Author: Rhys Gregory

More families than ever are benefitting from high quality funded childcare as Wales’ Flying Start programme exceeds expansion targets. Phase 2 of the Welsh Government’s expansion programme, to expand Flying Start childcare for all two-year-olds in Wales, began in April 2023. Since then, more than 10,000 children have benefitted from Flying Start childcare, exceeding the original target of reaching 9,500 additional children. Over the last two years, more than 13,400 Welsh children and families have been offered funded childcare, with 80% taking up places in 2024-25. The Flying Start expansion programme provides 12.5 hours of free, high-quality childcare each week…

Rural communities and wildlife in Wales will receive greater protection under a new three-year strategy launched today at the Wales Wildlife & Rural Crime Conference. The new Wales Rural Crime Strategy (2025-2028) continues the successful collaboration between Welsh police forces and the Welsh Government, building on achievements of the landmark first joint strategy which has helped coordinate action against crimes affecting Wales’ countryside. Almost 100 delegates from law enforcement, government and conservation organisations have gathered at Welsh Government buildings for the Wales Wildlife & Rural Crime Conference, chaired by Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison of North Wales Police. Deputy First…

Young people aged 16 to 21 will be able to ride on buses across Wales for just £1 from September Single fares will cost just £1 and there will be £3 day passes available too. It will allow young people to enjoy unlimited travel with any participating bus services from 1 September for a year. The Welsh Government will extend the scheme to five to 15-year-olds from November. Existing reduced fares for children will apply until then. Sixteen to 21-year-olds will need to apply for a free mytravelpass, if they don’t currently have one, and will be able to do…

House prices in Wales accelerated at the fastest rate seen since 2022 and there was a firm uplift in the number of newly agreed sales during June according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) residential market survey. A net balance of 27% of surveyors in Wales report that house prices rose through the second quarter of the year. This is the highest this balance has been since August 2022, and the third highest balance seen across all UK regions after Northern Ireland and the North West of England. Newly agreed home sales also rose firmly, with a…

Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, has acquired Rock Wood, a 4-hectare patch of Ancient Woodland on the edge of Newtown, Powys, thanks to a generous gift from a local developer. This historic site, long-threatened and suffering from years of neglect, will now be safeguarded and restored for nature, local residents, and future generations. The project will unite Rock Wood with the nearby Coed y Graig – a 6.3-hectare native broadleaf woodland planted by Coed Cadw in 1999 as part of its Millennium celebration initiative. Together, these sites will join up to form nearly 10 hectares of species-rich, freely…

BBC One’s celebrated Our Lives returns for its ninth series – showcasing unique and extraordinary stories from Wales, Scotland, Northen Ireland, and England with a collection of powerful, personal tales told by the people living them. From the dark skies of Eryri to the deep waters of St George’s Channel – and the fearless women attempting to conquer it for the first time – this year’s Welsh programmes celebrate the country’s colourful communities and characters. The series features six documentaries from Wales, each produced by a different Welsh production company and told in its own unique style. This year’s series…

More people care about animals in Wales than in any other UK nation, a brand new RSPCA survey has found – as the charity launches its manifesto ahead of 2026’s Senedd election. New findings from the RSPCA’s Animal Kindness Index – the charity’s annual survey into the UK’s attitude towards animals – show that Wales has the highest proportion of animal lovers, with 75 per cent of people here classing themselves as such. Following Wales was Scotland (72 per cent), England (70 per cent), and Northern Ireland (69 per cent). The survey also found that animal welfare is within the…

Trisha Howells, 59, from Cardiff has always loved keeping fit – in fact she credits her fitness and muscle mass with saving her when she almost died of sepsis. It was during a spin class at Better Western Leisure Centre in Cardiff that Trisha first experienced extreme pain in her left leg and stomach. Initially diagnosed with food poisoning by doctors, it soon became clear that something much more serious was going on and two days after those first symptoms, Trisha was rushed to hospital. “My bowel was badly twisted, and I technically died on the operating table,” she said.…

CHANTELLE Lacey May is the new face of an award-winning organic beauty range. The South Walian influencer has signed a partnership with the 12,500-acre Rhug Estate, based near Corwen, Denbighshire. The globally renowned Rhug Wild Beauty collection is the first brand she has formally represented, though Chantelle has modelled for fashion companies previously. Hailing from Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, she is “thrilled” to collaborate with the Estate, which holds a Royal Warrant of Appointment from HRH King Charles III. “I love the products, the fact it’s organic and that the ingredients are all natural and many are hand foraged here on…

Rural communities across Wales are invited to apply for a new £20,000 grant to explore ideas that could help shape a better future for their area. The Community-led Action Research Grant will fund up to six research projects and provide training and support from an academic mentor and opportunities to connect with other communities and researchers. The grant is delivered by the Cymru Wledig Local Policy and Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Rural Wales, which is led by Aberystwyth University. Professor Mike Woods from Aberystwyth University, Director of Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales, said: “This programme is about giving rural communities the…