Author: Rhys Gregory

Merthyr Tydfil residents and visitors will be treated to a ringside seat later this month when our latest homegrown boxing champion switches on the Christmas lights. British and Commonwealth lightweight champion Gavin Gwynne from Treharris will be at Redhouse Cymru on Saturday, November 19 to perform the duties at the first live switch-on in three years. 32-year-old Gavin, whose nickname is the Merthyr Mexican, secured his first major title in February 2021 when he became Commonwealth champion, and shortly afterwards beat Luke Willis to bring the vacant British title back to Wales. The Christmas Family Fun Day will inlcude a funfair, inflatable snow…

A footbridge near Machynlleth temporarily closed during COVID is to be closed permanently for public safety, Powys County Council has confirmed. The bridge over Afon Hengwm on footpath 260/40/1 at Hengwm Cyfeiliog near Machynlleth was closed during the COVID pandemic with the hope that it would re-open after repairs. But damage to bridge supports is so bad the structure could collapse, and the bridge must close permanently for public safety. Walkers will be diverted to another bridge crossing approximately 500m upstream along adjacent footpaths – the diversion will add approximately 890m onto the route. Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys,…

A tree growing programme aiming to tackle the climate emergency is celebrating after a landmark 20 million Welsh Government-funded trees were planted in Uganda. The Mbale Trees Programme – orchestrated by the long-standing Wales and Africa initiative – aims to plant 25 million trees by 2025 in the hilly, heavily deforested area of eastern Uganda in a bid to increase community resilience to the impacts of climate change. Working with the charity Size of Wales, the Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) and four other local NGOs, distribute free tree seedlings are distributed to local farmers and schools to be…

A group of experts want to hear your views on how to protect the future of our Welsh-speaking communities. The Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities was set up by the Welsh Government to make recommendations on how to help make sure all our Welsh-speaking communities can thrive. The call for evidence will be crucial to their report, which will make recommendations to the government. They are looking to hear from members of the public and organisations. The Commission wants to hear your views on all kinds of issues affecting Welsh-speaking communities, from housing and education to community development and regeneration. The…

A rugby player from Cardiff has been nominated for a national award after raising £60,000 for Headway Cardiff and South East Wales brain injury charity.  Just a month after the birth of their second child, Chris Case’s wife Alex suffered a subarachnoid brain haemorrhage, also known as a bleed on the brain. “All I could think about was how I might lose Alex and have to bring up a two-year old child and four-week-old baby alone,” said Chris. “My wife and my children are my whole world, so I was completely terrified.” Alex was told that she required clipping or…

In front of over 200 guests, the Torfaen Community and Volunteer Awards, in partnership with Torfaen Voluntary Alliance, Coleg Gwent, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Bron Afon Community Housing and Melin Homes took place on Friday, 21 October 2022 at the Parkway Hotel & Spa. The awards recognised those who regularly do good across the voluntary sector, business, and the local community, and this year’s event was full of incredible and heart-warming stories. Hosted by Smooth Radio’s Jason Harrold, guests including the Lord Lieutenant also enjoyed a performance by 15-year-old harpist Anieri Richards, dance students from the Performing Arts of…

Aberystwyth University has signed up to a new partnership with a Japanese university in a boost to its climate change research. The new memorandum of understanding with Ritsumeikan University includes exchanging research and joint investment in cutting-edge technology. As part of the partnership, the two universities are collaborating on major projects studying climate change in Mexico and Japan. In southern Mexico, a joint team will investigate records of past climate change in the region and its role in the collapse of the Classic Mayan civilisation. Professor Sarah Davies, Head of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University said: “It’s a…

Jewellery trends are always changing, and 2022 looks set to be the year that personalised and bespoke jewellery really takes off. There are many different types of personalised jewellery, including initial pendants and engraved signet rings. Memorial jewellery is also soaring in popularity as a special way to keep your loved one in your memories. If you’re looking for unique jewellery ideas for 2022 and beyond, why not check out some of these incredible ideas. Memorial jewellery Memorial jewellery is a special kind of jewellery that has been growing in popularity over the past few years. It is jewellery that…

All Pembrokeshire County Council car parks will once again be free to use on Saturdays and Sundays in December. Parking will be free in Authority car parks on: ·                  Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th ·                  Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th ·                  Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th ·                  Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th ·                  Saturday 31st

Many people don’t know much about them, but the truth is that tree surveys play a key role in protecting our environment. A tree survey is an evaluation of the condition of trees on a property. A tree surveyor will examine the trees for hazards such as dead or broken branches, decay, and insect infestation. They will also assess the tree’s overall health and make care recommendations. Tree surveys are a valuable tool for assessing the health of a tree and may be able to identify potential problems that may affect the tree in the future, among a host of…