with managers of Bedwellty House and Park, The Tredegar Workmen’s Medical Aid Society Heritage Centre and the Tredegar Arms to explore what is available to visitors unearthing NHS history. Bevan was a miner enjoying the comfort of what the local medical aid society offered its members. The society had Walter Conway as its secretary who in…

Monmouthshire County Council has chosen a new Chair to serve for the next twelve months. County Councillor Meirion Howells was elected at the council’s annual general meeting on May 18th following nomination by Councillor Ian Chandler, which was seconded by Council Leader Mary Ann Brocklesby. Councillor Meirion Howells was born in small Welsh-speaking village in Carmarthenshire. The family moved to London when he was eight to run a B&B in Victoria, London. It was here his parents instilled in him the value of community involvement, through being actively involved in all aspects of the London-Welsh community and the Clapham Junction Chapel that they attended.…