Author: Rhys Gregory

The annual charity golf day in aid of Popham Kidney Support raised a record £14,000 at Clyne Golf Club on Friday 10 July, with 50 teams taking part, making it the most successful event in its history. Organised by Kim Loosmore, Popham Kidney Support trustee, the event brought together businesses, organisations and supporters from across the UK to raise funds for the Wales-based charity, which provides practical and emotional support to children, young people, adults and their families affected by kidney disease. This year’s event marked a significant milestone, with both the £14,000 raised and the 50 teams taking part…

Wales is once again leading the way when it comes to outdoor green spaces with another record-breaking year of Green Flag Awards. Keep Wales Tidy today announced that Wales had beaten its own record of Green Flags with 330 sites across Wales receiving the accolade, up from 315 in 2025 and 291 in 2024 And, for the third year running, Wales holds the record for more Green Flag Community Awards than any other country delivering the Green Flag scheme in the world. The awards, which were founded 30 years ago in 1996 and are now recognised in more than 20 countries, reward the very best parks and green spaces, so visitors know wherever there is a Green Flag, they’re visiting an exceptional place with the highest standards.  The 330 sites across…

Global music icon Jools Holland and internationally acclaimed opera stars Sir Bryn Terfel, Natalya Romaniw and Noah Stewart will headline two spectacular concerts as part of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s landmark 80th anniversary celebrations in 2027. The first event to be unveiled for the milestone year is Llangollen 80: Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, taking place at the iconic Llangollen Pavilion on Thursday July 8. Joining Jools on the night will be acclaimed vocalists Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Sumudu Jayatilaka. The anniversary programme will also feature the Llangollen 80: Anniversary Gala Concert on Saturday July…

A pioneering project aimed at supporting Welsh primary pupils’ health and wellbeing has been such a success it has now been extended to include nursery-aged children. Little HAPPEN builds on the success of HAPPEN Wales and will be working with schools across Wales to better understand child wellbeing and development in the early years. HAPPEN – Health and Attainment of Pupils in Primary Education – led by Swansea University, provides primary schools with insights to support pupils’ physical, emotional and social development. So far, it has interacted with more than 40,000 children from over half the schools in Wales. At…

A former world sheep shearing champion from North Wales will be back in action later this month as thousands flock to one of Britain’s biggest competitions. The two-day Cneifio Corwen Shears returns to Rhug Estate near Corwen on July 24 and 25, with headline sponsors Ifor Williams Trailers backing the prestigious event. Shearers from across Britain and beyond will battle for top honours at the event that’s grown into one of the UK’s leading showcases since it was established in 1989. Among them will be former world champion and two time Cneifio Corwen Shears champion Gwion Lloyd Evans, from Bylchau,…

A farmer’s son from North Wales has been crowned the best young singer in the world. Dafydd Jones, 27, was watched by his proud grandmother, Brenda Jones, who first taught him to sing, as he was named Pendine International Voice of the Future at Llangollen International Eisteddfod. The rising star from Llanrhaeadr near Denbigh was presented with the £3,000 first prize and a gleaming silver salver by Mario Kreft MBE, owner of the Pendine Park care organisation which sponsored the competition via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT). For Brenda watching her beloved grandson take the same Llangollen Pavilion…

A new strategic partnership between Welsh engineering alliance Celtico and renewable energy developer CIERCO aims to strengthen the Welsh supply chain and maximise the economic benefits created by pioneering offshore wind technologies in the Celtic Sea. The partnership brings together CIERCO, the developer behind the pioneering Llŷr Wind Farms, with Celtico, the alliance of Welsh engineering and manufacturing companies established to provide a single point of engagement for major renewable energy and infrastructure projects. Together, the organisations will work to strengthen collaboration between developers, industry, ports, government and the wider supply chain, helping to ensure Welsh businesses are well positioned…

Thousands of illegal and potentially unsafe products have been seized following a multi-agency operation across the Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff and Bridgend led by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS). SRS operates trading standards, food hygiene, animal welfare, pollution, licencing and other functions across those three Local Authority areas. Working alongside South Wales Police, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Immigration Enforcement, officers visited 29 business premises as part of Operation Aladdin. That was a coordinated initiative aimed at disrupting the supply of illicit tobacco and other unlawful goods while protecting consumers and supporting legitimate businesses. The operation led to 14…

Pembrokeshire County Council is introducing increased checks on black bags at its Waste and Recycling Centres as part of efforts to improve recycling rates and keep staff safe. Visitors may notice staff carrying out quick inspections of black bags after the council found that more than 48 per cent of the waste being thrown away could instead be recycled or reused. The council says the checks will also help identify hazardous items, including batteries, vapes and gas canisters, which pose a significant fire risk when placed in general waste. Officials say the inspections are designed to improve safety, reduce disposal…

Newport City Council has begun a summer programme of surface treatment works on 15 roads as part of its Fixing Our Roads initiative. The work forms part of the council’s programme, which has allocated around £20 million towards tackling potholes across the city’s road network. Rather than full resurfacing, the selected roads will receive surface treatments designed to prolong their lifespan. The council says the roads chosen are currently in better condition than those requiring complete resurfacing, and the preventative work will help keep them in good condition for longer. The programme has been scheduled for the summer months as…