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Fern-tastic new garden at popular Pembroke walk

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SEVEN varieties of native ferns have been planted at a new fern garden at Pembroke Mill Pond in the latest green enhancement to the town.

The garden is tucked away in a shady corner of the Mill Pond walk near the town walls – providing perfect growing conditions for the plants.

The fern garden was created by volunteers from Roots to Recovery programme, a people-led project all about the restorative powers of Pembrokeshire’s amazing outdoors.

Other work carried out by ‘Roots to Recovery’ in Pembroke include wildflower seed sowing on the Barnard’s Tower bank, clearance of invasive vegetation around the Castle Pond, clearance of built-up vegetation around the dipping platform, and tree weeding at Barnard’s Tower.

The new garden will make a significant difference to a previously overgrown and neglected area, as Maisie Sherratt explains.

“The before and after photos show how much ivy and bramble and other unwanted greenery we removed. The new and improved fern garden is a lovely addition to the Millpond walk,” said Maisie, from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

“We have a few more jobs lined up around the Castle and the Millpond for the coming months, it’s really enjoyable being able to make a difference to this area and always lovely when locals walk pass and say thank you to the group for their efforts.

“We want to say a big thank you to the lovely ladies at Pembroke Town Hall where we meet up before activities, always so helpful and accommodating and absolutely wonderful with our group members too!” said Sara Walters, from Mind Pembrokeshire, who works alongside Maisie on the project.

Roots to Recovery is delivered in partnership by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Mind Pembrokeshire, supported through the National Lottery Community Fund.

The materials for this project were funded through a Welsh Government grant (Local Places for Nature) to the Pembrokeshire Nature Partnership which is all about connecting people with nature where they live and work. This element of the work is led by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Regeneration Unit.

 

Community

Homeless people in Pembrokeshire at risk as heatwave continues

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HOMELESS people in Pembrokeshire are being offered extra support as Wales continues to face extreme heat.

The Wallich, which runs rough sleeping outreach and drop-in support in Haverfordwest, said people sleeping rough, living in cars, or staying in poor quality temporary accommodation are among those most at risk during the heatwave.

Outreach teams are helping people stay safe by offering water, sun cream, hats, wet wipes and other essentials.

Jamie-Lee Cole, Strategic Communications Lead for The Wallich, said: “People on the streets and living in poor quality or temporary housing are the most affected by climate change.

“They are the most exposed to extreme weather events like a heatwave, as well as heavy rain and cold in the winter.”

The charity said it is also offering advice on dehydration, sunstroke, worsening health conditions, wounds, and the added risks of drug and alcohol use during hot weather.

People are being encouraged to use cooler public spaces, such as libraries and support centres, during the hottest parts of the day.

The Wallich said some councils in Wales have activated Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, but called for all local authorities to include specific heatwave plans.

Ms Cole added: “It’s a sign of the times unfortunately that extreme heat will feature year on year, and we must make sure there are adequate and cool daytime spaces for people experiencing homelessness to access.”

The charity is also supporting people sleeping in cars, warning that vehicles can become dangerously hot.

Members of the public in Pembrokeshire are being urged to check on anyone they are worried about.

Ms Cole said: “If someone looks unwell and you feel safe to approach them, ask if they’re okay.

“Encourage them to move into shade or a cooler space. Alert emergency services if you think someone needs help in the heat.

“Offer people experiencing homelessness a cold drink and a chat, just like you would anyone else in your community.”

 

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Community

Local engineering student wins £5,000 South Hook scholarship

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A FORMER Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi pupil has been awarded a £5,000 scholarship by South Hook LNG.

Henry Raymond, who is in the second year of a five-year Chemical and Environmental Engineering degree at the University of Nottingham, is the latest recipient of the company’s annual scholarship award.

South Hook said Henry had shown strong academic performance, a clear work ethic, and a keen interest in the role of engineering within the energy sector.

The scholarship is aimed at supporting local students as they progress in higher education, particularly in engineering, science and business-related subjects.

