OLDER adults in Wales are becoming more active, with new figures suggesting more people over 55 are embracing walking, strength training and regular exercise to stay independent for longer.

Analysis of national physical activity data by Foxholes Care Home found that 64.3% of adults aged 55 to 74 now meet recommended activity guidelines, up from 59.8% five years ago.

Among those aged 75 and over, the figure has risen from 37.6% in 2019-20 to 44.3% in 2024-25.

The findings come as Wales continues to have an ageing population. People aged 65 and over now account for more than one in five of the population, while Wales also has one of the oldest age profiles in the UK.

Strength training

The data also suggests that more older adults are taking up muscle-strengthening exercise.

The proportion of over-55s completing two or more strength sessions a week has increased from 38% in 2019-20 to 41% in 2024-25.

Walking remains the most popular form of exercise, with experts encouraging older people to make use of Wales’ parks, coastal paths and green spaces to support mobility, confidence and wellbeing.

However, the figures also show that many older people are still not active enough. Around 42% of adults aged 55 and over remain physically inactive, compared with 29% of the wider adult population.

Neil Gandecha, older adults exercise specialist at Foxholes Care Home said: “There is a persistent stereotype that strength training is only for younger people, but the data tells a very different story.

“Building strength becomes increasingly important with age because it supports balance, posture and independence. It can make everyday tasks such as climbing stairs, carrying shopping and getting in and out of a chair much easier.

“Across Wales, there are many opportunities for older adults to stay active, whether that’s walking locally, spending time outdoors, attending community exercise classes or taking part in adapted strength training.

“Mobility challenges should not prevent anyone from enjoying the benefits of exercise. Adapted strength training can be highly effective for people who use walking aids, rollators and wheelchairs.”

Simple steps

Mr Gandecha said staying active did not have to mean long walks or intense exercise.

He advised older adults to start small, such as taking a short trip to the garden, a local park, the seafront or town centre.

He said routes with flat paths, benches, shade and accessible toilets could help people feel more confident when going outdoors.

He also encouraged people to use mobility aids without embarrassment, stay hydrated, avoid the hottest part of the day, wear sun protection and take a friend, family member or carer when needed.

Wheelchair users and people with limited mobility can also benefit from seated stretches and resistance-band exercises in the garden or park.

Mr Gandecha added: “Being active looks different for everyone.

“Whether you take a walk with a rollator, use a wheelchair to explore your local park, or simply sit in the sunshine and do a few gentle stretches, spending time outdoors can have a meaningful impact on health and wellbeing.”

THE CELTIC COLLECTION has achieved a major international sustainability certification covering all of its hotels, including Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront.

The ISO 14001 certification recognises the group’s environmental management systems, including waste reduction, carbon-cutting measures, recycling, biodiversity work and long-term governance around sustainability.

The Celtic Collection, Wales’ largest independent hotel group, operates Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront in partnership with the Port of Milford Haven. It also manages St Brides Spa Hotel in Saundersfoot, which was acquired by the Port in 2024.

The certification also covers Celtic Manor Resort, Coldra Court Hotel, The Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff, the Tŷ hotels at Magor and Newport, and ICC Wales.

The group said all of its hotels send zero waste to landfill and operate carbon reduction strategies. Food waste is sent to be turned into biogas renewable energy, while waste oil is recycled into biodiesel.

Russell Phillips, Vice-President of Facilities and Development at The Celtic Collection, said: “Across The Celtic Collection we combine exceptional hospitality and large-scale event capability with a commitment to responsible delivery.

“This is now all underpinned by ISO 14001 which ensures we are continually reducing our impact on the environment.”

Energy and Sustainability Manager Fitzroy Hutchinson said staff across the group had played a key role, with environmental working parties set up at each hotel to encourage ideas and improve day-to-day practice.

The award is part of the group’s wider Environmental, Social and Governance strategy, which includes a commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2050.

Picture caption: Team members at Celtic Manor Resort with the ISO 14001 certification.

ONE of Wales’ best-known bakery brands has been acquired by Boparan Private Office in a deal said to secure the future of the business and protect hundreds of jobs.

Brace’s Bakery, founded in 1902, has been bought by Boparan Private Office, the family-owned group linked to some of the UK’s largest food manufacturing operations.

The announcement comes after growing concern over the future of the Welsh bakery, with fears over jobs and production amid falling demand for traditional sliced bread and major pressure on costs.

Brace’s is a fourth-generation family business and one of the best-known bakery brands in Wales, supplying bread, rolls and bakery products to major retailers and independent shops across Wales and the West of England.

Boparan Private Office said the acquisition would bring together Brace’s “strong regional heritage and brand recognition” with its experience of investing in British food businesses.

The group recently acquired Roberts Bakery, based in Cheshire, in 2025.

‘Iconic brand’

Ranjit Singh Boparan, President of Boparan Private Office, said: “Brace’s is an iconic brand with a rich heritage, and we are delighted to have been able to reach an agreement to step in and preserve this business, while helping to take it into a new era through investment, innovation and modernisation.

“Brace’s Bakery has been at the heart of its communities for generations, and we are absolutely committed to supporting its long-term success.

“Our focus is on providing the backing and stability the business needs to move forward and build a sustainable future while maintaining the identity and quality that customers trust.”

He said there were opportunities to invest in innovation across products, manufacturing, customer service and routes to market, while keeping the brand true to its values.

Mr Boparan also acknowledged the uncertainty faced by workers during the sale process.

He said: “We would like to take this opportunity to recognise the tremendous commitment and loyalty the Brace’s workforce has demonstrated during this challenging period.

“I recognise there has been uncertainty while discussions have taken place, which have admittedly taken longer than expected as we worked to ensure everything was in place for customers, the management team and all colleagues.”

‘A clear path forward’

Mark Brace, Managing Director at Brace’s Bakery, said the deal was an important step for the company.

He said: “This is an important step for Brace’s Bakery, and my brother and fellow director, Jonathan, and I are both delighted that Boparan Private Office has stepped in to give the brand the opportunity to build on almost 125 years of baking heritage as we move into a new era.

“Boparan Private Office understands the importance of the Brace’s brand, its people and the communities we serve.

“Their support provides a clear path forward for the business, allowing us to focus on strengthening Brace’s operations and continuing to deliver the quality products our customers expect.”

Changing market

The takeover follows a difficult period for the traditional bakery sector.

Brace’s has previously pointed to a sharp decline in demand for standard sliced bread, with changing consumer habits putting pressure on one of its core products.

Across the UK, shoppers have increasingly moved towards sourdough, seeded loaves, wraps, flatbreads, higher-fibre products and other alternatives, while many households no longer rely on toast and sandwiches in the way they once did.

At the same time, bakeries have faced rising energy, ingredient, wage, packaging and transport costs.

The deal means Brace’s, one of Wales’ most recognisable food brands, will now become part of a much larger food group with significant manufacturing interests.

Boparan Private Office is a family-owned conglomerate with divisions covering agriculture and property, UK food manufacturing, restaurants and European poultry operations.

The wider group is one of the UK’s leading food manufacturers, with turnover of more than €5 billion and around 25,000 employees.

For Wales, the announcement will be seen as a major intervention in the future of a household name which has been part of Welsh life for more than a century.

The key question now will be how much investment follows, what happens to production across Brace’s sites, and whether the new owner can modernise the brand while keeping its Welsh identity intact.