Latest news with #Carmarthenshire
BBC News
6 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Abergwili's Bishop's Park gets £1.2m to restore walled garden
A historic 18th Century walled garden which once grew fruit and vegetables for the Bishop of St Davids is to be transformed using £1.2m of Tywi Gateway Trust, which has managed the restoration of Bishop's Park in Abergwili, Camarthenshire, since 2017, has received financial backing from the National Lottery Heritage historic glasshouses will be rebuilt along with a gardener's bothy or shelter, while the new restored area will host community and education events along with public Caldwell, chair of the trust, said it was in many respects a secret garden "hidden" behind its stone walls, and that people had not been able to access it due to its state. Project manager Louise Austin said the project was about "learning from the past while creating something meaningful for the present"."We want visitors and volunteers alike to feel a personal connection to this place, and to draw inspiration and experiences from it that can help them in their own lives today," she said. There are plans to create a "living archive" of those who worked at the garden over the handwritten diaries of Gwenonwy Davies, the eldest daughter of Bishop John Owen, who grew up at the palace, suggest pineapples were once grown at the walled garden."We grew pineapples for years," Ms Davies, who was born in 1887 and died in 1981, wrote. "Also, we had a lovely vine house, divided into two parts so there was a sequence of grapes. Another small house had orchids and lots of maidenhair fern growing in it." Since 2018 the trust has been working with volunteers to clear rubbish and growth, plant new fruit trees, and attempt to make the walled garden a useable and productive restoration plans have also received £300,000 match funding from the Welsh government's Community Facilities programme, £150,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation, £100,000 from a heritage philanthropist in Wales and £20,000 from the Pilgrim Trust. The whole project has an overall value of around £ Caldwell said members were "thrilled by the opportunity to share not just the garden's physical beauty, but also to draw on its very soul - the stories, skills and quiet wisdom of those who once made it thrive."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hall eyes more success in Wales at Women's Open
Former champion Georgia Hall is hoping Wales will prove to be a happy hunting ground once more as she prepares for the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl. England's Hall is the most recent British winner of the Women's Open having triumphed at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018. The tournament comes to Wales for the first time this year as Royal Porthcawl plays host to the final golf major of 2025 starting on Thursday. And for Hall, that means a return to the scene of past successes. The 29-year-old won the Girls' Amateur Championship in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, in 2012 before going on to collect the Women's Amateur Championship at Machynys Golf Club in Carmarthenshire 12 months later. "Really I'm a big fan [of Wales]," Hall said. "I haven't played golf in Wales since those wins, so I think it will be a great test in Porthcawl." Porthcawl to host Women's Open in 2025 Open to be Wales' 'largest women's sporting event' The Women's Open is the biggest female sporting event ever staged in Wales, but Royal Porthcawl is no stranger to prestigious competitions. The south Wales links has staged the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup and, on three occasions, the men's Senior Open. "I've played a couple of holes out here and it's a very tough course, I think it's definitely underrated," said Bournemouth-born Hall. "It's learning to know where to hit it. Especially on this golf course there's a lot of blind tee shots, so that will be key." Hall has won seven professional titles and is a five-time Solheim Cup player. Currently ranked 119th in the world, she is hoping the Women's Open will inspire the next generation of golfers. "It would be great to see the young girls supporting and seeing what the world's best women have to offer," she said. "I love to see a lot of people support, especially the youngsters. "I'm a massive fan of golf and what it can provide for the kids and people socialising and [helping] to make friends. It's great that people are learning to grow the game as well." Hall is also an advocate for the promotion of women's sport and wants to see increasing media coverage. "I think that having this event here and all the other women's sports [this summer] is amazing and hopefully in 10 years' time it will be bigger than it is now," she added.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Rent worry stops man feeling 'too comfortable' at home
A man who works two jobs said the insecurity of renting means he cannot "feel too comfortable" in his own Jenkins, a supply teacher and a bar supervisor, had to leave the flat he lived in for 12 years after his landlord said he was selling Mr Jenkins, from Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, said the flat ended up back on the rental market for £350 a month more than he had been sector rents in Wales rose by 8.2% in the year to June, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) while fresh data from Principality Building Society suggests house prices remain stable amid "surging" sales. Average private rent in Wales rose to £804 per month in June, though increases are well past their record peak of 9.9% in the year to November 2023, according to the Price Index of Private Rents. Mr Jenkins, 56, said having to leave the home his son grew up in left him with the "niggling thought" that he did not want to "feel too comfortable, just in case" it happened again. When he was looking for a new place in 2022 he had to choose carefully because "they were asking crazy money for some