Applicants are assessed through a written application and an informal interview, with the award forming part of South Hook LNG’s wider commitment to supporting education and young people in the local area.

Henry was invited to South Hook earlier this year, where he was presented with a certificate and the £5,000 award. The funding will help with student costs over the remainder of his studies.

Henry said: “I’m very grateful to South Hook to have received this award. The financial support will make a huge difference to life as a student, and it’s incredible to have this kind of backing from a major player in the energy industry.”

South Hook LNG’s General Manager, Hamad Al Samra said: “We are pleased to have once again received applications from so many committed and capable young people.

“The team involved in the selection process at South Hook were particularly impressed by Henry’s dedication and commitment to his chosen subject.

“We are pleased to offer our support and wish him the very best in his future studies.”

South Hook LNG’s Scholarship Programme encourages applications from local students seeking higher education in engineering, science or business-related disciplines.

Details of how to apply for the 2026/27 award will be available on the company’s website during September.

Scholarship success: Henry Raymond, South Hook LNG’s 2026 scholarship recipient, with members of the South Hook team involved in assessing the applications.

 

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Council ‘did not request or give direction’ to cancel Tenby Summer Spectacular

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PEMBROKESHIRE County Council has stressed it has not “requested or given direction” that Tenby’s much-loved Summer Spectacular should be cancelled after fears have been raised it may not go ahead.

Earlier this week, organisers Tenby Round Table said it was “with enormous sadness,” announcing that the Tenby Summer Spectacular events, scheduled for August 16 and 30, are cancelled until further notice.

The events, which have been a staple in Tenby’s summer calendar for many years, but the Round Table says negotiations with Pembrokeshire County Council have failed to produce a clear, workable agreement on temporary restrictions for pedestrian access during the event.

Without that, they say, they cannot legally or safely control crowd numbers.

A spokesperson said that legal and logistical uncertainty from the council meant organisers could not commit to running such a large-scale event this year, adding the situation has not improved despite months of requests, meetings, and professional safety consultations.

In a statement issued earlier this week, Tenby Round Table said: “We have done everything a responsible event organiser can do.”

It claimed: “PCC’s Public Realm department has had nine months to answer one question on safe and controlled access to the harbour. It has not done so.”

The group maintains that similar crowd management techniques are standard elsewhere in the country and vital for safety.

The Round Table added: “Given the lack of clarity and the time needed to arrange these events, we cannot commit to running events for thousands of people based on a legal position that PCC’s own officers have admitted is still not settled.”

It has stressed the cancellation is provisional, giving the council “a final deadline of June 25 to provide a clear, accurate, and legally grounded answer,” adding: “If they do, we will do everything in our power to reinstate the events.”

It said it was still working with relevant authorities ahead of a council licencing committee meeting in July, which will decide on whether a licence to host the events is renewed.

Responding, Pembrokeshire County Council Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller said the council supports the Spectacular and “has not requested or given direction that the event should be cancelled”.

He added: “The Spectacular is a much-loved event with significant number of attendees. As a result, we have an important duty to make sure the event can take place safely to address the concerns formally raised by the responsible authorities under the licensing act, which include the blue light services.

“Tenby Harbour is a working harbour and a key community asset – and just as every year this event needs to be licensed, and the organisers need to provide important information on how they plan to safely manage the event.

“As a council, we very much want this event to go ahead, but we have to make sure the event is safe for the public, with the right safety measures in place.

“Once the organisers provide the required information, the licensing sub-committee (currently scheduled for July) will consider the event application, in exactly the same way they consider the large number of other events which occur across Pembrokeshire each year.”

Local Member, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, added: “I want to see the Spectaculars go ahead. It is important for locals and visitors alike to celebrate Tenby, have fun and raise money for worthy causes.

“I am really encouraged from meetings that I have had with senior officers that everyone is ready to do all that they can to enable these events to go ahead.”

 

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