Community

Renewed partnership safeguards access and conservation at Castlemartin

Published

12 months ago

June 19, 2024

A NEW agreement has been made to provide continued funding for a Ranger Service on the Military Ranges of South Pembrokeshire.

Senior leaders and staff from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority met recently at the Castlemartin Range to renew their longstanding partnership, which ensures safe and sustainable access and recreational opportunities for the public, while safeguarding the area’s unique and rare wildlife which thrives alongside military training.

Those attending the meeting, which was hosted by Lt Col Richard Pope and Major John Poole, were able to experience this for themselves at Stack Rocks, where the colonies of razorbills and guillemots are gathering at the start of the breeding season.

Current Castlemartin Ranger, Lynne Houlston, explains: “This role is not only vital in ensuring that the area remains accessible to the public when military use allows, but also that the many rare and special plants, birds and animals of the Range are safeguarded.”

These include chough, marsh fritillary butterflies, grey seals, green winged orchids and spectacular colonies of seabirds, especially during the breeding season.

Part of Lynne’s role is to ensure that people can visit and use the Ranges for activities like climbing while ensuring that they do not disturb the nesting sites of these protected species.

Clare Pillman, Chief Executive of NRW said: “Working with our partners to ensure this role and partnership agreement continues is so important to us at Natural Resources Wales. The conservation of the many special species found at Castlemartin Range is vital to ensure their sustainability in the future. The Ranger role enables this to happen alongside allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful landscape for recreational purposes, which has benefits for wellbeing and allows nature and people to thrive together.”

Chief Executive of the Park Authority, Tegryn Jones, said: “We are delighted to welcome the renewal of this important partnership. The Castlemartin Range offers some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Wales, and it’s vital that we ensure this can be enjoyed by visitors in a way that protects its special wildlife. The Ranger plays a crucial role in achieving this balance, and this renewed commitment will ensure that the Castlemartin Range can continue to be a place where people and nature thrive.”

DIO Principal Environmental Manager, Richard Brooks said: “DIO is delighted to be joining NRW and PCNPA in signing the next iteration of this important partnership. Lynne has been in post for 21 years and, supported by a Seasonal Ranger, has clearly demonstrated the key benefits of this joint funded Ranger Service. The role plays a key part in the successful integration of public access, wildlife management and monitoring and military training and activity”.

Several guided walks taking in the history, wildlife and archaeology of the Castlemartin Range are planned for the summer months. To find out more and book a place, visit www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/events.

Community

Call for action as Powys leads the way on cost-of-living help

Published

3 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Nearly 900 households targeted for support – could Pembrokeshire do more?

NEARLY 900 households in Powys will receive letters this week offering targeted help with the cost-of-living crisis – prompting questions about whether Pembrokeshire County Council should be doing the same.

Powys County Council has used intelligent data analytics to identify households most likely to be struggling financially. They will now be contacted directly and offered free and confidential support with managing bills, energy costs, debt, benefits, and household budgeting.

Half of those identified are council tenants, with the other half living in private rentals or owner-occupied homes.

The scheme uses a tool called LIFT – the Low Income Family Tracker – which pulls together a range of information to spot those who may be falling through the cracks.

Councillor Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader of Powys County Council, said: “We are here to help and want to make sure that everyone in our communities has access to the support they need.

“The LIFT platform should help us target our support where it’s most needed and allow us to help more Powys residents to maximise their income and reduce their costs.”

Support will be available in person, online or by phone, with options for home visits.

The Herald understands that Pembrokeshire County Council has not yet adopted the same level of targeted outreach. While the council does offer a range of cost-of-living support, residents must usually seek help themselves. There is currently no known use of data analytics or direct invitation letters to identify and contact those in need.

Pembrokeshire County Council has, however, established a dedicated Community Hub, offering practical help to anyone affected by the rising cost of living. Advisors can assist with benefits, housing, money worries, debt, food support, energy bills, and more.

One local resident who contacted The Herald said: “This is exactly the kind of help people need – not everyone is confident enough to ask for support, even if they’re struggling. Pembrokeshire should be doing this too.”

With Powys setting a new precedent for proactive support, the question is now whether Pembrokeshire – and other councils across Wales – will follow suit.

