West Wales Life&Style May-June 2021
West wales Life&Style magazine celebrates the people, places, craft and culture of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire
West wales Life&Style magazine celebrates the people, places, craft and culture of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire
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WEST WALES
May 2021
Life&Style
PEOPLE, PLACES, CRAFT AND CULTURE
PICK ME UP
Free
TAKE ME HOME
Where’s Wally?
Our giant visitor
makes a splash
WIN
A night of
luxury for two
at Twr y Felin
hotel
cool beer
gardens
6to savour
Bluestone circle:
the real Stonehenge
Rated Excellent
West Wales Life&Style
The history of Quality Cottages:
The
The
The history
history of
of
of Quality
Quality Cottages:
Cottages:
Celebrating
Celebrating
Celebrating 60
60
60
60 years
years
years
years from
from
from
from 1961–2021
1961–2021
1961–2021
After running a small portfolio -
The history
After originally
After running called
running a
of
small ‘Cerbid Quality
a small portfolio Cottages’,
portfolio -
Cottages:
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The history originally after the
After originally called North Pembrokeshire
running called ‘Cerbid
a
of
small ‘Cerbid Cottages’, Quality hamlet
portfolio Cottages’, -
Cottages:
originally after the called North Pembrokeshire ‘Cerbid Cottages’, hamlet
Celebrating after where the North it all began Pembrokeshire - the portfolio
Celebrating after where the North it all began Pembrokeshire - the portfolio hamlet has
where it all began - 60 hamlet has
where it all began - 60 the portfolio years has from 1961–2021
grown naturally over the decades,
grown spreading
the portfolio years has from 1961–2021
grown naturally naturally out over geographically the over decades, the decades, to all
Looking for an agency that does it all? You found us.
Looking for an agency that does it all? You found us.
Join our exclusive portfolio of high-class holiday cottages in Wale
West Wales Life&Style
Looking for an agency that does it all? You found u
Join our exclusive portfolio of high-class holiday cottages in Wales.
Join our Join exclusive our portfolio of high-class holiday cottages in Wales. in Wa
Looking for an agency that does it all? You found us.
Looking for for an an agency that that does it it all? all? You You found us. us.
Looking for an agency that does it all? You found us.
This year, Quality Cottages are
This very This year, proud year, Quality to Quality reach Cottages Cottages a fantastic are are
Join Join our our exclusive portfolio of of high-class holiday cottages in in Wales. Wales.
very milestone This very proud year, proud to as Quality reach to we reach celebrate Cottages a fantastic a fantastic our are
milestone Diamond
Join our exclusive portfolio of high-class holiday cottages in Wales.
very milestone proud Jubilee. as to as we reach we celebrate celebrate a fantastic our our
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Celebrating 60 years of providing
under We both are always brands looking and conjunction
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Celebrating 60 years of providing
memorable Welsh holidays
Celebrating Celebrating 60 years 60 years of providing of providing
memorable memorable Welsh Welsh holidays holidays
Celebrating 60 years of providing
memorable Welsh holidays
2 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
7 days a week
westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
Celebrating 60 years of providing 3
7 days a week
memorable Welsh holidays
Celebrating 60 years of providing
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West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
24 Rock
of Ages
32 Win a night
of luxury
69 Life on
the farm
49 Bloody murder
41 Special brew
8 Designer style
36 He is the walrus
Contents
6 Welcome
8 Heaveny home
The stunning Grade II listed Priory
is a one of west Wales’ finest homes
18 News
20 Reader’s image
Stunning images of West Wales
from the cameras of our readers.
24 Bluestone circle
Professor Mike Parker Pearson
rewrites history with his incredible
discovery in the Preseli Hills.
32 Reader competition
Win a night of luxury at Twr y Felin
hotel in St Davids
36 Here’s Wally
Meet west Wales’ latest – and
largest – celebrity visitor
41 Tea for you
Paul Raven of Carmarthen’s Tea
Traders has been brewing up a
storm with his passion for leaves
44 The great outdoors
We take a look at six beautfil west
Wales beer gardens to visit this
summer
48 Shop of horrors
The 100-year-old unsolved murder
that shocked a nation and stumped
Britain’s top detective
56 What’s in a name?
We take a look at the meaning
behind some of our most common
place names
58 Indoors and out
Discover the endless possibilites of
building a beautiful summerhouse
61 In the garden
Check out our tips to ensure that
spring has sprung in your garden
65 Stepping up
UK fitness champ Joey Bull on the
benefits of slipping off your shoes
and feeling the grass beneath your
feet
69 Farming diary
Debbie James describes the pain
and pleasures of life down on the
farm
77 Tastes of Wales
With spring in the air, what could
be better than a delicious rack of
Welsh lamb with rosemary, lemon
and garlic
75 Wines of the world
Explore the global grape sensation
as Celtic Wines’ Roy Roberts brings
us his A to Z of world wines
78 Motors
The stylish new Mercedes EQB
is the all-electric compact that’s
changing the way we drivefor the
better
4 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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5
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Welcome/
Croeso
We are delighted to welcome you all
to the third – albeit slightly delayed
– edition of West Wales Life&Style,
the free magazine dedicated to celebrating,
supporting and promoting the three counties
of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and
Ceredigion.
Firstly, I should explain our recent absence –
even though I’m sure you will all be able to guess
the cause.
We had originally intended to publish an
edition in February, however the continued
national lockdown led us to decide that it would
have been wrong for us to put out a magazine at
that time.
While we had an edition all but ready to hit the
presses, we were uncomfortable with a situation
whereby we were charging advertisers to appear
in a magazine that we knew, due to the closure
of the venues and outlets that stock West Wales
Life&Style, hardly anyone would see.
As the magazine is funded solely through
advertising, it would not have been possible to
print without charging those advertisers, and
while all were happy to go ahead, we felt we
could not, in good conscience, produce a magazine
that failed to provide them with the service for
which they were paying.
With that in mind, we decided to postpone
printing until the lockdown was eased and some
degree of normality returned.
We would like to thank all those advertisers
and subscribers who supported us in making
what was such a difficult decision. Ultimately, we
feel we did the right thing for everyone.
It does now though seem there is an end to
the Covid nightmare in sight: shops, pubs and
restaurants are all starting to re-open.
Throughout the lockdown, we witnessed an
upsurge in the number of people making the
most of the suppliers and services on their
doorsteps, and we hope this continues as
restrictions are lifted.
Our small businesses have struggled during
the past year and it is only through the support
of their customers that they have come through
these darkest of times.
So as the summer sun finally begins to burst
through the Covid clouds, let’s continue to
support them and make sure our rural economies
can thrive going forward.
Welcome back everyone, we’ve missed you.
More Than Just
For Show!
STEVE ADAMS
Editor
MIKE OWEN
Sales director
01437 214667
07920 511360
steve@westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
01437 214667
07881 468965
mike@westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
Images: Gareth Davies, Aled Hall, Visit Wales, Mike Parker Pearson, A Stanford, Debbie James
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style is published by West Wales Publishing Ltd
West Wales Publishing Ltd, Castle Green, Pencader,Carmarthenshire, SA39 9BP
@TORCHTHEATRE
TORCHTHEATREPEMBS
@WWLifeandStyle WWLifeandStyle wwlifeandstyle
6 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
7
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Designer style,
heavenly views
Fabulous six-bedroom
Grade II listed home
overlooking stunning
Saundersfoot bay
8 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
9
West Wales Life&Style
Pencaer Farmhouse
Lower Freystrop
Guide price: £825,000
‘
West Wales Life&Style
The hand-made Barry
Wade fully-fitted kitchen
has cherrywood units,
granite worktops ’
Delightful dressed stone Pembrokeshire
farmhouse dating to circa mid 1800s.
ABITRATION, EXPERT WITNESs
& MEDIATION
The main Farmhouse offers 3 bedroom
accommodation plus X2 one bedroom
For anyone with a yearning for leads through an arched door to a to the left to the library with high
perfect sea views and fresh air vestibule with a stone-tiled floor and ceiling, handmade Barry Wade oak
alongside stunning designer beyond to the reception hall with its cabinets, oak wood flooring and
interconnecting cottages that could
be utilised as further office space/home
gym/gaming or home cinema facility to
fittings and refurbishments plus
a dash of history in sophisticated,
dignified surroundings, then The
Priory in Saundersfoot’s Church
Terrace could well see all their
beautifully impressive oak flooring.
From the hall, a door leads off
feature fireplace with oak surround,
wood burning stove with slate
dreams fulfilled.
the main residence.
And the Grade II listed property
really is the stuff of coastal living
Approx. ¾ acre private, landscaped
dreams.
The six bedroom and five reception
grounds.
room property is believed to date
back to around 1870 and sits in
There is also a large 2 storey 3 bedroom
an elevated position in the village,
enjoying glorious views out over the
bay.
barn conversion adjoining, all set in a
Complete with its own designercreated
picturesque, tranquil setting.
orangery and kitchen,
plus cellar and workshop, The
Priory is one of Saundersfoot’s
Approx. 3 miles from Haverfordwest.
most outstanding properties, and -
after an extensive renovation and
refurbishment - has been used by
the current owners as a delightful
family home as well as a successful
ESTATE & ASsET
LEASE CONSULTANCY PROPERTY VALUATIONS SALES & AUCTIONS
AGRICULTURAL ABITRATION, EXPERT WITNESs COMPULSORY PURCHASE & ESTATE & ASsET
LEASE CONSULTANCY PROPERTY VALUATIONS SALES & AUCTIONS
AGRICULTURAL ABITRATION, EXPERT WITNESs COMPULSORY
TENANCIES
& MEDIATION
COMPENSATION
MANAGEMENT
holiday
PURCHASE & ESTATE
let.
& ASsET
LEASE CONSULTANCY PROPERTY VALUATIONS SALES & AUCTIONS
AGRICULTURAL ABITRATION, EXPERT WITNESs COMPULSORY PURCHASE & ESTATE & ASsET
LEASE CONSULTANCY PROPERTY VALUATIONS SALES & AUCTIONS
MANAGEMENT
TENANCIES
& MEDIATION
COMPENSATION
MANAGEMENT
TENANCIES
& MEDIATION
COMPENSATION
MANAGEMENT
An impressive portico entrance
10
LAND & DEVELOPMENT LEISURE PROPERTY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY RETAIL, OFfICE & INDUSTRIAL RURAL PROPERTY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
LAND & DEVELOPMENT LEISURE PROPERTY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY RETAIL, OFfICE & INDUSTRIAL RURAL PROPERTY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
LAND & DEVELOPMENT LEISURE PROPERTY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY RETAIL, OFfICE & INDUSTRIAL RURAL PROPERTY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
11
COMPULSORY PURCHASE &
COMPENSATION
LEISURE PROPERTY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY RETAIL, OFfICE & INDUSTRIAL RURAL PROPERTY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
‘
The David Salisbury designed
orangery is a stunning addition
to the property ’
hearth and marble panels. The large accessible via the French doors.
window to the side offers views A cloakroom also lies off the hall
across the front garden towards the together with access to the cellar.
sea while an archway leads through Across the hall is the impressive
to the dining room where an ornate kitchen breakfast room. The handmade
Barry Wade fully-fitted
Victorian style fireplace enhances
the homely feel. There are garden kitchen has cherrywood units,
and sea views from the windows granite worktops, a Nobel gasfuelled
range, a two-ring Bosch to the side, and the main lawn is
gas
hob with extraction system, and
built-in single and double ovens.
