GARDENERS and families are being invited to Templeton Village Green on Saturday, May 9, for the village’s annual plant sale.

With spring finally beginning to show itself, organisers say the long-running event is the perfect chance for local people to get their gardens ready for the months ahead.

After a wet and difficult winter, many will be looking forward to making the most of their outdoor spaces this summer. The Templeton plant sale, which has been running for well over 20 years, remains as popular as ever and promises a wide range of plants, gardening items and expert advice.

As well as browsing the stalls, visitors will be able to speak to knowledgeable stallholders for tips and guidance on what to grow and how best to care for it.

Templeton Community Council is organising the event this year and says there are still a couple of spaces left for stallholders.

Refreshments will also be available on the day, making it a pleasant outing for the whole family. The Village Green is located just across the road from the play park, which has recently been improved with new equipment, including a rotating cone climber for children to enjoy.

The plant sale will run from 10:00am until 2:00pm.

Organisers said they are looking forward to welcoming residents and visitors alike to what has become a much-loved annual community event.

THE PRESIDENT of Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir, Clive Collins, was honoured in style as choristers sang him out at a special concert held at Pembroke Town Hall on Friday (March 27).

Mr Collins, a long-standing and dedicated supporter of the choir, has stepped down from his role after many years of service. Throughout his time as President, he was supported by his wife, Enid.

His final official duty saw him present long service certificates to six choristers, who between them have given a combined 182 years of commitment to the choir.

Tributes were paid by the newly elected chairman, David Halsted, who himself marked an impressive fifty years as a member. In recognition of his service, Mr Collins has been appointed Life Vice President.

The well-attended concert, organised by Pembroke Town Council, raised funds for both the Mayor’s Fund—supporting the purchase of defibrillators—and the choir.

Mayor Gareth Jones welcomed guests to the evening, including Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr Chris Martin and civic representatives from across the county.

Despite reduced numbers due to illness, the choir delivered a strong performance. The baritone section—Gerry Gommo, Ron Rees and Ed Morris—performed admirably in their solo parts, while first tenor Paul Owen made his choir debut.

The programme, selected by Musical Director Juliet Rossiter, was warmly received, with accompaniment from the Rev William Lambert. Compère Matthew John continued recent tradition by inviting audience participation for the Elvis Presley classic American Trilogy, with five volunteers stepping forward—including his father, Steve.

Guest soloist Donna Jones, from Llanfallteg, made her first appearance with the choir and impressed with a varied selection of songs ranging from Broadway to Bob Dylan and traditional English folk. Choristers expressed hopes of working with her again in the future.

Thanks were extended to Suzie Thomas and Kaylee White of Pembroke Town Council, along with choir secretary David Powell, for their work in organising the event.

More than £900 was raised during what was described as a highly successful musical evening.

A PETITION call for a public commitment to save Pembrokeshire’s River Cleddau which has attracted more than 2,200 signatures, has been backed by councillors.

The e-petition on Pembrokeshire County Council’s own website, started by James Harrison-Allen, said: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to create and enact a Clean Rivers Policy to restore the Cleddau to good health after decades of neglect and degradation.

“The Cleddau flows through the heart of Pembrokeshire, including our county town, and is the foundation for Pembrokeshire’s prosperity. The river is failing, and we need to act now to save it from irreversible decline.

“What’s the problem? The Cleddau rivers and estuary are the worst (and worsening) polluted SAC (Special Area of Conservation) designated rivers in Wales; worse even than the Wye and the Usk (NRW Water Assessment Report 2024), and considerably worse than the neighbouring Towy and Teifi.

“Damaging impacts on Pembrokeshire’s economy, public health and the natural environment. Ineffective regulation; monitoring, responding, policing, enforcement and prosecutions. What should PCC be doing to address this? Make a formal, public commitment to cleaning up the Cleddau. Make the health of the Cleddau central.”

The now closed e-petition attracted 2,238 signatures; any petition of more than 500 being heard at full council, with members of the March meeting hearing the call from Mr Harrison-Allen.

Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller said he was happy to support “the principal ask to make a public commitment to cleaning up the river,” stressing that while primary responsibility lay with Natural Resources Wales, the council still had an important part to play, adding that measures at improving its quality were already underway.

Moving the petition be referred to the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Di Clements stressed its “special place” quality.

Members unanimously agreed the petition be referred to the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for adding to its forward work programme for the June meeting.

Last year, Henry Tufnell, MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, called for “urgent” action to tackle the poor state of the River Cleddau when he chaired a discussion bringing together key stakeholders, environmental experts, and community voices to address the issues surrounding water quality and pollution.

The panel event, organised by local river action group The Cleddau Project, covered topics including pollution sources, enforcement failures, and potential solutions to improve the river’s health.