Author: Rhys Gregory

A Gŵyl Dewi 72 hour virtual festival is lined up to celebrate this year’s St. David’s Day – with everything from Hollywood star Luke Evans to a cook along with celebrity chef Bryn Williams, and Cerys Matthews reading the story of Dewi Sant. “Gwnewch y pethau bychain / Do the little things” Saint David said in his final sermon. While traditional St. David’s Day celebrations and gatherings are not possible this year, there has never been a better time to communicate this message from Wales’ patron saint – showcasing how Wales is doing good things to audiences across the world.…

People in South West Wales with great ideas to improve their local communities are invited to apply for grants from a new fund designed to help them make those ideas a reality. The new Community Changemakers Fund will directly support local people and organisations who want to drive positive local change in communities along the South West Wales rail network. The initiative has been launched by South West Wales Connected (SWWCo), a Community Rail Partnership set up to support the communities along the railway line throughout Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea. SWWCo is hosted by 4theRegion, a community…

Appointment letters for second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are now landing on doormats across Cwm Taf Morgannwg. When the Health Board’s six community vaccination centres (CVCs) open on March 1, they will begin by administering dose two for health and social care workers and people aged 70 to 74. The majority of people will find their second appointments are earlier than any previous date given and should stick to their new date, time and venue. It could be you will go to a new CVC this time because one has opened nearer to your home, or you had your…

Scientists from Bangor University are working on a three-year £3million European scheme to save millions of tons of waste from food production being dumped in landfill or in the fields. They aim to turn the unused leftovers from fruit, vegetable and grain crops from agriculture into products ranging from chemicals for the food industry, building materials and beauty products. The University’s Bio-composites Centre is collaborating with public and private sector partners, including food giants Mars and Tate and Lyle, from six different EU countries on the Pro-Enrich project. Their share of the funding is £400,000 from the Bio-based Industries Joint…

With COVID restrictions still in place, for many of us, it can be a challenge finding new ways to keep boredom at bay. When you’re all Zoom-ed out, have binge-watched every box-set, seen all your local landmarks and had enough of online workouts, the next logical step is to start crafting… With the mental health benefits of creative hobbies well known, the official NHS charity for west Wales has come up with a family-friendly activity everyone can take part in, while helping to improve the experience of staff and patients above and beyond what the NHS provides. This week, Hywel…

WILD goats whose cheeky antics on Llandudno’s deserted streets during lockdown attracted global attention are being immortalised in a stunning new work of art. The boundary wall around the town’s Tre Cwm estate is to be given a colourful makeover, after planning permission was granted for an eye-catching new mural to be placed on it. The artwork captures many of the things most associated with Llandudno, including the Kashmiri goats who became known around the world after heading into the town centre en masse last year and munching on whatever took their fancy. The mural will be seen by thousands…

A Natural Resources Wales (NRW) grant has helped to keep green spaces and woodlands accessible to the public during Covid-19. Last year, Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust in Wales) received the £267,762 grant from the NRW’s Strategic Allocation Fund. The primary purpose was to support them in adapting to the new Covid-19 environment, and to continue to make Welsh woodlands safe and accessible for visitors. Coed Cadw used the grant to undertake the thinning of ash trees badly affected by Ash Dieback at Coed Cadnant – an urban woodland providing a valuable recreational resource for the communities of Peblig and…

Care homes in North Wales should be allowed to refuse to hire staff who have not had a Covid jab unless they have a legitimate medical reason, say social care leaders. Care Forum Wales, which represents nearly 500 independent providers, says it’s vitally important to protect vulnerable residents who are particularly at risk because they are mostly elderly and frail with serious underlying health conditions. The latest figures show that since March 1 last year there have been 1,709 care home resident deaths in Wales with suspected or confirmed Covid-19. According to chair Mario Kreft MBE, care homes were duty…

Staff and children from Enfys Hapus Nursery in Cardiff did 100 steps in memory of Captain Sir Tom Moore and raised £635 for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity. The nursery, based in Canton, wanted to do something to honour the inspirational Captain but also wanted to support a charity close to their hearts. Initially, they set their fundraising target as £50 but ended up raising £635. The children, aged between 1 and 7, enjoyed going out in all weathers to do their steps, alongside nursery puppy Rosie. Paige Webbley, nursery manager said “We wanted to do something to honour…

South Wales Police is investigating a fatal road traffic collision which occurred in Gorseinon, Swansea, yesterday morning (Tuesday, February 23). Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle collision near the CEM Day car dealership on Swansea Road at approximately 11.15am. The driver of a silver Honda Jazz vehicle, an 84-year-old local man, was taken to Morriston Hospital with serious injuries. Despite the best efforts of medical staff and those at the scene he has since died. His next of kin has been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. The 39-year-old driver of the second vehicle, a black…