Additionally, there is a Belfast
sink with mixer tap, built in
dishwasher and terracotta tiled
floor. An archway leads through
to the breakfast area with parquet
flooring with a stone surround
fireplace. Off the kitchen breakfast
room is a useful office area, utility
room and workshop.
Another stunning addition to the
house is a David Salisbury designed
and built orangery that has a
double-glazed lantern roof with
temperature sensitive auto opening
skylights. Seven sets of solid
wood, double-glazed French doors
ensure easy access to the granite
tiled terrace outside. The room is
completed by Italian marble tiles
with underfloor heating.
Stairs also rise up from the
reception hall to the first floor
accommodation, passing a delightful
arched sash window with window
seat and views across the valley.
The main bedroom enjoys views
of the beach and sea beyond, and
features hand-made American
cherry fitted wardrobes and chest of
drawers, together with a Victorian
style fireplace. The bedroom also
enjoys an en suite with double
sink unit with marble tops, jacuzzi
corner bath, WC, shower cubicle
with mains shower and a heated
towel rail. There are hand-made
Barry Wade fittings, including a
wardrobe.
Three further bedrooms can
be found on the first floor, one is
a large room that has a feature
fireplace with slate surround, ornate
cornicing, and a window to the rear.
Another, with wash basin, enjoys
lots of natural light from the sash
windows to the front and side. The
last smaller bedroom could be used
as a nursey or additional office.
These three bedrooms share a
family bathroom.
There are two further bedrooms
with built in cupboards and Velux
roof lights on the second floor. These
rooms share the use of a shower
room with wash hand basin and
WC.
The ground and gardens of The
Priory are an absolute delight. A
smart gated entrance leads to an
impressive brick paved circular
forecourt with a stone raised flower
bed in the centre. There is ample
parking area for several cars.
12 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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13
The landscaped gardens feature a
generous lawned area, mature trees,
bushes, shrubs, flower borders,
seating areas and a terrace off the
orangery.
As well as The Priory itself,
would-be buyers have the option to
purchase, by separate negotiation,
the adjacent Priory cottage.
This is a charming Grade II listed
period property that has been used
for friends and family in the past
and holiday letting in recent years.
It features a living room with
French doors opening to the
rear garden with decked patio
area, kitchen with door to rear
garden, two bedrooms (one en
suite) bathroom and downstairs
cloakroom. The cottage also has the
benefit of ample private parking on
a brick paved forecourt.
Daniel Rees, property agent for
Savills, has described The Priory
as “one of Pembrokeshire’s finest
houses” and on a perfect summer’s
day, with cloudless skies and
beautiful, calm blue seas glistening
across the bay, it would be
extremely difficult to argue.
The Priory
Church Terrace
Saundersfoot
Guide price: £1.5m
Savills
savills.co.uk
West Wales Life&Style
‘
One of Pembrokeshire’s
finest houses ’
West Wales Life&Style
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14 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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15
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Advertisement
Pembrokeshire opticians
upskill for their customers
Three staff members at
Specsavers Haverfordwest
have completed qualifications
to further improve the service they
offer to local residents.
Kate Hooper, Sasha Reed
and Victoria Meades have each
completed a three-year distance
learning degree. Ms Hooper
has qualified as a contact lens
optician following an additional
year of studying, while Ms Reed
and Ms Meades are now qualified
dispensing opticians.
Paul Skoczek, director of the
Bridge Street store, says: “I am
beyond proud of the team at
Haverfordwest for going the extra
mile to provide our local customers
with the best possible service. It’s
something they need now more
than ever, due to the increased
time people are spending looking
at screens during the COVID-19
lockdowns.
“Each member of our team is
passionate about serving the
community and I think the
achievements of our team echo that
message.”
Interest in contact lenses has
soared this year, with an 83 per
cent spike in people searching for
information about contact lenses
on Specsavers’ website (from May
to August 2020), undoubtedly
driven by individuals seeking an
alternative to avoid steamy glasses
caused by wearing a mask.
Mr Skoczek added: “Kate’s
qualification can provide us an extra
three clinics, which means we can
offer up to 45 more appointments
a week for contact lens fitting and
aftercare.”
All members of staff at the store
continue to abide by COVID-19
restrictions by wearing the correct
and full PPE, following infection
protocol and maintaining social
distancing.
Sasha Reed, Paul Skoczek, Kate Hooper and Victoria Meades
The upskilling of staff at
Specsavers Haverfordwest comes at
the same time as a massive offer on
contact lenses. Customers can get 50
per cent off their contact lenses for
the first three months with easycare
(Specsavers monthly direct debit
scheme).
The deal is now live and runs
until 3rd July 2021. Customers can
sign up or get more information at
specsavers.co.uk/offers/easycarefifty-percent-off-contact-lenses.
Here are some of the lifestyle
benefits to wearing contact
lenses:
1. Avoid steamy specs: Wearing
contact lenses means you don’t
have to worry about your glasses
getting steamed up or tangled when
wearing a face mask
2. Sport lifestyle? Contact lenses are
great for sports and other physical
activities as you don’t have to worry
about them falling off
3. No more blurred vision when it
rains! You don’t have to clean your
contacts when it’s raining outside as
the lenses won’t become splattered
4. Carry less when out and about:
You can wear them with sunglasses
and don’t have to switch from one to
the other when going outdoors and
indoors
5. Perfect for fashionistas: You don’t
have to worry about them clashing
with other accessories or make-up
looks
Specsavers Haverfordwest’s
opening hours have recently
been extended. The Bridge
Street store is now open
from 8:30am to 6pm Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday,
8:30am to 6pm on Wednesdays
and 9am to 5pm on weekends.
16 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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17
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
News / Newyddion
NT Cymru looks to turn social
Bluestone
announces
£15m lodge
expansion
Pembrokeshire’s Bluestone National
Park Resort is to build 80 new
superior lodges, at an investment
of £15m, following approval from
county and national park planning
officials.
The resort currently employs more
than 700 people and welcomed
almost 155,000 visitors through its
gates in 2019.
The proposed development, set
within Bluestone’s 500-acre site,
will build on the existing success of
the resort and offer environmentally
sensitive, self-catered lodges.
Speaking about the plans, Liz
Weedon, head of projects, said: “We
are very excited about the lodge
development.
“We are looking forward to taking
forward our proposals which will
be a very significant investment in
tourism for Pembrokeshire, Wales
and the UK”
William McNamara, chief
executive of Bluestone, added:
“These planning decisions are a
big step forward for the business.
After a very challenging period, it
is positive for everyone connected
with Bluestone – our staff, local
suppliers, and community partners
– to have these state-of-the-art,
environmentally sensitive lodges on
the horizon.”
Bydd Corgi yn rhoi 20% o holl elw’r casgliad o sanau dynion a merched sydd wedi’u hysbrydoli
gan Barc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro i’r Ymddiriedolaeth.
Partneriaeth elusennol
newydd yn camu ymlaen
Mae’n bleser gan Ymddiriedolaeth
Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro
gyhoeddi partneriaeth elusennol
newydd gyda Corgi Socks, busnes
teuluol yn Sir Gaerfyrddin sydd
wedi bod yn arbenigo mewn sanau a
dillad gwau moethus wedi’u gwneud
â llaw ers 1892.
Fel rhan o’r bartneriaeth hon,
bydd Corgi yn rhoi 20% o holl elw’r
casgliad o sanau dynion a merched
sydd wedi’u hysbrydoli gan Barc
Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro i’r
Ymddiriedolaeth.
Bydd yr arian yn galluogi’r
Ymddiriedolaeth i gefnogi’r gwaith
hanfodol o wella mynediad i’r awyr
agored, rhoi hwb i amrywiaeth a
chadwraeth, hyrwyddo dysgu yn yr
awyr agored a chefnogi swyddi a
sgiliau.
Dywedodd Chris Jones, Prif
Swyddog Gweithredol Corgi: “Mae’r
dirwedd eiconig hardd hon ar garreg
drws ein cwmni yn ein hatgoffa
bob dydd o bwysigrwydd materion
amgylcheddol a chynaliadwyedd.
“Rydyn ni’n falch iawn o gefnogi
elusen sy’n helpu i gadw Parc
Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro
yn arbennig nawr, ac ar gyfer
cenedlaethau’r dyfodol.”
Mae Ymddiriedolaeth Parc
Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro wedi
ymrwymo i ddiogelu popeth sy’n
arbennig ac yn unigryw am dirwedd
Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro i
genedlaethau’r dyfodol ei mwynhau.
Ers sefydlu’r Ymddiriedolaeth
yn 2019, mae wedi codi dros
£100,000 ar gyfer prosiectau yn
y Parc Cenedlaethol sy’n cefnogi
cadwraeth, cymuned, diwylliant ac
Arfordir Penfro.
Mae sanau Corgi sydd wedi’u
hysbrydoli gan Arfordir Penfro ar
gael yn corgisocks.com/collections/
protecting-pembrokeshire-coastnational-park,
ac mae gostyngiad o
10% ar gael dim ond i chi gofrestru i
fod ar restr bostio Corgi.
media pink, white and green
With this spring having been the
most anticipated in living memory,
National Trust Cymru has been
inviting people to emulate Japan’s
Hanami – the ancient tradition of
viewing and celebrating blossom
- with its #GwleddYGwanwyn
#BlossomWatch campaign.
To celebrate #GwleddYGwanwyn
#BlossomWatch, the charity has
started planting 1,000 cherry trees
in parks and schools across Wales as
part of the UK-Japan Sakura Cherry
Tree Project.
Planting began in March and
although many may not bloom this
year, the blossoms are set to become
a fixture in spring and early summer
for years to come.
The charity first piloted its new
#GwleddYGwanwyn #BlossomWatch
last year as the country entered
lockdown. And, with thousands
capturing and sharing images of
trees in bloom across social media
platforms, and four million views
in the first two weeks, the Trust is
now making it an annual tradition,
asking people to share images
of blush-tinted blooms to enable
everyone to celebrate nature.
A growing body of evidence
suggests that moments each day
spent noticing nature are vital for
wellbeing and building a closer
Mae’r ap yn crynhoi sawl carreg filltir
o fewn hanes gwneud ffilmiau yng
Nghymru – a ddisgrifiwyd unwaith
gan yr hanesydd uchel ei barch, Dave
Berry, fel “Yr etifeddiaeth ffrwythlon
honno”. Mae Archif Sgrin a Sain
Cymru Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru
wedi chwarae rhan hollbwysig
yn y gwaith o warchod ffilmiau a
recordiadau sain o Gymru ac mae
nawr yn cefnogi cynnyrch dwyieithog
National Trust Cymru wants everyone to join its #GwleddYGwnawyn #BlossomWatch campaign
connection with nature. Further
evidence suggests that people derive
many of the benefits from online
engagement. Therefore, the Trust is
asking people to ‘turn social media
pink, white and green’ to mark one of
‘nature’s greatest spectacles’.
Justin Albert, director for National
Trust Cymru, said: “Blossom in all
its guises can bring a particular
sense of joy as we emerge from
winter. Clocking these bursts of
colour as they unfurl across our
neighbourhoods as a signal of the
start of spring is truly joyful.”
Patrick Swan, Gardens and
Parklands Consultant, National
Trust Cymru said; “We have already
seen the first sight of cherry blossom
at some sites.”
“Hedgerow blossom typically
sy’n torri’n rhydd o ffiniau llyfr, gan
greu cyfuniad unigryw o eiriau a
delwedd symudol.
