Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The heat is on in London! It's scorchio. Day One of my volunteering stint with the Olympics Press Operations team. It could be quiet on the blogging front for the next few days!

The Ladies Captain at The Ashburnham Championship Links Golf Club in Pembrey, near Llanelli, is appealing for old members to come forward to take part in an annual dinner. “This year is very important to us as it is the centenary of ladies golf at The Ashburnham,” said Mrs Iris Jacob. “I am busy going through old membership records and contact books to see if we can get as many members and former members as possible to attend the annual Ladies Captain Day dinner.” The dinner is being held at The Ashburnham Golf Club on Wednesday, August 8, starting at 7pm. Contact details - The Clubhouse, Cliffe Terrace, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, SA16 0HN Tel: 01554 832269 Fax:01554 836974 Email:admin@ashgolf.co.uk Website - http://www.ashburnhamgolfclub.co.uk

Splendid half page feature in the Llanelli Star about millionaire Kevin Green @kevingreenwales helping to inspire pupils at a biz challenge. Smashing story in the Llanelli Star today about the Lewis Partnership @Lewis_Architect helping St Michael's School in Llanelli to expand. Nice piece in Llanelli Star today about Dr John Lewis, Llanelli Hospice, being the guest speaker at Llanelli Rotary Club's meeting tonight. Smashing story in the South Wales Evening Post about millionaire Kevin Green @kevingreenwales helping at Coleg Sir Gar biz challenge event. Nice story on back page of the Carmarthen Journal about the Nigel Williams Memorial match - Carmarthen Town v Swansea City this Saturday. The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC @CarmarthenAFC column is in the Carmarthen Journal today. Good to see the latest gardening column from Aberglasney's Joseph Atkin @AberglasneyGdns in the Carmarthen Journal today. The latest 'Iechyd Da' be...

Aberystwyth University are once again extending a welcome to American undergraduate students as part of the Wales Fulbright Summer Institute 2012 programme. The students arrived on Saturday and over the next two weeks the University will host a series of events introducing the eight students to Wales and its relationships with the wider world. The prestigious Fulbright Commission has been promoting peace and cultural understanding through educational scholarships for over 60 years. The Summer Institutes are designed to introduce students to the UK while developing their academic and leadership skills. Rachel Tod, Director of the International Office at Aberystwyth University said: “We very much welcome the return of the Wales Fulbright Summer Institute which builds on the success of the 2011 programme. It is an important opportunity for the University to strengthen its already extensive links with North America, and to increase awareness of what Aberystwyth and Wales have to offer....

Looking after business, the business page column from the Carmarthen Journal By Ann Thomas, senior consultant with Clay Shaw Butler, chartered accountants and business consultants of Carmarthen They say that charity begins at home – and I’ve got the aches and pains to prove it! Currently, I am in training for a marathon Paris to Swansea bike ride to raise cash for the Maggie’s cancer centre in Swansea. Getting ready for a 400-mile marathon means you have to spend hours in the saddle getting fit. Take the aches and pains out of the equation and you can actually get some thinking done on those practice rides. For example, I was thinking about how to make tax-effective gifts. You can get tax relief on gifts to UK charities if you give: under Gift Aid  through a Payroll Giving scheme, run by your employer, or  by making a gift of certain shares or land.  In subsequent columns, I’ll look at other issues, but, for now, let’s concentrate on Gift Aid. If you...

The Iechyd Da beer column from the Carmarthen Journal by Simon Buckley, chief executive of the Evan-Evans Brewery in Llandeilo. It was General MacArthur who said, ‘Beware, retreat often ends in defeat!’ Well, I am not a general facing a massive retreat and the consequences of that. But I am a brewer facing the impact of a long wet summer. This is the time of year that pubs make money to see them through the winter and the weather is killing off the summer day-time trade The Royal Welsh and the National Eisteddfod normally mark the beginning of the final run out of summer and the run into autumn. We hope that these landmark events are going to herald the onset of summer and a few weeks of dry and sunny weather. The positive impact that this will have on both morale and takings will be tangible. Ever the optimist, here’s hoping! I am not taking the bet and am off to France for a battery charge. Much is talked about the new concepts of brewing and the marriage of beer to fo...

