Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Community

National Trust Association tour Marloes

Published

on

Ranger Matt Thompson: With the PNTA

THE LOCAL Pembrokeshire National Trust Association’s tour of Marloes Mere area last week gave the group an update on the various schemes the National Trust is progressing in the area.

The walk was led by area ranger Matt Thompson and the first stop was the Runwayskiln building near the Marloes Mere car park, which the YHA has handed back to the Trust. Plans are progressing to renovate the buildings to create accommodation and a café but there is no definite opening date yet.

The next stop was the lake at Marloes Mere, which was covered with swooping swallows. The local ‘birding’ community has asked the National Trust to install a further hide which will improve their viewing by looking down the length of the Mere and Matt explained he is investigating the possibility of this.

The group then moved to areas where the Trust, and its tenant farmer, are trying to carry out heathland regeneration. It requires reduction in the fertility of the soil so that heather and other plants can thrive. This in turn will add allow greater biodiversity. Work has been going on for a number of years with varying success, but Matt was able to point out areas where heather was starting to thrive. On reaching the coast at the Ragh Iron Age Fort, looking across to Gateholm, Matt explained some of the finds of Tony Robinson and his Time Team when they filmed their excavation here.

The return to the car park provided a spectacular walk along the cliffs at Marloes Beach with a dramatically blue sea. The sun brought out the colour of the rocks, which in turn were covered with swathes of flowers; golden gorse, blue squills, yellow kidney vetch and the pink of thrift and campion. It was a wonderful way to finish the evening.

For further details of the local National Trust Association group, and future talks and events, look at www.pembsnta.org.uk or contact membership secretary Sheila Ashton on 01437 731525.

The group hold a series of winter talks, summer walks and events and a longer holiday.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

on

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Continue Reading

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

on

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

Continue Reading

Community

Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire 

Published

on

AN OLD millpond at the heart of the Wallis and Ambleston community, and a site of Special Scientific Interest, has now been improved to benefit water quality and increase biodiversity in an area of South Wales, thanks to funding from Nestlé Waters UK. 

Wallis Pond was created in 1836 as part of the tributary of the Wester Cleddau River to supply water to a local mill. Back in 1978, it was restored and later re-opened by HRH King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales.  

Over the years, the pond had become completely silted up, restricting the waters passage and the pond’s ability to retain water, resulting in a reduced diversity of habitat in and around the millpond.  

Pembrokeshire County Council, Heavyside Landscapes and Nestlé Waters UK have come together to restore the millpond with regulatory guidance from Natural Resources Wales and support from the Ambleston Community Council. 

The project saw the pond re-dug and de-silted, and the old sluice gate replaced to re-establish the millpond. With the pond now able to hold more water, it is hoped to help build resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area.   

Retention of flows in the pond for a longer time should help reduce silt build-up and prevent nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from travelling downstream in the Cleddau catchment, helping to protect water quality, improve aquatic habitats, and encourage eels, otters, damselflies, and other wildlife species.  

Restoration of Wallis Pond is one of the projects that Nestlé Waters is working on as part of its efforts to help regenerate local water cycles and create a positive water impact everywhere the company operates. 

Matthew Faulkner, Factory Manager at the Nestlé Waters site in Princes Gate, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Wallis Pond restoration work, aimed at delivering long-lasting benefits in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle at source Princes Gate and Nestlé Pure Life waters. This beautiful landscape is not only our home, but also home to some incredible flora and fauna which are vital for keeping the area rich and thriving in biodiversity.  

“We’re working hard to protect this land and the water beneath our feet. Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility, and caring for it takes the whole community. That’s why we’re grateful to be working with partners on this project that will hopefully have a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community.” 

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services at the Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “We welcome this funding to enhance the biodiversity in Wallis Pond which can be enjoyed by the residents of Ambleston, the wider communities in Pembrokeshire and the visitors to our fantastic county. 

“This is an excellent example of partnership working that has significant benefits for the environment and the wellbeing of generations to come.”  

Eirian Forrest, Clerk at the Ambleston Community Council, said: “We are grateful to Nestlé Waters UK for the funding and wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this project, especially the Pembrokeshire County Council team, for pushing the project forwards. 

“The Community Council are delighted that the work has finally been done and look forward to the positive impact it will have on biodiversity. We have already received many positive comments from members of the community. The improved pond encourages locals to take a walk around the area, as well as sit down to watch and enjoy the wildlife.”   

Continue Reading

Business2 days ago

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure...

Community2 days ago

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation...

News2 days ago

Ferry accident causes delay on new Dublin-Fishguard route

IRISH Ferries’ Isle of Innisfree sustained damage during arrival on Friday (Dec 20) at Fishguard port. The incident occurred as...

Entertainment4 days ago

River-themed lanterns light up Cardigan in spectacular parade

THOUSANDS of people flocked to Cardigan on Monday (Dec 18) for the much-anticipated Giant Lantern Parade, hosted by Small World...

Business4 days ago

Pembrokeshire care home group hit by £150,000 budget blow

A COMPANY with six care homes in Pembrokeshire has revealed it is facing a £150,000 financial hit due to controversial...

News5 days ago

Rift between Neyland councillors now ‘as wide as Grand Canyon’

THE DIVISIONS within Neyland Town Council deepened further this week after a controversial attempt to block an Extraordinary General Meeting...

Politics5 days ago

Pembrokeshire Long Course Weekend changes could be made

PEMBROKESHIRE’S annual Long Course Weekend triathlon event could be run on a different route in future, in an attempt to...

Business7 days ago

Wales’ biggest Specsavers store opens in Haverfordwest

SPECSAVERS HAVERFORDWEST has relocated to a larger, state-of-the-art premises in the Riverside Shopping Centre, becoming the largest Specsavers store in...

News7 days ago

Engine room fire caused by loose fuel pipe connection previously flagged

AN INVSTIGATION has been published into a fire that broke out in the engine room of the roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry...

News1 week ago

Heroes of the storm: How Council workers rallied during rare red wind warning

PEMBROKESHIRE experienced a weekend of extreme weather as Storm Darragh brought chaos to the region, prompting an extraordinary display of...

Popular This Week