Mae’r cyfarwyddwr arobryn Colin
Thomas a’r archifydd ffilm Iola
Baines wedi dewis pump ar hugain
o glipiau ffilm o orffennol ffilmig
Cymru wedi’u cysylltu â thestun i
adrodd stori sy’n mynnu ein sylw.
Cafodd yr e-lyfr hwn ei lunio gan
Thud Media yng Nghaerdydd gyda
kicks off the season with the tiny
white, frothy blackthorn flowers
crisscrossing the countryside before
tree blossom like magnolias start
to unfurl and the many varieties of
delicately coloured fruit tree blossom
take it in turns to bloom – from
plum and damson to cherry and
apple – before the finale of the white
hawthorn coming into flower in May.
“The lingering cool temperatures
will tend to hold back the blossom so
that when it warms up we’re likely to
get an explosion.
To get involved, simply share your
blossom images in social media using
the hashtags #GwleddYGwanwyn or
#BlossomWatch.
The Trust is also launching a
blossom map this year to record
blossom sightings across the country.
Llyfrgell yn lansio Ap sy’n dathlu hanes gwneud ffilmiau yng Nghymru
chefnogaeth Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru a
Hwb Ffilm Cymru.
Meddai Iola Baines, curadur
delweddau symudol: “Bydd Fframio’n
Gorffennol yn dangos bod ffilmiau a
saethwyd yng Nghymru nid yn unig
yn adlewyrchu hanes Cymru ond
eu bod hefyd yn effeithio ar hanes
Cymru – The Citadel gyfrannu at
hyrwyddo’r momentwm tuag at greu
Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol.”
18 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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19
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Reader’s
snapshot
Aled Hall submitted this stunning
image of a host of bluebells welcoming in
the Welsh spring. To submit your large
size, high resolution images of West
Wales for consideration, email
steve@westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
20 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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21
West Wales Life&Style
Smart & Sustainable
Creating a Next Generation Home
Whether you are building a new home from the ground up or you’re
improving on an existing property, it’s important to plan for the future
and embrace technologies which can add value to your home whilst also
increasing your comfort and reducing your carbon footprint for a more
sustainable and environmentally friendly way of living.
We spoke to Thermal Earth, one of the UK’s leading renewable energy
suppliers and installers based in Carmarthenshire, to find out the most
sought after home improvements for creating a smarter and more
sustainable home. Here’s what they had to tell us...
02. UNDERFLOOR
HEATING
Underfloor heating (UFH) is a highly effective
and efficient method of central heating which
offers outstanding levels of comfort all year
round. UFH is spread out across the floor,
heating the room evenly from the ground up,
working in harmony with convectional flow.
Each room is individually controlled allowing
you to set a temperature suited to the room
or turn off the heating in rooms that aren’t
being used. UFH works with almost any type
of flooring, meaning that you don’t need to
compromise on the design of your home.
01. HEAT PUMPS
Heating systems are often overlooked, but
they are the beating heart of your home
and can make a significant impact on your
comfort levels.
Heat pumps are the most efficient heating
system available, and they’re environmentally
friendly too. They’re powered by electricity
and work by extracting heat energy from the
ground, air or a water source, producing 4kW
of heat energy for every 1kW of electricity to
achieve efficiency levels of 400% compared
to around 90% for a gas boiler.
From 2025, gas boilers can no longer be
installed in new build properties and heat
pumps will become the new standard. To
encourage adoption of heat pump technology
sooner, the UK Government offers a scheme
called the Renewable Heat Incentive which
can offer you quarterly payments based
on how much renewable energy your
home produces for 7 years after the date
of installation. In most cases you’ll get a
complete return on investment.
03. SOLAR THERMAL
SYSTEMS
Solar Thermal can add value to your home
by improving its sustainability and lowering
your utility bills by harnessing free energy
from the sun to generate hot water.
Using a control panel you can optimise
efficient use of your solar panels to ensure
hot water is available when you need it.
05. EV CHARGING
The sale of new diesel and petrol cars will be banned in
2030, making way for electric vehicles. Whilst you might
not have an electric vehicle just yet, if you are currently
building a new home or renovating one, you may want
to factor in an accessible area for charging an electric
vehicle in future. Charging ports can be installed in a
garage or even outside thanks to weatherproof casings
which protect the port from wet weather conditions.
EV ports are available from many different brands and
as a result you can choose from a great variety of styles
to compliment the design of your home.
If you have a question about installing any of these technologies
in your home, get in touch with Thermal Earth today for a free, no
obligation quote:
01269 833 100
THERMALEARTH.CO.UK
INFO@THERMALEARTH.CO.UK
Unit 1B Industrial Park, Capel Hendre, Ammanford, SA18 3SJ
West Wales Life&Style
04. ENERGY STORAGE
BATTERIES
Energy storage batteries are a smart investment for
your home, enabling you to use energy more efficiently
and also when it costs less. If you’re using a smart tariff
where the price of your electricity changes throughout
the day, you can charge your battery with electric during
off-peak times when it costs less and then use this
stored energy during peak times, when the price goes
up. You can use batteries like the Tesla PowerWall with
Solar PV and Sunamp Batteries with Solar Thermal to
store excess energy which your home produces so that
your property uses more clean energy and becomes
more self-sufficient. Energy storage batteries also work
effectively in the event of a power cut and can enable
your property to run as normal for hours after the
national grid supply fails.
06. SMART METERS AND
TARIFFS
Smart Meters will tell you when you are using energy, how
you are using it and how much you’re using. They are a
small and low-cost improvement but can have a big impact
on your home and how efficiently you use your energy.
Once you are set up with a smart meter, consider switching
to a tariff like Octopus Agile which uses half-hourly prices
as the cost of electricity changes throughout the day. By
publishing these prices and giving you access to them you
can then see when it will cost less to charge your electric
vehicle or storage battery.
For heat pump installations we always recommend
installing a smart meter and switching to Octopus Agile as
this smart system will run your heat pump when electricity
costs less, considering your preferred temperatures,
weather conditions and the time it takes for your home to
heat up and cool down.
22 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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23
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
The ring
of truth
Incredible new research proves
Stonehenge bluestones were a
giant stone circle in Preseli Hills
Anyone with even a passing interest in the
history of west Wales will be aware of
the links between the Preseli Hills and
Stonehenge, the giant Stone Age monument that
dominates both the Salisbury Plain of southern
England and the entire history of the British Isles.
For more than a century it has been acknowledged
that the so-called bluestones - spotted dolerites - of
Stonehenge were originally quarried from rocky
outcrops in the north Pembrokeshire hills around
5,000 years ago.
That discovery has left archaeologists and
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Professor Mike Parker Pearson has spent ten years excavating sites in the Preseli Hills to solve the mystery of the Stonehenge bluestones
historians questioning why
ancient builders would have gone
to the trouble of transporting so
many giant stones, each weighing
between 1.2 and three tonnes, some
200 miles across the pre-historic
British landscape. The question
is all the more perplexing because
Stonehenge’s giant sarsen stones
were quarried within a few miles of
iconic monument.
What then could be the relevance
of the Preseli bluestones?
Writing almost 900
years ago in around 1136,
‘
the monk Geoffrey of
Monmouth claimed that
Stonehenge was built from
an already ancient stone
circle located in the far
west of Britain or Ireland.
According to Geoffrey,
the wizard Merlin had
magically transported
the stones to Salisbury
as the spoils of war. The
story, much like the rest
of the tales of Merlin and
King Arthur, was fantastical and
absurd, and ignored by all serious
Stonehenge theorists.
The questioned remained though:
why were those stones transported
all the way from west Wales to
Wiltshire. The only plausible
answer was that the stones were
considered somehow unique by the
builders of Stonehenge, but what
made them so special?
Now, archaeologist Mike Parker
Pearson, professor of British
Prehistory at University College
London, has unearthed the true
story of the bluestones and in so
doing has rewritten the history of
both Stonehenge and the British
Isles.
“I’ve been researching Stonehenge
for 20 years now and this really is
the most exciting thing we’ve ever
I’ve been researching
Stonehenge for 20
years now and this
really is the most
exciting thing we’ve
ever found
’
found,” said Mike.
Even when he began working
at Stonehenge it had long
been accepted that the current
configuration was not the original
and the layout had changed a
number of times in the long distant
past.
“We know that the current layout
dates to around 2,500BC but the
original configuration dates to
3,000BC,” he explained.
“We always thought that the
original Stonehenge was just a
monument made of earth – a ditch
and bank, but we discovered that
in fact it had always been a stone
monument.
Mike’s excavations revealed that
the original Stonehenge circle
was much larger than the current
monument, some 110 metres in
diameter – and made
up solely of Preseli
bluestones.
“This was a major
surprise,” he said.
Further revelations
came when Mike was
joined at his Stonehenge
excavations by a Malagasy
colleague he had worked
with on previous digs in
Madagascar.
“While we were chatting
one day, he made the
casual observation that
Stonehenge was a place
built to honour the ancestors. He
said that in the Malagasy culture,
stones represent the ancestors,” he
said.
“We already knew that Stonehenge
is the largest Neolithic burial site in
Britain and so if he was right that
the stones represented the builders’
ancestors then it makes sense that
their place of origin really matters.
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“It became clear that to
understand Stonehenge, the secret
is in the bluestones.”
So Mike and his team began to
consider the possible reasons for
transporting the stones more than
160 miles.
“It made us think “Good
heavens, there must
be something really
important in the Preseli
area”. That’s what started
the whole journey. What
my friend said gave me a
hypothesis to test.”
Mike realised that it
was not enough to accept
that the bluestones had come from
the Preseli Hills, but he needed to
identify the specific outcrop of rock
where they had been quarried.
“I wanted to find out exactly where
they came from and why,” he said.
By analysing the outcrops and the
Stonehenge bluestones, geologist
Professor Richard Bevins, based at
the National Museum of Wales, was
able to locate the exact Stone Age
quarries that produced the stones,
and in so doing, shifted their point
West Wales Life&Style
of origin from the traditionally
accepted southern slopes of the
Preselis to outcrops further north.
This discovery would prove
fundamental to Mike’s theory.
“In 2010, Richard was able
to pinpoint one of the outcrops
‘
To understand
Stonehenge, the secret
is in the bluestones
’
that had been the source of the
bluestones at Craig Rhos y Felin,”
said Mike. “It proved that up until
then, archaeologists had been
looking at the wrong outcrops.”
For the next five years, Mike and
his team excavated Craig Rhos
y Felin – and another outcrop at
nearby Carn Goedog, which also
showed the unique geological
“fingerprints” found in Stonehenge
bluestones.
“We discovered that the quarry at
Carn Goedog, even in the Neolithic
age, was being operated on an
industrial scale, and we were able
to show that it is the original site
for the majority of the bluestones at
Stonehenge.
“At both sites we found the
facilities – levers, pivot
points and a specially
constructed platform
and loading bay – to
both quarry the stone
and enable them to be
taken from the site. We
even found a sledge route
leading out of the quarry
at Carn Goedog and away
down to a dry riverbed.
“The other great moment was
finding the tools they had used.
We had thought it would be
hammerstones, but actually the
main tools they were using were
wedges – it was blinding obvious
once we had found them, but we’d
never really considered it before.
“We have even found the marks
where they were jammed into the
fissures in the rock.”
But the truly amazing discovery
was still to come.
The remnants of a handful
of charred hazelnut shells –
presumably tossed into the fire
while a Stone Age quarryman ate
his lunch – has enabled Mike and
his team to completely rewrite
history.
“We were able to carbon date the
hazelnuts,” explained Mike, “and
they told us that the stones at
Carn Goedog were quarried around
3,400BC – more than 400 years
before the first monument was built
at Stonehenge.
