A SCHEME for a rural Pembrokeshire One Planet Development, which would eventually include a charcuterie business using meats from a rare breed ‘flerd’ and a ‘natural health service’ has been turned down by county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Malcolm and Nichola Blunsden sought permission for the One Planet Development including a three-bed house, polytunnel and a freestanding photovoltaic array at Covert View, some one kilometre from the village of Jeffreyston, near Kilgetty.

A supporting statement through agent Sureline Design Services Ltd said of the applicants: “They have experience of managing this piece of land and are excited to have the opportunity to develop their ideas for an eco-house, rare breed ‘flerd’ [mixture of a flock and herd], a charcuterie business and a ‘natural health service’ that brings local community groups and schools closer to nature.”

Covering a five-year plan, it says the applicants would produce 56 per cent of their own food, with a small vegetable garden and polytunnel as well as a flock of chickens and ducks for eggs and meat, and will also keep geese, sheep, pigs and cattle for meat; the main enterprise on site will sell fresh meat and charcuterie products from the sheep, pigs and cattle.

“In addition to this they will develop a subsidiary enterprise based on community groups and general public visiting the site for educational and therapeutic purposes,” the statement adds.

Detailing the ‘Cleddau Charcuterie’ proposal, it says: “The overall objective is to use traditional rare breeds of Welsh farm animals, raise them in a dynamic ‘flerd’ (mixture of a flock and herd) to create a rich tapestry of diverse meadows in a regenerative ‘mob’ grazed system whilst also building soil carbon.”

It says the meats produced will be slaughtered and butchered locally and then cured in a purpose-built meat curing room, this will be located in one of the existing farm buildings on site.

“Research undertaken by Malcolm suggests a high demand for locally produced fresh meat as well as charcuterie products with known origins and high animal welfare.  The nearest producer for charcuterie is currently in Powys.”

An officer report, recommending refusal raised concerns about the robustness of financial figures and realistic possibility of achieving them, with “almost 90 per cent of the projected income would come from a single source, namely meat products production,” adding: “There is no supporting evidence from local schools or groups for a demand for the services offered. It is considered that there is not sufficient certainty to conclude that a significant proportion of the applicants’ food and income needs would be met on the site within five years”.

It also raised concerns about insufficient water resources on the site with a borehole required for drinking water.

The application was refused by planners.

Since the refusal, the application is listed as having an appeal against the decision lodged.

Calls grow for licensing scheme amid enforcement concerns

NEW data has revealed the Welsh hotspots for illegal vape sales, with over 30,000 illicit and unregulated products seized in 2024 – the equivalent of one every 20 minutes.

The worst-affected area was Newport, where Newport City Council confiscated more than 21,000 illegal vapes last year – an increase of 173% compared to 2023. The city accounted for a third of all illegal vape seizures in Wales. Over the past three years, 49 premises closure orders have been issued in the area.

Flintshire recorded the second highest number of seizures, with 4,545 illicit vapes removed from sale – up 170% on the previous year.

The findings come from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to 108 local authorities by Vape Club, and are published in the 2025 Illegal Vapes Report. The research lays bare the scale of the UK’s growing illegal vape market.

Wales’ top five illegal vape hotspots in 2024

• Newport City Council: 21,169 devices seized
• Flintshire County Council: 4,545 devices seized
• Carmarthenshire County Council: 1,850 devices seized
• Gwynedd Council: 721 devices seized
• Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council: 607 devices seized

Despite 82 recorded instances of illegal vape sales in Wales last year, only five penalties were issued. Closure orders were served to just ten retailers – representing only 12% of reported cases. The figures have prompted growing concern over inadequate enforcement.

Across the UK, 1.2 million illegal vapes were seized in 2024 – a 44% increase from the previous year. That equates to two illegal vapes seized every minute.

Industry experts are calling for the introduction of a Vape Retailer and Distributor Licensing Scheme to help tackle the issue. Without stricter controls and additional resources for enforcement, they warn the illegal trade could surge – especially following the UK Government’s planned ban on disposable vapes this June.

Dan Marchant, Director at Vape Club, said:
“The real issue of illicit vape sales lies in the inadequate enforcement of current regulations and the weak penalties for offenders. With the disposable vape ban coming into force, we risk a flood of dangerous, unregulated products entering the UK, all because the core issue has not been addressed.

“This boils down to lacklustre fines and no structured funding for Trading Standards. That’s why we strongly support a robust retail and distribution licensing scheme, with revenues ringfenced for proactive enforcement.

“This funding could give Border Force the resources to stop more illegal products at the border, and allow Trading Standards to crack down on rogue retailers and impose meaningful penalties.”

A SMALL tree with a remarkable legacy has been planted at the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, strengthening a unique 138-year connection between the town and Japan.

The sapling, a descendant of the ancient Ginkgo tree that towers above the Royal Dockyard, now stands proudly in the grounds of the former Dockyard Chapel, which houses the Heritage Centre.

At a ceremony on Thursday (Apr 17), the sapling was planted by Mr Masaki Ikegami, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United Kingdom. He was joined by Captain Shuzo Homma, Naval Attaché at the Japanese Embassy, and welcomed by invited guests, trustees of the Pembroke Dock Heritage Trust, and centre volunteers.

The original Ginkgo tree grows in the garden of the historic Master Shipwright’s House nearby. It was presented to the town in 1877 to commemorate the launch of the Armoured Corvette Hiei—one of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s first modern warships, built at a private yard at Jacob’s Pill, Pennar, and modelled on British naval designs. Its launch was a major event, attended by the Japanese Ambassador to the UK at the time.

In recent years, saplings from the original tree have been propagated at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Some have been returned to Japan, where they now grow at naval bases and at a shrine honouring Admiral Heihachiro Togo. As a young lieutenant, Togo lived in Pembroke Dock during the construction of Hiei.

Guests were welcomed by Heritage Trust Patron John Evans and Chairman Rik Saldanha. Attendees included the Deputy Lieutenant of Dyfed, Professor Patricia Mawuli Porter; Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Steve Alderman; Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Councillor Maria Williams; Senedd Member Sam Kurtz; Ayshea Cunniffe-Thomas of the National Botanic Garden of Wales; and Simon Richards, who shared fascinating insights into the Ginkgo tree—one of the oldest species on Earth, dating back to the age of dinosaurs.

Also present was Mrs Margaret James, widow of the late maritime historian David James, whose extensive research documented the naval ties between Japan and Pembroke Dock. She was accompanied by her son, Adrian.

A poignant connection to Japan was represented by Mrs Yoriko Omae, originally from Hiroshima, who assisted David James in commemorating Japanese sailors buried in Pembrokeshire and recently retired from her role at Pembroke Dock Library.

Following the planting ceremony, guests were invited to the Master Shipwright’s House by owners Stewart and Angela Walton to view the original Ginkgo tree.