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Gardener’s World presenter to design accessible garden for Scolton Manor

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THE NORMAL INDUSTRIES team at Scolton Manor in Haverfordwest is helping Gardener’s World presenter Sue Kent to make her first ‘show garden’ at Hampton Court Flower Show. 

The event, which is taking place between 4 – 9 July 2022, will showcase Sue’s design for a garden that enable people with disabilities to work in and enjoy a garden.

In return for the help, Sue has agreed that after the show the garden will come back to Pembrokeshire and be located long-term at Scolton Manor Park.  

The garden will be developed to cater for a wider range of disabilities over the next year, and will be looked after by a team of disabled people supported by Norman Industries. Visitors will be able to see it in place at Scolton Manor from September.  

The staff at Norman Industries have been working with Sue to design and create key elements of her garden. Progress made was highlighted on last week’s on Gardener’s World* and shows the fences being made by Norman Industries Site Manager Dai Brock and his team – and in particular how the new saw mill is being put to good use. Dai’s team will also get the opportunity to attend Hampton Court to help construct the garden. 

Sue, who is from Swansea, has had a physical disability from birth. She is keen gardener and during the pandemic she sent in a one of the people’s videos that Gardener’s World were showing. They liked it so much that they snapped her up as a presenter.  

Sue Kent said: “Working with Norman Industries is a richly rewarding experience. Their ability to creatively problem solve and their enabling approach is turning my idea for my RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden festival show garden into a high quality reality.”

Norman Industries provides training and work opportunities for people with a wide range of disabilities.

Karen Davies, Programme Manager at Norman Industries added: “I have known Sue for more than 30 years and when we met up recently and she was telling me how she was struggling to find other disabled people to help her with the garden, I knew that Norman Industries had to help.  

“The garden showcases the various ways that Sue has adapted her own garden to make it work for her – everything has to either be shallow or accessible by feet to accommodate her disabilities.” 

“This has been a fantastic opportunity for everyone at Norman Industries to show that having a disability is not a barrier to creativity, good workmanship or hard work.  I am really proud of the work that is being done and really looking forward to seeing the garden at Hampton Court in July.”

As part of the garden design, Sue wanted to include some artwork. When she visited recently she met Hannah John and Gethin Williams who are both autistic and employed by Norman Industries in their craft area, she really liked their work. Both artists will have work featured in the garden which has a daisy theme. 

If anyone would like to help fund the garden build and its return to Scolton Manor Park, Sue has created a “Go Fund Me” page.  It can be found at https://gofund.me/9ed5fd01 

For further updates on Sue’s garden designs, checkout her Instagram

Community

Rent in Pembrokeshire rises 7% over past year

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NEW figures reveal that private rental costs in Pembrokeshire have climbed by 7% in the past year, with the average monthly rent reaching £625 in October. This is a significant increase from £582 a year earlier and represents a 22% rise over the past five years, where the average rent was estimated at £511.  

The data, collected by Rent Officers Wales as part of the Housing and Regeneration Division, highlights growing pressure on tenants amidst rising costs. The collection aims to cover approximately 15% of the rental market by gathering data from landlords and letting agents.  

Across Wales, the average monthly rent has risen 8% year-on-year to £766. Cardiff recorded the highest rental cost in the country at £1,062 per month, while Powys had the lowest at £556.  

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, commented on the challenges faced by renters in a press statement sent to The Pembrokeshire Herald. She said: “Getting good news about your rent is about as common as discovering your housemates have washed up for you, or your landlord suggesting you get a dog. For many, the only way out of the endless cycle of rising costs is to buy, but that’s far easier said than done when rents absorb so much of your income.”  

The situation is compounded by a lack of available rental properties. Nathan Emerson, chief executive at Propertymark, explained: “As we continue to see further increases in rental prices across the UK, our members emphasize the lack of rental stock versus an ever-growing number of tenants. Selling up or turning to the short-term letting market has become a more attractive option for landlords due to challenging legislative changes and increased financial liabilities.”  

Breakdown of Rental Costs in Pembrokeshire

The figures show a range of costs depending on property type and size in Pembrokeshire:  

– A one-bedroom property: £462 per month  

– A two-bedroom property: £576 per month  

– A three-bedroom property: £732 per month  

– Homes with four or more bedrooms: £934 per month  

By property type:  

– Detached houses: £768 per month  

– Semi-detached houses: £653 per month  

– Terraced houses: £629 per month  

– Flats or maisonettes: £521 per month  

In October, the average rent for private properties across Great Britain stood at £1,307 per month—up 9% compared to the same period last year. This equates to an increase of £105 per month.  

As landlords adapt to changing regulations and financial pressures, the shortage of rental properties continues to push prices higher, creating further challenges for tenants across Pembrokeshire and beyond.

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Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

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A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund.  This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable  irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

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Community

Council warns of icy conditions as temperatures drop

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ROAD users in Pembrokeshire are being urged to exercise caution tonight as temperatures are forecast to dip below freezing.

Pembrokeshire County Council has announced that road surface temperatures could reach as low as -2°C, with the possibility of sleet or snow on higher ground. In response, precautionary salting of the county’s primary routes will be carried out this evening and overnight.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Road users are advised to take care if travelling on untreated roads.”

Motorists are reminded to plan ahead and drive carefully, particularly in areas that may not have been treated.

Stay tuned to The Herald for updates on road conditions and weather warnings.

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