“The thinking had always been
that the stones had been taken
straight to Stonehenge after
quarrying, but that had always
seemed to me to be unlikely – why
would they want to quarry stones
from a very particular outcrop on a
specific hill in the west of Wales just
to take them all the way to build
Stonehenge. It just didn’t add up.
“Once we had those new dates,
everything began to fall into place.
“It seemed far more likely that the
stones had already been erected into
a circle and it was that circle itself
that was taken. It meant that it was
the circle rather than the stones
that was the important thing.”
Although Mike had previously
considered the possibility of there
being an earlier stone
circle somewhere in the
Preseli Hills, the theory
had been suggested
and dismissed almost a
century earlier.
“I can’t claim credit for
the idea,” said Mike. “It
was first proposed by
the Welsh archaeologist
Herbert Thomas in 1923 – he
described it as a venerated stone
circle, but the theory had been just
about forgotten.”
The problem, Mike explained, was
the stones.
“People were too busy thinking
about the stones – there were all
sorts of theories about why they
might have been so special: some
people thought that maybe the spots
in the dolerites were like the stars
in the night sky; another was that
the unique geology of the stones
meant that if you tapped them in a
certain way it made a specific noise
and the stones were some kind of
giant musical instrument.
‘
West Wales Life&Style
The original bluestone circle at Waun Mawn in the Preseli Hills
“All the emphasis was being placed
on the fact the stones were these
spotted dolerites. Everyone thought
it was the stones that were moved
rather than an actual stone circle.
“Everybody was thinking about
it the wrong way round and had
forgotten the words of Herbert
Thomas.”
And so, after searching for a needle
in a haystack to find the actual
quarries, Mike led his team on an
even more impossible quest: to find
an ancient stone circle that had not
We even found a
previously unknown
Roman villa
’
existed for more than five millennia.
“What we were looking for
were the holes in the ground left
after a stone was removed 5,000
years ago,” said dig supervisor
Dave Shaw, summing up the
team’s predicament on the BBC
documentary Stonehenge: The Lost
Circle Revealed.
Even Mike thought the challenge
would be too much.
“For a long time I thought ‘what
are the chances of finding it?’”
admitted Mike.
However, thanks to cutting-edge
science, the team was able to draw
up with a list of potential sites all
within a few miles of the quarries.
“There were lots of interesting
circular monuments that had never
been investigated and we realised
that we had to work through them
one at a time,” said Mike. “Each
of them looked really promising to
begin with.”
That early promise began to
evaporate as one by one the sites
were excavated and eliminated.
“Although it was disappointing, we
did manage to flesh out the history
and archaeology of Preseli. It is a
wonderful place with a rich history.”
Mike’s team unearthed
Bronze and Iron Age forts
plus a wealth of other
surprising discoveries.
“We even found a
previously unknown
Roman villa,” he laughed.
Despite the incredible
finds they were making,
the original home of
Stonehenge managed to evade them.
“It was tremendous archaeology,”
said Dave, “but it wasn’t what we
were looking for.”
With time and options running
out, they were left with one last
possibility.
Waun Mawn had been flagged
as a potential site in the early
days of the investigation thanks
to four bluestones similar to those
at Stonehenge remaining in situ,
although only one remains standing.
However, geophysical and magnetic
surveys had shown nothing to
indicate any additional workings
and the site had been dismissed.
“We turned to Waun Mawn as
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29
West Wales Life&Style
Behind The Lens Media
Everything you need for your
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all under one roof.
West Wales Life&Style
We know that a picture can paint a thousand words,
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we had nowhere else left to go,”
said Mike. “It’s a wild place and
excavating up there was going to be
far from easy.”
Nevertheless, Dave and his team
of diggers began work on the rainlashed,
wind-swept peak.
Much to everyone’s surprise they
unearthed what appeared to be
ancient stone hole in the ground,
long since filled in by the passing
of time. Then they found another
and another and another until they
revealed part of a circle made up of
as many as 50 standing stones.
What proved all the more exciting
was that the diameter of the circle
was 110 metres – exactly the
same as the original Stonehenge
bluestone circle.
In an astounding meeting of
modern techniques and traditional
digging, one unusual pentagonalshaped
hole was excavated which
matched exactly the shape and
dimensions of one specific stone still
standing at Stonehenge today.
Yet more science – measuring
traces of ancient sunlight in the soil
- confirmed that the stones had been
placed at Waun Mawn in 3,300BC
– exactly the time they had been
extracted from the Carn Goedog
quarry.
The layout of the stones also
Mike Parker Pearson explores the quarry at Carn Goedog, the origin of the Stonehenge bluestones
precisely matched the alignment
of the rising sun on the winter and
summer solstices at the time of the
Preseli circle’s construction – as
does Stonehenge.
The discoveries were conclusive.
Mike and his team had proved that
the bluestones which were used to
build the first Stonehenge had, for
almost 500 years, stood as a giant
stone circle monument in the Preseli
Hills prior to it being dismantled
and transported to Salisbury Plain.
“It has taken us a long time to get
there, but we finally understand the
true origin of Stonehenge and the
importance of the bluestones,” said
Mike.
“Stonehenge really does belong to
Pembrokeshire after all.”
An irregular shaped stonehall identical to the dimensions of a bluestone now at Stonehenge
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Reader competition
Win a night’s stay at
stunning Twr y Felin
West Wales Life&Style
readers have a fabulous
opportunity to win a
one-night bed and breakfast stay
in one of Twr y Felin Hotel’s
new bedrooms, located on the
spectacular St Davids Peninsula,
Pembrokeshire.
The prize is based on two guests
sharing and includes, breakfast,
WiFi and parking.
Twr y Felin, is a former windmill
and Wales’ first contemporary art
hotel, located in Britain’s smallest
city, St Davids.
Meticulously restored and
extended, featuring contemporary
design throughout, the hotel is
home to 41 bedrooms and over 150
pieces of specially commissioned art,
inspired by the St Davids peninsula
and Pembrokeshire.
Twr y Felin Hotel is also home
to Blas Restaurant, which offers
a menu influenced by the season
and uses produce sourced from
predominantly Pembrokeshire and
Welsh suppliers, as well as foraged
ingredients from the surrounding
countryside and coast.
To win, simply send an email with
the title Twr y Felin competition to
steve@westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk.
*Terms and Conditions: The prize is based
on two guests sharing a double or twin room
and includes breakfast, parking and WiFi.
The prize is valid, Sunday to Thursday ONLY,
between November 1st 2021 and March 31st
2022, excluding School and Bank Holiday and
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we are unable to accept pets.
The winner of our Winter Twr y
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W
hen it comes to food, there
is nothing that says Wales
more than the stunning
taste of succulent Welsh lamb.
Welsh lamb has been granted PGI
status – Protected Geographical
Indiction – the highly sought after
marque that guarantees that you
are buying a premium quality
product with special characteristics
that cannot be replicated anywhere
else in the world.
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves five or more
Ingredients
225g boneless PGI Welsh Lamb
leg steaks (1 large or 2 small leg
steaks)
Prepared fresh ready rolled
pizza dough – enough for 1 pizza
Seasoning
1 tbsp oil
1 aubergine, sliced lengthways
2 courgettes, sliced lengthways
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Food
When it comes to caring for their
animals, Welsh farmers use the
best of everything; the finest grass,
sharpest sheepdogs and best kept
husbandry secrets to ensure the
finest meat possible.
And with as fabulous a meat as
Welsh lamb, it would be a waste to
save it just for Sunday best.
Why not try something deliciously
light and summery like a Welsh
lamb, pesto and feta pizza.
150g feta cheese, crumbled
1 pomegranate, seeds only
100g reduced fat prepared green
pesto
Handful of rocket leaves
For the dressing:
1 lemon, zest and juice
50ml extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed or finely
chopped
1. Heat the oven to 220°C / 200°C fan / Gas 7.
2. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment.
3. On a floured surface roll out the dough into a thin rough
oval shape, and place on the tray. Leave to stand for few
minutes.
4. Heat a non-stick griddle or frying pan until hot and brush
with oil. Lightly char the courgette and aubergine slices on
both sides for a few minutes.
5. Spread the pesto over the dough. Top with slices of
courgette and aubergine.
6. Place in the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes until base is
crisp.
7. While pizza in oven cook the lamb steak. Drizzle a little oil
over the steak on both sides and cook for 4-5 minutes on each
side, season and allow to rest for a few minutes, then cut into
slices.
8. In a small bowl mix the dressing ingredients together and
set aside.
9. When pizza cooked, top with the feta, pomegranate seeds,
rocket leaves and sliced lamb.
10. Drizzle with the lemon dressing and serve immediately.
Tip: to save time try ready-to-use chilled pizza dough or you
can make your own dough or use a dough mix, where you
just add water and follow instructions on the pack. We’ve
topped our pizza with sliced cooked lamb leg steak but you
could use leftover roast lamb if you prefer.
Did you know you can ensure you
never miss an issue of West Wales
premier lifestyle magazine by
having it delivered to your door thanks to
our subscription service?
An annual subscription (six editions)
costs just £20 and guarantees you’ll stay up
to date with everything that’s happening
in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and
Ceredigion.
An annual subscription to West Wales
Life&Style also makes the perfect gift for
family and friends with a passion for this
wonderful part of the world.
Setting up a subscription is easy, simply
email mike@westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk or
steve@westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk and we’ll
do the rest – then you can sit back, relax
and wait for the next great edition to land
on your doorstep.
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West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales is renowned
throughout the world for
its hospitality.
The steady stream of tourists
who make their way to the three
counties has long been part and
parcel of daily life for the locals, and
we welcome visitors with open arms.
Our stunning beaches and
beautiful countryside are even
known to encourage the rich and
famous to venture out west, but it
is quite rare for a guest to become
a celebrity purely because of their
visit.
However, the most recent arrival
to our shores has certainly made
something of a name for itself,
thanks mainly to their trip and the
length of their stay.
That name, which has been
making headlines around the world
for the past few weeks, is Wally.
And it belongs to a giant Arctic
walrus.
Wally was first spotted basking
on rocks at Broad Haven on March
19 before appearing at Tenby the
following day.
Since then, Wally has become
something of a regular fixture at the
popular resort and has often been
spotted lounging on the lifeboat
station slipway.
The giant mammal, roughly the
size of an adult cow, is believed to
be about three years old, but while
some experts have claimed Wally is
actually a girl it is proving difficult
to be sure of his or her gender as
both males and females have tusks.
Although apparently enjoying its
time in west Wales, Wally would be
more at home swimming in the icy
waters of the Arctic Ocean around
the North Pole.
His natural home is most likely
to be somewhere off the coast of
northern Canada and Greenland,
so the question of how he came to
arrive off the Pembrokeshire coast
has left wildlife experts scratching
their heads.
It is thought that the giant beast
might have become lost after
nodding off on an iceberg that had
drifted much further south than
Wally had realised.
Another theory is that Wally might
have moved into lower latitudes
while hunting for food or possibly
became disorientated after being
disturbed by loud noises, perhaps
made by deep-sea fishing trawlers
or other some other large-scale
vessels at sea.
Whatever the reasons behind
Wally’s arrival in Wales, he or she
has certainly been breaking new
ground – the RSPCA believes this
to be the most southerly sighting of
the species ever.
Geoff Edmond, RSPCA national
A giant Arctic walrus has been enjoying life and
entertaining visitors on the Pembrokeshire coast
wildlife coordinator, said, “This was
a landmark for the RSPCA’s wildlife
team.
