Community
Everyone is welcome to the latest Community Open Day at Milford Haven mosque

FOLLOWING the wonderful success of the open days at Milford Haven mosque on September 10 and 11, Milford Haven’s Islamic community has decided to open the doors once again to those who missed the event due to the death of The Queen, and of course to everyone who came last time who would like to pop in again.
Everyone is welcome from all over Pembrokeshire and beyond – this is not only a Milford Haven event – The Herald has been told.
The Mosque said it understands that some people stayed at home following the loss of The Sovereign, and others may have thought that the event had been cancelled, as many events across the UK had been cancelled during that weekend.

The next open day will take place on Sunday October 2 and the venue will be open between 12pm to 5pm.
During the Open Day there will be an exhibition of Islam, and food will be provided for guests.
There is no need to book if you would like to attend, and women are respectfully requested to consider their dress is appropriate when attending the mosque.

DEFINITION OF ISLAM
A way of life that leads to peace by keeping the commandments to attain submission to the one and only God.
In Islam belief in the one and only God is fundamental. Associating anyone or anything else with God is a mortal sin.
THE DEFINITION OF A MUSLIM
A Muslim is a person who believes in the religion of his father Abraham, believing in the one and only God and in all the prophets and messengers. A Muslim is one who submits his will to the will of God.
WHO IS ALLAH
It is the proper name for God in Arabic.
Christians whose mother tongue is Arabic refer to God as Allah.
WHAT MUSLIMS BELIEVE
Muslims believe in all the Prophets from Adam through to Moses and Jesus; they believe Muhammad is the last Prophet sent by God to mankind.
WHO IS MUHAMMAD
He is the descendant of Ishmael son of Abraham.
Prophesised by:
-Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord thy God will raise up on to thee a prophet from the midst of thee of thy brethren like unto me unto him ye shall harken”.
-Jesus in the Gospel of John 14:15-16 “if you love me keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter”.
WHO GAVE THE MESSAGE TO MUHAMMAD.
Angel Gabriel visited Muhammad over a period of twenty-three years revealing the Quran in stages.
The same Angel Gabriel who announced to Mary that she was to have a holy son named Jesus.
THE MESSAGE OF GOD THROUGH MUHAMMAD IS THE QURAN
The Quranic message is the same as the message of all the prophets sent by God.
That message is to believe in the one and only God and his prophets or Messengers.
For example,
– Deuteronomy; the message of Moses in 6:4 “Hear O’Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one”.
-The Gospel of Mark; we find the message of Jesus, “Hear O’Israel the Lord your God is one God”.
-The Quran chapter 112 “Say He Allah, Allah the Eternal, Absolute’.
WHO DOES THE QURAN ADDRESS
The Quran addresses:
-Mankind, stating that the Quran is a mercy to all mankind.
The Quran also states that Muhammad is a mercy to all mankind.
Most of mankind have not read the Quran, yet God addresses them directly and indirectly.
-The scientific community to include embryologists, oceanologists, astrologers and others.
-People of different beliefs:
Addressing the Jews, as “Children of Israel” and the Christians as “people of the Gospel” and others.
THE MUSLIM RELIGION
When addressing Muslims in Chapter twenty-two, the Quran informs the Muslims that their religion is the religion of their father Abraham who did not join gods with God.
Abraham’s religion was belief in one God.
In Chapter three the Quran informs mankind that Abraham was not a Jew nor a Christian, for neither Moses nor Christ had appeared.
The Quran informs us that Abraham was a man true in faith and submitted his will to the will of God.
THE STORY OF ABRAHAM BEING ASKED TO SACRIFICE HIS SON
The Bible and the Quran tell the story of how Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son.
Abraham submitted to the one and only God and God replaced his son with a lamb.
ABIDING BY THE COMMANDMENTS
Abiding by the commandments is submission.
The Quran instructs Muslims to obey Allah and obey his messenger.
This is the same as The Old Testament at Genesis 26:5 “Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”
In the Gospel of John, Jesus informs his followers at 14: 15 “If you love me keep my commands”.
Matthew 5:17 “do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them”.
Quran 5:46 “and in their footsteps (that is the footsteps of earlier prophets) we sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the law that came before him, We sent him the Gospel; therein was guidance and a light and a confirmation of the law that had come before him; a guidance and an admonition for those who guard against evil”.
PEACE/SALAM
The word Islam comes from the same root letters as the word peace. Thus, submission to the will of Allah brings about a state of peace by way of submission.
CONCLUSION
Muslims believe in:
-God.
-the same God who Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus believed in.
-that Muhammad is the last and final prophet.
-the commandments of all the prophets from Adam to Muhammad.
-the day of Judgement.

