Welsh wild wine producer to represent West Wales at London celebration

A LLANDOVERY-based wild wine producer will bring a taste of the Welsh countryside to the heart of London as part of a major St David’s Day food showcase at the iconic Spitalfields Market.

Mydflower, known for its naturally crafted lightly sparkling wines, will take part in the consumer event over the St David’s Day weekend on Saturday (Feb 28) and Sunday (Mar 1). The showcase will feature more than a dozen Welsh food and drink producers and aims to highlight Wales’ growing reputation as a modern food nation producing world-class products.

The company’s distinctive wines are made using spring water from the Brecon Beacons alongside locally sourced botanicals and berries. The brand focuses on rediscovering centuries-old recipes inspired by the wild landscapes of Wales, producing natural raspberry and elderflower wines with a fresh, lightly sparkling finish.

David Ruttle, co-founder of Mydflower, said: “St David’s Day is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate Welsh culture in the heart of London, and we’re proud to be part of it with Mydflower. Our wild wines are made using pure Welsh spring water from the Brecon Beacons, traditionally foraged fruits and flowers, and Champagne yeast, creating something lighter, fresher, and naturally sparkling.

“Events like this are a chance to share our story, introduce more people to a new kind of premium Welsh drink, and bring a taste of the wild Welsh landscape to a wider audience.”

Spitalfields Market — one of London’s most historic trading destinations — has built a strong reputation for showcasing high-quality produce, making it an ideal venue to promote Welsh food and drink to new audiences. Visitors over the weekend will be invited to explore a range of products reflecting the quality, character and ambition of contemporary Wales, from heritage-inspired favourites to innovative modern brands.

Celebrating St David’s Day through food

The event forms part of a wider St David’s Day programme organised by Food & Drink Wales, the Welsh Government’s food division, which supports the sector while also using food and drink as a way to express national identity, creativity and pride.

Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, said: “St David’s Day is the perfect moment to celebrate the exceptional quality and creativity of Welsh food and drink producers. From award-winning charcuterie to innovative craft spirits, the businesses showcasing at Spitalfields represent the very best of what Wales has to offer.

“Our food and drink sector is built on strong foundations — protected geographical status, sustainable farming practices and generations of skilled production. But it is also a sector that continues to evolve, with producers combining their heritage with fresh ideas and ambitious growth plans.

“Events like this are vital for connecting Welsh businesses with new markets and demonstrating to buyers across the UK that Wales is a modern food nation with products that can compete at the highest level.”

MS highlights concerns from local firms as Wales employment figures lag behind UK

BUSINESSES in Pembrokeshire are feeling increasingly squeezed by rising costs and a challenging economic climate, according to feedback gathered at recent engagement events alongside the latest labour market statistics for Wales.

New figures show employment in Wales has risen slightly to 71.8%, but remains the lowest rate in the UK, where employment stands at around 75%. Economic inactivity has also increased from 24.5% to 24.8%, the highest level in Great Britain, while UK unemployment has reached a near five-year high amid slowing wage growth.

Commenting on both the statistics and the experiences shared by business owners across the county, Samuel Kurtz MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Energy, said many local firms were struggling under the combined pressure of higher taxes and operating costs.

“Behind these statistics are real businesses and real livelihoods here in Pembrokeshire,” he said. “Whether it was at the recent Pembrokeshire business rates online forum or the follow-up business surgery, I heard first-hand from entrepreneurs who feel squeezed, not supported by the status quo.”

He added: “When Wales has the lowest employment rate in the UK and the highest economic inactivity, while businesses here in Pembrokeshire say they are being squeezed from every direction, that should be a wake-up call to both governments.”

At the events, business owners from sectors including tourism, hospitality, retail and manufacturing raised concerns about rising business rates, energy bills and the cumulative impact of tax changes from both Cardiff and Westminster. Many reported scaling back plans to hire, invest or expand because of financial pressures, with some facing decisions about whether they could continue operating.

Examples shared included a tourism operator reporting holiday booking cancellations and staffing challenges as households tighten spending, a café owner in the county town considering shorter opening hours after sharp increases in energy and staffing costs, and a manufacturing firm warning that competitiveness was being undermined by high rates and regulatory burdens.