“While we’ve been rescuing
animals and responding to welfare
Hello,
Wally!
Wally the Walrus relaxing on Tenby’s lifeboat slipway
36 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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37
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West Wales Life&Style
calls for almost 200 years, I believe this is our first
ever walrus call!”
Terry Leadbetter, from the Welsh Marine Life
Rescue, thought someone was pulling his leg when he
was first contacted with a Wally sighting.
“We thought it was a spoof call because we don’t get
walruses down here,” said Mr Leadbetter.
“But shortly after that we had another report from
somebody sounding quite sensible saying it was
definitely a walrus so we went out and sure enough it
was.”
Wally first appeared off the coast of Ireland in mid-
March but less than a week later was spotted relaxing
on Pembrokeshire’s coast.
Posting on social media, The Irish Whale and
Dolphin Group, said: “The white blotch on the left
fore-flipper and similar tusk length confirm the
walrus is the same individual.
“This is an impressive distance of circa 250-plus
miles travelled over a six-day period, which is
well within the capabilities of such a large marine
mammal who can maintain average swim speeds of
four mph.
“Walruses, despite their bulky frame and clumsy
West Wales Life&Style
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‘
The RSPCA
believes this to be
the most southerly
sighting of a
walrus ever
’
appearance on land, are surprisingly strong and agile
swimmers capable of long ocean swims.”
Despite disappearing for a few days over Easter –
possibly after being disturbed by all the sightseers
flocking to the area in the hope of sighting the
unlikely visitor, Wally appears to be enjoying his newfound
celebrity status.
He or she has been seen playfully capsizing
inflatable dinghies and attempting to climb onboard a
fishing boat.
Wally was even recently spotted balancing a starfish
on its nose by Amy Compton, a volunteer for the
Welsh Marine Life Rescue.
“I couldn’t believe it when it popped up with a
starfish on its face, it was so funny and something you
just didn’t expect to see,” said Amy.
“It’s an incredible experience to monitor such a
beautiful and amazing creature, it’s such a character.”
However, while a glimpse of Wally has become a
highlight for two-legged visitors to Pembrokeshire,
people are being urged to stay a safe distance away
and not disturb the animal – or face the possibility of
a criminal record.
Wally – and animals like him or her – are protected
by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and anyone
caught disturbing them may be fined or even face a
six-month prison sentence.
In a joint statement with Dyfed-
Powys Police, RSPCA
inspector Keith Hogben said:
“People need to enjoy him
from afar, avoid potentially
spooking the animal and allow
him to rest and conserve his
energy.
“We’ve all got used to social
distance over the last year -
and that’s something we now
need to practice with this
walrus.”
The appeal follows reports jet
skiers, surfers and paddle boarders
disturbing the walrus by getting too
close.
‘
People need to
enjoy him from afar
- or face a fine or
possible jail
’
PC Kate Allen, of the Dyfed-Powys
Police rural crime team, said:
“Recent posts have been seen on
social media regarding members of
the public approaching Wally from
the water and disturbing
him, however we have had no
reports directly to us.
“We ask that in the event
that this occurs, these matters
are reported to the rural
crime team and/or the RSPCA
rather than posted on social
media.”
She added: “We don’t know
if Wally will settle here or
decide to move on from the area, but
we ask while he is here that he is
enjoyed from a distance.”
38 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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39
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Tea Traders Paul Raven and Nick Lee are determined
to expand our horizons – one perfect cuppa at a time
Brewing up
a storm
Everybody loves a good cuppa,
but when it comes to having
a real passion for tea there
are few who can compete with Paul
Raven.
Paul and partner Nick Lee run
Tea Traders, a speciality teashop
located in Carmarthen’s town centre
where customers can enjoy a cup
of their favourite brew or explore a
staggering range of teas specially
chosen from around the globe.
Boasting around 100 different
varieties – all individually selected
by Paul – and including a number
of bespoke in-house blends to suit
almost any taste or occasion, Tea
Traders elevates tea-making into
something closer to an artform:
every pot brought to a thirsty
customer comes with an individual
timer and advice on how long to let
it brew depending on the drinker’s
preference.
Situated in Guildhall Square, Tea
Traders offers customers – whether
long-term tea lovers or those
dipping a first toe into a surprising
new world – a unique experience
where you can sit and enjoy a cup
of the traditional blends familiar to
us all or explore unknown delights
under Paul’s expert guidance.
All of Tea Traders range is also
available to take away in a lovingly
designed packaging to enjoy in the
comfort of your own home.
“I do consider myself a tea
connoisseur,” said Paul with a
laugh.
“I’m certainly not a tea snob, but
I don’t ever drink coffee,” he adds
emphatically.
“Tea-drinking is all about personal
preference: you can have it however
you like it. If you want it with
milk and ten sugars, then that is
fine because it is all down to your
personal choice.”
Individual taste might well be
what matters most when it comes
to the perfect cuppa, but running
a successful teashop with such a
vast range on offer is a complicated
business.
“There is a lot more to it than just
simply brewing and serving tea,”
Paul Raven of Carmarthen’s Tea Traders
laughs Paul.
“I’m constantly learning and
seeking out new teas to try and to
experiment with.
“I have completed a training course
with the UK Tea Academy and I’m
already a qualified tea champion,
but this is the sort or industry
where you have to constantly
educate yourself – it never stops.
“It really is a passion.”
And it is a passion that he delights
in sharing as he seeks to educate
40 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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41
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To advertise, contact Mike
by calling 07881 468965 or email
mike@westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
West Wales Life&Style
and engage customers in the pleasures of his favourite
drink.
“There’s definitely a lot more to Tea Traders than
simply “come and get some fancy tea”,” he says.
“We want to help customers discover teas they might
never heard of before let alone tried.
“I enjoy helping our customers explore what’s
available.
“We offer what we call a tea experience where you
can come in and try a range of different teas to find
out what suits your taste.”
Opening a specialist teashop in a small west Wales
town was a radical break for both Paul and Nick.
“We worked in further education in north Wales
for 20 years but threw everything up in the air in
2017 and moved to south Wales because we knew we
wanted to start a business,” said Paul.
‘
We want customers to
discover teas they’ve
never tried before ’
“We want to create something comparable to the
modern coffeeshops that have sprung up everywhere,
but we wanted to do it with tea.
“We wanted to create something exciting and
interesting, but we didn’t want to be a specialist shop
just for those who already knew about tea: we wanted
to make sure we catered for everybody.
“We looked all over south and west Wales for the
perfect venue until we eventually found the shop in
Carmarthen.”
And while the people of Carmarthen and beyond
have since taken them to their hearts, the early days
underlined the fact that they were breaking new
ground.
“There is nothing comparable to Tea Traders
anywhere in the area – there are some places similar
in Cardiff, Bristol, London and other big cities, but
there really is nothing like us anywhere in west
Wales,” explains Paul.
“When we first opened, customers would come into
the shop and stare at all the different varieties on the
shelves in complete shock.
“There was a definitely an element of curiosity value
in those early days.”
But Carmarthen’s tea lovers soon began flocking
to the shop, whether they wanted tried and test
traditional favourites or to explore the wider world of
tea.
“If you want a normal, traditional cup of tea you can
have it. We have all the usual teas you would expect:
Earl Grey, breakfast teas, Lapsang Souchong, etc
– all the normal, traditional teas that people know,
but equally we offer a whole range of different and
specialist teas many of which our customers have
never heard of before.”
Some of Tea Traders most popular blends are those
that they have created in-house, ensuring a totally
unique offering for their dedicated consumers.
“As well as our imported range, we
blend our own teas,” said Paul.
“One of the most popular sellers is
our unique Brecwast Cymreig/Welsh
Breakfast tea.
“Another favourite we call Leigh’s
Blend. Leigh is a actually customer
who came in one day with a recipe
handed down from his grandmother.
We made it especially for him and
realised how it good it is so asked if
he would be happy for us to sell it –
our customers really enjoy it.
“We have also created Blend 1176
– a lovely blend made specifically for
the restaurant at Cardigan Castle.”
Tea Traders even offers a
“Discovery Box” made up of a
variety of teas from all over the
globe for customers to either take
away to enjoy at their leisure or
pass on as a gift box. The Discovery
Box is also available through the
Tea Traders website.
“For us, it’s about finding teas
from around the world that our
customers can discover and enjoy,”
said Paul.
“The Discovery Box is a selection
of teas from our range. We have
West Wales Life&Style
Tea Traders boasts a range of around 100 different teas from around the world
different versions for the beginner,
the expert and for specific and
specialist tastes.”
While the majority of business
comes from regular customers
calling in to the shop, the entire Tea
Traders range is also available to
purchase online from the teatraders.
co.uk website.
“We do actually do fair amount of
our business online now,” said Paul.
“We might be a small independent
business in a little market town in
west Wales, but we are happy that
we sell our tea all across the UK.”
“For us, it is all about sharing our
knowledge and love of tea with as
many people as possible.”
42 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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43
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Gardens of
earthly delight
There are few things better in life than enjoying a
drink or food with friends and loved ones in the great
outdoors on a fine summer’s evening.
West Wales is lucky to have a wealth of pubs with
stunning outside areas for eating and drinking and with
the days and nights starting to warm up – and in keeping
with the ongoing Government restrictions on indoor
gatherings – it would be crazy not to make the most of it.
In fact, it would be fair to say that the vast majority
of pubs and bars in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and
Pembrokeshire can boast beer gardens and outside eating
areas that are well worth a visit.
And with stunning countryside and seascapes on display
all over west Wales, it is all too obvious why.
We decided to draw up a list of some of our favourite
beer gardens where the view only adds to the perfect
atmosphere.
There are plenty more to explore around the three
counties, but here are some we thoroughly recommend.
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45
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
The Plough, Rhosmaen,
Carmarthenshire
The Plough, Rhosmaen, is a
charming four-star boutique hotel
and award-winning restaurant set
in Carmarthenshiire’s beautiful
Towy Valley.
With undercover patio seating
as well as tables set out across the
beautiful, landscaped gardens, there
are few better places to enjoy the
peace and tranquillity of a glorious
Welsh summer evening than the
Plough.
ploughrhosmaen.com
Tel: 01558 823 431
The Black Lion Hotel, New
Quay, Ceredigion
The Black Lion boasts sensational
views across Cardigan Bay and can,
on occasion, even offer lucky visitors
the sight of dolphins playing in the
waters. On a clear day you can even
see as far as the Llyn Peninsula and
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).
The outdoor areas are a real treat
and the perfect spot to enjoy warm
summer days and evenings – though
heaters are on hand should the
temperature drop.
It’s little wonder that Dylan
Thomas sought inspiration for
Under Milk Wood in New Quay and
quenched his thirst on visits to the
Black Lion.
blacklionnewquay.co.uk
Tel: 01545 560 122
The Castle, Little Haven,
Pembrokeshire
The Castle is a gorgeous little pub in
the Little Haven on Pembrokeshire’s
stunning west coast. With plenty of
outdoor seating and a breath-taking
view over St Bride’s Bay, there are
few better places to enjoy the best of
the county’s coastline with friends.
The food is fabulous and the beers
and wines a delight, but the sunset
is simply out of this world.
Tel: 01437 781 445
The Dragon Inn, Narberth,
Pembrokeshire
Situated in the lovely little town
of Narberth, the Dragons Inn is an
absolute treat.
It is great little pub with a perfect
beer garden, with its own outdoor
bar, to the rear
The garden and terrace offer
plenty of undercover seating plus
lots of individual tables spread out
across the gardens for cosy chats
and heated debates before a trip to
the theatre.