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column from the Carmarthen Journal newspaper - Carmarthen Town are delighted once again to be able to offer fans the opportunity to purchase tickets for the forthcoming Wales 2014 World Cup Qualifying Campaign home matches. Bookings are now being taken for the following two games: WALES V BELGIUM – Friday 7th September 2012 Cardiff City Stadium Kick off 7.45pm WALES V SCOTLAND – Friday 12th October 2012 Cardiff City Stadium Kick off 7.45pm Tickets for each game are as follows: Adult - £20 Senior Citizen (age 65 and over) - £5 Junior (age 16 and under) - £5 There is no booking fee when you order from the club and no limit on tickets for yourself and family and friends (subject to availability of course). Booking form available on our website page www.carmarthentownafc.com/walestickets.html where you can specify what tickets you’d like. ------------------------------------- Carmarthen Town AFC is look...

New recycling banks for unwanted or broken small electrical appliances have been introduced in Carmarthenshire. The council, in partnership with DHL Envirosolutions, have provided 10 WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) banks across the county. Residents can take along small electronic and electrical items such as hairdryers, radios, toasters, kettles and mobile phones; in fact any electrical item that can fit inside the bin will be accepted, recycled and turned into something new. Remember though if it is still in working order, someone else may be able to make use of it, so why not try your local charity shop first. Executive Board Member for Street Scene Cllr Colin Evans (pictured) said: “It is important that we recycle as much of our waste as possible. Everyone knows that you can recycle paper, cans and glass for example, but few people realise that old electrical items such as toasters and power tools can also be recycled. “We are working hard to improve recycling...

Llanelli Rotary Club installed their new president at their annual handover dinner held at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Alan Owen, centre, took over the chair from Graham Williams, second from left. The new junior vice-president is Hywel Bassett. The senior vice-president is Ken Abban, who was unable to attend the handover evening. Pictured to the right of Mr Owen are club secretary Anthony Jones and club treasurer Carl Lucas. Mr Owen has been a Rotarian for 10 years. Born in Burry Port, he was educated at Llanelli Grammar School and Staffordshire University. He worked at the Calsonic factory in Llanelli for a number of years as a computer manager. He later ran a computer consultancy. Today, Mr Owen is the postmaster at the Llanelli Docks Post Office in New Dock Road. A Welsh speaker, he is a member of the Cor Baroc choir in Llanelli and a passionate Llanelli Scarlets rugby supporter. Married to Mary, the couple have two children. Rotary website - www.llanellirotary...

When Mrs Dorothy Davidson of Pontargothi celebrated her 100th birthday she had guests there from three continents. And she spoke on Skype to those who couldn’t make the long journey. Mrs Davidson celebrated her birthday at Pontargothi Memorial Hall with son and daughter-in-law Terry and Sally, grandson Jonathan, his wife Tracy and their children Tyler, aged eight, and Liam, aged five, as well as about 110 other guest including seven from America and four from Australia. She spoke on Skype to old friends in Japan. Mrs Davidson was presented with a bouquet of flowers by the Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council Cllr Siân Thomas. Daughter-in-law Sally said: “It was great from mother’s point of view to see so many old friends. She is very up to date and has an iPad and emails everyone. It was a fantastic day. Originally from Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, Mrs Davidson worked in forestry with the Land Army during the Second World War and later worked as a housekeeper at a number of public sc...

The Next Steps project team are delighted to reveal that this year the candidates will be leaving a lasting legacy as part of the competition process. The six boys, along with their mentors and other members of staff from Lloyd & Gravell Ltd, will be creating a safari themed sensory garden at Llanelli’s Heol Goffa School to benefit children with special needs. It is the first year that the Next Steps competition has involved a community-based project. Kevin Gravell said: “As a company we try and give back as much as we can to our communities, and our own staff had already identified the sensory garden at Heol Goffa as a worthwhile project which they wanted to do in their own free time. “The timing fitted in perfectly with the Next Steps project, and we are thrilled to be able to give the boys such a great project to do as part of the competition. “To their credit, every one of them has been excited to get involved and they all realise that the work they are carrying out for free th...

The Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council is backing a charity to help soldiers who have served in Afghanistan and their families. Cllr Siân Thomas has pledged her support for the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal which is promoting a charity single by baritone Mark Llewelyn Evans, Men of Harlech/Tell My Father, sung with the Band of the Welsh Guards. Cllr. Thomas said: “We do not do enough after care for our brave armed forces. I have a relative married to an Afghan war hero who came home in pieces, not physically but mentally, and because there were no outward signs of injury, not many people understood the inner trauma he faced. “We need to do more for our brave. This year as Chair I have openly showed my support for Armed Forces Week, joining the flag raising event in Llanelli, and am also giving my support to the Help for Heroes fund.” Further information on the single Men of Harlech/Tell My Father can be found on Mark’s website www.markllewelynevans.co.uk

Calling all members of the Old Maridunians Association, the organisation for old boys of the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School for Boys in Carmarthen! It has been decided this year to move the annual dinner from a Friday evening to a late Saturday afternoon and also to use a different venue. This will hopefully "freshen" things up while also making it easier for Old Boys living away to be able to attend. It will allow more time to socialise and reminisce with old friends. This year’s annual dinner is to be held at the lvy Bush Hotel, Carmarthen on Saturday 13 October 2012, 4.00pm for 5.00pm; dress: lounge suit or blazer. The dinner is open to all former pupils and staff. lf you know of anyone who has not had an invitation, please pass on this news. This year’s guest speaker will be Andy Edwards, who attended the "Gram" from 1972 to 1978 (when the school ceased to be). Andy trained and qualified as a teacher and started his career in London in the 1980s where, incid...

Latest events at picturesque Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley include - 27th July – 9th August Sandra Phillips will be exhibiting her art work in the Aberglasney Mansion. Beautiful oil paintings of landscapes, seascapes, capturing light, mood and atmosphere! Saturday 4th August Our monthly plant sale continues, in the Aberglasney car park, with specialist nurseries selling all sorts of unusual flowers and shrubs. This event will continue on the first Saturday of every month until October. A great chance to stock up on lovely plants and why not make the most of Summer, with a walk around our beautiful gardens and a stop off at the ‘Gardeners Cafe’ for strawberries and cream!

More people have become British citizens at a ceremony held in Llanelli Town Hall. The citizenship ceremony took place to formally welcome on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government new people to Britain and to Carmarthenshire. The new citizens live in Llanelli, St Clears and Carmarthen. Designed to enhance the significance and importance of becoming a British Citizen, the aim of the ceremony, provided by Carmarthenshire County Council’s registration service, is also to provide each individual with a memorable occasion and help them celebrate with their friends and family a new sense of place and belonging. The ceremony began with a formal welcome and opening address from Superintendent Registrar Andrea Rowlands. Lieutenant Colonel David Mathias presented the new citizens with their certificates, and harpist Teleri Haf Gravell performed before the ceremony and during the break. Statutory Services executive board member Cllr Mair Stephens ...

The nest site of great crested grebe at Sandy Water Park may have been attacked by hooligans over the weekend. A Llanelli resident seeing a bag with a rock close the nest site on which the great crested grebe was nesting feared one of the chicks had been killed. County council conservation officer Simeon Jones said he visited the nest site with the informer and recovered the bag. But there was no rock. Two chicks were with the hen mother bird on the water riding on her back under the wings. Simeon said: “If this nest site was stoned it was a criminal act under the Countryside and Wildlife Act and we would ask anyone who saw anything to report it to the police. “All next sites are protected and the great crested grebe is quite a rare bird. “We have been quite excited that this year with having five nesting throughout the Millennium Coastal Park from Burry Port to Llanelli. This is more than ever previously recorded. They seem to particularly favour ash pond sites for nesting.” Mil...

A man has been fined £75 for dumping two black bags at the recycling site in Brynamman. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notice to a resident of Morriston, Swansea. Documentation was found in the bags which helped them to catch the offender. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum penalty of up to £2,500. Unfortunately, fly-tipping is becoming an increasing problem at recycling sites across the county. Only recyclable waste should be taken to the sites. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “These sites are important facilities for communities and it is very disappointing that they are being misused in this way. This will not be tolerated and anyone caught dumping rubbish will be prosecuted.” Residents are being urged to put their waste into the recycling banks and not leave it on the ground. The banks are emptied regularly but if they are full then people should t...

