Community

Pembrokeshire volunteer honoured with environmental award for seed conservation

Published

4 months ago

September 30, 2024

IN a notable recognition of dedication to environmental conservation, Marie duQuesnay, a Pembrokeshire-based volunteer for the Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library, has been awarded the ‘Environment Champion Award’. This accolade was presented as part of the 12th Community Inspiration Awards 2024, celebrating her commitment to preserving rare vegetable seeds.

Marie, alongside fellow Seed Guardians Hilary Van Beek and Nadia Mazza, were celebrated within the community category, applauding their collective efforts in fostering biodiversity for future generations. This trio of gardeners has been instrumental in safeguarding the genetic diversity of plants through meticulous cultivation and conservation of heritage vegetable varieties.

The Heritage Seed Library, where Marie dedicates her efforts, is a crucial repository located at Ryton Gardens near Coventry. It houses nearly half of Garden Organic’s 800-strong National Collection of Heritage Vegetables. These plants are not merely preserved; they are actively cultivated by more than 200 volunteers like Marie, who nurture these plants on their own plots, ensuring their survival and continued proliferation.

The importance of such conservation has been underscored by a stark statistic from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, noting a 75 per cent reduction in crop diversity between 1900 and 2000. In a world facing the dual challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, maintaining a diverse range of plant species is more critical than ever.

Catrina Fenton, the head of the Heritage Seed Library, emphasises the role of these volunteers: “Each heritage variety thriving under the care of a Seed Guardian expands our options for developing resilient plants. These dedicated volunteers produce approximately half of the seeds needed for our conservation efforts each year, thus ensuring the continued existence of these varieties.”

The Community Inspiration Awards, organised by The Community Foundation, aim to highlight outstanding contributions from individuals across public and voluntary sectors. These awards commend those whose endeavours not only make a significant impact in their communities but also inspire others to take action.

For those interested in supporting or joining the Heritage Seed Library, further information can be found at gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl. Here, potential volunteers can learn about the opportunities to become a Seed Guardian or a member of the library, playing a part in this vital work.

Hilary Van Beek, a software engineer by profession, tends to her allotment in Auchterarder, at the foot of the Highlands. Her garden is a vibrant mix of vegetables and flowers, representing a living history of diverse plant varieties. “There’s something magical about growing a variety that has been around for so long,” Hilary shares, highlighting the dwindling diversity in today’s agricultural offerings.

Marie duQuesnay has been a stalwart Seed Guardian for nine years, undeterred by the challenges of living on an exposed hill in Pembrokeshire. “It is so sad to see the intensification of farming narrowing the range of what’s grown,” she remarks, stressing the importance of preserving local seed varieties against modern agricultural practices and regulations.

Nadia Mazza, who resides in the Morecambe Bay area, has found success with her ‘stripey tiger beans’, which she grows for the library. These unique beans thrive in the UK’s northwest, illustrating the practical benefits of biodiversity. “If everyone grew the same vegetable varieties and they were attacked by pests or diseases, we would have serious problems,” Nadia explains, advocating for genetic variety in our gardens.

Together, these gardeners not only preserve the past but sow the seeds of a sustainable future, championing biodiversity one plot at a time.

Community

Drop in sessions to help reshape Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) is pleased to announce the launch of a series of community drop-in sessions designed to gather feedback from residents and stakeholders. This initiative aims to identify issues and challenges that may impact the delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan 2040 (CRMP 2040).

The CRMP 2040 outlines the Service’s commitment to addressing risks, threats, and challenges faced by communities. These drop-in sessions provide an opportunity for residents to help shape the future of fire and rescue services in Mid and West Wales, ensuring safety and well-being remain a priority.

Shaping the future together

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Iwan Cray said: “We believe the best way to serve our communities is by involving them in the planning process. These drop-in sessions are an opportunity for us to listen, learn, and collaborate with the people we serve.”

The drop-in sessions, details of which are available on the MAWWFRS website, offer a platform for open dialogue. Residents can share their insights, concerns, and suggestions, contributing to the development of a modern Fire and Rescue Service tailored to their needs.

A data-driven approach

The CRMP 2040 adopts a data-driven approach, focusing on prevention, protection, and response to reduce emergencies’ impact and enhance public safety. By tailoring services to community needs, MAWWFRS is committed to building safer and more resilient communities.

