Community
A-Level students to work in Africa

Bethany Blackford-Jones: Uganda-bound
YOUTH development agency Restless Development will take Pembrokeshire College A-Level students Bethany Blackford-Jones and Kristen Bowen to Africa this autumn.
Kristen will travel to Uganda to work on a sexual health project, while Bethany, working on a HIV awareness project, is Zimbabwe-bound.
Bethany aspires to study Clinical Psychology at Exeter University next September after college, and she anticipates the attainment of new skills that she will learn on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
“I’m so excited to travel to Zimbabwe and stay with a family in a rural community. I can’t wait to experience the culture and I know I’m very lucky to have this opportunity”, she said.
While she is away, Bethany will work on a self-directed mental health project, and once she arrives back in Wales she will follow up her work in her home community for the final six-month phase of the programme.
Kristen wishes to continue working in the field of sexual health and livelihood once she returns from the journey, but is open to new ventures.
She said: “I know that my trip will influence my future plans so I want to keep my options open but intend on working in development to bring positive change to communities.”
The Restless Development agency stands out from other gap year programmes, as it offers volunteers the chance to acquire new skills with more learning opportunities, as well as providing the opportunity to experience new cultures and build personal development whilst working in developing countries.
Although the programme is funded by the government, the girls are required to raise £800 each to contribute to the running costs of the trip, so keep an eye out for Bethany’s fancy dress pub crawl and Kristen’s weekly fitness club held on Thursdays in St Florence.
The college wishes the girls luck on their travels and is eager to hear all about their trip once they return.
Community
Police investigate reports of door-to-door salespeople in Milford Haven and Johnston
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
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].
Community
Pembrokeshire Coast Path named one of the best UK routes for hay fever sufferers
New research says sea breezes and exposed cliff-top paths make county trail a safer bet for runners with allergies
PEMBROKESHIRE’S world-famous Coast Path has been named one of the best trail running routes in the UK for people who suffer from hay fever.
New research by health and fitness supplement brand Ten Percent Club ranked the Pembrokeshire Coast Path joint second overall among the UK’s National Trails for low hay fever risk, giving it a score of 3.8 out of 5.
Only the South West Coast Path matched it, while the King Charles III England Coast Path also received the same score.
The study looked at all 20 UK National Trails and assessed them across five factors linked to pollen exposure: altitude, vegetation type, landscape, wind exposure, and animal and insect density.
According to the findings, coastal routes performed far better than inland trails because of their stronger air flow, open terrain and lower pollen build-up.
Researchers said the Pembrokeshire Coast Path’s exposed cliff tops, constant sea breezes and relatively limited dense vegetation make it one of the most suitable long-distance routes in Britain for runners who struggle with seasonal allergies.
That could come as welcome news for many local runners and walkers as tree pollen season begins and spring training gets underway.
For the estimated millions of hay fever sufferers across the UK, the report suggests that choosing a route like the Pembrokeshire Coast Path could make a noticeable difference compared with more enclosed inland trails, where pollen can hang in still air and become more concentrated.
The worst-performing route in the study was the Thames Path, which scored just 2.0 out of 5. Other poorly rated trails included the North Downs Way, Cotswold Way and Glyndŵr’s Way.
The research found that low-lying riverside routes, wooded valleys and areas with dense vegetation tend to be the most difficult for allergy sufferers, particularly in late spring and early summer when pollen levels rise.
By contrast, Pembrokeshire’s coast appears to offer something of a natural advantage.
With marathon season already under way and more people heading outdoors as the weather improves, the findings may give local runners another reason to stick to the county’s spectacular coastline.
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OwlBadges.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:47 pm
Such a well-structured and engaging article. Thank you!