A MAJOR step forward in outdoor learning was celebrated at the Senedd on Thursday (Mar 13) with the launch of Tirlun, a bilingual educational resource designed to connect children across Wales with the country’s eight Designated Landscapes.

Developed over three years through a collaboration between Wales’ National Parks and National Landscapes, Tirlun offers more than 90 interactive activities linked to the Curriculum for Wales. The resource, available on Hwb—the all-Wales digital learning platform—and a dedicated website, supports both classroom and outdoor learning, inspiring young people to engage with the landscapes on their doorstep.

Deputy First Minister for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “Tirlun is a great example of how we should make sure our response to the climate and nature emergencies is a part of everything we do. Projects like this are vital to developing the future guardians of our finest landscapes and our fragile biodiversity.

“Funded through the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Landscapes, Sustainable Places programme, I am excited to see this step forward, and my thanks go to all the schools, teachers, and the National Parks and National Landscapes teams for their help in making it happen.”

The materials include lesson plans, interactive presentations, and activities that encourage children to explore the natural world, whether in their local area or further afield. The project brings together expertise from across Wales’ Designated Landscapes, ensuring Tirlun reflects the cultural and environmental richness of these areas.

Graham Peake, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority-based project lead, said: “Tirlun is packed with exciting activities and interactive presentations, which we hope will enrich the outdoor learning journeys of many children across Wales.

“The National Parks and National Landscapes of Wales collectively cover more than 20% of our land area, so we really should be giving our learners the opportunity to explore these areas. The 90-plus activities included will also enable children to discover their own outdoors, where they live.”

A teacher involved in developing and testing the activities said: “Tirlun is a fantastic cross-curricular resource that we use to enhance our Outdoor Learning lessons. The presentations and activities motivate the children, who stay really engaged throughout. Everything is included in the resources, and they link perfectly to the Curriculum for Wales and Digital Competence Framework.”

The Senedd launch brought together educators and representatives from Wales’ Designated Landscapes. The event featured presentations from children already using the Tirlun resources, showcasing how the project is making an impact in classrooms across the country.

Teachers and learners can explore the Tirlun resources on Hwb and the dedicated website at https://tirlun.wales/.

For more information about Wales’ Designated Landscapes and their role in protecting and promoting natural and cultural heritage, visit https://landscapeswales.org.uk/.

A FIRE broke out in the cab of an articulated lorry at Pembroke Fair in the early hours of Sunday (Mar 16), prompting a call-out for Pembroke Dock firefighters.

Showmen sleeping in their caravans at the Commons had a lucky escape when their generator truck caught fire in the middle of the night. By the time the alarm was raised, the vehicle was already well alight.

Thanks to the swift actions of those at the scene, the blaze did not spread to nearby caravans—a potentially deadly situation due to the presence of sleeping occupants and Calor Gas bottles used for heating and cooking.

The incident occurred near Commons Road, Pembroke, with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) receiving the call at 2:42am.

A MAWWFRS spokesperson said: “The crew responded to a vehicle fire involving the cab of an articulated lorry.

“The main fire was out on the crew’s arrival, and firefighters used one hose reel jet to dampen down the area. A thermal imaging camera was deployed to check for remaining hot spots.

“Safety information and guidance were given to the vehicle’s driver.

“The crew left the scene at 3:18am.”

No injuries were reported.

(Pictures: File images)

AFTER more than a year of careful rearing, thousands of juvenile native oysters have now been returned to the Milford Haven Waterway, marking a major milestone in an ambitious restoration project involving the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Since the project began in late 2023, Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences has been nurturing native oyster broodstock collected from Angle Bay and Burton Ferry. These oysters spawned multiple times in controlled conditions, producing hundreds of thousands of larvae. The tiny larvae were then reared until they were ready to settle on to shells, where they mostly remain fixed as they grow. Some scallop shells held as many as 160 individual oyster spat, ranging from 4mm to 10mm in size.

In February, an estimated 200,000 baby oysters were released into the Waterway by students from Paddle West. Braving a strong easterly wind, the team (assisted by Sky the dog, and with rescue cover support from Rudders Boatyard) successfully deposited the oysters onto the seabed. While not all will survive, many are expected to take hold and contribute to the recovery of the native oyster population.

Once abundant in UK waters, native oyster populations have dramatically declined due to habitat loss, pollution, over-harvesting and disease

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Biodiversity Officer, Sarah Mellor, said “This collaborative project is a major step forward for native oyster restoration in Wales. Achieving complex native oyster reefs once again in the Daugleddau may seem a distant dream, but this project has accelerated our learning and made the dream tangible. These oysters will play a vital role in improving water quality, storing carbon and creating habitat for marine life.”

To further support the restoration effort, some of the oyster-covered scallop shells have been placed into oyster hotels at Rudders Boatyard, where they will be closely monitored. Atlantic Edge Oysters will also oversee a selection of the young oysters to assess their growth rates.

The oysters will be tracked as part of the Natur am Byth! Mòr restoration project, delivered by the Marine Conservation Society with assistance from Sue Burton, the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC Officer.

Sue said,“Native oyster restoration needs oyster suppliers and growers, and this project has proved that we can deliver this in Wales with our home-grown native oysters and expertise.”

The project is being delivered in partnership with Bangor University, the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC Officer and Tethys Oysters in Angle Bay. It forms part of the Blue Carbon Strand of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Wild Coast! Sustainable Landscapes, Sustainable Places Programme, funded by the Welsh Government and co-ordinated by Tirweddau Cymru Landscapes Wales.

The restored oysters will now be closely monitored to assess their survival and growth, helping to inform future restoration efforts and strengthen the long-term recovery of the species in the Milford Haven Waterway.