Get involved

Community members are encouraged to attend these sessions and provide their feedback. To thank participants, MAWWFRS is offering a chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher. To enter, simply attend a session and complete the survey.

For more information about the plan or the upcoming drop-in sessions, visit the MAWWFRS website or contact the team at [email protected].

About MAWWFRS

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is dedicated to protecting and serving the communities of Mid and West Wales. Through prevention, protection, and response, the Service works tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors.

Community

Landfill odour sparks calls for inquiry and legal action

Published

3 days ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENTS near Withyhedge landfill in Haverfordwest are demanding a public inquiry and considering legal action after foul odours returned just weeks after the site reopened on 6 January.

The landfill, closed last May to address odour issues, was declared fit to reopen by operator RML, which claimed its improvements would protect nearby communities. However, Colin Barnett, of campaign group Stop the Stink, said: “People in Crundale, Haverfordwest, and Spittal are being subjected to horrendous smells again.”

Describing the site as a “stink bomb on steroids,” Barnett supported Conservative MS Paul Davies’ calls for a public inquiry. “We’ve been flanneled by NRW, public health, and Pembrokeshire council. It’s disgraceful,” he said, adding that delays in resolving the issue had left litigation as the only option.

RML, part of Dauson Environmental Group, is owned by businessman David Neal, who has previous convictions for environmental crimes in 2013 and 2017. Last year, another of Neal’s companies pleaded guilty to environmental offences.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) reported receiving 34 complaints since 6 January, with a rise in recent days coinciding with the end of a slurry-spreading ban. However, NRW stated no odours attributable to the landfill were detected and plans to inspect the site with Pembrokeshire council on 29 January.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “I’ll keep a very close eye on this, and if concerns persist, we’ll discuss further steps with NRW.”

RML and the Welsh Government declined to comment.

Community

Public transport users urged to ‘check before travelling’ due to storm

Published

3 days ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TRANSPORT FOR WALES and Network Rail are urging all customers to check before they travel on Friday morning and into the weekend with weather warnings in place across the country.

With Storm Eowyn set to hit Wales and winds reaching 90mph on Friday morning, customers should expect disruptions and are strongly urged to check before they travel.

There will be alterations to rail services, replacement road transport on certain routes and blanket speed restrictions at some locations, meaning journeys could take longer than usual.

Stand by buses are being planned at key locations around the network in preparation for travel disruption.

Across Wales and the Borders, Network Rail have positioned response teams to address any storm related problems to keep disruption to a minimum.

TfW Operations Director Sarah Higgins said: “It’s so important for our customers to plan ahead when looking to travel this Friday.

“While we’ve made a number of changes to our services based on detailed forecasts, storms can still be unpredictable.

“We’ve seen the impact storms can have, with damage to trains and infrastructure sometimes taking weeks or months to repair, so our cross-industry approach will hopefully limit that and keep our colleagues and customers safe. We apologise to customers for any disruption to their journeys as a result.”

Network Rail Wales & Borders Operations Director Rachel Heath added: “Our priority is always keeping safe everyone who travels and works on the railway.

“Unfortunately, there will be some delays and cancellations on Friday, as trains will not run on some lines and there will speed restrictions on other parts of the route.

“We are working closely with our train operator colleagues to ensure we can safely reopen affected lines as quickly as possible and urge passengers to check before they travel.”

Rail service changes:

No services to run on the Conwy Valley Line all day, with replacement road transport in place.
No services to run on the Heart of Wales line all day, with replacement road transport in place.
Speed restrictions at various locations around the network, meaning some journeys will take longer than usual. These include:

  50mph speed restrictions imposed from 0200 to 1500 Friday on the North Wales Coast – Bodorgan to Llandudno Junction.
  50mph restrictions from 0200 to 1200 between Carmarthen to Kidwelly.
  50mph restrictions from 0200 to 1200 between Neath and Swansea.
  50mph restrictions from 0100 – 0800 between Newport and Llanwern.

Customers who have connecting tickets for the following operators who have suspended services due to the adverse weather conditions, we’ll honour tickets dated 24 January on either Thursday 23 January or up to and including Tuesday 28 January.