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Poppit Sands gains Blue Flag award

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PH270516_Page_22_Image_0003POPPIT SANDS beach in Pembrokeshire has been awarded the Blue Flag award.

The Keep Wales Tidy’s Wales Coast Awards have also given awards to a number of beaches and marinas across Wales.

Other awards include the Green Coast Award and Seaside Award and the beaches are ranked amongst the best in the UK and across the world.

47 sites will proudly fly the Blue Flag Award in Wales this year.

Poppit Sands lies at the mouth of the Teifi Estuary and is a sandy beach backed by dunes.

At high water there is plenty of beach but it’s a low tide when the full extent of sand appears to go almost to Gwbert on the other side.

It is the start, or the end, of the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path which takes you right around the coast to Amroth in the south.

The Blue Flag beach award is widely considered the gold standard for beaches. Awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education, the Blue Flag is internationally recognised. Whilst most people are aware that Blue Flag certification guarantees the quality of bathing water this is only part of the criteria.

The Blue Flag award is ideally suited to resort beaches with plenty of facilities. It is for this reason that the other awards granted in the UK may be of equal or more use in choosing a suitable beach.

The Blue Flag criteria are divided into four categories with a total of 33 individual targets. These main categories include: Environmental Education and Information, Water Quality, Environmental Management and Safety and Services.

Wales has seen an increase in the number of international Blue Flag Awards with 44 beaches and three marinas being awarded a Blue Flag- five more than last year.

A further 26 beaches were awarded the Green Coast Award- an excellence award for the ‘hidden gems’ along our coastline and a total of 92 beaches have been awarded the Seaside Award.

The Blue Flag Award is a highly respected international award owned by the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE) and runs in 49 countries across the world. In Wales, environmental charirty Keep Wales Tidy manages the award.

The prestigious award is only awarded to beaches, marinas and boats that have the highest quality of water, environmental education and management, safety and services. It acts as a guarantee to the public that a beach is among the finest not only in the country, but around the world.

Poppit Sands joins a number of other Pembrokeshire Blue Flag Beaches including Amroth, Tenby (South, North and Castle), Newgale and Dale.

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Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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