Community
Pembrokeshire volunteer honoured with environmental award for seed conservation
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
Lord Nelson Hotel refunds lucky couple the full cost of their wedding day
WHAT an amazing Christmas present!
In an extraordinary gesture of generosity, the Lord Nelson Hotel delighted one lucky couple by refunding the full cost of their 2024 wedding. Abby and Simon Hooper, who tied the knot at the historic venue on August 3, were thrilled to learn they were the winners of this year’s giveaway.
The initiative was part of a special promotion open to all couples who celebrated their weddings at the Lord Nelson in 2024. The winners were selected through a random draw using a fair generator system, with the Hoopers emerging as the fortunate recipients.
The hotel has announced plans to continue the tradition in 2025, offering next year’s couples the same opportunity to win their wedding costs back.
A spokesperson for the Lord Nelson Hotel said: “If you’re planning to get married in 2025, it’s not too late to book with us and secure your spot in next year’s draw.
“We are thrilled to celebrate love and create moments to cherish, and this is just one of the ways we give back to our incredible couples.”
Known for its elegant venue spaces and exceptional wedding team, the Lord Nelson Hotel remains a top choice for couples seeking a perfect wedding day. This annual giveaway further cements their commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences.
Abby and Simon Hooper shared their gratitude after their special day: “From start to finish, the team at the Lord Nelson Hotel was incredibly helpful, and nothing was too much to ask.
“The day went smoothly, the food was fantastic, and the staff were polite, hardworking, and attentive. Mia and Jenna, in particular, stood out for their thoughtfulness and attention to detail.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”
Business
Derelict Cilgerran house to be transformed into cafe
PLANS by a village shop owner to convert a house “in a state of disrepair” to a café to “improve the variety of community facilities” locally have been given the go-ahead.
Mrs Morris, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, sought permission from Pembrokeshire County Council to convert The Old Post House, High Street, Cilgerran, currently a four-bed dwelling, to a ground floor café, along with a first-floor flat.
The application received five letters of support, saying it would provide local jobs, support the community, promote Welsh and local food, and provide a local community hub, with three letters of objection, raising concerns about parking and traffic, and potential odours from the premises.
A supporting statement, through the agent, said: “The proposed site is currently a dwellinghouse, in current need of modernisations and renovations throughout. The site is under the same ownership as the neighbouring village stores Siop Y Pentre,” saying the proposal “can be read as an extension to the existing Siop Y Pentre”.
“Siop Y Pentre is a thriving local community village shop which acts as a village hub. The shop provides local residents with day-to-day necessities, with a focus on local, sustainable and minimal waste products,” the statement says, adding the dwelling it seeks to convert “is in disrepair and in need of internal works to make suitable for modern living”.
It went on to say: “The proposed café seeks to retain its focus on local and seasonal produce with minimal waste and would provide a welcomed opportunity for socialising, especially during the daytime. The café will also seek to employ local staff retaining a community feel throughout. As such, the principle of the café adjacent to the existing village store is considered acceptable. The site seeks to encourage a sustainable community, with development of an appropriate scale and nature.
“Further to this, the location of the development is within the settlement boundary and seeks to fulfil a need for day-time socialising environments currently lacking within Cilgerran.”
The application was conditionally approved by county planners.
Community
Emergency call outage affected Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire
RESIDENTS in parts of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire faced difficulties contacting emergency services via the 999 landline number on Sunday (Dec 17) due to a temporary outage.
Dyfed-Powys Police issued alerts on social media, warning residents of potential issues when trying to dial 999 from landlines in affected areas. Locations impacted included Pembroke, Manorbier, Carew, and surrounding areas.
In a statement, police advised: “You may have faced problems calling 999 from a landline in the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire area. Places likely to have been affected were Pembroke, Manorbier, Carew. Please try calling from a mobile phone as mobile networks may have been working normally. Normal service will be restored as soon as possible. Non-emergencies can be reported online. Please look out for further updates.”
Later in the day, an update confirmed that the 999 landline service had been restored in the Llangrannog and Llanteg areas.
The temporary disruption raised concerns about access to emergency services in rural areas, where mobile coverage can sometimes be unreliable.
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and use alternative communication methods in the event of future disruptions. Further updates are expected as investigations into the cause of the outage continue.
For non-emergency issues, residents can continue to report incidents via the Dyfed-Powys Police website or contact their local police station directly.
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