Need help in Pembrokeshire?

Pembrokeshire residents who are struggling can contact the council’s Cost of Living Support Line:

Phone: 01437 776301
Email: [email protected]
Online information: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living-hub

Support includes guidance on benefits, money management, debt, food, energy, housing, and more. All advice is free and confidential.

Community

Bluestone backs 1940s Big Band Night in Pembroke Dock

Published

23 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE BLUESTONE FOUNDATION is lending major support to the Pembroke Dock Heritage Trust’s 1940s Big Band Night on Saturday, June 21 – an evening promising music, history, and nostalgia.

The event, held at the Pembroke Port Pavilion (PPP) marquee beside the Western Hangar in the Royal Dockyard, will feature live performances, dancing, wartime vehicles, and a generous raffle.

Leading the raffle is a trio of high-value prizes donated by Bluestone Resorts:

An overnight spa break for two in a Bluestone studio apartment
A family ticket to the Blue Lagoon Water Park
A £50 dining voucher for the Black Pool Mill restaurant

A star attraction on the night will be the appearance of a beautifully restored 1922 Guy Motors bus, owned by Bluestone CEO William McNamara. The 103-year-old vehicle will be joined by at least two original wartime Jeeps.

Other raffle prizes include a tutored watercolour painting experience for two from the A.J. Ludlow Colours Watercolour Café in Pembroke Dock, and a framed print of a famous Sunderland flying boat, donated by the Heritage Centre.

The musical entertainment will transport guests back to the golden age of Glenn Miller, with the Phil Dando Big Band headlining, joined by Vera Lynn tribute singer Peri Lynn and the Pembrokeshire Lindy Hoppers dance group. Street food vendors will also be in attendance.

Proceeds from the night will go towards returning the historic RAF Pembroke Dock Memorial Window to the town – 80 years after it was first dedicated in the building that now houses the Heritage Centre. The window has been on display at the RAF Museum in London for the past three decades.

Tickets are priced at £25 and can be purchased from the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre (Tel: 01646 684220) or via Eventbrite.

This is a one-off opportunity to relive the wartime spirit in style.

Pic:

Historic wheels: The 103-year-old Guy Motors bus will appear at the 1940s Big Band Night in Pembroke Dock on Saturday, June 21 (Pic: Supplied).

Community

Call for blood donors after West Wales father saves son with rare blood disorder

Published

1 day ago

June 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Appointments open at Giraldus Centre and Neyland Community Hub

A WEST WALES father who saved his son’s life with a stem cell donation is calling on local residents to give blood or register as stem cell donors as part of National Blood Donor Week (June 9–15).

Matt Hodgson-Smith, from Mumbles, Swansea, was a perfect match for his seven-year-old son Jasper, who was diagnosed with Activated PI3K Delta Syndrome (APDS), a life-threatening and incredibly rare blood disorder.

Jasper is the only known child in Wales with APDS and one of just 35 cases across the UK. He endured years of hospital visits, repeated infections, and intensive treatment before receiving a life-saving stem cell transplant from his father.

Now the family is sharing their story in the hope of inspiring others to register with the Welsh Blood Service and help other families still searching for a donor.

Matt said: “Some people think donating stem cells is painful or invasive. For me, the process was simple. I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant saving someone’s life.”

Appointments for blood donations are now available locally:

Giraldus Centre, Haverfordwest – Thursday, 20 June
Neyland Community Hub – Monday, 24 June

More donation sessions are being rolled out across Pembrokeshire and West Wales in the coming weeks. Over 10,000 donations are needed every year to support patients in local hospitals, including Withybush General Hospital.

Jasper’s mother, Sophie, said: “Despite everything he’s faced, Jasper has remained incredibly strong. He even danced his way through the transplant.”

The Welsh Blood Service said only 1 in 4 patients will find a stem cell match within their family. For most, an unknown donor is their only hope. The need is especially urgent for donors from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Alan Prosser, Director of the Welsh Blood Service, said: “Stories like Jasper’s show the true value of donation. We need more people to sign up and become lifesavers.”

To make an appointment or check your eligibility, visit www.wbs.wales/NBDW25 or call 0800 252 266.