Author: Rhys Gregory

Keep Wales Tidy has today announced the recipients of the Wales Coast Awards for 2023, unveiling the 51 coastal areas achieving the exceptional standards required to receive the prestigious Blue Flag, Green Coast Award and Seaside Award. This year, Wales has retained not only 25 of its Blue Flag beaches, but also 14 Green Coast awards and 12 Seaside Awards. Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised awards for beaches, marinas and boats owned by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The mission of the programme is to promote environmental education, sustainable development of tourism, environmental management systems…

National Trust Cymru has established a new tree nursery, located in a remote area of Wales, to nurture endangered native tree species to help protect the area’s sensitive temperate rainforest environments and tackle the climate crisis. The nursery in Eryri (Snowdonia), which is run by National Trust Cymru lead ranger David Smith, ranger Hattie Jones and a team of volunteers, is the first of this scale in the care of the conservation charity across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The charity cares for 58,000 acres (23,471 hectares) of land in Eryri, and the trees grown at the nursery will be…

Welsh apprentices and students are continuing to thrive on a global stage with the triumphant return of WorldSkills Europe and WorldSkills International – the world’s biggest skills competitions. This September, Team UK will comprise a total of 20 competitors, with four hailing from Wales and taking centre stage at EuroSkills Gdańsk in Poland from 5th – 9th September. At the event, 600 skilled young professionals under the age of 25 from 32 member countries – including Germany, Switzerland and France – will compete for the title of best in their trade. Wales has previously seen 35 competitors compete abroad in…

The proposed expansion to Coety Primary School has moved to the next stage after the council’s Cabinet agreed to move ahead as planned after being presented with the results of a recent public consultation. This would result in Coety Primary School’s capacity increasing from 420 to 525 places for pupils aged four to eleven years. In order to address the demand for places, an options appraisal was launched, which identified the need to increase provision at the school. This resulted in a preferred option being identified in the form of a two-storey, four-classroom extension. The proposed work includes: Increased provision for…

ABERAVON BEACH has been named as one of country’s best beaches by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy which has awarded it the prestigious Seaside Award for 2023. The annual Seaside Awards play a vital role in protecting Wales’s precious marine environment and are recognised around the world as a symbol of quality and good beach management. From popular resorts to hidden gems, all award-winning beaches must meet and maintain the highest environmental and safety standards. Announcing the 2023 awards on Tuesday, May 16th, Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Owen Derbyshire said: “Some of the world’s best beaches are on our…

Pembrokeshire’s Public Services Board (PSB) has published its second Well-being plan, which aims to improve well-being for people and communities in the County. The PSB is a statutory strategic partnership established under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act.  The board is made up of representatives from a wide range of organisations that deliver services across the County. The Act requires that members of the PSB work together to improve well-being by thinking more about the longer-term, working better with people, communities and each other; and looking to prevent problems before they happen. The Plan sets out how public and…

A new Deputy Chief Executive of Caerphilly county borough council has been appointed to help deliver an exciting programme of change and improvement across the organisation. Dave Street, the council’s former Director of Social Services, has been formally appointed to the role yesterday (Thursday 18th May) and is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. “I’m delighted to be offered this key position, which will help shape the direction of the council in future,” said Dave Street, “I’ve worked for Caerphilly for over 27 years and my experience in social care means that I know our county…

A county councillor from Presteigne has been appointed the new Chair of Powys County Council. Cllr Beverley Baynham, who represents the Presteigne ward, was elected chair at the council’s annual general meeting on Thursday, May 18, succeeding Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe, local member for Hay-on-Wye. Cllr Baynham, who was elected as a county councillor for the Presteigne ward in 2017, held the position of Chair of Powys County Council during 2019/2020. Elected Vice-Chair of the council at the same meeting was Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson, local member for Llangyniew and Meifod, and Cllr William Powell, local member for Talgarth, was elected Assistant…

Funding worth more than £620,000 has been awarded by Swansea Council over the last year to organisations across the city which help tackle poverty and the cost of living crisis. Thanks to Welsh Government funding, organisations and schools to have benefited include those that provide period dignity support in Swansea by providing free products. Also thanks to Welsh Government funding, there were 150 successful applications to the household support and direct food support grant schemes for organisations which tackle food poverty and food insecurity. Between April 2022 and March 2023, organisations have also benefitted from other Welsh Government funded schemes…

Voting is now open to decide on a shortlist of potential bands to open Green Man’s  iconic Mountain Stage in August. Welsh bands Hyll, Mellt, SHLUG, Rona Mac and Papa Jupe’s T.C. have made the long list of 23 potential finalists in the Green Man Rising emerging artist competition and it’s now down to you to vote on who makes the shortlist of five final acts. All five finalists will record a professional session ahead of the live streamed virtual final, which will run across Green Man’s digital channels in the summer. Green Man Festival has a worldwide reputation as…