News

Young people help find homes for hundreds of birds thanks to Bluestone

Published

3 years ago

January 18, 2022

Matt Badger of Bluestone in a workshop where the bird box kits were designed before being assembled by pupils at Portfield School and others from throughout the UK who stayed at the Pembrokeshire short break resort.

AN INITIATIVE that began with just a few bird boxes being produced by Pembrokeshire schoolchildren to help nurture local nature soon snowballed with nearly 400 of them being built and distributed around the UK.

Pupils from Portfield School in Haverfordwest have been visiting Bluestone Resort near Narberth annually to help build boxes which are placed around the 500-acre resort.

In 2019 and 2020 the Portfield pupils built around 50 bird boxes that were sited, among other areas, in the historic Canaston Woods as well as at their own school site.

But the idea soon developed, and this year hundreds of families and young people got involved during their holidays at the resort, assembling their own bird boxes before taking them home to help house birds in their own communities.

And it was down to one of Bluestone’s employees, Matt Badger, to enable the idea which he began undertaking in his own time.

Marten Lewis, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Bluestone, said: “Each year the pupils from Portfield come to see the range of work we’re doing to support and encourage nature and biodiversity. The bird box building has been a part of that each time.

“In recent times our gardens and parks have become too tidy, with many of the scruffy bushes, nooks and crannies in old trees and walls disappearing, leaving birds with fewer places to nest. Bird boxes play an important part in giving our wild birds a helping hand.”

He added: “But this year one of our employees, Matt Badger, wanted to help scale up the project and ended up cutting the wood for nearly 400 wooden bird boxes. These were then assembled by hundreds of young people and their families while staying at Bluestone before being taken home to all parts of the UK to help birds and nature in their own communities.”

The materials for the bird boxes were sourced from UK grown sustainable woodlands with FSC accreditation. They were cut by Matt, a Facilities Compliance Co-Ordinator and keen trained carpenter, supported by Park Ranger Rob Mackeen who helped while Matt was off work.

Matt said: “We wanted to show young people how easy it is to help nurture nature. Many people who come to Bluestone do it because of the abundance of biodiversity, from the woods to the meadow and lake. They get hands on with a range of activities but assembling the bird boxes and taking them home ensures they continue their journey of understanding nature, as well as the memories they have from here.”

So keen about the idea, Matt initially began undertaking the timber cutting in his own time. Marten sourced the wood from a local supplier to ensure the whole process was as local as possible.

“We managed to undertake the whole project locally and at less cost,” he said

Matt added that he hoped other organisations and businesses would start similar projects working with schools and young people. “Imagine if more and more bird boxes began appearing in gardens and public places to support and encourage our biodiversity.”

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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.