Community

Students at marine mammal talk

Published

10 years ago

February 23, 2016

Ysgol Bro Gwaun students asking questions: At the Sea Trust’s presentation

YSGOL BRO GWAUN was host to the Sea Trust Marine Mammal talk on Thursday January 28 which saw 500 students being educated about the marine life which surrounds the Pembrokeshire coastline.

Welcomed to the school by Head-teacher Mrs Nicholas Kindly, and opened by the Ysgol Bro Gwaun Jazz Band, Cliff Benson, Lolo Williams, and their team began by showing a series of videos including sharks, dolphins and whales filmed along the North Pembrokeshire coastline by Sea Trust.

Speaking to the Herald Cliff said: “Iolo and myself commented on and generally told the stories of the animals we showed”.

“The youngsters joined in from the start, they were a really enthusiastic and rewarding audience. We ended the show with a question and answer session and the hands came flying up, lots of good questions.”

Speaking about the television presenter Iolo Williams he said: “Iolo had a grueling schedule for the day, filming in Cardigan Bay the morning, with us in the afternoon, a teatime spot on “Heno” in Llanelli and then an epic drive to Cumbria. I don’t know how he does it! And yet at the end of the show he stayed on to sign autographs and photos, a real star and friend Diolch Iolo!”

Cliff also said how getting several hundred children in and out of the school within the strict schedule was “quite stressful”, but was worth it as the whole thing went “without a hitch.” He explained: “With the Christmas break in between and working with so many schools, coordination was down to our Sea Trust team and Mr Edmonds, the head of year eight.”

Despite receiving no outside funding the Ocean Lab in Goodwick is operated all year round by Sea Trust volunteers to deliver similar talks about marine wildlife and educate tourists, visitors and members of the community.

The Ocean Lab has recently enrolled as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Ambassadors, and over the coming months are planning to try to establish the site as a Coleg y Mor (Marine Academy) for local schools and the community.

Cliff said: “This event was an opportunity to reach out to our local schools and we hope its the start of an ongoing and exciting project, delivered from our base in the Ocean Lab, in Fishguard Harbour!”

He also wished to: “Thank the Sea Trust team and supporters who always come through for us, those from Ysgol Bro Gwaun who helped us put on the presentation, and of course all the kids and teachers who came to see us!”

Cliff concluded: “We see our Work as Marine conservationists being delivered in parallel with education, growing a reservoir of qualified local expertise that will help us to deal with the challenges of the future such as monitoring climate change and how our wildlife copes along with developing sustainable wildlife tourism.”

For more details on the Sea Trust and the exhibitions at the Ocean Lab visit: www.oceanlab.co.uk

Community

Family safe after major house fire in Letterston, community told

Published

7 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Memorial hall opened to help those affected after blaze in Station Road area

A FAMILY escaped without injury after a major house fire in the Station Road area of Letterston, according to local residents.

The blaze prompted a major emergency response on Wednesday (Apr 15), with fire engines seen at the scene and the road closed while crews tackled the incident.

People posting in the Letterston community group said the family was safe, although one kitten was sadly lost in the fire.

One resident wrote: “They lost a kitten, but the family were ok. Nothing worse than a fire. There were 4 fire engines here at one time.”

Others described hearing multiple sirens and seeing smoke rising from the area, with one local woman saying her partner could see the fire engines from nearby fields.

As news of the fire spread, the local community quickly rallied round. The memorial hall was opened for anyone affected, while residents offered practical help and support to the family.

Messages posted online described the loss of the home as heartbreaking, with one resident writing that while the house had gone, the family were “alive and well to make more new memories”.

The Herald has approached the emergency services for official confirmation on the cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage.

Community

Police investigate reports of door-to-door salespeople in Milford Haven and Johnston

Published

10 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Residents urged to stay alert as officers carry out patrols and work to establish whether the callers are legitimate

MILFORD HAVEN and Neyland Police said they are aware of concerns raised by residents following reports of door-to-door salespeople operating in the Milford Haven and Johnston area.

Local officers, together with neighbourhood policing and prevention teams, are working to establish the legitimacy of those involved and will be carrying out patrols while enquiries continue.

In the meantime, members of the public are being advised to familiarise themselves with crime prevention advice relating to unwanted visitors, which is available on the force’s website.

Anyone with information that could assist enquiries is asked to get in touch online, by email at [email protected], by direct message on social media, or by calling 101.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting its website.

Community

Big plant sale set to bloom in Narberth

Published

12 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Family-friendly spring event will bring together local growers, craftspeople, food and live entertainment

GREEN fingers and creative talents will come together in Narberth next month as West Wales’ popular Big Plant Sale returns for 2026.

The event will take place at Narberth CP School on Saturday, May 2, offering visitors the chance to browse a wide range of plants, locally made crafts and eco-friendly products.

Organised with support from SPAN Arts, the annual sale has become one of the first major plant events of the season in the area, attracting gardeners of all ages and experience levels.

Stallholders are expected to offer everything from windowsill succulents and young seedlings to unusual and specialist plants, giving visitors plenty of choice as they prepare their homes and gardens for spring and summer.

Alongside the plants, there will also be a craft fair featuring handmade and environmentally conscious products, including soaps, textiles and wooden items made by local producers.

Organisers say the event is designed to be more than just a market, with locally produced food, live music and entertainment helping to create a lively and welcoming atmosphere for families and visitors of all ages.

SPAN Arts is also inviting local growers, nurseries, craftspeople and makers to get involved, particularly those working with sustainable and eco-friendly products.

The Big Plant Sale will run from 10:00am until 3:00pm at Narberth CP School, Jesse Road, Narberth, SA67 7FE. Visitors are asked to make a suggested £2 donation on entry.

Anyone interested in booking a stall can contact [email protected].

SPAN Arts, which is based in Narberth, has spent 30 years supporting arts and community projects across Pembrokeshire. The charity runs a broad programme of music, theatre, comedy and wellbeing activities, with a focus on reducing rural isolation and improving access to the arts.

For more information about the event, contact SPAN Arts on 01834 869323 or email [email protected].