Tel: 01834 860 257
The Ship Inn, Tresaith,
Ceredigion
The Ship Inn is an absolute mustvisit
on a warm summer evening.
This pub sits in a beautifully
sheltered sandy bay and offers
glorious views out across the sea.
The heated terrace and beer
garden offer plenty of space and
there are few better spots to enjoy
an afternoon or evening.
sabrainpubs.com
Tel: 01239 758446
The Ferry Inn, St Dogmaels,
Pembrokeshire
Situated on the banks of the River
Teifi, the Ferry Inn offers its
outdoor guests some absolutely
stunning views over the estuary and
surrounding countryside.
Boasting a number of terraces
and an adapted cabin – all of which
have their own heating – there are
always plenty of options for those
wishing to take in the sights.
The Ferry Inn is a great spot to
enjoy a meal or a drink in the great
outdoors, and can even boast a jetty
for anyone arriving by boat.
theferryinn.co.uk
Tel: 01239 615 172
46 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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47
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
The Star Supply Stores in Garnant, Carmarthenshire,
where shopkeeper Thomas Thomas was brutally
murdered 100 years ago.
Broomsticks,
bacon and
bloody murder
Steve Adams describes how a chance discovery saw
him identify the killer of a century-old unsolved crime
Shopkeeper Thomas Thomas (centre) was stabbed,
beaten and had his throat cut on February 12, 1921.
His murder remains unsolved.
most foul”
screamed the front
“Murder
page of the Amman
Valley Chronicle in letters three
inches high.
The shocking discovery of the
body of shopkeeper Thomas
Thomas in the Carmarthenshire
mining village of Garnant exactly
100 years ago rocked west Wales,
and the newspaper’s decision to
take headline inspiration from
Shakespeare was understandable:
the Bible-quoting store manager
had been stabbed repeatedly,
suffered numerous skull fractures
after being beaten around the head
with a broomstick, and had had his
throat slit. In a final macabre insult,
the killer had shoved in large lump
of cheese in the victim’s mouth.
The killing at Star Stores - and
theft of more than £100 from the
shop safe - shortly after 10.15pm
of Saturday, February 12, 1921,
remains one of the west Wales’ few
unsolved murders.
The case was largely forgotten
until then newspaper reporter – and
now editor of West Wales Life&Style
– Steve Adams came across the
briefest mention of it more than 95
years later.
48 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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49
“While I was working as a reporter
on the South Wales¬¬ Guardian –
the weekly newspaper that boughtout
the Amman Valley Chronicle in
the 1950s – I was looking through
some back issues and came across
a small bereavement notice on the
death of the former village bobby,”
said Steve.
“The reporter was full of praise
for Sergeant Thomas Richards and
catalogued his career highlights,
but in the final, pointed sentence he
noted that for all his fine work, Sgt
Richards had been unable to catch
the killer of Thomas Thomas at Star
Stores some 40-odd years earlier.
“I was stunned. I’d always had an
interest in true crime, particularly
anything committed in west Wales,
so I was amazed to read of an
unsolved murder I knew
nothing about and decided
to do some digging.”
Steve was astounded by
the story he unearthed,
which included Britain’s
most famous detective, an
Army deserter, midnight
bonfires, explosives hidden in
hedgerows and even links to the
West Wales Life&Style
PC David Thomas with the knife used to stab shopkeeper Thomas Thomas
author of the Sherlock Holmes
stories.
Little had been written about the
murder, but Steve eventually came
‘
The man who caught the
man who broke the bank
at Monte Carlo ’
across an article in an academic
journal by the globally-respected
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expert in international relations,
Owen Harries, who had been born
in Garnant a few years after the
crime.
Although the article
was primarily about the
industrial decline of the
south Wales coalfields,
Steve was intrigued by the
reference it made to the
murder and the claim that
the killer’s identity was
known.
According to Owen, a man named
Mountstephens had killed Thomas
Thomas. The shopkeeper had rented
a room in the Mountstephens
family home and when Thomas
Thomas failed to come home that
night, Mountstephens’ failure to
investigate was seen as proof that
he had played some part in the
crime. The fact that the murder
weapons – a bloodstained broom
handle and a knife taken from the
shop - were discovered near a path
that led towards Mountstephen’s
house further cemented the popular
belief of his guilt.
Steve, however, was unconvinced.
“It all seemed far too vague and
circumstantial,” he said. “Witnesses
had heard Thomas Thomas tell
Mountstephens that he planned to
work late that night and although
the knife and broomstick were
found on a path that went towards
Mountstephens’ house, there were
lots of junctions off it leading
elsewhere too. It was in the fact
the most likely escape route for
the killer wherever he or she was
heading.
“The most telling aspect though
was the fact that the police soon
dismissed Mountstephens as a
suspect.”
And the policeman summoned to
investigate the case was not your
average village bobby.
West Wales Life&Style
Inside the Garnant branch of Star Stores (above) where Thomas Thomas was murdered a century ago. The safe in the office behind the shop (below)
was left open after the killer made off with a little over £100 pounds.
50 westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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51
Detective Inspector George
Nicholls of Scotland Yard was sent
to Garnant to lead the investigation.
Nicholls was renowned throughout
the land as the man who caught
Charles Wells, himself made famous
by the popular music hall song, The
Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte
Carlo.
Nicholls was Britain’s leading
spy-catcher during the First World
War and went on to play a key role
in creating what would eventually
become Interpol, the international
police force.
“Nicholls was an incredible man,”
said Steve. “He was probably the
most feared and famous detective of
his day, but even he faced massive
problems when it came to solving
the murder at the Star.”
When he arrived in
Carmarthenshire, Nicholls
discovered that the God-fearing
ladies of Garnant had deemed it
blasphemous to leave the shop
stained with blood and had forced
their way past the young constable
left guarding the scene to scrub the
place from top to bottom, removing
all evidence as they went.
“When Nicholls arrived, the
scene was all but spotless,” said
Steve. “The chief constable of
Carmarthenshire summed the
situation up when he later wrote
that Nicholls has been left with
‘nothing so much as a clue’.”
Despite the complete absence of
evidence, Nicholls continued his
investigation for the best part of
a month, interviewing and reinterviewing
potential witnesses
and possible suspects.
“It’s clear from his notes that
Nicholls suspected a man
named Tom Morgan, a
shadowy figure with a
history of petty crime who
moved to Garnant during
the war years,” said Steve.
Llandovery-born Morgan
had spent time in one of the
first institutions for young offenders
after being found guilty of a series
of thefts and break-ins that began
when he was eight or nine.
“The more I looked into him, the
more convinced I was that Nicholls’
suspicions about Morgan had been
correct,” said Steve.
“When he moved to Garnant
he claimed to be a former soldier
West Wales Life&Style
The scene of the crime: Thomas Thomas’ body was discovered behind the grocery counter. On
the floor can be seen the head of the broomstick which snapped off during the brutal assault that
left the shopkeeper dead. Blood can be seen smeared on the crate in the foreground.
invalided out of the Army, which
was only partly true.
“He had been blacklisted from
working at any Carmarthenshire
coalmine due to his habit of
claiming the work – and wages – of
other men as his own. He was also
suspected of numerous petty crimes
up and down the valley - from cash
thefts to stealing chickens - but had
‘
A bonfire in the killer’s
garden just hours after the
murder ’
thus far avoided arrest.
“I discovered that he had joined
the Army after being released from
the young offenders institute in
1912 but deserted when it became
clear his regiment would be sent to
France when war broke out.
“Cunningly, he re-enlisted with a
different regiment only a week or
two after deserting but mysteriously
– in the few days between signing
up at the recruitment office and his
medical – he suffered a serious foot
injury that meant he was deemed
unfit for service.
“Even though the injury left
him with a life-long limp, there is
no doubt in my mind that it was
self-inflicted. It fitted with what I
discovered about him.
“I spoke to some of his
surviving relatives who
described how older family
members had refused to
even mention his name.”
But when it came to the
murder at Star Stores,
Morgan, it seemed, was in
the clear.
Following the discovery of the
murder, village GP Dr George
Evan Jones carried out both the
initial examination of the body
and subsequent post-mortem. Dr
Evan Jones was a hugely respected
figure and had studied medicine in
Edinburgh alongside the creator of
Sherlock Holmes.
And in a twist more fitting of a
Conan Doyle story, it was the doctor
who ensured Tom Morgan was
beyond suspicion.
“According to Dr Evan Jones,
the crime could only have been
committed by a right-handed
man,” said Steve. “That meant it
would have been impossible for
Morgan to have been the killer as
just a few months earlier, he had
lost almost all the fingers on his
right hand in seemingly incredible
circumstances.”
Morgan claimed that he had
been out walking one day when he
had spotted smoke coming from a
hedgerow. At the precise moment he
reached into the bushes to find out
what was the cause, there was an
explosion which completely severed
the fingers on his right hand.
Despite his horrendous injuries,
Morgan had not sought medical
attention or reported the incident
to the police. When later questioned
by police, he said he could not
remember exactly where or when
the explosion had occurred.
“The doctor’s testimony was crucial
in saving Morgan from a date with
www.mmwindows.co.uk
West Wales Life&Style
Face of a killer: Tom Morgam,
the man Steve is convinced committed the
murder at Star Stores.
the hangman,” said Steve.
“I honestly believe that his initial
assessment was wrong. After
analysing details of the injuries,
the angle of the blows and the
layout of the shop, I’m convinced
that the crime could only have been
committed by someone who was
left-handed – or rather, by someone
wielding the weapons in their left
hand.
“Once that seems the most likely
scenario, the pieces fall into place
and it only leaves one plausible
suspect – Tom Morgan, but at the
WINDOWS
DOORS
inquest, Dr Evan Jones maintained
that the killer had to be righthanded
and so Morgan was in the
clear.
“I’m actually convinced that the
explosion that cost Tom Morgan his
fingers was a trial run to blow open
the Star Stores safe, and to make
matters worse, I now know of a
witness who saw a bonfire burning
in Morgan’s garden just hours after
the murder – presumably he was
destroying his bloodstained clothes,
but they didn’t tell the police.”
Without such key evidence,
Nicholls eventually returned to
London with the murder unsolved.
“I am absolutely convinced that
Tom Morgan committed the murder
at the Star,” said Steve, “and I fully
believe that if it wasn’t for Dr Evan
Jones, George Nicholls would have
got his man.”
Murder at the Star: Who killed
Thomas Thomas, published by
Seren Books, is available as an
ebook. Signed print editions of the
book are also available to purchase
by contacting Steve directly at
steve@westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk
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West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
YDYCH CHI'N GYMWYS I GAEL CYLLID?
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING?
www.colegsirgar.ac.uk www.ceredigion.ac.uk
Fully funded training for
individuals and businesses
A
new initiative called a Personal
Learning Account (PLA) has
been developed by the Welsh
Government to address barriers to adult
learning and the rising skills shortages.
Colleges and training providers,
including Coleg Ceredigion and Coleg
Sir Gâr are supporting the initiative by
delivering flexible and funded learning plans
for individuals and businesses.
Many adults are discouraged to undertake a learning
programme due to a lack of time or money but this
initiative aims to remove those barriers by providing
flexible and funded training within priority sectors.
Businesses are also encouraged to get involved to access
upskilling programmes for their workforce to help with
skills shortages.
The scheme is also designed to help
40%
provide a route for those who are
looking for progression, providing a
route out of in-work poverty.
Anyone over 19 years old, earning
less than £26,000 a year and in
employment, is eligible for the scheme.
