Community
PoW paintings go on display

Aled Lewis and Jeff James: With the two German PoW paintings at the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre
PAINTINGS by German prisoners at the famous Island Farm PoW camp near Bridgend will soon go on display thanks to co-operation between three Welsh museums.
The town museum at Cowbridge – only a few miles from the Island Farm site – will be the new home for the two landscapes, generously donated by Jeff James who runs a private museum at Llangwm.
Jeff offered the two paintings to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, along with other wartime items. While the paintings did not fall into the Heritage Centre’s collections policy their unique significance and wartime connections were instantly spotted by Aled Lewis, the Centre’s Archiving Officer.
Aled, who is helping the Centre gain museum accreditation status and its volunteer team to record an extensive archive, is also Voluntary Curator of Cowbridge and District Museum, housed in the town hall.
He said: “These are very special acquisitions for the Cowbridge Museum and link us to a wartime chapter over 70 years ago. As soon as I saw them I knew how important they are. One can imagine German prisoners of war in the camp painting views of their homeland far away.”
Jeff James said he was delighted that the paintings were going to be at Cowbridge.
“I am originally from Treherbert and my uncle went to a sale of items from the Island Farm PoW camp and came back with the paintings.
“I presume they had to make up the paint colours from what they had available in the camp.”
During World War II an accommodation camp at Island Farm, Bridgend, became a German prisoner of war camp, holding nearly 2,000 men by the end of the war. Known as Camp 198, it was the scene of the largest escape of German PoWs in Britain when 70 men tunnelled to freedom on the night of March 10-11 1945. At one time it also housed many high ranking German officers.
Community
Police investigate reports of door-to-door salespeople in Milford Haven and Johnston
Residents urged to stay alert as officers carry out patrols and work to establish whether the callers are legitimate
MILFORD HAVEN and Neyland Police said they are aware of concerns raised by residents following reports of door-to-door salespeople operating in the Milford Haven and Johnston area.
Local officers, together with neighbourhood policing and prevention teams, are working to establish the legitimacy of those involved and will be carrying out patrols while enquiries continue.
In the meantime, members of the public are being advised to familiarise themselves with crime prevention advice relating to unwanted visitors, which is available on the force’s website.
Anyone with information that could assist enquiries is asked to get in touch online, by email at [email protected], by direct message on social media, or by calling 101.
In an emergency, always dial 999.
Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting its website.
Community
Big plant sale set to bloom in Narberth
Family-friendly spring event will bring together local growers, craftspeople, food and live entertainment
GREEN fingers and creative talents will come together in Narberth next month as West Wales’ popular Big Plant Sale returns for 2026.
The event will take place at Narberth CP School on Saturday, May 2, offering visitors the chance to browse a wide range of plants, locally made crafts and eco-friendly products.
Organised with support from SPAN Arts, the annual sale has become one of the first major plant events of the season in the area, attracting gardeners of all ages and experience levels.
Stallholders are expected to offer everything from windowsill succulents and young seedlings to unusual and specialist plants, giving visitors plenty of choice as they prepare their homes and gardens for spring and summer.

Alongside the plants, there will also be a craft fair featuring handmade and environmentally conscious products, including soaps, textiles and wooden items made by local producers.
Organisers say the event is designed to be more than just a market, with locally produced food, live music and entertainment helping to create a lively and welcoming atmosphere for families and visitors of all ages.
SPAN Arts is also inviting local growers, nurseries, craftspeople and makers to get involved, particularly those working with sustainable and eco-friendly products.
The Big Plant Sale will run from 10:00am until 3:00pm at Narberth CP School, Jesse Road, Narberth, SA67 7FE. Visitors are asked to make a suggested £2 donation on entry.
Anyone interested in booking a stall can contact [email protected].
SPAN Arts, which is based in Narberth, has spent 30 years supporting arts and community projects across Pembrokeshire. The charity runs a broad programme of music, theatre, comedy and wellbeing activities, with a focus on reducing rural isolation and improving access to the arts.
For more information about the event, contact SPAN Arts on 01834 869323 or email [email protected].
Community
Pembrokeshire Coast Path named one of the best UK routes for hay fever sufferers
New research says sea breezes and exposed cliff-top paths make county trail a safer bet for runners with allergies
PEMBROKESHIRE’S world-famous Coast Path has been named one of the best trail running routes in the UK for people who suffer from hay fever.
New research by health and fitness supplement brand Ten Percent Club ranked the Pembrokeshire Coast Path joint second overall among the UK’s National Trails for low hay fever risk, giving it a score of 3.8 out of 5.
Only the South West Coast Path matched it, while the King Charles III England Coast Path also received the same score.
The study looked at all 20 UK National Trails and assessed them across five factors linked to pollen exposure: altitude, vegetation type, landscape, wind exposure, and animal and insect density.
According to the findings, coastal routes performed far better than inland trails because of their stronger air flow, open terrain and lower pollen build-up.
Researchers said the Pembrokeshire Coast Path’s exposed cliff tops, constant sea breezes and relatively limited dense vegetation make it one of the most suitable long-distance routes in Britain for runners who struggle with seasonal allergies.
That could come as welcome news for many local runners and walkers as tree pollen season begins and spring training gets underway.
For the estimated millions of hay fever sufferers across the UK, the report suggests that choosing a route like the Pembrokeshire Coast Path could make a noticeable difference compared with more enclosed inland trails, where pollen can hang in still air and become more concentrated.
The worst-performing route in the study was the Thames Path, which scored just 2.0 out of 5. Other poorly rated trails included the North Downs Way, Cotswold Way and Glyndŵr’s Way.
The research found that low-lying riverside routes, wooded valleys and areas with dense vegetation tend to be the most difficult for allergy sufferers, particularly in late spring and early summer when pollen levels rise.
By contrast, Pembrokeshire’s coast appears to offer something of a natural advantage.
With marathon season already under way and more people heading outdoors as the weather improves, the findings may give local runners another reason to stick to the county’s spectacular coastline.
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