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Entertainment

Breeding male sloth ‘Casa’ Nova joins the Folly Farm family

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FOLLY FARM has welcomed another sloth to its expanding zoo family, in the form of adorable two-year old male sloth, Nova, bringing its number of sloths up to four!

Linne’s two toed sloth Nova, arrived from Hamerton Park Zoo in Cambridgeshire, as part of the European Breeding Programme for the species. He was born to parents ‘Vee’ and ‘Snuffles’ in November 2021, and as a young male, he has joined young female ‘Button’, who arrived at the zoo last Summer, to make a breeding pair. So, the pitter patter of tiny, two-toed claws could be within Folly Farm’s reach in the coming years!

Nova and Button have been getting acquainted in the Sloth Forest exhibit within Tropical Trails, where they will reside alongside a variety of rare and beautiful birds. But in typical sloth fashion, their union is very much taken at a slow and steady pace. Sloths reach sexual maturity between three and five years old, and with both youngsters currently being just two years old – keepers may have to be patient for a while yet. But to potentially welcome the next generation of sloths as a breeding centre for the species in the future is a very exciting prospect for species – and for the award-winning zoo!

Folly Farm Zookeeper Kim Cartwright enthused; “We’re so excited to have welcomed a breeding pair of sloths at the zoo within such a short space of time as part of a managed breeding programme. Nova has settled into his new home really well and seems pretty chilled, enjoying some sweet potato treats and regular naps. He’s already met our breeding female Button and we’re keeping everything crossed that he’ll be her “Casa” Nova – and we’ll be welcoming some sloth cubs in the future!”

Sloth Keeper at Hamerton, Cathy Evans said: “Nova has very much inherited the best of both his parents with mum Vee’s good looks and dad Snuffle’s easy-going nature. He’s been a firm favourite with visitors and keepers whilst he’s lived here at the park, especially as he often enjoyed napping on his feed dish at the front of the enclosure right on view! This lovely character will be missed by his keepers but we are delighted to hear he’s settling into his new home well and we wish him and Button all the best in their future pairing.”

Folly Farm is also home to elderly sloth residents Tuppee and Lightcap who are enjoying their twilight years in their more peaceful enclosure in Tropical Trails, away from the youngsters. Tuppee is around 30 years old and Lightcap is one of the oldest sloths in European zoos at around 41 years old! So not only is the zoo providing care for the older residents at its sloth ”retirement home”, it’s hoping this new breeding pair will bring a new lease of life into Tropical Trails with a “sloth nursery” for the species!

For more information on days out at Folly Farm, visit the website www.folly-farm.co.uk, search Folly Farm on Facebook @FollyFarm. Check out Instagram or X @FollyFarmWales and follow @follyfarmwalesofficial on TikTok.

You can adopt sloths at Folly Farm via their website at:
https://www.folly-farm.co.uk/adopt-an-animal/sloth-adoption/

Entertainment

Zulu children’s choir to perform in Pembrokeshire as part of UK tour

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A CHOIR of young South African singers is returning to Wales as part of its latest UK tour, with performances and busking dates confirmed in St Davids and Cardiff.

The Project Zulu Choir, made up of 20 children aged 11 to 14 from two township schools in KwaZulu-Natal, will arrive in the UK on May 17. Over the following three weeks, they will showcase their vibrant traditional Zulu songs and dances at venues across the South West.

Their Pembrokeshire stop includes a visit to St Davids, where they will be hosted by Celtic Camping. The choir will busk in the city centre on Sunday, May 26, followed by a full concert at Celtic Camping on Monday, May 27. They will then travel to Cardiff for a final day of busking on Tuesday, May 28.

Ian Griffiths, owner of Celtic Camping, said: “It has been an immense privilege over the years to host and foster a wonderful relationship with the Project Zulu Choir. The venue here will provide a fantastic setting for them to perform, and a memorable experience for everyone to enjoy.”

Every pound raised during the tour will go directly towards improving educational facilities at the choir members’ schools back home in South Africa.

