YOUNG people from 1st Johnston Scout Group spent their Saturday morning making a positive difference in their community by planting around 1,000 purple crocus corms in Withybush Woods, Haverfordwest, as part of a global movement to help eradicate polio.

The planting session contributes towards the Group’s Community Impact work and for many of those taking part, it offered the chance to take local action linked to a global cause.

The purple crocuses carry an important message. They represent a worldwide effort to end polio, a virus that mainly affects children under the age of five. Polio can lead to paralysis, breathing difficulties and in some cases, death. Routine vaccinations mean young people in the UK are protected, but the virus remains present in parts of the world. Until polio is eliminated everywhere, children everywhere remain at risk.

The colour choice is deeply symbolic. During mass vaccination campaigns in some parts of the world, children’s fingers are marked with purple ink once they receive the vaccine. This is an easy visual way for health workers to track progress. When the crocuses bloom in spring, they will stand as a reminder of the children still waiting for the vaccine.

This planting was delivered in partnership with the Rotary Club of Haverfordwest who supplied the corms through a national initiative, where donations support vaccination programmes backed by the World Health Organisation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary International and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Simon Preddy, Group Lead Volunteer said: “As we head into Christmas, the Scouts wanted to do something that gives back. Planting these corms is a small act, but the message behind it is powerful. When the flowers appear, they’ll remind us that even local efforts can support children across the world.”

Now tucked safely beneath winter soil, the crocus corms will wait for spring, ready to bloom into a field of purple hope. A simple gesture of care, community, and the belief that every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy and a meaningful way to mark the season of giving.

NEYLAND will welcome Father Christmas on Friday 19 December as the town’s annual sleigh tour and Christmas grotto return, organised by Neyland Town Council with support from Gareth Hughes Motors.

The Christmas Fairy announced the event on social media with the seasonal message: “It’s tiiiiiiimmmmmmeeee! I hope you’ve all been good… come and meet the big man himself. You might even get a little treat if you’re on Santa’s good list. We can’t wait to see you all there.”

Santa will begin his sleigh ride around Neyland at 5:30pm, with the elves from Gareth Hughes Motors escorting him through several of the town’s residential streets. The planned route will take in Rose and Willow at 5:30pm, Springfield Avenue, the entrance to Gordon Parry, the Forresters, Policeman’s Bank, the Yacht Club area, and Riverside Avenue by the cenotaph.

The sleigh will then arrive at Neyland Community Hub at 6:30pm, where Santa’s Grotto will open for families to visit. Hot festive food will be available to buy from The Hub’s kitchen throughout the evening.

The event is free to attend, with the Town Council encouraging as many families as possible to come along and enjoy the festivities.

NATURAL Resources Wales (NRW) has updated a flood alert for the Pembrokeshire coast, warning that flooding is possible between St Dogmaels, Cardigan and Amroth over the next two days.

The alert, which covers the stretch of coast from St Dogmaels down to Amroth, was first issued on Friday (Dec 5) and was updated around midday today (Sunday, Dec 7). NRW says the risk comes from a combination of high tides, large waves and unsettled weather, with the greatest impacts currently expected around Tuesday’s tides.

Flooding of low-lying land and roads is expected around the time of each high tide on Monday (Dec 8) and Tuesday (Dec 9). A further spell of wet and windy weather is also expected to keep river and surface water levels high across parts of south-west Wales.

Residents in coastal communities and estuary areas are being urged to be prepared and to take some simple precautions. NRW’s advice includes:

What people are being urged to do

• Follow your household flood plan if you already have one.
• Check where your loved ones and pets are, and think about how you would move them to safety if water starts to rise.
• Move sentimental items, important documents and valuables to higher shelves or upstairs where possible.
• Keep your mobile phone charged and switched on so you can receive warnings and updates.
• Make sure you know how to turn off your electricity, gas and water supplies.
• Pack a small grab-bag in case you need to leave home in a hurry – including medication, phone and charger, warm clothing, baby and pet supplies, sanitary products and insurance documents.
• Consider moving cars, livestock and equipment away from low-lying or exposed areas that are likely to flood.

What not to do:

Officials are again stressing that people should not drive or walk through floodwater. Just 30 centimetres (around one foot) of fast-moving water can move a car, and as little as 15 centimetres can knock an adult off their feet.

• For the latest official information on this alert, residents can visit the NRW flood warning page for the Pembrokeshire coast (area code 102WABT02), or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 and use quick dial number 503013.
  

Up-to-date river, rainfall and sea level data is also available via the ‘river, rainfall and sea data’ pages on the Natural Resources Wales website.