Community

West Wales nature reserve opens new wildlife trail

Published

12 months ago

February 12, 2024

A NEW nature trail at a Tregaron nature reserve and glamping site was formally opened today by the founder of Lampeter Permaculture Group. Angie Polkey, a leading figure in nature-friendly land management, cut the ribbon at Orchid Meadows to cheers from local small-holding owners and conservation volunteers.

The trail takes visitors around flower-rich meadows, a newly planted wood, sphagnum moss wetland and a wildlife pond, following a series of wooden benches where people are encouraged to relax, take in the surroundings and see what they can spot around them. The trail starts in the reserve’s Evening Meadow, which is rich in orchids. Last summer over 1300 flowering heads of heath spotted orchid were counted in this and a neighbouring field, together with uncommon lesser butterfly orchids and whorled caraway, the county flower of Carmarthenshire but rare outside that county’s borders. Three of the benches lie within an area of new woodland, planted with trees native to the area, including alder, downy birch, aspen, western oak and hazel. One of these is at Bluebell Corner, aptly named because the ground turns rich blue in June.

The trail also crosses wetland, named Cors Caron Fach in a nod to the nearby National Nature Reserve managed by Natural Resources Wales. Here there are unusual plants that are also found in Cors Caron NNR, including bogbean, marsh marigold and marsh cinquefoil. Animal wildlife to get a mention on the trail include red kite, tawny owl, polecat, stonechat, badger, fox, dragonflies and damselflies, and the rare marsh fritillary butterfly.

Site owner Stephen Hounsham said: “There is an abundance of nature interest here at Orchid Meadows and our new trail will help people to experience it. At a time when biodiversity is facing such a squeeze, it is right that people with sites as special as ours share them with others, in our case our glamping guests.”

Orchid Meadows glamping site in Ceredigion offers three accommodation units: Tawny Cottage, Red Kite Yurt and Goldfinch Glampavan. Tawny Cottage is open for the new season now, while the yurt and the glampavan open in May. Many guests who come to Orchid Meadows choose the site primarily so they can explore nature and relax in beautiful surroundings.

Community

Paul Lucas receives British Empire Medal for services to education and charity

Published

1 hour ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

ONE of the driving forces behind the creation of Haverfordwest High VC School has been honoured with the British Empire Medal.

Mr Paul Lucas received his insignia from His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed, Miss Sara Edwards, at a special ceremony at County Hall, Haverfordwest, on Monday, January 20^th.

Mr Lucas was named in the New Year Honours for services to education and charity in Pembrokeshire.

Mr Lucas was Chairman of Governors at the newly created Haverfordwest High VC School at the time of its official opening by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal in 2022.

Mr Lucas oversaw the amalgamation of the former Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward schools into Haverfordwest High and the building of the fantastic new school on the former Sir Thomas Picton site.

Hosting the event, the Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council Cllr Steve Alderman noted that many, many thousands of students for decades to come will enjoy first class educational facilities at the new school, thanks to the dedication of Mr Lucas.

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed, Miss Sara Edwards, said: “On behalf of His Majesty The King, it was an honour and an enormous privilege to present Mr Paul Lucas with the British Empire Medal.

“Mr Lucas has provided incredible service to Pembrokeshire and Haverfordwest in particular and has been a driving force for educational improvement. His work will have a lasting legacy for future generations.”

Assisting the Lord-Lieutenant for the ceremony was Lord-Lieutenant Cadet Sergeant Mariana Lemon.

Also in attendance for the special occasion were the Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Jon Harvey; the High Sheriff of Dyfed, Helen Jones, and Deputy Lieutenant of Dyfed, Col Martin Green, along with Mr Lucas’ family and invited guests.

Community

County Show calling all Pembrokeshire parents and teachers

Published

1 hour ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SCHOOLCHILDREN from across the county are invited to the next Food Story event, Nutritious, Delicious & Local, which will take place at the Pembrokeshire County Showground on Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6, 2025.

This exciting event, suitable for pupils from Year 2 to Year 11, will offer a hands-on learning experience focusing on health and well-being, as well as the role of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in local food production. Topics will include how weather and climate impact farming, the growth of crops, and the daily challenges faced by farmers.

Children will also have the chance to cook and sample local produce, making it a truly interactive and educational experience.

All primary and secondary schools across Pembrokeshire will receive an invitation and booking form to attend. If teachers have not received the email and would like to participate, they are encouraged to contact the Pembrokeshire Showground Office at [email protected] as soon as possible.

Don’t miss this opportunity to inspire the next generation about the importance of nutritious, local food!

Community

Two hundred years of railways: ‘Railway 200’ launches in Aberystwyth

Published

2 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

WALES is geared up to mark 200 years of passenger rail travel this year as the UK marks the historic anniversary of the advent of the modern rail.

As part of the celebrations, a launch event is being held in Aberystwyth today, kicking off a year of events around the country.

Dr Louise Moon, Transport for Wales’ Railway 200 Programme Lead said it was exciting to be showcasing Wales’ history as well as promoting the innovations that are taking place now.

She said: “We’re incredibly excited to be sharing so much of our history across Wales within our communities, telling the stories of innovation, grit and determination.

“Railway 200 celebrates so much of our social and cultural history and how the railways transformed our country and made it what it is today.

“Towns like Aberystwyth grew massively with the arrival of the railway so it’s great to be launching the year of events here.

“We want to inspire a new generation not just with our proud history but through science, technology and innovation that is taking place right now as we are going through the next major transformation of our network which will connect future generations within Wales.”

While the milestone marks 200 years since the first passenger steam journey on the Stockton & Darlington Railway in September 27, 1825, Wales can rightly claim a huge part in the build up to that historic journey.

In 1804 Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick designs the Pen-y-Darren locomotive which pulled 10 tonnes of coal 10 miles from the Pen-y-Darren Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil to Abercynon.

And then in 1807, the Swansea and Mumbles Railway saw the world’s first fare paying passengers, with horses pulling their carriage along the rail tracks, proving a widely popular experience.

Transport for Wales is writing its own chapter in that history electrifying the core valley lines in south east Wales, building new stations and depots, and making an £800 million investment in new trains.

As part of the wider plans to tell the story of Railway 200 across the UK, four main themes will be explored.