Author: Rhys Gregory

An award-winning serial charity fundraiser, who once walked southern Britain’s highest mountain, Pen y Fan, 365 times in a year, is looking to peak again by ascending five mountains, in five countries, across three days – all to raise money and awareness for Help for Heroes and Cancer Research UK. Des Lally, from Brecon, in mid-Wales, is aiming to climb the highest mountains in Wales, Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Ireland in just 72 hours, in a test of endurance requiring an overall ascent of more than five kilometres, a road trip in excess of 1,000 miles, and two sea…

EXTREME pressures on the Welsh Ambulance Service yesterday meant it had to declare a ‘business continuity incident’. The Trust has been receiving in the region of 2,000 calls per day via 999 for the last three days. Incidents this week were nine per cent higher than predicted, up 11 per cent from last Monday (12 July, 2021) and up 29 per cent from the same Monday last year (20 July, 2020). Immediately life-threatening ‘RED’ calls were also up by almost 30 per cent compared to last Monday. Call volume, coupled with lengthy delays at hospitals across Wales, meant that demand…

Plans have been approved for a new open-air courtyard in the heart of Cardiff’s historic Castle Quarter. Work will start this summer to demolish a former nightclub which sits in the space behind High Street and Duke Street Arcades. In its place, eight new spaces designed for independent hospitality businesses will be created around a central open courtyard. Adding to the feel of a ‘hidden’ courtyard, a new entrance will be created through an existing passageway off High Street Arcade. A new balcony will run around the courtyard at first floor level, opening up previously unused spaces above shops and…

An agricultural expert is warning about the potentially fatal impact of heat stress on livestock, after the Met Office issued its first ever extreme heat warning. The amber warning covers large parts of Wales, all of south-west England and parts of southern and central England and will be in place until Thursday, when temperatures are expected to peak. The Met Office launched its new extreme heat warning in June 2021 to highlight potential widespread disruption and adverse health effects. The warning came after all four UK nations recorded the hottest day of the year over the weekend. Rob Matthews, of…

Farming has a key role to play in looking after the environment and combating climate change but the production of food must not be excluded from the conversation, says Pembrokeshire beef, sheep and arable farmer Jayne Richards. Jayne, who farms with her parents Michael and Margaret and husband Ali at Jordanston Farm, St Mary’s Park, Jordanston, just outside of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, has no doubt that if it weren’t for small family farms up and down the country the environment would suffer. The aesthetic look of the Welsh countryside would change dramatically, with rural communities being lost. However, the family…

The people of Mayhill and Waun Wen will be able to discuss a wide range of community matters with key figures this Thursday (July 22). They can visit Mayhill Community Centre any time from 10am-2pm on Thursday to talk with people from organisations such as Swansea Council and South Wales Police. It’s part of the ongoing response by authorities to the area’s one-off public disturbance two months ago. Agencies already work in the community every day. The police responded to the May 20 disturbance on the night; the council helped the community immediately afterwards by leading the clean-up, making properties secure…

A green oasis giving staff, patients and visitors a chance to escape to the country has been unveiled in the grounds of Morriston Hospital. What was previously an unremarkable grass verge has been transformed into an amazing space with a grass-roofed roundhouse at its heart. It opens on to a wildflower-lined, open-air corridor with seating where people can enjoy some precious moments of tranquillity. Similar greening initiatives are taking place across Swansea Bay hospitals and dozens of other health board sites at a cost of £1.28 million – the majority of it funded by the Welsh Government. It’s all…

Two more companies have signed to take office space at the multi-let Bocam Park business park in Pencoed, Bridgend. Building services engineering and contracting company Dodd Group has moved within Pencoed to take larger 2,050 sq ft offices on the ground floor of Building 15, on a 10 year lease. In addition, high-end windows and balconies installer Dantaag has leased 2,050 sq ft on the first floor of the same building, on a five year lease. Landlord Second Horizon Limited was represented in each of the transactions by property consultancy Knight Frank. Mark Sutton, partner at Knight Frank in Cardiff,…

New major investment in sports and youth facilities, roads, the environment and businesses will help boost a Swansea community. Mayhill has already seen millions of pounds invested in the last few years by Swansea Council and Leader Rob Stewart said more is coming. The community has recently seen action to resurface roads, spruce up street furniture and cut back overgrowth with more to come in the next couple of weeks. On top of that the council is discussing with residents ideas to make significant road and environmental improvements in the Waun Wen area to create a new green community space…

Following the Extreme Heat Warning issued for large areas of Wales this week, Public Health Wales has issued some advice for staying safe in the heat. The Met Office issued its first ever extreme heat warning yesterday with high temperatures – around 30 degrees centigrade – due to last until Friday 23 July. The area of concern includes South Wales. Prolonged periods of extremely hot weather can pose a serious health risk with those most at risk including older people, very young children and people with pre-existing medical conditions. Public Health Wales has issued the following advice: Look out for…