Author: Rhys Gregory

This April, Nantclwyd y Dre historic house and gardens in Ruthin is keeping its tradition as a home for Welsh arts and crafts alive through a series of nature-based creative workshops, just in time Easter. Originally built as a weaver’s cottage, the traditional townhouse has continued to provide a home for creativity, arts, and crafts, most notably thanks to architect, calligrapher, painter, and wood carver Samuel Dyer Gough, who owned the home from 1934 onwards and whose craftsmanship can be found throughout the house. Delivered by skilled local artists, a willow weaving workshop, a pop-up tulip bar, and wood carving…

More new features are being installed on your new-look Mumbles prom that’s largely open for Easter. Contractors have made a start on laying a hard-wearing buff-coloured new top surface over the previously installed black Tarmac. The new surface – to appear from Mumtaz to Verdis in due course – reflects that of the popular Amy Dillwyn Park, next to the Swansea Building Society Arena. Two sets of smart aluminium strips are being laid flush to the new prom surface. They’re a playful nod to the lines of the former Mumbles Railway, which was closed by the former South Wales Transport Company…

Neath Port Talbot Council has appointed a specialist architectural design firm to grow the appeal of Neath General Market. Roberts Limbrick, which has worked with other indoor markets across Wales and the UK, will gather the views of residents, traders, town centre businesses and others to take the market forward while respecting its heritage and sense of place in the heart of Neath. Cllr. Jeremy Hurley, the council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Economic Growth, said: “The market has been at the centre of community life here since it opened on Green Street back in 1837. The council is…

Pembrokeshire County Council is delighted to have reached an agreement with Neyland Town Council for funding support for the town’s library. Neyland Town Council has agreed to a five-year funding agreement to support the continued professional operation of the library, with opening hours unchanged. Neyland Library was opened in June 2021 and has 13 hours a week of staffed opening, but customers can use unstaffed access anytime from 6am to 10pm, seven days a week, all year round. Cllr Rhys Sinnett, the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “We are most grateful to the Town Council for the support, which…

Newport City Council can confirm that painting work on the Newport city footbridge will start on Tuesday 22 April. The painting work follows on from previous maintenance work on the bridge, which included a full clean of the structure, and noise reduction work on the deck of the bridge. “I’m delighted that the repainting of the bridge will start next week,” said Councillor Dimitri Batrouni, leader of the council. “The footbridge is one of the key landmarks of our city, one which we know our residents take pride in. When I became leader last year, I made a promise that…

Plans to merge Hender Junior and Hendre Infant Schools in Caerphilly have been given the final go ahead. Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet last week (16th April) unanimously approved the amalgamation proposals, following a formal consultation period where no objections to the plans were raised.  The merger will come into effect in September 2025. The current school sites will remain in operation but function as a single primary school campus.  The school sites are located on opposite sides of St Cenydd Road, Caerphilly.  There are no proposed changes to the existing shared catchment arrangements. Cllr Carol Andrews, Caerphilly Council’s Cabinet…

B Sidoli & Sons Ltd, Ebbw Vale, have been awarded two Business Development Grants that has assisted with the purchase of a rotary ice cream filling machine. The new machine will create greater efficiencies and maintenance resulting in less idle time for repairs and more time filling packaging with ice cream, enabling Sidoli’s to fulfil all orders on time and attract new customers.  The new machine will increase output per hour whilst also reducing their energy consumption and carbon footprint. The second Business Development Grant was used to help fund the replacement of ageing delivery vehicles. The new vehicles will…

A giant puppet, poetry, community choir and advice on funding were amongst the highlights of Monmouthshire’s second Creative Celebration. On Friday, 11 April, County Hall was once again full of creative thinking as Monmouthshire’s creative professionals and cultural organisations came together. This year’s theme focused on film, theatre, music, script writing, and hearing from those who achieved creative success in 2024. The event featured presentations, a Q&A panel, workshops, a marketplace and performances. Participants heard about work that has been done so far to support the arts in Monmouthshire, and next steps in the development of a Cultural Strategy for the…

Get ready for a literary extravaganza as the Merthyr Tydfil Arts and Literature Festival returns on Thursday, May 1st, from 9am to 3pm, hosted by the Stephens and George Charitable Trust in partnership with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. Now in its eighth year, this free, family-friendly event is set to welcome over 4,000 children for a day full of books, creativity, culture, and community joy. This year, BBC Studios Drama Productions team is joining in on the fun, alongside stars from Pobol y Cwm and Casualty. Don’t miss the BBC Careers Marquee and the ‘GET IN’ Experience, offering hands-on…

A new platform is helping children read Welsh, even if their parents can’t, by teaching them how to pronounce words. Already helping over 52,000 users in Wales and across the world learn to read in Welsh, Darllen Co, has been backed by a Welsh Government fund for new Welsh-language technology. The paid for digital reading platform has been designed by Welsh teachers for schools and families. It features over 180 books and magazines from more than 20 Welsh authors, as well as integrated audiobooks and quizzes. Over 300 Welsh medium schools are already subscribed to the platform to develop learners’…