Latest news with #StAndrewsChurch
Telegraph
21 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Goats deployed to clear overgrown graveyards
An overgrown Welsh churchyard has employed an eco-friendly method to clear gravestones – a herd of hungry goats. The goats are loaned from a nearby business to chew their way through brambles, weeds, and excess foliage at the 13th century church. The animals have been hired by Narberth town council in Pembrokeshire to work at St Andrew's Church and are monitored by GPS so they do not wander off. The council said the goats can provide a natural and chemical-free way of clearing areas and are trialling the method over the next two to three weeks. Locals have been asked not to approach the goats at work, supervise children nearby and keep dogs on leads. A spokesman for the council said: 'Narberth town council is continuing its work to enhance the grounds of St Andrew's Church as part of our ongoing biodiversity and environmental improvement programme. 'These goats will help clear excess growth around gravestones and across the site, enabling us to implement a longer-term ground management plan.' Clynderwen-based company Biogoats 2 Rent also hire the goats out privately to businesses, the national park authority and other churches. A spokesman for the company said: 'Bio Goats is an eco-friendly weed and brush control company. We hire goats out to the private, business, and agricultural sectors. 'Conservation grazing is the eco-friendly way of dealing with invasive weed, brush and knotweed. 'Goats are browsers first so leaves and a good old bramble bush, would be their first go-to, also once seeds have passed through a goat, they are generally non-viable. ' Goats are also generally very friendly and sociable animals so you might also make yourself a friend or two.' Richard White, who runs the business, said the goats are monitored by GPS rather than using collars in a process recently shown on Clarkson's Farm, the Amazon Prime Video series. Mr White said: 'I think he stole the idea from us. We're the only company in the UK to do this. We get inquiries from all over the UK, but the travel costs can make it unviable for customers from further away. 'We enjoy what we do and meet some nice people along the way.'
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Shifnal Pride in St Andrew's Church to return for second year
A Pride celebration held inside a Shropshire church will return in June after last year's event was a huge Pride's inaugural event saw more than 100 people attend a special service in St Andrew's Church, which has since been streamed more than 8,000 event will return again on 1 June at 18:00 BST."It was quite new to us, we weren't sure how it was going to go... but it was so successful it's back again," said organiser Ian Handley. He told the BBC that the team of organisers wanted to connect people from the LGBT community and people of faith."We felt this huge need to pull these communities together," he said."We're hoping to tie in some of the things from last year to try and link it all nicely together." The event is shaped by feedback from the community."With it being slightly different in a church, we had things to shape from from the Church of England," said Mr Handley."That really helped us kind of weave into our service things that were important to both communities."We're trying to keep a mix of contemporary and traditional songs and hymns… to make sure that we tick all boxes for all people of all faiths." Like last year, the town's youth theatre group - CentreStage - will perform music at the attendance will be the Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, as well as some of the town's councillors."Come as you like, we want people to feel comfortable as possible," added Mr Handley. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Solar panel plan approved for listed Nottingham church
A plan to install solar panels on the roof of a Grade II listed church in the centre of Nottingham has been given the green Andrews With Castle Gate United Reformed Church in Goldsmith Street, opposite Nottingham Trent University's Newton and Arkwright buildings, will have four banks of photovoltaic panels installed on its south and west said the energy generated will improve the church's "sustainability and efficiency", according to the Local Democracy Reporting plans were approved by Nottingham City Council on Wednesday, with a condition the colour of the panels must match the roof tiles and be approved by the planning authority.
