Author: Rhys Gregory

Benthyg Caldicot, also known as the ‘Library of Things’, has been officially launched in Caldicot. Thanks to support from Monmouthshire County Council, Benthyg Cymru and TogetherWorks, Caldicot has become one of the latest Benthyg sites in Monmouthshire. Benthyg Caldicot, is a one-stop-shop for people to borrow items they need but don’t own, saving money and space in their homes. This includes equipment for entertainment, household items or garden tools. It also allows residents to donate items they no longer need, helping to reduce waste Benthyg Caldicot is based at TogetherWorks, Woodstock Way, Caldicot, NP26 5DB, and will be open every…

An expert group will meet for the first time to look at how Artificial Intelligence can be used to improve public services for everyone living in Wales. Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans is hosting the first meeting of the AI Strategic Advisory Group. Members are drawn from business and innovation fields, academia and social partnership backgrounds. Rebecca Evans said: “Artificial Intelligence is bringing changes to all our lives.  It has the potential to significantly improve our public services, but in doing so we must ensure that it is deployed ethically. “The First Minister recently announced £2.5m…

Aldi is set to open a brand-new store on Airfields, Welsh Road, Deeside, on Thursday 14th August at 8am. The new store will be run by Store Manager Spencer Kearney, along with a team of 27 colleagues from the local community. As part of Aldi’s investment in local communities across the UK, the new store will offer more customers access to Aldi’s high quality, low-price products. In fact, consumer group Which? confirmed Aldi as the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket for 2024* – the fourth year in a row that it has been awarded this title. The new store will offer fresh,…

Techniquest has unveiled The Bradbury Zone, a brand-new creative space made possible thanks to generous support from major funders, including the Bradbury Foundation, Moondance Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Foyle Foundation and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Located on the second floor of the award-winning Cardiff discovery centre, The Bradbury Zone is designed to spark imagination, support creative collaboration and inspire curiosity among visitors of all ages. Sue Wardle, CEO of Techniquest said: “We’re enormously grateful to the funders that saw the potential in this project and chose to support it so generously. As a charity, none of this would…

A family which has supported City Hospice’s Forever Flowers campaign since the beginning will remember a much loved husband and dad with a limited edition daffodil this summer. Forever Flowers is an annual campaign, now in its fifth year, which invites supporters to remember cherished family members, friends, colleagues and other loved ones with a unique and lasting tribute. The charity’s Forever Flower this year is the daffodil, Wales’ national flower, which for many symbolises hope, resilience and new beginnings. The daffodils will feature in a striking display within the grounds of Cardiff Castle from Saturday 2 to Sunday 10…

Two rescue dogs have proven that a second chance can lead to extraordinary things. Max and Chase, both adopted from Cardiff Dogs Home, have officially become part of our dog section after successfully completing their training and being licensed on Wednesday, July 16. Max, a black cocker spaniel, was brought in as a stray. Known then as Humbug, he showed early signs of intelligence, focus, and energy — traits that caught the attention of the rescue centre. Chase, a collie/spaniel cross, had a different start. Originally named Neptune, he came from an unwanted litter and was taken in at just…

Caerphilly Youth Service recently welcomed Hefin David MS to Virginia Park Youth Centre, where he was given a first-hand look at the wide-ranging support and opportunities available to young people in the area. The centre plays a pivotal role in the local community, acting as a vital hub for young people aged 11 to 25. It serves as a central meeting point, a source of information and support, and a space for social interaction. The centre provides opportunities for developing essential life skills through a range of creative activities, including participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Highlighted at Hefin’s…

An outdoor space, launched Wednesday 16th July at Ebbw Fawr Learning Community; has been transformed into a vibrant mini golf course—thanks to the creativity of students who were previously disengaged with school, the support of local organisations, and a successful community funding bid led by a year 10 student. The project had a deeper purpose: to re-engage learners who had disengaged from school. It began when Brooklyn Jaricha, a year 10 pupil at Ebbw Fawr, took the initiative to apply for a community project grant from GAVO Wales. With support from classmates, Brooklyn filmed the proposed site and submitted a…

Wales launches its first Timber Industrial Strategy today, to capitalise on growing global demand for timber, which is expected to quadruple by 2050. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies will be launching ‘Making Wood Work for Wales’ at the Royal Welsh Show [Tuesday 22 July 2025]. The new strategy represents years of collaboration with Wales’s timber sector and follows extensive public consultation. It aims to increase both the scale and value of timber grown and timber products produced across Wales. Greater use of timber in construction will secure the forest industry’s future, supporting new investment, jobs and improved carbon outcomes. Recruiting…

Potato blight, one of the world’s most devastating crop diseases, could soon be detected using mobile phones, thanks to a new app being developed by Welsh scientists. Spearheaded by a research team at Aberystwyth University, the DeepDetect project aims to develop a mobile phone app that uses artificial intelligence to provide early warnings of diseases in potatoes. Potato crops are highly susceptible to diseases caused by pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes. Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, can wipe out entire fields, and lead to enormous costs and food shortages.  It is responsible for 20% of potato crop…