Author: Rhys Gregory

Four Asian black bears, also known as moon bears, have arrived in Wales for the very first time — ahead of their new chapter at Manor Wildlife Park, Tenby. The species is critically endangered due to a combination of habitat loss, poaching and illegal wildlife trade — with more than 10,000* moon bears estimated to still be held in bile farms in Asia alone. But thanks to conservation efforts, Martha, Irene, Gigi (eleven) and Coco (nine) will now call the Moon Forest at Manor Wildlife Park home — complete with bear-shaped swimming pool; enormous climbing frames and hammocks; and plenty…

The former Monmouthshire Ty’r Morwydd House and Environmental Study Centre could become a complex providing a total of sixteen flats now it has sold at auction. Previously a 70-bed youth hostel and education centre, known as Mulberry House, at Pen-Y-Pound, Abergavenny, it sold at South Wales–based Paul Fosh Auctions for £451,000. Listed by the auctioneers for sale online at £360,000 the one-time field study centre, which provided facilities for schools and educational groups throughout Wales and the UK, closed its doors for the last time after thirty years in March 2012. Once a convent home to nuns of the order…

Mid Wales tourism industry leaders are worried that the Welsh Government is pressing ahead with a proposed tourism tax before fully understanding the potential impacts. The tax moved a step closer on Tuesday night when the proposal was agreed in the Senedd, despite being strongly opposed by the tourism sector which says the Welsh Government does not have the data it needs to properly justify supporting the new legislation. The Visitor Levy Bill passed the third stage in the Senedd, which means it will likely be approved later this month before seeking Royal Assent from the King. The new legislation…

After two years away from the spotlight, global superstar Lewis Capaldi is well and truly, back. Back in the charts with his huge new single Survive, back in the headlines after his surprise and magnificent return to Glastonbury Festival and, this September, back on tour in arenas across the UK. On Friday afternoon, a headliner-sized Pyramid Stage crowd embraced the emotion of Lewis’s emergence into the sunshine for a powerful, hit-laden half-hour. “Second time’s a charm on this one,” said Lewis. “I just wanted to come and finish what I couldn’t finish last time.” That he emphatically did, with his soaring vocals leading the crowd through classics Before…

Redevelopment work is progressing on of the old Marks & Spencer site in Pontypridd town centre. Since construction began earlier this year, the site at 97-102 Taff Street has been steadily taking shape. The area is being turned into a brand-new Riverside Plaza, a welcoming public space with greenery, small food and drink kiosks, and open views of the River Taff, which haven’t been seen from the town in over 100 years. It will also be a flexible space that can host local events and bring more life to the town centre. This project is part of the Pontypridd Placemaking…

​​​​​​​The Wales Airshow had a fantastic weekend with hundreds of thousands of people enjoying the country’s biggest free outdoor event. Two days of flying featuring The Red Arrows, RAF Typhoon and many other displays delighted visitors from across the UK. The Swansea Council-organised event saw huge crowds enjoy a wide range of interactive displays, activities, and live entertainment on the ground, as well as seeing the action in the air. Among the features and new for 2025, was The Royal Navy’s Fleet Squadron Area Diving Group, with their exciting Dive Tank display, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the daring…

Denbighshire County Council has announced which road areas will benefit from a major Welsh Government funded road maintenance programme. This work across 57 locations in the county will be spread over two years will be funded by a Welsh Government Local Government Borrowing Initiative (LGBI) to enable the programme to start. The programme identified schemes for both 2025/26 and 2026/27 based on the total allocation of £4,780,699 for the two-year period from the Welsh Government. Denbighshire County Council will be targeting this funding at improving the surface condition of carriageways on the identified sections of the county’s road network during…

A man from Swansea has been jailed after he was caught exchanging sexual messages with a decoy account on social media which he believed belonged to a 14-year-old girl. 58-year-old Gareth Davies, from the Maritime Quarter, took part in the conversations between November and December 2024. He later attempted to make plans to meet the “girl” in person but was confronted by the operators of the decoy account in December before being arrested. Despite pleading not guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child in January, Davies was found guilty in May. He has been sentenced to…

Proposals were agreed at a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet after it considered additional information on parking patterns gathered by the Authority’s Enforcement Team. That research revealed more people parked on-street than used nearby car parks. It also highlighted examples of people regularly exceeding the on-street parking time limit, and cases of individuals abusing the existing system by moving from one area of on-street parking to another in the same vicinity. This served to reduce the availability of on-street car parking spaces for visitors. Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) proposals will be published shortly, which are subject to a 21-day statutory…

A teenager with autism who discovered a passion for drumming after taking up lessons just a few months ago has had his life transformed by music. Max Thompson, 14, from Ruthin, is one of three sensational young drummers who won a hat-trick of awards from Denbighshire Music Cooperative. He received the organisation’s Special Recognition Award after a remarkable solo performance at the cooperative’s 10th anniversary concert in St Asaph Cathedral. His proud mum, Kelly Thompson, said the whole family were bowled over by his dynamic rendition of the hit Mark Ronson number, Uptown Funk, which brought the house down. During…