CONCERNS are mounting over a growing number of school safety incidents across Wales after police enforced the closure of two Cardiff schools this week.

Llanishen High School and Eastern High School were closed on Monday (Mar 16) after South Wales Police received a report on Sunday evening. Officers said the decision was taken as a precaution while enquiries continue.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the nature of the report that prompted the closures, but the incident has raised wider questions about the number of schools being forced into lockdown or temporary closure following threats or safety concerns.

The Cardiff case is the latest in a series of incidents affecting schools across Wales over the past year.

Earlier this month, Ysgol Maesydderwen in Ystradgynlais was placed into lockdown after police received reports of threats of violence sent digitally. A seventeen-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident, which caused alarm among pupils and staff.

In February this year, Milford Haven School in Pembrokeshire went into lockdown after emergency services were called to a serious incident involving a pupil and a weapon. A fifteen-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident.

In another case, Ysgol Harri Tudur in Pembroke was placed in lockdown after threatening messages were received suggesting a pupil may have brought a knife onto the school site. Police attended while staff secured the school.

North Wales has also seen similar concerns. Ysgol y Grango in Wrexham was placed into lockdown after a threat was reported, with police attending while pupils were kept inside classrooms.

Another incident in November 2025 saw Dafen Community Primary School in Llanelli close for the day after online messages warned people would arrive at the school with knives. Police confirmed the closure was a precaution while the threats were investigated.

While many incidents ultimately prove to be hoaxes, rumours or isolated events, education leaders say the rapid spread of messages on social media has created new challenges for schools.

Threats or rumours shared on platforms such as Snapchat and WhatsApp can circulate quickly among pupils, sometimes triggering widespread concern before school staff have time to verify the information.

The issue has also drawn political attention.

Commenting on the latest Cardiff closures, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education Natasha Asghar MS said: “This is a deeply concerning situation for parents, pupils and staff, and I hope the police can carry out a swift investigation to avoid further disruption to families.

“Teachers and pupils must feel safe in school, and incidents like this raise serious concerns about safety.

“The Welsh Conservatives would restore discipline by introducing automatic exclusions for pupils who carry weapons, helping create a safer environment for students and staff.”

Debate around school safety intensified following the stabbing attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford in April 2024, when two teachers and a pupil were seriously injured.

The teenager responsible was later convicted of attempted murder, prompting calls for stronger measures to prevent weapons being brought into schools.

Despite the recent incidents, education leaders stress that schools remain safe environments for the vast majority of pupils. However, the combination of online threats, heightened safeguarding rules and rapid information sharing among students means schools and police are increasingly taking precautionary measures to protect staff and children.

With investigations continuing into the Cardiff closures, parents and teachers across Wales will be watching closely to see whether the incidents represent a worrying trend or a series of isolated cases.

Cover image:

Amman Valley school, in Ammanford, Wales, went into lockdown over a stabbing incident in 2024 (Photo: PA)

Funding to restore habitats and protect species including bats and wetlands

MORE than £15 million has been awarded to projects across Wales aimed at restoring habitats, protecting wildlife, and strengthening nature conservation.

A total of 28 projects will share £15,186,716 from the Nature Networks Fund, a programme delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.

The funding will support conservation work across land and marine environments, including efforts to restore wetlands, protect vulnerable plant species and safeguard wildlife such as the brown long-eared bat.

Among the successful projects in west Wales, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum Community Interest Company has been awarded £249,584, while Milford Haven Port Authority will receive £959,180 for environmental work in the county.

The Bat Conservation Trust has secured £249,630 for a Wales-wide project focused on protecting the brown long-eared bat – sometimes known as the “whispering bat” because of its quiet echolocation calls. The work will include woodland habitat management, surveys of tree roosts and community engagement events.

Another major grant of £823,320 has been awarded to the National Botanic Garden of Wales to help safeguard vulnerable plant species. The project will expand collections in the National Seed Bank of Wales and improve infrastructure at the Waun Las National Nature Reserve.

Meanwhile the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust has received £548,406 to restore wetland habitats around WWT Llanelli and the Tir Morfa coastline, improving conditions for wildlife and internationally important wintering birds in the Burry Inlet.

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who has responsibility for climate change, said the funding demonstrated Wales’ commitment to tackling the nature emergency.

“This significant investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to protecting Wales’ natural heritage and meeting international biodiversity targets,” he said.

“By supporting these projects we are not only preserving precious ecosystems but also empowering communities to become stewards of their local environments.”

Since the Nature Networks Fund launched in 2021, a total of 147 projects have shared more than £54 million in funding.

The programme supports Wales’ commitment to the international “30 by 30” biodiversity goal, which aims to protect and effectively manage 30 per cent of land, freshwater and marine environments by 2030.

Andrew White, Director of Wales at the Heritage Fund, said the grants reflected the scale of ambition behind nature recovery work across the country.

“To protect Wales’ habitats and wildlife, we need long-term action built on collaboration,” he said. “These awards show the vital role communities play in creating a more resilient future for nature.”

Natural Resources Wales said the projects would help restore and improve protected sites across the country while strengthening ecological networks.

A PEMBROKESHIRE coastal hotel has been named in The Times’ list of the Best 50 Places to Stay in the UK for 2026, placing the county firmly in the national travel spotlight.

St Brides Spa Hotel, overlooking Saundersfoot harbour, was highlighted by The Times travel experts for its “unbeatable coastal views” and dramatic clifftop spa, which features the hotel’s well-known infinity pool looking out across Saundersfoot Bay.

The annual guide recognises standout hotels across the country, including both new openings and long-established destinations that continue to evolve and offer something distinctive for visitors.

The recognition follows a major refurbishment programme completed last year. All thirty-five bedrooms at the hotel were refreshed with new furnishings, carpets and air-conditioning, while improvements were also made to the spa and restaurant areas.

The spa now includes a Himalayan infra-red salt room, an outdoor sauna and an upgraded spa pool. The Cliff Restaurant has also been redesigned to make greater use of the building’s sea-facing position, with menus that highlight seasonal Welsh produce.

Matt Barnby, Regional Operations Director for the Celtic Collection, said the accolade was recognition of the team’s work to enhance the guest experience.

“It’s great to see St Brides included in The Times’ Best 50 Places to Stay,” he said.

“The team here works incredibly hard to create a special experience for every guest, so this kind of recognition really means a lot. After the refurbishment last year, it’s also nice to see the hotel, and Pembrokeshire as a destination, getting this sort of national attention.”

St Brides Spa Hotel is managed by the Celtic Collection, which took over operations in 2024 in partnership with the Port of Milford Haven, the hotel’s owner.

The listing highlights the growing popularity of UK coastal breaks, with Pembrokeshire’s beaches, scenery and food offering continuing to attract visitors from across the country.