Author: Rhys Gregory

Two stunning and unique exhibitions will feature as Wonderwool Wales 2022 returns next month after an absence of two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. Buoyed by support from the Wales Cultural Recovery Fund, the organisers are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the 16th show at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on the weekend of April 23 and 24. Celebrating all that’s great about Welsh wool and natural fibres, Wonderwool Wales 2022 will feature special exhibitions in Hall 3. Visitors will have the chance to see work created by Coleg Sir Gâr’sCarmarthen School of Art textiles students and graduates…

Swansea Building Society’s Carmarthen branch has achieved a new record for mortgage and savings balances, passing the significant milestone of £100 million for both. The branch, which opened in October 2015, has now surpassed the £100 million mark in mortgage balances, with over 600 mortgage accounts at the end of February 2022. It has also passed the same milestone in savings, with over £100 million in its 4,473 members’ savings accounts. These figures are all the more impressive considering the branch has been in operation for only a little over six years.  The Society attributes the success of its mortgages…

Local primary school children recently visited the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Lampeter campus to assist with the planting of trees as part of the ‘200 Trees for 200 Years’ project. The ‘200 Trees for 200 Years’ project is part of the University’s bicentenary celebrations. The initiative also supports the Welsh Government’s aims of planting trees to tackle climate change. Pupils from Ysgol Bro Pedr, Lampeter worked closely with Lampeter Tree Services to plant saplings to the stretch of grassland on the old railway site on the campus. Deputy Headteacher Llinos Jones from Ysgol Bro Pedr said: “The pupils…

Farming is known for its challenging working conditions, including isolation and long hours and survey results from the RABI Big Farming Survey have highlighted that more than one farmer a week takes their own life. Less visible, the survey pointed out, are high rates of mental ill-health and poor quality of life. As farmers have to manage their working conditions, many are also put under immense pressure as uncertainty about the future casts a long shadow over their farm yard. Opening up about the struggle of living with poor mental health are Glamorgan beef and sheep farming couple Richard Walker…

Two new accessible bungalows have been constructed in Wildmill, Bridgend, by Linc Cymru (Linc), the south Wales housing association and care provider. Working in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council and Welsh Government, Linc have been able to offer temporary social housing solutions for people with disabilities, who have experienced homelessness in the county borough. Funding for the construction of two-bedroom bungalows was awarded to Linc by the Welsh Government as part of their Phase 2 Homelessness Programme, which launched in May 2020 with the aim of providing permanent accommodation to those who were given emergency shelter during the first wave of the…

The Pembrokeshire Learning Centre in Neyland is pleased to introduce its latest ‘pawsome’ member of the team. Silver Labrador retriever ‘Blue’ has joined the centre to support the development of student reading and empathy skills along with improving general wellbeing. Sian Williams, Head Teacher, said he had quickly become very popular. “We are delighted to have Blue as part of our school community,” she said. “Pupils and staff have been including Blue in many activities and ensuring all his needs are met.” School dogs have proven to develop early reading skills, improve behaviour, attendance and academic confidence, as well as…

RCT Council has now reached the next stage of the scheme to replace Brook Street footbridge at Ystrad Rhondda Railway Station – with site compound setup now taking place ahead of the main phase of works. The bridge has reached the end of its design life, and requires replacement to maintain the well-used pedestrian access from Ystrad to Nant-y-Gwyddon Road, which the structure supports. The bridge also provides the only ramped access to the northbound platform of the railway station. The replacement scheme is being jointly funded by the Council and Welsh Government. Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd is the Council’s appointed…

RCT Council has completed significant work to realign a section of the Taff Trail between Trallwn and Cilfynydd following storm damage – with the improved route now reopened for community use. Work started in early February to realign the route which was submerged during the unprecedented weather of Storm Dennis – resulting in complete erosion of its surface in some locations. The scheme, funded by the Welsh Government, has delivered an improved 3-metre wide path that conforms to current Active Travel guidance, and it reopened to the public on March 18. This area of the Taff Trail is prone to…

Several urban and country parks throughout Caerphilly County Borough are set to see improvements as part of the Council’s Cleaner Greener Initiative. Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cleaner Greener Initiative is a £1 million initiative aimed at maintaining streetscape, public open spaces and countryside. Improvements will include Tree Planting Initiatives in parks throughout the Borough, and investments into four new weed removal machines to help improve the visual aspect of town centres and parks. Morgan Jones Bowls Club in Caerphilly has seen major investments with new roof tiles, fascia boards, soffit boards, rainwater goods and updated UPVC windows installed. Additional improvements…

A major tidal project off Anglesey will benefit from £31m of funding in what is likely to be the last large grant from the EU’s regional funding programme. Climate Change Minister Julie James confirmed the funding would be given to Menter Môn for the Morlais infrastructure project. The Morlais Infrastructure development aims to further the development of tidal power generation technologies by providing grid connectivity. Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “We want to establish Wales as the location of choice for tidal stream developers and the supply chain. “The Welsh Government’s recent Deep Dive highlighted the need to take into…