Author: Rhys Gregory

A 17-year-old from Llanelli with ambitions to follow in the footsteps of his idol David Attenborough has opened Wales’ first entomology shop, turning his childhood bug hobby into a business.  Cameron Reardon, who is in his final year at Coleg Sir Gâr, founded ethical insect store Bug Box UK at just 16 years old, after spotting a gap in the market in Wales. As well as selling exotic insects, Bug Box UK offers handling sessions, ‘fear classes’ aimed at helping people overcome phobias, as well as running educational programmes where Cameron teaches young people about exotic insects. Bug Box UK…

The rail industry is launching a new interactive map which will make it easy for passengers to find out about accessibility at stations, helping to boost their confidence to travel by train. This is part of the industry’s wider programme of work to improve access to rail and deliver long-term change. The new ‘Access Map’ has information about all stations across Britain and allows people to, at a glance, identify whether any station in the country is accessible so they can plan according to their needs and have smoother and more reliable journeys. Passengers can search for specific stations or…

Three new members have been appointed to the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Wales Policy Unit, reinforcing the FSB’s contribution to policy making in Wales on behalf of its 10,000 members. [aoa id=”1″]The new recruits include Anna Burke, Marketing Director and Director at Animated Technologies, Ashley Rogers, Managing Director at Gill & Shaw Ltd and Jenny Evans, Founder of Jenny Kate Ltd. They will be joining a team of 13 members from across the country, representing various backgrounds, industries and skills of the small business community.[/aoa] The policy unit, chaired by Ben Francis, Director at Hygrove, Homes, are appointed to…

Cardiff Bus customers are being advised of timetable changes over the Easter bank holiday period. [aoa id=”1″] The bus operator is advising customers that on Good Friday and Saturday 20th April, Cardiff Bus will be running Saturday timetables across all its services. While on both Easter Sunday 21st April and Bank Holiday Monday 22nd April, the operator will be running Sunday timetables across all its routes. Customers planning to travel over the bank holiday are urged to check details of their routes in advance in order to avoid disruption to their journeys. [/aoa] Cardiff Bus commercial manager Gareth Stevens said:…

Students of the Countryside Management Course at Aberystwyth University have been constructing two new bridges to replace the old structures at a popular riverside walk in Aberystwyth, near Morrisons. [aoa id=”1″] Timber for the bridges, some of which was grown and milled on the University Farm, was made into kit form at the college workshop before being assembled on site to span two culverts alongside the river Rheidol. Students gained experience in the whole bridge building process, from site assessment to the finished project, through the Practical Estates Skills Project. Also included in the project was, the construction of a…

AN Easter ‘eggs’travaganza event at a Wrexham shopping centre will kick start a major boost for a children’s hospice charity. Shoppers at Eagles Meadow have been treating the shallow pool at the top of the centre’s Spanish Steps like a wishing well and throwing in their loose change The latest batch of money is being donated to the charity which has two hospices, Hope House near Oswestry and Ty Gobaith in the Conwy Valley. It marks the beginning of a major fund-raising effort after Eagles Meadow announced the hospice has been selected as their chosen charity for 2019. The campaign…

A James Bond-style amphibious craft that uses four wheel drive to enter and leave the sea will be making its European debut in North Wales. [aoa id=”1″] The £220,000 AMP rib will be among the stars of the All Wales Boat and Leisure Snow at the Anglesey Showground from Thursday, May 30, to Saturday, June 1. It is being brought there by Pwllheli and Southampton-based Ideal Boat who have designed bespoke versions of the high-powered vessel with Ocean Craftmarine who specialise in making rigid inflatables for the military and law enforcement agencies world-wide. [/aoa] Ideal Boat will also be showcasing…

South Wales Police is appealing for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision which took place on the A48 at Laleston Roundabout, Laleston, Bridgend,on Wednesday (April 17) shortly after 11.35am. The collision involved a grey Kia motor vehicle and a Yamaha MT-07 motorcycle. The rider of the motorcycle was taken to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, for treatment. His injuries are described as life-changing. Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who may have dash cam footage of either vehicle prior to the collision. Anyone with information is asked to call us on 101 and…

People in Powys are being invited to attend a free training programme which could help them turn their business ideas into reality. The Pathways to Enterprise programme is also designed to help anyone who wants to help get a community project off the ground. [aoa id=”1″] The free programme, which runs in May and June, is being delivered by small business experts Robert Owen Community Finance, based in Newtown, with partners PAVO (Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations) and PURPLE shoots. “We’re really trying to help people with an idea for a business or a community project but really haven’t got the knowledge…

Thanks to the New Theatre, Cardiff  for inviting us along to see the show in exchange for this review. It’s been 50 years since Hair swept audiences away with a musical that portrayed young adults’ attitude towards the Vietnam War in such a lively manner. Now, half a century later Hair has become a musical favourite, adapted numerous times and even turned into a film. Yet, despite its age, Jonathan O’Boyle’s revival highlights how the topics and sentiments from the hippy-era have not outgrown today’s society. As the curtains open, you enter this bright, colourful era, as characters start to introduce themselves through…