A man has been fined £75 for not cleaning up after his dog at the County Museum in Abergwili, Carmarthen. The 65-year-old was issued with a fixed penalty notice by council environmental enforcement officers. If he fails to pay it, he could be taken to court where the maximum fine is £1,000. The council now hopes this fine will act as a warning to others. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said anyone caught failing to clean up after their pet would be fined. “Dog mess left anywhere is a serious health risk and our enforcement officers carry out regular patrols across the county. “Most dog owners are responsible and pick up after their pets; however, there is a small minority who do not and we will not hesitate to fine them,” he said. A major campaign is underway to clean up Carmarthenshire and residents are being urged to play their part and help the council catch those responsible for dog fouling. Cllr Jones added: “One of the main reasons pe...

A round-up of some news items from Llanelli architects the Lewis Partnership . . . Work on the transformation of the old Royal Oak pub on the campus of St Michael’s School, Llanelli, is starting this week. Work on the extension to doctor’s surgery in Nantgaredig being completed this week. Previous stories on website - http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk/extension-to-nantgaredig-surgery-starts-to-take-shape/  Our presentation of designs to Llanelli Tennis Club went down well last week. New changing rooms and other improvements on the horizon for club. A big welcome to Daniel Phillips, 22, who is studying architectural technology at Bristol University. Daniel has joined us for 24 weeks. Daniel is from Tycoch in Swansea and has already completed the first two years of his university studies. Bro Myrddin Housing Association have asked us to design four homes in Cae Bryn Drain in Carmarthen. We are working with Bro Myrddin Housing Association on a three-bedroomed disabled person...

A man has been fined £75 for failing to clean up after his dog in Ammanford. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notice to the 73-year-old in Park Road. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and a fine of up to £1,000. It is hoped this latest fine will help get the message across that this type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. A major campaign is underway in Carmarthenshire to raise awareness of dog fouling and its consequences. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said it was a priority for the council and is calling on residents to help catch those responsible. “Dog mess left anywhere is a serious health risk and our enforcement officers will not hesitate to fine people,” he said. “They carry out regular patrols across Carmarthenshire, but unfortunately they cannot be everywhere at once and that is where the public come in. “If you have any information on dog fouling th...

It's a case of 'book early' for Kevin Green's next two-day Wealth Intensive Training seminar in September. He'll share his successful in-depth high-profit structures, giving delegates a complete toolkit to wealth creation. Approximately 50% of the training sessions focus on property/property related businesses and 50% on other high cash flow and profitable business start-up strategies. The price is just £20 per seat with proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK. Kevin is an ambassador for the charity. You will learn the following :- How to become a 'Bank' Business start up tips High profit business examples How to start with no money Credit repair, build and growth Joint ventures How to grow significant value in business and property Forex trading Kevins 70/30 rule Exit strategies for safety You will also get access to 'Team Green' and Kevin's business systems Both days begin at 8.30 am and finish at 6pm. Venue: Radisson Edwardi...

Staff at West Wales solicitors Hains and Lewis are getting on their bikes in aid of three charities. The solicitors, based at Haverfordwest, Carmarthen and Narberth, will be organising a charity bike ride on Sunday, September 16. The event is being organised by Angela Killa, senior assistant solicitor at Carmarthen. It will raise funds for Women’s Aid, Ty Hapus and Brain Tumour UK. Angela said: “We are in the early stages of organising the ride, but the intention is to raise money for three very worthwhile charities. “In addition, in the build-up to the event, we are hoping to organise a competition for local schoolchildren to get involved with designing a poster, a logo and a webpage for the ride. “The ride will be open to the public and we’d like as many people as possible to get involved. “As a local firm of solicitors, we recognise the importance of supporting good causes, so, hopefully, we can do a lot of good with the money raised. “The bike ride route and the distance inolved is...

Two women have been fined £75 for dropping cigarette ends in Llanelli’s Parc Trostre. The council’s environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the area and issued fixed penalty notices to the women, one aged 38; the other aged 65. If they don’t pay, they could be taken to court where the maximum fine they could receive is £2,500. The council now hopes this will act as a warning that anyone caught dropping litter will be fined. Research shows that 83% of litter found on the streets of Carmarthenshire is smoking-related. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Our enforcement officers are extremely proactive and carry out regular patrols across the county. “Cigarette ends in particular are a big problem as they are difficult and expensive to clean up as they fall into grates and cracks in the pavement. “Hopefully these latest fines will help to get the message across that the council is determined to clean up Carmarthenshire and if t...

