Author: Rhys Gregory

An award-winning Eco House in Snowdonia has added ‘Carbon Negative’ to its host of environmental accolades. John and Ceilia Whitehead’s Bryn Elltyd Eco House at Tanygrisiau, near Blaenau Ffestiniog, is believed to be one of the first accommodation businesses in the UK to be certified carbon negative. Bryn Elltyd, which can provide bed and breakfast or self-catering for guests, became the first Tesla destination charging point in Wales, and its six electric vehicle (EV) charging points are continually upgraded. Last year, it was recognised by Electrifying.com as one of the best places to visit in the UK with excellent electric…

Film fans will get to enjoy award-winning gins from maverick distillery In The Welsh Wind at an interactive film night at this year’s Carmarthen Bay Film Festival. In The Welsh Wind is the ‘official gin’ of the four-day film festival which is being held at Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre from May 16-19. The interactive film night is on Tuesday, May 17 where filmgoers in the theatre and online viewers will be able to decide the twists and turns of the interactive films shown. As part of the evening’s plot, In The Welsh Wind will be at the theatre offering gin tasting…

A new cleaning products business has opened in Llandeilo. ALLAVARE produces eco-friendly home cleaning and laundry products made to secret recipes that date back more than a century. Founded by Ed Willes, the business makes all its products at its Llandeilo headquarters and sells them via its website and in selected shops across the UK. The business has its roots in a book of “cleaning remedies” created in the last century by housemaid Betty Smith. Betty grew up in London and went into service in 1922 at the age of 14. Starting out in Belgravia, she went on to clean…

Llanmoor Homes has partnered with the Coity Higher Community Council to provide green spaces and play areas as part of their ongoing commitment to working with local communities. The award-winning, family-run new homes developer has transferred the Joslin Terrace Play Area in Bridgend to the Community council’s hands after numerous years of Llanmoors own management and maintenance. Play areas and public spaces are essential for communities, and since the pandemic, these areas have taken on a significantly increased value as to the local community’s well-being and health. The Joslin Terrace play area in the Coity Higher community is a perfect…

Ahead of International Nurses Day (12 May), a lead cancer nurse at Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales shares an insight into the realities of working in cancer care two years on from the pandemic. Ceri Lord is Lead Chemotherapy Nurse at Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales – a UK-wide network of specialist centres treating private and NHS patients – which is located at Celtic Springs Business Park in Newport. During COVID, Rutherford has seen a 200% increase in patients receiving SACT (systemic anti-cancer therapy which describes all types of drugs used in chemotherapy treatment) across its centres. According to Lord,…

Two of Cardiff’s most iconic buildings will be ablaze with colour this month to celebrate the city’s role in Foster Care Fortnight. The walls of the Castle and the dramatic façade of City Hall will both glow purple – the colour of the service in Cardiff – at night over the course of the fortnight, from Monday, May 9 to Sunday, May 22. The campaign, established in 1997, is a chance to highlight the work done by foster carers and fostering professionals in helping find loving homes for young people when they need it most. This year, it takes the…

To mark the centenary of the Royal British Legion, the Gwent County Royal British Legion are holding an afternoon of musical entertainment, which  will take place on Saturday 14th May 2022 at Waunfawr Park, Crosskeys, Caerphilly county borough between 2:00pm and 6:00pm. Entertainment will include the Royal British Legion Band of Wales, Guitars for Veterans and a local school choir, culminating with a parade of standards led by the Band and Corps of Drums of the Royal Welsh. The Beating of the Retreat will close the event. Refreshments will be available on site, and those attending the afternoon of music…

Unavoidable delays in the build programme means redevelopment of the Council’s Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) at Gurnos is unlikely to be complete until winter 2022, rather than autumn as originally anticipated. The building is being redeveloped into ‘a unique accommodation centre’ providing young residents aged between 16 and 24 years with both housing and on-site training. The demolition phase began in February and has been finished. But while work to the interiors is ongoing throughout the summer, the external façade will take longer following ecological assessments and the need for a bat licence from Natural Resource Wales to ensure that…

Further education provision in a south Powys town looks set to be transformed after the transfer of two prominent town centre buildings. Brecon’s Watton Mount and the former library on Ship Street have been transferred upon purchase to NPTC Group of Colleges by Powys County Council. The transfer of the listed buildings will allow NPTC Group of Colleges to relocate its Brecon Beacons College into the town centre for a ‘university feel’ campus, leading to highly resourced, fit for the 21st Century education, to be delivered in the town. This follows an earlier deal between the council and NPTC Group…

Powys residents can borrow an iPad for free, from their local library, thanks to support from the Welsh Government Circular Economy Fund. Devices are available to members of the Powys library service aged 18+ and must be booked in advance. Anyone who lives, works or is studying in Powys can join the library for free. The ‘internet ready’ iPads are available to borrow for four weeks at a time. Each iPad holds a sim card with a mobile data allowance for anyone without a home Wi-Fi connection. Nina Davies, Head of Housing and Community Development, said: “We are pleased to…