Author: Rhys Gregory

Talented chainsaw sculptor Paul Morris has completed the mammoth task of carving a nine feet tall grizzly bear. Weighing in at three quarters of a ton, the giant creature will take pride of place at  the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham where Paul, 59, is a long-standing member of the gardening and maintenance team. Over the years he’s carved nearly 150 sculptures – mainly of animals, birds and insects – out of naturally fallen timber. It’s helped him create a charming menagerie, including an owl, a squirrel and a gorilla in Pendine’s 11-acre grounds on Summerhill Road. But the…

A fund supporting Welsh communities with the spiralling cost of living has received a donation from a Mold-based specialist onshore wind and solar energy developer. Wind2 contributed £10,000 towards the ‘Our Communities Together’ appeal, a collaboration between Community Foundation Wales and media company Newsquest. The appeal will lead to the launch of a grant programme, where organisations who need it the most, can apply for funding up to £1,000. Donations could support a range of initiatives including keeping community venues open and warm to support the most vulnerable people as well as providing access to IT services for job hunting…

Smokers are being urged to use this No Smoking Day, March 8th, to stub out stress after research showed quitting can make you happier and be as good as antidepressants on symptoms of anxiety and low mood. A national drive by charity ASH Wales and Public Health Wales aims to dispel the myth that smoking effectively deals with stress and encourages smokers to take up free NHS support. The latest YouGov survey for Wales shows over 50% of smokers, including those with mental health problems, would like to quit. Thousands of smokers across Wales will use No Smoking Day as…

A new BBC Wales programme, voiced by actor, comedian and star of The Tuckers, Steve Spiers, will go behind the scenes as workers race against the clock to deliver Wales’ multi-billion-pound railway refurbishment. In How to Fix a Railway, a BBC Wales crew has followed under-pressure Transport for Wales staff and bosses for three years as they tackle some huge and unexpected challenges to build new trains and electrify 200km of track across Wales and it hasn’t been a smooth journey. Every year 20 million rail trips are taken around Wales and the borders, but the Covid pandemic saw rail…

Researchers at home and away have joined forces for a new international collaboration with the ultimate aim of improving patient care. The Welsh Centre for Emergency Medicine Research, or WCEMR, at Morriston Hospital has marked its fourth anniversary by confirming a new addition to its list of global partnerships – this time in Australia. One of the leading centres of emergency medicine research in the UK and Europe, it has produced more than 100 publications and attracted significant funding for its research. This includes pioneering studies into blood clotting and its effects on patients with serious conditions such as heart…

Menter Môn has installed public Wi-Fi in coastal locations around Anglesey which will benefit fishermen, maritime businesses and businesses associated with the coast. Through funding from the North Wales Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) Menter Môn have installed public Wi-Fi in Traeth Bychan and Porth Amlwch. The installation of the Wi-Fi at these locations further expands the public Wi-Fi network available on Anglesey, which have been installed through projects led by Menter Môn. Elen Foulkes, Menter Môn’s Senior Innovation Officer said: “Installing public Wi-Fi in these rural coastal locations will benefit the fishing and coastal communities, businesses associated with the…

Fast-growth MSP Flotek has revealed the next stage of its impressive strategy with the acquisition of ECS Solutions, a leading telecom service provider and system maintainer based in Chester, expanding the Group’s IT and Telecom service offering to North Wales, the Midlands and North West England.  This acquisition, the sixth since Flotek began in April last year, follows the business’ investment into South East telecoms specialist FlexiNet and furthers its strategic geographic growth to bring customer-centric support and fully integrated IT and telecoms systems to businesses.  Founded in 1985, ECS Solutions has a significant reputation, providing telecoms systems to industry-leading…

Westlife, one of pop music’s most influential boy bands, have confirmed they will headline at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday 5th July 2023. Fans can expect to enjoy the band’s greatest hits “Swear It Again”, “Flying Without Wings”, “World Of Our Own”, “My Love”, “If I Let You Go”, “Uptown Girl”, “Hello My Love” as well as fresh pop anthems from their new album. O2 priority tickets will go on sale this Wednesday from 10am; pre-sale tickets from Thursday at 10am, and general sale will follow on Friday at 10am. Westlife was formed in 1998 and consists of Nicky Byrne, Kian…

Rebecca Evans, the Welsh Government’s Finance Minister, has said protecting public services and the most vulnerable has been put front and centre of the Welsh Government’s Budget. It comes ahead of a debate in the Senedd on the 2023-24 Final Budget later today [Tuesday 7th March]. Key Budget allocations include £227m extra for local government, an additional £165m for the NHS, and a support package for businesses worth £460m over two years. The Senedd will also debate the Local Government Settlement and the Welsh Rates of Income Tax. The Welsh Government has decided now is not the right time to…

Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt has visited the Employment Support Hub in Llangefni set up to offer help and advice to those affected by the 2 Sisters announcement. The hub at the Bryn Cefni Business Centre in the town was set up rapidly following the initial announcement, involving a number of organisations including Working Wales, Citizens Advice and Job Centre Plus. The Minister met some of the organisations, affected members of the workforce and Unite the Union at the centre to hear about the support and advice being offered. Following 2 Sisters’ announcement the Welsh Government, in collaboration with…