Hywel Dda Health Board has recently achieved the Investing in Volunteers quality standard, in recognition of the excellent work carried out with volunteers through the Volunteering for Health project. Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for organisations involving volunteers. It aims to improve the quality of volunteering experience for volunteers and to encourage organisations to better recognise the enormous contribution made by volunteers. Investing in Volunteers is managed in Wales by Wales Council for Voluntary Action. Volunteering for Health, which was established through Big Lottery funding, has been running for two and half years and during this time 220 volunteers have helped patients across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Head of Volunteering Services, David Fretwell, said: “The Volunteering for Health Team, volunteers and colleagues are thrilled and very proud to have achieved the Investing in Volunteers Quality Standard. “Achieving it demonstra...

Brecon Beacons National Park In a nutshell: Quite simply, a national treasure. The western edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park is designated as Fforest Fawr Geopark. The Carmarthenshire slice of the park is known as the Black Mountain, above Llandovery, Llandeilo and the Tywi Valley. Walk it, bike it, run it . . . you won’t be short of ideas in a simply stunning landscape. http://www.breconbeacons.org/ Bethlehem, SA19 6YH 01874 623366 The longer view: You'll be blown away by the area of high, rolling countryside above Llandovery, Llandeilo and the Tywi Valley, known locally as the Black Mountain. This western end of the Brecon Beacons National Park is one of Carmarthenshire’s proudest possessions and home to many of the least-explored sections, including one of the top geological sites in Europe. It’s so accessible too. You can walk it, bike it, run it – you'll be delighted to discover you can even take the dog on it! It is possible to walk the entire length of the ...

A new drive has being launched in Carmarthenshire to tackle fast food litter. The council, in partnership with McDonald’s, has launched a  campaign to clean up the county. Figures show that fast food litter such as chip wrappers, crisp packets, drinks cartons and half eaten food can be found on 20% of county streets. The council is encouraging people to dispose of their rubbish more responsibly and has teamed up with McDonald’s to raise awareness of the problem. Officers visited McDonald’s restaurants in Carmarthen and Cross Hands to put up posters and talk to customers. On average 40 tonnes of litter is removed every week in Carmarthenshire and it costs the council over £2.2 million per year. Not only does litter take years to break down, but it spoils the appearance of an area and attracts rats. People are also being reminded that anyone caught throwing litter can get an on-the-spot fine of £75; or if taken to court, a fine up to £2,500. Since council environmental enforceme...

A grant scheme, Supporting Farmers to Diversify, has been introduced in rural Carmarthenshire to support farming households seeking to diversify into non agricultural activity. RDP Sir Gâr, a Carmarthenshire County Council organisation based at the West Wales European Centre, has grants of up to £50,000 for the conversion of redundant buildings for business purposes and a further grant of up to £10,000 for capital equipment. The scheme aims to broaden the economic base of rural Carmarthenshire whilst safeguarding the future of farming families in the area. The main objectives are to maintain and increase the income of farm households and to retain young people in the farming industry by helping them to develop alternative sources of income and alternative employment opportunities. Case study Farmers’ wife and young entrepreneur Nerys Llewelyn Jones of Llanwrda has benefitted from an RDP Sir Gâr grant, using it to convert an unused farm building into an office for her new busines...

The sun has got his hat on - at last - and everyone is coming out to play. The litmus test of good weather in Carmarthenshire is the numbers of people pouring into one of Wales’ biggest visitor attractions, Pembrey Country Park. An estimated 8, 000-plus hit the park and the Blue Flag beach Cefn Sidan on Sunday with three times more cars rolling in than the weekend before. County executive board member for leisure service Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “What a difference the sun makes. On the weekend of July 14-15 of July the park had just over 3,000 visitors when the weather of cloudy with showers. “But this weekend there were more than 10,000 making the most of the weather and the beach entrance to Cefn Sidan looked like a post card shot of Ibiza.” Ranger Wyn Parry said: “It was picnic; barbecue and beach weather with temperatures soaring into the 70s and it was good to see do many happy faces and people enjoying themselves dawn ‘til dusk.” Receptionist Laura Butler said: “Frisbees, beach r...