of the properties which I just wasn't in a position to be able to afford."Last year the rent on his house increased from £550 to £600 a month, which he believed was "fair", but said it could be a struggle during school holidays when his supply work dries up. Stephen Davison, 61, from Llandudno, Conwy county, lost his job during the pandemic and has to use his savings to pay his rent has gone up £100 a month which, in addition to repeated council tax in recent years, has made paying his bills more of a said: "You go from having made some plans for the future to having everything thrown up in the air. I don't know where I will be if I can't get another job."My savings are going down, my prospects of getting a job are going down and you feel insecure." Estate agent Douglas Haig, a director of the National Residential Landlords Association, said he expected rent increases in Wales to taper down as a number of cost increases for landlords "have started to bed in now".He added: "It gets to a point where there is a there's a ceiling on what the general market can afford. And I think we're getting to that point." The average house price was £238,098, an increase of 0.7% on the year, according to Principality's Wales House Price Index for April to June, while the number of sales rose 13%.Nine regions saw an increase in average property prices, while 13 had a Mansfield, Principality's chief financial officer, said affordability challenges for first-time buyers were "starting to ease" after Bank of England interest rates cuts made mortgage rates some people are stuck renting, a sustained increase in sales over the past 15 months shows it is getting more affordable for others to get on the property ladder, he added."A stable housing market, where prices aren't increasing at huge percentage points… means the accessibility for buyers to come into the market is more straight forward." Former police officer Paula Spence moved into her new family home in Cwmbran, Torfaen, two weeks and husband Graham previously downsized, but when their three children and grandchildren came back to live with them, they needed somewhere Spence said they found a buyer for their house within two days but it was "a struggle" to find the right place to buy."There were a few things out there but in a higher bracket than we wanted to pay, so we felt really lucky that we got this," she said."The family are happy and we've all got our own space, so it's all good."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
New wheelchair sports hub opens in Carmarthenshire
A new wheelchair sports hub is helping to break down barriers and promote active lifestyles. The hub is based at St Clears Leisure Centre in Carmarthenshire and forms part of Actif's Focus Sport Programme. It offers weekly inclusive sessions for people of all abilities to get involved in wheelchair sports, regardless of whether they use a wheelchair in daily life. Councillor Hazel Evans, cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture and tourism, said: "We're proud to support this exciting new initiative that champions inclusion and community participation. "The St Clears hub shows what's possible when we work together to create opportunities that truly welcome everyone, regardless of ability. "It's not just about sport – it's about building confidence, friendships, and a stronger, more inclusive Carmarthenshire." The sessions are delivered in partnership with Basketball Wales, Disability Sport Wales, and the Scarlets Community Foundation. Participants can try wheelchair basketball, tennis, and rugby on a three-week rotation. Sessions take place every Wednesday at 5pm, with all equipment—including sports wheelchairs—provided. While the hub is designed primarily for wheelchair users, able-bodied participants are also encouraged to take part, making it a space where family and friends can enjoy the experience together. Hywel Thomas, basketball focus sport lead for Actif, said: "This new hub is a fantastic step forward for inclusive sport in Carmarthenshire. "We want to give everyone, regardless of ability or experience, the opportunity to try wheelchair sports, have fun, and build confidence. "Thanks to our partners, we're able to provide a high-quality experience that's accessible to all." The sessions aim to promote physical activity, inclusion, and community engagement in a supportive and welcoming environment. Anyone interested in taking part can sign up via the Actif app or contact the Actif Communities team for more information.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Landlines to be reconnected after tractor fire
Work to restore broadband and landline services affected by a fire that broke out in a tractor is to begin next week. The blaze began in a tractor on the A484 near Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, on 18 July, before spreading to other vehicles and a house. Firefighters from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were on scene for more than three hours. Openreach said "complex" repair work would begin on Tuesday, adding: "We understand how frustrating this is and the impact it's having, so we really appreciate everyone's patience and understanding while we carry out the repairs." Tractor, house and hay bales wrecked in blaze It added its network was damaged in the fire, with overhead cables affected and broadband and landline services disrupted for some customers in the area. It said it was working closely with the council and partners to resolve the issue. "The work is complex and time-consuming, involving both fibre and copper cables, which require different specialist teams," Openreach added. Any customers experiencing issues have been asked to contact their service provider for support. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was believed to have started in a tractor but spread to a load of hay bales that were under tow. It also spread to two other vehicles, along with a nearby house, where it was confined to the kitchen and attic.
