Author: Rhys Gregory

Green Man, Wales’ largest music, arts and science festival, is once again on the lookout for the headliners of tomorrow as applications for the Green Man Rising 2025 competition open, following a record-breaking number of entries in 2024. Now in its 16th year, the Green Man Rising is free to enter and open to all UK bands eager for the opportunity to open the sold-out festival with a performance on its iconic Mountain Stage. The winning act will also receive a professional recording at the festival – which has an international reputation for launching music careers – offering an invaluable…

Goats can process information and solve memory tests better than sheep and alpacas, according to research by Aberystwyth University scientists. In the first study of its kind, experts at the Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre tested the ability of three animals – sheep, alpacas and goats – to process information. The academics assessed the animals’ ability to understand that objects still exist when no longer visible – a useful skill for tracking herd members or predators in a natural environment. As part of a series of tests, the animals were tasked with finding objects hidden under cups – with food rewards…

A new café bar at a landmark site outside Caerphilly Castle will open its doors to the public this weekend. Rosita’s, inspired by the Italian cafés that brought a rich coffee culture to Wales, is the latest business offering from brothers Jonathan, Richard, and Martin Rees who also own Ten Degrees, Team Rees Gym, Three Brothers Coffee, and Jake’s Ice Cream & Co. Following a soft launch on March 6 with invited guests only, Rosita’s will open to the public on Saturday, March 8. The restaurant will offer a relaxed all-day dining experience from breakfast to dinner as well as…

Tourism businesses from across Wales will be given their chance to shine at a prestigious awards ceremony. The Welsh Government is staging The National Tourism Awards for Wales to showcase the best of the best in the industry that employs nearly 12 per cent of the Welsh workforce and pumps £3.8 billion into the nation’s economy every year. The ceremony, sponsored by foodservice company Castell Howell, will take place at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Thursday, March 27. A total of 48 finalists have been shortlisted in 12 categories ranging from Best Hotel to Best Event and including awards for…

Cardiff Metropolitan University has been shortlisted alongside sporting giants such as Team GB, Adidas, the FA and the Premier League in the prestigious Fevo Sports Industry Awards 2025. Cardiff Met has made a select shortlist of six in the Educational Institute of the Year category, recognising its commitment to developing elite athletes, working with disadvantaged communities to tackle inactivity and producing graduates with the skills and mindset to #changethegame. Students, alumni and staff from Cardiff Met compete on and behind the scenes on the biggest stages across the world, from the Paris Olympics and Paralympics 2024 to the Guinness Men’s…

Aldi has launched a fund to support new parents in Wales as close to two thirds admit that the financial impact of having a child was bigger than they’d expected. The ‘Mamia New Parent Fund’ will see the supermarket give away £100 Aldi vouchers to parents every week for a whole year to support with the cost of everyday items after welcoming a new baby. It comes as research among new parents found that while welcoming a child is a joyful time, half (50%) also describe it as overwhelming, with nearly the same number (45%) admitting that their stress levels…

Three Swansea cannabis growers who were arrested as part of a police offensive to tackle organised criminal networks have pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and will be sentenced later this month. Dorjan Dautaj and Ergys Dautaj, both 24, were inside a house on Swansea Road, Trebanos, when tactical search teams forced entry on February 13. They smashed their way up through the roof of the house and risked their lives to get away from officers by jumping onto a neighbouring roof. But there was no escape and they surrendered themselves to the officers who were waiting below. Cannabis plants in…

A striking new baton designed to symbolise inclusivity and innovation has been unveiled as part of Relay Your Way – Cerebra’s national relay set to unite communities across the UK. At Cardiff’s Pedal Power on Saturday, March 8, families gathered to witness the big reveal and mark the opening of registrations for what is being hailed as Britain’s most inclusive relay.   Cerebra, the national UK charity dedicated to supporting children who have a neurological condition, created Relay Your Way to promote inclusivity in sports and ensure that no child is left on the sidelines. Over 33 days, from Glasgow to…

Following the budget meeting on 26 February, the council has made the reluctant decision to stop the supply of blue refuse bags to all households as part of its measures to make essential budget reductions, saving £220K annually. From April 2025, householders will need to provide their own black refuse bags, ensuring that the bags are no larger than 60 litres. Residents can continue to use the remainder of their blue refuse bags for refuse collections until these have run out. Most residents will have already received their final delivery of blue refuse bags, with remaining households due to receive…

Denbighshire County Council is calling for expressions of interest for a suitably qualified cinema operator to run a venture on Rhyl Promenade. Following the recent decision by Vue to exit their lease for the cinema in Rhyl, the Council (as the landlord of the building) is now looking for a new suitable operator as a long-term tenant partner to secure the success of the facility for the people of Rhyl and visitors alike. Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said, “The cinema building has the potential to play a…