Check out: "Latest news from The Ashburnham Championship Links Golf Club at Pembrey"( http://twitthis.com/mp7yd3  ) "Hair today, gone tomorrow for charity"( http://twitthis.com/dp673v  ) Special offers at the Jenkins Bakery @JenkinsBakery inc 2 fresh cream eclairs £1.60. More special offers - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/  Only one more sleep until I head to London for the Olympics . . . :) Just back from the Llanelli Talking Newspaper for the Blind studio. Two interviews in the can for forthcoming editions. Just back from a meeting with the guys at my favourite architects @Lewis_Architect in Llanelli. Aberystwyth University teams up with Celtic Pride to produce better and healthier beef - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/aberystwyth-university-teams-up-with.html … Match report from Carmarthen Town (3) v Newport County (1) now on the Town website - http://www.carmarthentownafc.com/journal%20reports.html Video of some of the highlights from Carmarthen...

Only one more sleep until I head to London for the Olympics . . . :)

Researchers at Aberystwyth University in collaboration with Celtic Pride Ltd, are investigating fat variation in grass with the aim of creating new grass varieties to produce healthier beef. Scientists at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) have begun research into identifying and understanding the variation in fat content and fatty acid composition of grass, along with assessing the current impact of a forage-based production system on fat composition of beef. Fat is a vital macronutrient within the human diet and is essential to sustain life. Yet humans are not consuming adequate amounts of beneficial fats such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, hence we need to examine ways in which we can remedy this. One route to increasing beneficial fats in the diet is forage-fed beef, since grass contains a high amount of beneficial omega-3 fatty acid. Celtic Pride has become one of Wales' most recognised beef brands and Celtic Pride Beef carries t...

Children in schools across Carmarthenshire enjoyed an Olympics themed lunch to get them in the sporting spirit ahead of London 2012. The special meal was laid on across all county primary schools by the Carmarthenshire Catering Service , which is part of the local authority. The meal included a barbecue chicken pocket with cucumber and tomato rings served with diced potatoes, followed by a strawberry butterfly cake and fruit juice. Schools were encouraged to lay on sporting activities throughout the day. Carmarthenshire’s Catering Service regularly puts on themed menus to compliment its existing three-week rolling menu. The idea is to give children the chance to try something new, and to encourage those who usually bring in a packed lunch to try a school meal. Catering Service Manager Sandra Weigel said: “We wanted the lunch to instil a sense of excitement ahead of the games and whilst encouraging children to maybe try new foods and tastes.” A t...

Wales will be leading the way in tackling a bee crisis, as Environment Minister John Griffiths announces a new action plan [1] at the Royal Welsh Show today (Monday 23 July). Bees and other pollinating insects are in steep decline, threatening our environment, our economy, and our food. Now government action could mean help and advice for farmers and communities to protect the more than 250 species of bee in the UK. Friends of the Earth Cymru has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement of a Pollinator Action Plan. The environment charity’s The Bee Cause campaign [2], launched earlier this year, calls on the Welsh and UK Governments to take action to halt the decline of bees and other essential pollinators. Managed honey bee colonies fell by over 50 per cent between 1985 and 2005. Wild honey bees are nearly extinct in many parts of the UK, and a quarter of wild bee species are considered rare or endangered. Recent research by the University of Reading has revealed it would ...

Does the thought of a mouse and computer fill you with dread? Would you rather deal with a live mouse than one attached to a computer? First Click courses are taking place at Ammanford Library for absolute beginners who are nervous about using computers. They are aimed at complete novices from those who don’t know how to switch a computer on to people who have very limited knowledge. The course is run on Fridays for three weeks, starting on August 10, and aims to enable participants to be familiar with email and to comfortable about using a PC or laptop. Anyone interested should call Ammanford Library on 01269 598150 to book a place. Further courses will be held later in the year.

Bookworms can grab a bargain at Ammanford Library’s spring book sale later this month. The sale will take place at the Carmarthenshire County Council facility up to July 28 during normal library opening hours. Books for adults and children in Welsh and English, in ordinary and large print, as well as a small selection of CDs, DVDs, talking books and videos are for sale. The sale, taking place at the library in Wind Street, is to sell withdrawn stock to create room for new material. Book sales which have been held in the past have always proved very popular with the public. Regional Library Manager Myrddin Morgan said: “The book sale is a great opportunity for the public to pick up bargains and in doing so help the library to create space for new stock which will then be available to the whole community. “The sale is also a further encouragement for people to pick up some books and use their local library.” People don’t need to be library members to visit the booksale, but they c...