Community
Haverfordwest fire station hosts community engagement event

HAVERFORDWEST FIRE STATION welcomed County Councillor Thomas Tudor for a community engagement event alongside Emyr and Amy from Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub CGC / Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
The event focused on the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2040, a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing public safety across Mid and West Wales. The fire service is encouraging residents to take an active role in shaping the plan by providing feedback through an online survey.
Councillor Tudor praised the initiative, highlighting the importance of community involvement in developing a safer and more resilient region.
Residents can participate in the consultation by visiting: www.mawwfire.gov.uk.
Community
Restoring lost lichens in Pembrokeshire’s Celtic rainforest

A LICHEN success story is being celebrated in an area of ancient rainforest in Cwm Gwaun thanks to the conservation efforts of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
Cwm Gwaun is one of the treasures of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, renowned not only for its deep-rooted Welsh language and culture but also for its ancient Celtic rainforest. This unique landscape is home to five Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), each nationally significant for its lichen-rich woodlands.
Lichens thrive in well-lit, humid environments with exceptionally clean air. However, in recent decades, these delicate ecosystems have declined due to changes in traditional woodland grazing practices and the impact of agriculture and industry on air quality.
One of the most striking lichens, Tree Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria), was recorded on only five trees in the valley in 2007. Encouragingly, recent signs suggest that conditions are once again becoming favourable for its recovery.
A breakthrough moment came in 2017 when a Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Conservation Officer discovered a small fragment of Tree Lungwort on the ground following a storm at the Sychpant picnic site. Using netting from a fruit bag, they secured the fragment to a nearby ash tree, where it has since thrived. This unexpected success inspired a larger-scale effort to restore this vital species.
As part of the Cysylltu Natur 25×25 project, a lichen expert has now transplanted 46 small, windblown fragments of Tree Lungwort onto 20 trees across three carefully selected sites in Cwm Gwaun. These locations were chosen following thorough surveys, which confirmed the presence of other old-growth forest lichens with similar habitat needs.
Each tree has been mapped and labelled, allowing volunteers to monitor the progress of the transplants in the months and years ahead. The storm that once dislodged a fragment of Tree Lungwort may ultimately help breathe new life into Cwm Gwaun’s extraordinary lichen communities.
Mary Chadwick, Conservation Officer for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, remarked, “Tree lungwort is a stunning lichen that embodies the essence of Atlantic rainforests. It’s exciting to contribute to its gradual recovery across Cwm Gwaun.
This project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme and delivered by the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government.
Community
Best practice showcased at Pembroke river restoration project

A RECENTLY restored section of the Pembroke river, near Milford Haven, will be used as a demonstration site for future river restoration projects following a series of interventions to improve the health of the river and the estuary downstream.
Delivered by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in collaboration with the landowner, large woody material has been placed into a 200 metre stretch of the river in a bid to restore natural river processes and ‘re-wiggle’ the river.
This helps to create different flows within the river, and encourage natural bends, known as meanders, to form over time. These are currently lacking in the river as it has historically been straightened for human purposes.
The wood also traps silt and debris, encouraging the regeneration of habitat for invertebrates and other species. It provides shelter for migratory fish who travel upstream to reach spawning grounds.
To reduce soil erosion and improve water quality, 570 metres of fencing has been installed to prevent livestock from entering the river with new, alternative drinking water sources introduced.
With support and funding from the Pembroke River Restoration Project Partnership, 600 trees were also planted to create a woody corridor alongside the river. Once matured, the trees will provide a buffer zone between productive agricultural land and the river, reducing nutrient run-off impacting on water quality.
NRW now hopes to use the project to showcase river restoration practices using nature-based solutions.
Andrew Lewis, from NRW’s Marine Projects Team said: “Sadly, many of our rivers no longer function in their natural state due to human interference, climate change and pollution. This can have huge impacts on water quality, habitat and wildlife in some of our most protected rivers and estuaries.
“As well as impacting the environment, the recurring issues in the Pembroke River and the Pembroke Mill Ponds are having a negative impact on community wellbeing and local tourism.
“The nature-based solutions delivered here are simple but effective, and will contribute to wider efforts and initiatives to drive down nutrient pollution in our waterways.
“The project highlights the importance of partnership-driven conservation efforts, and it is our ambition to showcase what we’ve achieved here so it can successfully be replicated elsewhere.”
The Milford Haven Waterway is designated as a Marine Special Area of Conservation, while significant stretches of its coastline are also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Both the Pembroke river, and the Milford Haven inner transitional water, are both failing to meet ‘good’ water quality status. High levels of soil erosion and nutrients cause sedimentation and algal blooms in the nearby Pembroke Mill ponds each summer. Mud also gets deposited on protected habitats such as maerl beds in the Haven, which is a protected feature of the SAC.
The project has been funded by the Welsh Government’s Water Capital Programme, which supports a number of environmental priorities including river restoration, metal mine remediation, fisheries and water quality.
-
Crime3 days ago
Calls for urgent reform as violence among teens rises in Wales
-
Top News4 days ago
Pembrokeshire man sentenced for driving four times over drink-drive limit
-
News5 days ago
Oil tanker and cargo ship ablaze after collision in North Sea
-
News2 days ago
Delays to Wales’ tribunal system ‘deeply troubling’
-
Business6 days ago
New owners reopen The Vibe in Milford Haven
-
Crime5 days ago
John Cooper appeal file still under review, but CCRC says process ‘will take time’
-
News6 days ago
Pembrokeshire becomes latest council to consider devolution of Crown Estate
-
Crime4 days ago
Milford man jailed for hurling racial insults during verbal attack