Last year’s tour raised a record-breaking £32,000, and organisers are hoping to surpass that figure in 2024.

Dr Benjamin Knight, director of Project Zulu, said: “The choir will bring boundless energy and charisma during their tour, projecting their incredible sound and thrilling audiences. Every ticket bought and every donation made will directly impact young people’s futures.”

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Entertainment

Local Actor Samuel Freeman in The Mumford & Sons Story

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THIS May, award-winning live theatre and events company, The Production Garden, brings you The Mumford & Sons Story – Awake My Soul only at the Torch Theatre. The show recreates the incredible tale of the floor-stomping folk-rock band that in 2009, took the world by storm.

Four musicians, including Milford Haven’s very own Samuel Freeman, come together in tweed waistcoats, skinny jeans and bushy beards to celebrate the best of Mumford & Sons’ iconic music and their explosive rise to fame. This is a stomp and holler not to be missed!

“I was such a massive fan growing up. Their first two albums were the soundtrack of my sixth form. But they were also a huge influence for me as a musician and composer in theatre. Mumford & Sons taught me the power of fantastic storytelling. The sheer ability they had to make an acoustic guitar and double bass sound like the world’s biggest and loudest rock band gave me the confidence to write like that myself,” said Samuel Freeman, the double bassist of the band.

This spectacular quartet will have you on your feet, authentically performing Mumford & Sons’ distinct and original sound. You’ll be taken on a musical journey of the first two albums, Sigh No More and Babel, from their start in West London dive bars, to the group’s legendary Glastonbury gig and worldwide renown.

The show has recently received a stellar review at The Tivoli Theatre in Aberdeen being described as a “tribute band worthy of bearing their name.”

Sam concluded: “Matthew Emeny (Guitar) and I were lucky enough to recruit the exceptionally talented Josh Wells (Keyboard) and Stan Elliot (Banjo) to join us, and we locked ourselves away in a rehearsal room to capture the sound and essence of the ultimate Mumford & Sons tribute.

“We still must pinch ourselves really. Last year we put this show together almost as a laugh, got 14 gigs, jumped in a van and hit the road…a year on, the response has just been phenomenal. We are so grateful to everyone who has come along and had a blast with us every single night, and because of that, 2025 is looking so much bigger and better with incredible things to come!” 

After a debut hit tour last year, this spectacular band is back bigger and better than ever. With beautiful vocal harmonies and foot-stomping drums playing all of Mumford & Sons very best hits, including Little Lion Man, I Will Wait, The Cave, Roll Away Your Stone and many more. You’ll have a night to remember!

Tickets for The Mumford & Sons Story on Friday 9 May at 7.30pm are £23. Visit the website for further details www.torchtheatre.co.uk or phone the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

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Entertainment

Let’s ‘raise a little hell this spring’ at The Torch Theatre

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STARRING Tony-Nominee Jeremy Jordan and Olivier-Nominee Frances Mayli McCann, this award-winning, cult-favourite production Bonnie and Clyde The Musical  (including Best New Musical – What’s On Stage Awards 2023) re-tells the unbelievable true story of America’s most infamous couple, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Watch the lovers as they go on a crime spree on the Torch Theatre screen this May.

Captured in stunning, world-class quality, the musical follows the most notorious lovers and bank robbers who take the country by storm in a sexy and compelling adventure. Recorded live at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, discover the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire nation.

At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie and Clyde went from being two small-town nobodies in west Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes who created a serious headache for the law enforcements. From kidnappings to murders in the 1930’s, the lovers robbed gas stations, restaurants, and smalltown stores in the areas of New Mexico, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas and it is believed that they murdered at least nine police officers and four civilians before being shot and killed in an ambush near Sailes, Louisiana.  

Bonnie and Clyde The Musical can be seen on the Torch Theatre screen on Thursday 1 May at 7pm. Tickets: £15.00 | £13.00 Cons | £8.50 Under 26. Visit the website for further details www.torchtheatre.co.uk or phone the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

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