Community

Boardwalk still not ‘out of the woods’

Published

11 years ago

July 9, 2014

Tom Sinclair

United: The community of Broad Haven have united to save the Boardwalk

A MAGNIFICENT £5600 of donations has been received in the first month of a Facebook campaign to save the Slash Pond Boardwalk in Broad Haven.

Residents, business and holiday home owners have united to save the Slash Pond Boardwalk from demolition by the Havens Community Council. The Boardwalk was created by volunteers in 2003 with funding from Cydcoed. A former culm pit which filled with water created the pond. The gently sloping edges are encircled by reed beds, meadow grassland and native trees. The boardwalk itself meanders along the north edge with seating areas to admire the views, watch swifts flying over the water and listen to bird song of willow warblers. This superb Boardwalk, forms part of one of Pembrokeshires’ most delightful walks to school and is popular with dog walkers, naturalists and birdwatchers. The Havens Community Council, experiencing difficulty in continuing to fund and maintain the boardwalk, had the area closed to the public for over eight months and then agreed they had no choice but to remove the boardwalk. The social networking campaign was successful in reaching those interested in keeping the boardwalk. “I couldn’t believe that the walk was about to disappear because there was an apparent lack of interest in it,” said Linda Reohorn. “So we launched a Facebook event and 27 people attended a meeting on May 12, clearly people were actually very fond of the boardwalk.” “Splitting into two ‘interest’ groups, one group focused on marketing the new brand ‘support the boardwalk’, raising funds to buy the materials to begin repairs; the other, evaluated the repairs required to get it open once again.” Repair work was scheduled for Saturday, May 24. “It was fantastic,” said volunteer Ben Dare. “A huge crowd of people arrived and conquered the weeds, cutback the overgrown trees, brushed away the moss, and repaired the rotten boards and bannisters. There was a great community spirit, good laughs, coffee, homemade chocolate cakes and cookies!” The Boardwalk was re-opened to the public on June 10. The group’s treasurer, Karen Riggs said, “I think the group is so successful because we involved all the relevant people. The membership consists of local business people, residents and holiday home owners as well as the landowners, representatives from the Baptist Church, National Parks, Keep Wales Tidy, Havens Community Council and local community development organisation PLANED. Other agencies such as PAVS have been especially useful in helping the group to become insured.” “We are still not ‘out of the woods’ yet, having a lot of fundraising to achieve, but despite some saying the boardwalk was halfway to being condemned , we like to think of it as being halfway to renovation.” The group continues to fund raise with various events and the donations will be used as match funding for grant applications. The plan is to replace the boards with new sustainable decking planks and widen the appeal of the boardwalk and the way in which it can continue to ‘connect the community’; its uses for education, people with disabilities and local groups. Other ideas include a community orchard and pontoons for children to learn to fish, pond dip etc.

Community

Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes

Published

18 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.

The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.

A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.

The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community

3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire

Published

19 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event

THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.

Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.

The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.

The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.

Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.

Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Special delivery of thanks as MP visits Haverfordwest sorting office

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Christmas cheer for posties working through the festive rush

A CHRISTMAS message of thanks was delivered in person this week as Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell paid a visit to Royal Mail staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office.

The MP met postal workers during one of the busiest periods of the year, praising staff for their hard work in ensuring cards, parcels and gifts reach homes across Pembrokeshire in the run-up to Christmas.

Mr Tufnell said postal workers were going “above and beyond” throughout the year, but particularly during the festive period when demand is at its highest and delivery rounds are often made in challenging weather conditions.

He described postal staff as “unsung heroes”, highlighting their role in keeping communities connected and helping families stay in touch at a time when it matters most.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Our posties play a vital role in our community, and at Christmas that importance is felt more than ever. They work incredibly hard to make sure gifts and cards from loved ones arrive safely and on time.”

Staff at the Haverfordwest site were pictured alongside the MP, with some embracing the festive spirit in Christmas jumpers and seasonal outfits while continuing their daily work.

The MP also extended his thanks to postal workers across the whole of Pembrokeshire, acknowledging the dedication required to keep services running smoothly during the seasonal rush.

Royal Mail experiences its highest parcel volumes in December, with thousands of additional items passing through local sorting offices each day as Christmas approaches.

Delivering Christmas cheer: Henry Tufnell MP with staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office during a festive visit (Pic: Facebook).