Author: Rhys Gregory

A Bargoed man has been handed an eight month suspended prison sentence after admitting poisoning two cats belonging to his neighbours – in what has been labelled a “landmark case” for the RSPCA. Tristian Paul Pearson, of West Street, Bargoed, pleaded guilty to an Animal Welfare Act offence after he admitted causing two cats living nearby – Luna and Bailey – to take ethylene glycol, a substance which is highly poisonous to felines, which led to them to suffer, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The poisonings took place in early September 2021. Vet statements supplied to the court…

BikePark Wales, the UK’s largest purpose-built bike park based in Merthyr Tydfil, has announced its pledge to raise at least £10,000 towards the Bigmoose Project 1 Million. Throughout 2022, Project 1 Million has brought individuals and organisations together with a clear goal to raise £1,000,000 to go towards helping people in England and Wales with mental health, preventing suicide and reducing homelessness. The project has so far raised over £178,155 from more than 4,750 supporters. Jeff Smith co-founder of Bigmoose Charity said: “There’s no getting away from the scale of the UKs current mental health crisis. When we discovered that…

Rail passengers are advised not to travel unless their journey is essential on a number of routes this Saturday (August 13) due to the impact of industrial action. Transport for Wales (TfW) is not involved in Saturday’s industrial action by members of the train driver’s union ASLEF, but some of its services are likely to be extremely busy as a result of the severely-reduced timetable put in place by other operators. TfW services in South Wales between Carmarthen and Newport are expected to be very busy because there are no Great Western Railway (GWR) services running in Wales. TfW will…

Film students at the University of South Wales have worked in partnership with the first all-Wales Wildlife and Rural Crime Coordinator to help raise awareness of wildlife crime in the UK. The group of second-year BA (Hons) Film students collaborated with Rob Taylor to produce five short films addressing the problems of rural and wildlife crime, and came up with the concept of telling the story from the animals’ point of view, which had never been done before. Rob, who has been in post since July last year, said: “Although the police have excellent social media presence, there is limited access to film…

A Swansea University researcher has developed a unique way to help build psychological resilience in young people, utilising gamification of mental health interventions and embedded learning. Dr Darren Edwards from the School of Health and Social Care, in line with Welsh Government mental health policies such as Together for Mental Health, has applied and transferred the knowledge of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into a publicly accessible video game called ACTing Minds. The game, funded by AgorIP through the Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund, seeks to address a range of issues, including access to mental health support, especially for…

Setting off on Sunday 14 August, Jessica Grainger, 29, from Cardiff, is aiming to run 102 miles in six days, before hosting a fundraising golf day to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK. Taking place on Friday 19 August at Cardiff and Radyr Golf Club, the golf day will see 88 participants take on one round of golf. Jessica said: “I enjoy running but I’ve never ran this distance before so it will be mentally and physically challenging for me! I initially wanted to run from Tenby to Cardiff, stopping off at each golf club on the way, but I can’t…

Aberystwyth University scientists will be able to speed up the breeding of the perennial energy grass miscanthus, as part of a £37 million UK government package to boost biomass production. Thanks to investment of more than £2 million through the UK Government’s Biomass Feedstocks Innovation Programme funded from the BEIS Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP), researchers will begin using a technique called genomic selection in the miscanthus breeding programme. Miscanthus is a highly productive perennial grass that requires very low inputs and is being bred by scientists at Aberystwyth as a biomass crop. It produces 12-15 tonnes of biomass each…

After two years of planning, fundraising and hard work, volunteers and staff at Bridgend Resource Centre have unveiled a new sensory garden to support local adults with dementia. Based at the resource centre in Waterton, the garden was planned and landscaped by students from Bridgend College who worked closely on the design alongside advisors from Age UK, Age Connects and the Alzheimer’s Society. With brightly-coloured resign pathways winding through a mix of raised flower and herb beds, the garden has been specially planted with specific types of flowers and shrubs designed to help stimulate the senses. Visitors to the garden…

Some of Swansea’s most senior politicians have toured a regeneration scheme set to be a new attraction for a leading Welsh business. The council’s regeneration of the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks is well underway and will soon be handed over to drinks specialists Penderyn. Restored buildings and new neighbouring structures delighted Swansea Council cabinet members who were shown around. The site is being revamped by Swansea firm John Weaver Contractors on behalf of the council. Cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “”This initiative is going to be a big boost for our work on regenerating this part of the Lower Swansea Valley.” Cabinet…

A brand new play area complete with wheelchair accessible play equipment has been opened near to Swansea’s seafront. The £56,000 project at West Cross is just the latest new or revamped play area to be completed as part of a £5m investment in play by Swansea Council. Thousands of children across the city are now enjoying improved play facilities during the school holidays and more projects are to come. The West Cross scheme, which was funded by Swansea Council, ward members from their allowance and Mumbles Community Council, is located opposite the shops on Alderwood Road. It includes swings, a…