Author: Rhys Gregory

A Swansea season by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales is set to close with the help of a globally renowned musician. The season is being facilitated by the council and has included six BBC NOW concerts at the Brangwyn Hall, with the season closing concert there on June 7. BBC NOW’s Sassy Hicks said: “Our Swansea season is nearly over and we plan to close out the season in spectacular style with Alisa and our principal conductor Ryan Bancroft. “Still to come is a fun-filled CBeebies show on June 1 at Swansea Arena.” Council cabinet member Elliott King said: “It’s…

Neath Port Talbot Council has adopted a Heritage Strategy to ensure the conservation, protection and sustainability of our rich historic and natural environment for future generations. The strategy entitled Restore, Regenerate, Repurpose covers the period 2024-2039. The Council secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2020 to deliver the Heritage NPT Project which included the development of a Heritage Strategy and support for community groups playing a crucial role championing and conserving our heritage and historic environment. Neath Port Talbot’s heritage assets play an important part in increasing the appeal of the area as a place to live,…

A series of animal health offences, including causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, has cost a north Powys man £13,000 after they were prosecuted by the county council. Robert Evans of Tafolwern Farm, Llanbrynmair was prosecuted by Powys County Council’s Animal Health Team for failing to maintain animal medicine records, failing to dispose of fallen livestock correctly; causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to provide an animal with adequate care. The defendant, who had previously pleaded guilty to the animal medicine and fallen stock offences at an earlier hearing, appeared before a District Judge at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates…

A fast-growing North Wales storage giant has taken over two sites in the border counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire. Denbigh-based Lock Stock Self Storage has just signed the contract to acquire Craven Arms Self Storage and Ludlow Self Storage at Brimfield in Herefordshire, between Ludlow and Leominster. The deals will take Lock Stock, the UK’s largest containerised storage company, up to 30 sites with over 4,600 units providing almost six million cubic feet of space – an increase of over 300,000 cubic feet or five per cent on last year.” Operations Manager Mike Trow said: “We have had a presence…

There’s been something magical happening behind closed doors in the Mid Wales market town of Rhayader! For more than two years, a team of dedicated and highly skilled people has been burning the midnight oil, ready for the official opening of a brand-new visitor attraction on May 23 – TimeScape Rhayader / Amserwedd Rhaeadr Gwy. Following the private launch on May 23, ‘Timescape Rhayader’ opens to the public on May 30. This new heritage and arts attraction has been created by CARAD (Community Arts Rhayader and District). It’s the first all-weather attraction in the town, offering tourists a dry base…

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has awarded its prestigious Start-Up Award to a leading Welsh business during its annual celebration of the UK’s best entrepreneurial talent. The FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024, held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, saw awards host and TV personality Tess Daly crown HJH Commercial Consultants from Deeside the UK’s best start-up business. HJH Commercial Consultants has grown from a single employee to a thriving enterprise of 20 dedicated Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers serving the renewable energy, utilities and civil engineering sectors. Its success is not just about growth; it’s about innovation, commitment, social…

When it comes to training for an event, it can be hard to get yourself out the door when conditions aren’t right. When it’s cold and wet it can be a challenge, but knowing what to do when the weather heats up can be just as difficult. Running in the heat can be incredibly challenging so it’s important you’re careful when putting your body under the extra stress as it works even harder to cool you down, especially if you’re running for time. Run 4 Wales Race Director, and double Olympian, Steve Brace, shares his tips when running in the…

Learners and tutors from a South Wales college have taken part in a charity walk to raise awareness of a local baby bank and drive vital donations needed to support struggling new parents in the community. Over 40 learners at Coleg y Cymoedd, who are all studying Independent Learning Skills (ILS) courses at college, stepped out of their comfort zones to show their support for Taffs Well-based charity, Cwtch Baby Bank. Joined by a number of staff, they took part in a three-mile round trip from Coleg y Cymoedd’s Nantgarw campus to the charity’s Taffs Well distribution base, donning baby…

RHUG ESTATE has received one of the first Royal Warrants of Appointment from His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen. The organic farm estate, based near Corwen in Denbighshire, is one of just seven businesses in Wales to have been selected for the accolade. The 12,500-acre site had previously been honoured with a Royal Warrant of Appointment from the Prince of Wales – now King Charles III – for its sustainable ethos and overseeing the entire journey of its animals, supplying restaurants globally in addition to its own popular farm shop and takeaway. Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug…

Ten organisations are set to benefit from a £675,000 grant funding programme that was created to support arts and creative industries, the county council has said. Earlier this year, Powys County Council’s Arts Service was successful in securing £675,000 from the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) with the programme focused on supporting resilience, sustainability and transformation within the arts and creative industries in the county. The funding will bring the organisations together in a collaborative peer learning network for the remainder of 2024 so that they can support each other in delivering their projects. Cllr David Selby, Cabinet Member for a…