Dr John Lewis, of the Ty Brynwgyn Hospice in Llanelli, will be the guest speaker at the weekly meeting of Llanelli Rotary Club at 7.30pm on Wednesday at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Ty Bryngwyn website - http://www.tybryngwyn.org.uk/

Bwcabus is reaching even more highways, byways and farmsteads in remotest Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion than ever before. Welsh Minister with responsibility for Transport, Carl Sargeant, launched the extended Bwcabus service for Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion at Lampeter University. The innovative and popular transport service in West Wales has transformed lives, allowing passengers especially the elderly a degree of independence to organise their lives. And it has been expanded with additional financial support from the Welsh Government which is in addition to the £1.8 million which has been committed to the project through the European Regional Development Fund. New additional areas served by the extended service are in North Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion including Lampeter, Llanybydder, Felinfach and Llangeithio. Mr Sargeant said: “Bwcabus is a pioneering demand responsive service that is transforming transport in rural West Wales.” “Bwcabus is playing a crucial role in helping pe...

Pupils in Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn have been learning about recycling batteries and small electrical items during Recycle Week. Although most people know about recycling their old newspapers and tin cans – they don’t realise batteries and old, broken electricals such as kettles and hairdryers can be recycled too. The council’s waste awareness team went along to Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn in Newcastle Emlyn during Recycle Week to talk to the pupils. Officers gave a short presentation on the importance of battery recycling and also showed a DVD on waste electrical items. An interactive workshop was also held with pupils from years 8 and 9 looking at the life of a mobile phone - from making the phone, through to purchasing, then recycling it, and what to do with the packaging of a new phone. Council sustainability officer Tina Brice said: “The feedback we had from both teachers and children is that it has made them think twice about putting batteries and broken electrical items in black bags. They ...

A woman has been fined for failing to clean up after her dog at Burry Port Woodlands. Council environmental enforcement officers issued her with a fixed penalty notice of £75 for the offence. Failure to pay could result in prosecution in the magistrates court and a fine of up to £1,000. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones hopes the fine will help to get the message across that anyone caught not picking up after their pets will be fined. He said: “Enforcement officers carry out regular patrols across the county and will not hesitate to fine people who break the law in this way. “However, our officers cannot be everywhere at once so we are calling on residents to help us catch those responsible. One of the main reasons people don’t clean up after their dogs is because they think there isn’t a council officer watching; but if the message gets out that the general public can take direct action to report offences, dog owners are far more likely to b...

School pupils in Burry Port are going green. A ‘Green Day’ was held at Glanymor School to raises awareness on issues including litter, waste and recycling and energy efficiency. A workshop was held with Year 9 pupils who are looking at designing their own eco house with council sustainability officers there to offer advice on composting food and garden waste. A second workshop was also held with TATA Steel on can recycling. Pupils then carried out a litter-pick of the school grounds, the bus bay and the area outside the school in the afternoon. In total they collected 26kg of rubbish mostly crisp packets, sweet and chocolate wrappers, drinks bottles and cans as a result of ‘eating on the go.’ The pupils have now suggested a rota for form groups to carry out litter-picks in these hot-spot areas in form period and morning registration. A lot of work is underway at the school to help the environment. As well as having recycling bins in the classroom and in the yard, the school also h...

Carmarthen Town are delighted once again to be able to offer fans the opportunity to purchase tickets for the forthcoming Wales 2014 World Cup Qualifying Campaign home matches. Bookings are now being taken for the following two games: WALES V BELGIUM – Friday 7th September 2012 Cardiff City Stadium Kick off 7.45pm WALES V SCOTLAND – Friday 12th October 2012 Cardiff City Stadium Kick off 7.45pm Tickets for each game are as follows: Adult - £20 Senior Citizen (age 65 and over) - £5 Junior (age 16 and under) - £5 There is no booking fee when you order from the club and no limit on tickets for yourself and family and friends (subject to availability of course). Booking form available on our website page www.carmarthentownafc.com/walestickets.html where you can specify what tickets you’d like.