Jemma Parsons, business development
officer at Coleg Ceredigion and Coleg Sir
Gâr said: “The PLA scheme aims to offer
eligible individuals the chance to gain the skills and
qualifications that employers within priority sectors,
need to fill current and future skills shortages.
“Accessing free, part-time training to fit around people’s
of people in
Wales living in
poverty are stuck
in a career with
little or no future
progression
44%
of employees
believe that
learning a new skill
would enhance
their earning
potential
commitments and lifestyles, will help them
gain qualifications and progress their career.
“It also includes exciting industries such
as creative industries which include
media, music and performance.”
Employees who are furloughed can also
apply for the scheme regardless of salary.
Priority sector training includes long and
short courses which are delivered in the South
West and Mid Wales:
Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Engineering
Construction
Creative Industries
Digital and Technology
Financial and Professional
Food and Landbased
•
Health, Social and Childcare
Hospitality, Retail, Leisure and Tourism
The individual remains in their current employment
while they complete their training. Once you have
completed your course or training, you will be equipped
with the skills and qualifications needed to improve
career prospects and apply for new
opportunities.
How do I find out more?
76% of
Whether you are an individual
employees
looking for career progression or
look for
a career change, or a business
opportunities
looking to upskill your staff, visit
for career
the employer section on colegsirgar.
growth
ac.uk to find out more.
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West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
In the latest in regular series, we examine the meaning
of some of the place-names found across Ceredigion,
Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, and ask...
What’s in
a name?
As we have previously discussed, Welsh placenames
often include references to the natural
geography. This is again the case when it
comes to places which begin with the prefix Aber.
Aber is an extremely common place-name prefix
throughout Wales, particularly – but not always –
in towns and villages along the coast, and for good
reason.
At its most straightforward, Aber translates as
mouth. However, unlike its English counterpart,
Aber refers specifically to the mouth of a river – the
Welsh word for the mouth on your face is ceg.
It should as no surprise then that many – if not
most – of the names of Welsh towns and villages
that sprang up where a river meets the sea begin
with the Aber prefix and end with the name of the
river in question.
Obvious examples of this include both Aberystwyth
and nearby Aberaeron in Ceredigion – Mouth of the
Ystwyth and Mouth of the Aeron, respectively.
Even seaside towns and villages that have
become better known by an English name often
maintain the Aber prefix in their Welsh names –
Pembrokeshire’s Fishguard and Milford Haven are
two of the best-known examples and are known,
respectively, in Welsh as Abergwaun – Mouth
of the Gwaun – and Aberdaugleddau – Mouth
of the two Cleddaus (The River Cleddau which
meats the sea at Milford Haven is formed by the
meeting of the Eastern and Western Cleddau
rivers a few miles upstream).
But it is not just on the coast where you might
find place-names beginning with Aber.
In Carmarthenshire, villages such as
Abergorlech, Aberarad and Abergwili, much
like Ceredigion’s Abermeurig and Aberffrwd,
are considerable distances from the sea. In the
case of these inland examples, Aber refers to the
point at which a tributary joins a larger river – at
Abergorlech, the River Gorlech joins the larger
River Cothi; at Abergwili, the Gwili merges with the
mighty Towy; at Aberarad, the smaller river flows
into the magnificent River Teifi.
There are a few cases where the prefix Aber
is followed by landscape feature rather than a
reference to a specific river, albeit usually one
related to a nearby river or rivers.
One such example would be Ceredigion’s
Aberporth, where porth refers to the natural
harbour created by the smaller Nant Gilwen and
Nant Howni reaching the sea. Nant being the
Welsh word for stream.
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Homes
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Homes
Summerhouses:
expand your options
The rise in popularity of the garden summerhouse
proves they offer plenty of potential all year round
The image of a garden
summerhouse has changed
dramatically in just a few
short years.
As recently as 20 or 30 years ago,
mention of a summerhouse would
have conjured images of well-to-do
Victorian or Edwardian properties
with a team of gardeners labouring
over manicured flower borders
while the ladies and gentlemen of
the house invited their visitors to
an afternoon gin and tonic in the
garden.
For the less well off, the only
structure likely to be found in the
garden was a rickety old shed, filled
with rakes, spades, buckets and
cobwebs.
But no longer.
Nowadays, more and more people
are coming to see the benefits of
a garden summerhouse – with
many viewing the addition to their
property as something closer to an
extension, or at the very least as
extra roofed space where they can
relax and enjoy the fruits of their
labours in a relaxing, informal
setting one step closer to nature.
Even in relatively recent times,
summerhouses were seen as
a simple wooden structure,
often without heating, water or
insulation, used primarily – if not
entirely – to while away a few hours
in the shade on a hot summer’s
afternoon.
However, thanks to a surge in
popularity, contemporary wooden
summerhouses have introduced a
whole host of new features to make
them true all-year spaces suitable
for all manner of uses, including
everything from garden offices and
children’s playrooms to spas and
saunas, garden lounges and even
additional sleeping accommodation
for guests.
Modern summerhouses have
become a haven to read, write,
dine, entertain, escape and relax.
But whether it becomes a place for
work, play, or relaxation, the welldesigned
summerhouse can provide
a lifetime of pleasure while being
a fantastic enhancement to the
garden.
What’s more, it has been
recognised that a summerhouse –
despite being relatively inexpensive
– can significantly increase the
value of the main property.
We take a look at just some of the
benefits a summerhouse can offer:
1. Extend your living space
A summerhouse can be close to
your home, or at the bottom of the
garden. Either way, it can be an
extension of your current living
space and provide masses of extra
room and with the option of a fully
insulated building with electrical
connections, you can use it all year
round.
2. Create a garden office
A summerhouse can be used as
a garden office, allowing you
considerable time to work from
home and avoid long and costly
commutes to business.
3. Garden pleasure in all
weathers
A well-designed summerhouse
becomes an extension of your home
while allowing you to enjoy the
beauty of an outdoor garden without
being affected by inclement weather.
You can sit undercover in the warm
and dry and enjoy the beauty of
your garden and the wildlife that
visits.
4. An outdoor family room
A summerhouse can be a room
for all the family where you can
enjoy time together away from the
television.
5. A secret retreat
Escape from the pressures of
everyday life to your own garden
haven retreat, sit in style and enjoy
life’s labours at your leisure. A great
place for you to hide from the family
when you simply need space!
6. An outdoor gamesroom
Your garden summerhouse can
provide an excellent place for all
games and toys for children of all
ages, and the added benefit is that
when dinner is ready they don’t
have to tidy up but can close the
door on their mess.
7. A place to take up a hobby
A summerhouse can be the perfect
place to develop a favourite hobby
away from the hubbub of the house
and family. Whether it is knitting,
reading or writing, yoga or exercise,
or building a model train set, a
summerhouse is the ideal place to
‘
explore some me time.
8. Guest accommodation
Renovating your house can be very
expensive and lengthy process.
Rather than disturb the structure of
your home, a summerhouse can be a
very cost effective and non-invasive
way to add extra accommodation
to your property and give your
guests some privacy by having a
summerhouse that sits separately
from your home.
9. A more attractive shed
Although a summerhouse is
intended to be far more than a
traditional garden shed, it remains
a great place to store all the tools
used in the garden. It also looks
much, much better than a simple
shed.
True all-year spaces
suitable for all
manner of uses ’
10. Boosting the value of your
property
With the erection of a wooden
summer house, your property
will get an immediate boost on
the housing market. Additional
structures on a property indicate
full development with extra
functions. Experience shows that
wooden summer houses make
properties much more attractive on
the market.
11. An eco-friendly option
Summerhouses are usually made
from a renewable, sustainable
timber. Not only is their energy –
and carbon footprint very small,
they also offer a natural, healthy,
comfortable, and cosy living
atmosphere.
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West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Gardening
CELEBRATING
10
YEARS
IN BUSINESS
Gardening guru Sara Milne with the tricks and tips
to make the most of a woodland garden
Spring into
summer
May is a great gardening
month and probably
the last month you
can plan for your summer
colour in the garden. For those
with limited space, bedding
plants will give you maximum
effect and can really make a
statement. If you are taking a
long-term view then a garden
full of reliable flowering shrubs
is also an option.
Whatever garden you have,
watering and weeding are
the key watchwords for May.
It’s essential to water newly
planted fruit trees, roses and
shrubs regularly to help their
root systems get established.
It’s also the time of year when
many plants’ demand for water
increases as they start their
major growth period. Top
watering tips include – every
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Gardening
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
time you plant something water it
in well, make a moat of soil round
newly planted plants so that water
doesn’t run off and goes to the roots,
water pots and containers so that
water appears right to the top of
the pot and get a water butt. If you
have a drainpipe you have a natural
water supply so a simple garden
solution for May is to ensure that
you have adequate water storage.
If you buy and fit a water butt it
will provide you with water for
the garden in an environmentally
friendly way and on a regular basis.
Annual weeds will be popping
up now, so weeding borders once
a week to prevent weed seedlings
establishing is a good idea. The
problem with the most common
weeds such as nettles, dandelions
and bindweed is that they are very,
very tough. They can continue to
grow in conditions that make most
garden plants simply fade away –
and they do that, in part, by using
the moisture, nutrients and light of
the plants around them.
Keeping on top of garden maintenance is crucial in May. The
garden is coming alive so there is plenty to keep you busy. Here
are some jobs you should be thinking about this month from
the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)...
Plant out seedlings and young plants
Watering and weeding
Start spraying roses to stop black spot and mildew
Fast growing hedges will need a trim
Plant hanging baskets and containers
Plant salad leaves seeds
Tie up climbers
Feed spring bulbs for next year
•
Plant out tomatoes
Mow the lawn
A great plant to get you into
the summer gardening spirit is
the pretty Petunia.– perfect for
containers and hanging baskets
and a great choice for instant
colour. It can flower all summer
long, providing you deadhead
regularly, and comes in a variety of
colours to suit any garden palette.
Petunias are also available in
Open Mar-end Oct
different blooms including single,
double, ruffled or smooth petals.
They can be striped, veined or solid
in colour and most sold today are
hybrids developed for specific design
purposes such as fragrance. They
need full sun and can’t tolerate frost
but can grow in a wide range of soils
and thrive in multipurpose compost
when planted in containers.
NEW SHOWROOM COMING SOON!
Vine Road. Johnston. Haverfordwest. Pembrokeshire SA62 3NZ
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West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Health and Fitness
Four-time UK fitness champion,
ballet dancer, mountaineer,
GB Adventure Racer and
mum of seven, Joey Bull offers
tips and advice on all things
health and fitness.
Coming back to earth
If I ask you to picture exercise, I
am pretty sure you will bring to
mind something energetic and
vigorous. I can be equally sure that
walking has not entered your mind’s
eye. However walking is not only
the most accessible activity for all
those who are able, it is a genuinely
great exercise.
It has been shown that the benefits
of walking in nature are felt for up
to seven hours afterwards. These
benefits straddle the emotional
and physical. Studies have shown
that it elevates positivity and
actually counters what is known
as the ‘broodiness state’. This has
nothing to do with babies but is
actually about the cycle of dwelling
on negative thoughts. Walking
has been shown to fix that broken
record.
A good outdoor walk boosts energy
levels, it stimulates the brain,
forcing it to constantly engage
with your surroundings for every
single step, making a thousand
subconscious calculations and
decisions a second.
Trees naturally release something
called phytoncides which have a
beneficial effect on our nervous
system, and the whole process
can do wonders for a calming,
reflective process as well as boosting
creativity. How many times do you
have a great idea, or think of that
perfect line or paragraph to write
when you are out dog walking and
have no way of noting it down? It
happens to me often!
