Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

The search for a princess has come to an end, as MTAZ Productions announces a princess for the forthcoming Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime at Port Talbot’s Princess Royal Theatre has been found. MTAZ productions has welcomed Briony Harris to the cast of the eagerly awaited show which goes ahead in December 2022 at The Princess Royal Theatre. Briony is currently in her second year of a three-year course at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts, Epsom, Surrey, where she is studying Musical Theatre and Dance, having been awarded a full scholarship. Briony previously trained at Bridgend College, in Musical Theatre…

The much-loved Big Welsh Bite made its welcome return to Ynysangharad War Memorial Park in Pontypridd at the weekend – with a record-breaking 30,000 visitors enjoying the event in the sun. Delicious food, family fun, live cookery demonstrations and more filled the park on August 6 and 7 as What’s On RCT set about to ensure the Big Welsh Bite returned in style. Not one, but two, star chefs took over the demonstration kitchen for the weekend, with Big Welsh Bite favourite Geoff Tookey making a welcome return. Nerys Howell joined him, showing how she makes fine food using the…

The story of a Newport family who used their passion and drive to become central to their adopted community is told in a completely new way through an augmented reality trail as part of StoryTrails, the UK’s largest immersive storytelling experience. For the Freckletons, music was central to establishing themselves in Newport. Their story, narrated in English by actress Adeola Dewis and in Welsh by Tonya Smith, are among hundreds told through ground-breaking multimedia technologies, this summer. StoryTrails, part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, features digital experiences that invite residents to experience Newport like they have never seen it…