“Labour and Plaid Cymru are failing to get a grip on the economy in Wales,” Mr Kurtz said. “Their stitch-up budget in Cardiff Bay, alongside tax rises from Westminster, have piled pressure onto employers who are already battling higher costs just to stay afloat.”

Despite the challenges, economists point out that Wales’ labour market trends are influenced by a range of factors beyond government policy alone, including long-term health conditions, demographic changes and the rural nature of much of the Welsh economy, all of which contribute to higher levels of economic inactivity compared with other parts of the UK.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said supporting businesses and jobs remained a priority, highlighting measures such as business rates relief, economic development funding and targeted support programmes.

They said: “Businesses across Wales, like those elsewhere in the UK, are facing pressures from global economic conditions, inflation and higher borrowing costs. We continue to provide significant support to help firms grow, create jobs and invest in their communities.”

Mr Kurtz said the Welsh Conservatives were proposing an alternative approach to support job creation and restore business confidence.

“We are putting forward a bold, fully costed tax-cutting agenda to kickstart the economy, including abolishing stamp duty and cutting business rates, to undo Labour and Plaid’s economic damage and get Wales working again,” he said.

“Pembrokeshire has enormous potential, from our energy sector to tourism and food production, but businesses need a government that backs enterprise rather than burdens it. I will continue to stand up for local employers who feel ignored and squeezed by rising costs.”

Council says around 4,750 locations linked to historic land use are logged in environmental records

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has confirmed it holds records for approximately 4,750 potentially contaminated land sites across the county, following the release of new environmental data by campaigners ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.

The authority stressed that the figure relates to sites identified through historic land-use information — such as former industrial premises, landfills, quarries, petrol stations and garages — and does not mean contamination has been confirmed in each case.

Only one site in Pembrokeshire has been formally designated as contaminated land under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act and is listed on the Council’s public register.

A Council spokesperson told The Herald that the database of potentially contaminated land provides an oversight tool used primarily within the planning process, allowing further investigation and remediation to be required where development is proposed or risks are identified.

A spokesperson said: “The potentially contaminated land sites are categorised by risk (low to high) and include former industrial sites, historical sites, quarries, landfills, cemeteries, garages and petrol stations.

“It would be difficult to comment on the accuracy of the information as these are based on historical land uses that may or may not have carried out activities that could have led to some form of contamination.”

The Council explained that the records are primarily used as an oversight tool within the planning system. Where land is proposed for redevelopment, developers are typically required to undertake investigations and agree remediation measures depending on the intended use.

Monitoring work is currently focused on the single designated contaminated land site, where a remediation and monitoring programme is managed by the landowner and reviewed by the Council’s Pollution Control Team.

Officials added that potential contamination does not automatically mean there is a risk to the public.

“In terms of any potentially contaminated sites, if the site doesn’t pose a risk there would be no need to require investigation or remediation,” the spokesperson said. “You would require the presence of a source of contamination, a sensitive receptor and a pathway for the contamination to affect the receptor. Without all of these there is no real risk posed.”

The Council also confirmed it has recently reviewed and updated its Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy for 2026.

Fly-tipping concerns

The Friends of the Earth analysis also referenced hundreds of fly-tipping incidents recorded locally. The Council said it is currently exploring new enforcement measures, including the possible installation of CCTV surveillance in known hotspot areas, subject to approval.

In addition, a team of waste advisers continues to carry out patrols across the county focusing on monitoring, community education and enforcement action where necessary.

Environmental debate

Campaigners have argued that pollution and environmental risks should be key issues for voters ahead of the Senedd election. However, the Council suggested that most land contamination issues are effectively managed through existing planning and regulatory processes.

“The report seems to suggest that there is a problem with contaminated land across the area,” the spokesperson said. “Most if not all remediation will be driven through the planning process where a developer will take the lead on carrying out an investigation, which is then reviewed by the Council.”

Friends of the Earth Cymru has also highlighted flood risk affecting thousands of residents across the wider constituency area, alongside sewage discharge data drawn from national monitoring systems.

Image: Black Bridge (Pic: Martin Cavaney)