NEW electric vehicle (EV) chargers installed in the Welsh mountains are among the highest-altitude charge points in the UK – and arguably the most scenic.

RAW Charging has installed a set of new EV chargers at Pont ar Daf car park, a gateway to Pen y Fan, the tallest peak in southern Britain. Situated in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, the chargers allow walkers and nature lovers to power up their vehicles while exploring the great outdoors.

Standing at 886 metres above sea level, Pen y Fan attracts around 500,000 visitors each year. Its name translates to “Top of this Place” in Welsh. The Pont ar Daf car park, where the new chargers are located, lies at approximately 440 metres, making it one of the highest EV charging locations in the country.

Other high-altitude charging sites in the UK include the Cairnwell Pass and Glenshee Ski Centre in the Scottish Highlands, sitting at around 670 metres, and the Kirkstone Pass Inn in the Lake District, which has charge points at approximately 454 metres.

The Pont ar Daf chargers are part of a nationwide rollout by RAW Charging in partnership with the National Trust. The £12 million project, launched in 2023, has already delivered over 160 EV charging bays at 18 National Trust sites. In 2025, installations will expand to more than 20 iconic destinations, including Cragside Estate, Packwood, Grey’s Court, Stourhead and Polesden Lacey, coinciding with the National Trust’s 130th anniversary.

Jason Simpson, CEO of RAW Charging, said: “Destinations such as Pen y Fan draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to enjoy their natural beauty. Until now, many EV drivers had to plan detours to find suitable charging points. With the installation at Pont ar Daf, visitors can now conveniently charge while immersed in some of the UK’s most spectacular scenery.”

The 12 new charging bays offer 100% renewable energy and feature contactless payment for ease of use.

According to Zapmap, there are now 38,737 public charging locations across the UK, with just 4% located in Wales. With an estimated 1.3 million EVs currently on the road, and projections suggesting that 55% of vehicles will be electric by 2030, the need for well-placed infrastructure is growing rapidly.

March 2025 marked a record-breaking month for EV adoption, with sales rising 38% year-on-year.

THE WALES AIR AMBULANCE charity shop in Tenby is calling for new volunteers to join its friendly and hardworking team ahead of a busy summer season.

Karen Ward, Assistant General Manager at the Upper Frog Street store, says volunteering has been one of the most rewarding decisions she’s made. Karen, 66, lives in Hundleton and makes the thirty-minute drive to Tenby five days a week.

“I haven’t looked back since joining the team two years ago,” she said. “Our shop is very popular – there’s always someone coming through the door!”

Originally from the Midlands, Karen previously worked in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter before moving to West Wales. She spent 22 years working at Kiln Park and returned to retail in 2023.

The grandmother of four added: “The shop is so much fun. We create a great atmosphere for our volunteers – we want everyone to enjoy being here. We love to celebrate birthdays with cake, silly hats, music and a good sing-song. We definitely go over the top!”

Karen says no two days are the same, and there’s always plenty to do. “There’s never a dull moment,” she said. “Some days you’re sorting through donations, other days you’re pricing stock or serving customers. Our manager, Kirsty Gardiner, and I do the back-of-house work, while our wonderful volunteers handle the shop floor.”

From tidying rails and cleaning to dressing windows and helping customers, there’s a job for everyone. “We want the shop to look great and be welcoming – it’s about creating a space people want to come back to,” said Karen.

The shop attracts a wide mix of customers. “We have regulars who visit every day and always find something to buy,” she said. “Holidaymakers pop in too – the kids head for the toys and books, mum browses the clothes, and dad makes a beeline for the furniture.”

The shop also plays an important social role. “Some of our older visitors come in just for a chat,” Karen added. “Sometimes we’re the only people they’ll talk to all day. That ten-minute conversation means the world.”

Window displays are a point of pride for the team. “People often poke their heads in and say, ‘Is this really a charity shop?’” Karen laughed. “Kirsty and I do the windows – we love getting creative with new themes. The volunteers always take the credit when people compliment the display, which is lovely – everyone feels proud.”

Upcoming displays include a colourful spring theme, followed by Easter decorations and then a ‘Glastonbury-style’ summer festival window.

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations of pre-loved items such as clothes, furniture, games, ornaments and music.

Karen said: “We’re a busy shop with a brilliant team, but we really do need more volunteers as we head into summer. There’s no age limit, and no experience is needed – we’ll train you. It’s a great way to gain confidence and new skills, and it looks fantastic on your CV.”

To find out more about volunteering, donating, or shopping at Wales Air Ambulance stores, visit: walesairambulance.com/shops

ANGLE RNLI were called out twice on Sunday (April 5) to separate incidents on the water — including a report of a jet skier in difficulty at Hobbs Point and an early morning rescue of a yacht fouled on a mooring in Dale.

The second call of the day came at 5:57pm, when the all-weather lifeboat was launched following several 999 calls reporting a person clinging to the jetty piles at Hobbs Point, Pembroke Dock.

The crew made best speed to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the individual had managed to get themselves out of trouble. A welfare check was carried out, and with no further assistance required, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

Earlier that morning at 6:33am, the crew had launched to assist the crew of an 11-metre yacht in Dale, which had become fouled on a mooring buoy overnight. During their efforts to free the vessel, the yacht’s crew had also lost their dinghy.

The lifeboat reached the scene within ten minutes, and a crew member was transferred aboard the yacht to help resolve the situation. The yacht had been secured by the bow to another buoy, and after several attempts, the RNLI crew member successfully cut the yacht free.

To avoid further risk to the yacht’s crew, the lifeboat’s inflatable Y boat was launched to recover the lost dinghy. With the vessel freed and the dinghy recovered, the yacht crew carried out checks to ensure their steering and propeller were functioning correctly before continuing their journey.

The lifeboat was back at station and ready for further service by 8:00am.