Community

Catering students go coastal foraging with Craig Evans

Published

9 months ago

September 24, 2025

By Kacie Morgan, Culinary Travel Writer and Author of The Rare Welsh Bit

Eight Catering and Hospitality students from Coleg Ceredigion swapped the classroom for the Pembrokeshire coast this week, joining renowned forager Craig Evans – and his golden retriever, Llew – for a hands-on lesson in wild food.

The students were guided by lecturers Sam Everton, the 2025 National Chef of Wales, and 2024 Young Chef of Wales Huw Morgan, alongside lead technician Lona Winney.

Craig grew up foraging these shores, first learning to collect cockles with his father. Today he runs courses along 150 miles of coastline from Pembrey to St Davids, sharing his expertise with everyone from beginners to professional chefs. His work has led to TV appearances on BBC One’s Wynne & Joanna: All at Sea, Channel 4’s Best of Britain by the Sea with Grace Dent and Ainsley Harriott, and BBC Two’s Love to Cook with Mary Berry. He has also cooked at the BBC Good Food Show alongside Gennaro Contaldo and long-standing food editor Barney Desmazery.

On Monday, the group gathered near Tenby as the tide ebbed away, uncovering rock pools and sandbanks. Craig began with a lesson on tides, explaining how the moon and weather patterns affect safe foraging. Soon, students were spotting velvet swimming crabs, cockles, razor clams, mussels, colonial sea squirts and edible seaweeds including laver, pepper dulse and rock samphire.

Sustainability was a central theme. Craig urged the students to forage responsibly: to take only what is plentiful, never strip an area bare, and always respect breeding seasons. He linked this to food safety, explaining how water quality impacts shellfish and why cooking them thoroughly is vital. Students even sampled a sliver of raw razor clam foot – safe to eat as it is pure muscle rather than part of the digestive system.

As the tide turned, Craig lit his trademark ‘Solva stove’ – a Swedish-style log fire crafted from a single upright log. Prawns fried in local salted butter with wild garlic and samphire were followed by steamed shellfish and seaweed, shared by the group in a beachside feast.

The foraging trip built on the students’ training at Coleg Ceredigion’s award-winning restaurant, Bwyty Maes y Parc, which holds the Cookery School of the Year title. The college’s Catering and Hospitality diploma covers not just cookery, but front-of-house service, menu planning, mixology and more. Craig’s courses add a unique opportunity to engage directly with Welsh produce at source.

Chef Lecturer Sam Everton said: “I think today has helped the students learn and experience what’s available on the coastline of Wales. It dives deeper into the knowledge needed to go out foraging on their own or with friends or family, highlighting Welsh produce they can use to cook something from their country or tell a story behind a dish. Today has really enhanced that experience and will help them move forward in their careers.”

Student Glyn Jones added: “I went coastal foraging last year with college but until then, I’d never done it before. There’s something new to learn every time, it’s fun, and it’s a good day out.”

Craig’s Classic (£90) and Extreme Low Tide (£130) courses can be booked at www.coastalforaging.co.uk.

Community

Man found dead near Carmarthen railway line died from hypothermia

Published

2 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Court Reporter

A 32-YEAR-OLD man found dead near Carmarthen Train Station died after taking shelter on a bitterly cold night, an inquest has heard.

Edward Mark Owen, originally from Birmingham but living in Ystradgynlais, was discovered in a field beside the railway line on the approach to Carmarthen station on Saturday, January 10.

A Transport for Wales train driver had spotted what appeared to be a body lying face down near the track shortly after 8:30am.

Police and railway staff attended and found Mr Owen lying face down and topless in the field. His coat, T-shirt, phone and cigarettes were found nearby.

Police initially treated the death as unexplained.

Movements traced

The inquest heard that officers later traced Mr Owen’s movements from his home in Ystradgynlais to Carmarthen.

He had nowhere to stay in the town and had taken shelter under a bridge near the railway station during a particularly cold night.

The coroner said Mr Owen had “sadly succumbed to the effects of hypothermia”.

The fact that he had removed his T-shirt and coat was said to be consistent with a confused state brought on by hypothermia.

A conclusion of misadventure was recorded.

The coroner found that Mr Owen died sometime on January 10, 2026.

Community

Milford Haven firefighters prepare for key assessments

Published

2 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

ON-CALL firefighters at Milford Haven Fire Station have been put through their paces as part of their weekly drill night.

The crew’s development firefighters were pictured carrying out a “drill by numbers” squad exercise ahead of upcoming assessments.

New firefighters spend their first 24 months in a development period, which is split into four stages and focuses on different operational skills and competencies.

At the end of each stage, firefighters attend a divisional training centre where their progress is assessed against the standards required by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Over the next two weeks, members of the Milford Haven crew will take part in a Stage 2 interim assessment and a Stage 4 final assessment.

One firefighter is hoping to complete the final stage and qualify as a fully competent firefighter.

The station said Wednesday nights remain an important part of training for the on-call crew, helping firefighters maintain the skills needed to respond to emergencies across the Milford Haven area.

Community

Armed Forces Day exhibition opens at VC Gallery’s new Riverside home

Published

7 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A UNIQUE exhibition bringing together military history, art and veterans’ stories will open to the public in Haverfordwest as part of Armed Forces Day celebrations later this month.

The VC Gallery will host a special open day at its new Riverside Gallery on Saturday, June 27, inviting the community to explore an exhibition featuring works from the Imperial War Museum alongside historic wartime artefacts, trench art and pieces connected to celebrated Welsh artist Augustus John.

The event will also showcase contemporary artwork created by Armed Forces veterans who served in conflicts including Korea, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Organisers say the exhibition highlights not only military history and remembrance, but also the role creativity can play in supporting mental health, wellbeing and recovery.

Throughout the day, visitors will be able to meet members of the VC Gallery team and learn more about an ambitious new project aimed at supporting veterans, families and the wider community.

The exhibition combines nationally significant historical works with personal stories of service and resilience, offering a rare opportunity to view military history through the eyes of those who experienced it.

Families are particularly welcome, with guided family art tours available by advance booking.

The event begins at 10:00am and takes place at the VC Riverside Gallery in Haverfordwest.

Anyone wishing to reserve a place on a guided family tour should email [email protected].

The VC Gallery said it is looking forward to welcoming visitors as it commemorates Armed Forces Day while celebrating the power of art, heritage and community to bring people together.