The Japanese practice something
called Shinrin-Yoku, or you
may have heard of it as ‘Forest
Bathing’ (it has been referenced
a few times on BBC’s Autumn
and Winterwatch). These are all
about gentle walks of 2-4 hours
of sensual immersion in a wooded
environment. It has shown results
in preventative healthcare and in
combating mental health issues.
And the benefits even extend
beyond shoes! Kick off your trainers,
walking shoes, hiking boots or
whatever you might strap on and
get natural. Bear with me here,
I’m not going all Woodstock and
ethereal on you, there really are
wonderful positive effects!
Of course walking barefoot in the
modern world has largely been
consigned to ancient history as a
result of almost infinite footwear
options. But should we ignore it
entirely on the grounds of ‘comfort’.
Increasing numbers of studies
suggest not.
The mechanics of the foot and our
gait are intricate and we all adopt
our own swagger, but they do have
a huge bearing on our movement.
Thanks to footwear we have become
so used to support that certain
muscles under-function and once we
start out barefoot, the distribution
of pressure across the foot is even
said to change our biomechanics.
I accept that walking on hard,
man-made surfaces might well have
it’s issues, but what if we just kick
off our shoes and go barefoot more
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West Wales Life&Style
‘
Kick off your
trainers and get
natural. There
really are wonderful
positive effects! ’
West Wales Life&Style
this before presenting them for
controlled studies. Suspicious of
the implications of always being
insulated from the earth, He
literally placed metal duck tape on
his bed, clipped it to a wire that
he dropped out the window and
attached it to a metal stake in the
ground. Having needed medication
to help him sleep, he found there
was something in this grounding,
as he slept so well and noticed less
pain.
With a group of 60 people
he found remarkable visual
difference in scans before and after
grounding. And the participants
said that PMS, inflammation
and pain had greatly improved
or even gone. Then he attracted
the attention of scientists and
physicians and the effects of
grounding became apparent in
larger studies.
You can make the most of your
walking by playing around with
speeds, using the hills to march,
the flats to do some walking
lunges. Then take off your shoes
where you can and feel the
spread of the toes, the tripod like
balance between the heel and big
and small toe and plug yourself
into earth. Results have also
revealed that grounding influences
physiologic processes, induces
relaxation and stabilises circadian
rhythms; our response to light and
dark.
We are blessed to live in a
stunning part of the UK that is
absolutely prime walking territory.
As we ease our way back towards
a few more freedoms, more
activities, more social interaction
– walking is the perfect activity
to stretch our legs, get air in our
lungs, get the heart rate up, work
those legs and not only connect
with friends, but connect with the
Earth!
You can find Joey’s walking
video online at youtu.be/
s1F3D72nTwU or visit joeybull.
com for a range of workouts
and health and fitness advice.
The winners of our Winter Joey
Bull competition were: Julia
Norton, Kristiina Castren and
Netta Stephens
often? Walking barefoot activates
something called ‘grounding’,
which is believed to do us all sorts
of favours.
Walking with contact is believed
to reduce stress levels. It is even
considered to support organ
systems down to the tissues and
the cellular function. But how?
Grounding allows your body to
absorb negative electrons, through
the earth, which helps to stabilize
daily stress rhythms – that’s
cortisol – and create a balanced
internal bioelectrical environment.
So if we insulate ourselves from
this, as we have by wearing
rubber soled shoes, we will have
the opposite effect. So Instead of
having thin blood which is less
likely to clot we will have thick
blood and inflammation potential.
Inflammation is produced by
the body’s white blood cells. If
you have an injury you have a
damaged cell and the white blood
cells come in and encapsulate
the damage and release reactive
oxygen species which rip electrons
from the damaged cells and that
then destroys the damaged cell.
If there are not enough free
electrons there to reduce the
remaining radical, it steals from
another healthy cell and damages
that cell – and then you’ve got a
chain reaction of damage, sending
a message to the immune system.
So with the earth endowed with
electrons, grounding has been
found to stop inflammation and
pain. This is because the force
holding the heart, the lungs, the
brain, is electrical equipment. We
are electrical beings. ATP is the
energy currency for the cell, that
is how we run our body’s systems
by generating a bio electrical
transfer. And when we connect to
a conductor server in some way,
there’s a transfer of electrons that
are slowly going into our body.
It was an electrician Clint Gober
who started his own trials on
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West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Farming diary
Debbie James lives on a coastal farm in
south Pembrokeshire where her family
produces milk from a herd of New
Zealand Friesians. The grass-based dairy
farm is also home to a beef enterprise
with animals reared on pasture.
Direct Nursing Services is a highly respected and wellestablished
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This farming
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Pembrokeshire farmer Debbie James knows all about
the highs and lows of a life spent working on the land
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Say what you like about farmers
but we are a practical bunch and
have some pretty useful machines at
our disposal.
That, and our farm’s close
proximity to a road, makes us a
magnet for those unfortunate souls
in need of a tow when their car
breaks down or, worse still, get
stuck in a ditch.
Always, without fail, the SOS at
the door comes when we are trying
to grab a bite to eat.
Last week it was a parcel delivery
driver who came knocking. By
religiously following the guidance
on his sat nav, his van ground to a
halt in a ford at the bottom of the
farm track that runs alongside our
farmstead.
The sheer number of gates he had
to open to get there and the rutted
track should have served as red
flags but let’s not dwell on those.
The poor man was distraught
because, as we all know, delivery
Debbie’s son George has now joined the
family business – much to mum’s delight.
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69
drivers are under pressure to meet
targets and veering off the beaten
track had already put him behind
his tight schedule.
Cue my husband with a tractor
and a heavy duty tow chain and he
was soon back on the road.
He offered to cross Chris’ palm
with silver but the man’s gratitude
was enough on that day.
I can’t attest to the view of farming
being an isolating and lonely
profession because of
our steady stream of
‘
beleaguered callers.
Our most famous
was the actor Keith
Allen but I must
confess that his fame
passed me. I didn’t
know him from
Adam, even when
he was standing in our kitchen and
using our phone to call the AA while
Chris furnished me with details of
his identity.
“Lily Allen’s father,’’ he loudly
whispered as he struggled to rein
in his excitement. Ahh, now the
penny dropped as I happen to know
who she is but as someone who is
completely unfazed by celebrity I
did what any farmer’s wife would
have done in the circumstances and
West Wales Life&Style
sustained our Keith with a couple
slices of fruit cake until the recovery
vehicle arrived.
He kindly returned the
compliment by calling with a bottle
of good wine later that week as he
was holidaying in the area.
Bizarrely, thereafter he seemed to
pop up endlessly in the television
dramas I watched, having not been
aware of him beforehand.
When our tractors have not been
Farmer bashers are
given so much airtime
that it can at times feel
like it is against the world
’
in use as recovery vehicles, they
have been notching up the miles
this spring cultivating some of our
more unproductive fields.
Anxious weeks of weather
watching have followed as
the exceptionally cold and dry
conditions have delayed seed
germination.
Obsessively following the forecasts
have made little difference as have
making all those secret pacts to be
a better person, if only it would rain
or warm up.
One of the reseeds is on a hill
overlooking the farm and the field
is a troubling reminder of the late
spring as it remains steadfastly
brown as we wait for the green
shoots to appear.
Farming requires nerves of steel
because so much of what we do is
weather dependant but at times
of worry I have to gently remind
myself that it mostly
always works out in
the end.
Surprisingly the
farm is just about
growing enough
grass to feed the cows
without too much
supplementary feed.
This week I spent
a very happy morning measuring
grass with George, our middle son,
who has joined us in the business.
We were collecting the data we need
to calculate our grass supply and to
work out if we have enough to meet
feed demand without supplementing
the cows’ diet.
Earlier, we had turned some of
our calves out to graze for the first
time. While frolicking lambs are a
cliché for the arrival of spring in the
countryside, it is playful calves that
are the backdrop to our spring.
We calve the entire herd in the
spring and produce most of our milk
from grass. When the cows are at
grass, it is not long before the calves
follow. It is a truly uplifting sight,
to watch them learning to graze. It
has to be one of the most effective
antidotes to some of the negativity
doled out by those who seek to
discredit farmers.
Farmer bashers are given so much
airtime by the BBC and other news
channels that it can at times feel
like it is us against the rest of the
world but fortunately most people
use their own good sense as a
barometer of what is right and what
is wrong.
With a footpath leading to a
beautiful beach running through
the farm it is Open Farm Sunday
here every day on high days and
holidays.
The public can see how naturally
we produce our milk, how happy
and well looked after our cows are
grazing in the fields and that is good
enough for us. We count ourselves
lucky to be farming.
01239 621225
West Wales Life&Style
T Samways is committed to
providing locally sourced produce
Tom Samways started butchery at the age of 14 and has a passion for the
butchery trade. The original shop had been trading for 40 years and Tom had
been an employee for 18 years. Tom took the shop over in 2018 and since
then has expanded the business and the customer base. Tom prides himself on
sourcing the highest quality locally selected meats and poultry. T Samways is
dedicated to supporting local farmers and producers.
We’re
currently
looking for
new
suppliers.
Quality Meat
car Local Delivery
Original Recipies
Bradford House, 53A Pendre, Cardigan SA43 1JR
www.tsamwaysbutcher.co.uk
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A quality high net-worth insurance policy diligently
records all expensive possessions, in particular rare
items and those that are expensive to replace. It also
covers risks relevant to you – for instance, if you employ
cleaning staff, you might benefit from a policy that
protects your possessions against cleaning incidents or
theft by a cleaner. This type of coverage is known as
employment practices liability coverage.
Finding the right policy for you.
Cleddau Insurance can really help when it comes to
finding the insurance policy best suited to you. We will
conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine
exactly what it is you need to protect, bearing in mind
any specialist requirements you may have, for example
coverage for jewellery or luxury car collections. We will
then search our database of reputable insurers to find a
policy that provides the cover you need for a competitive
price.
If you’d like to learn more about how our high net
worth insurance can help financially protect you and
your assets, contact us today.
A friendly member of our team will be happy to discuss
your requirements and provide advice and assistance
as necessary.
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Tastes of
Wales
West Wales Life&Style
Food
With spring well and truly sprung, our thoughts are already turning towards lighter, fresher
meals to eat during the warmer weather. Welsh lamb with green salad and new potatoes
is the perfect dish to welcome in the summer.
Welsh lamb has achieved PGI status – Protected Geographical Indication – the much sought-after
marque that guarantees that you are buying a premium quality product with special characteristics
that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.
For a delicious, nutritious yet light main meal to welcome in the summer, try out this fabulous
recipe for racks of Welsh lamb with rosemary, lemon and garlic. Add some new potatoes and green
saldIt really is the perfect warm weather dish, whether eaten inside or out.
Welsh lamb provides a true taste of Wales – and there really is nothing quite like.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hours
Serves five or more
Ingredients
2 lean racks of PGI Welsh Lamb
2 large sprigs of fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 lemon, rind removed and juice
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
Black pepper
Preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / Gas 4-5.
Take the two lean racks of lamb and calculate the
cooking time: medium – 25 minutes per 450g/0.5kg
plus 25 minutes; well done – 30 minutes per
450g/0.5kg plus 30 minutes.
Mix together the rosemary, lemon rind and juice,
garlic, olive oil and seasoning, and rub into the
racks.
Cook on a preheated barbecue with a lid or place
onto a rack in a roasting tray and oven roast for the
calculated cooking time.
Serve the lamb with new potatoes and a green
salad.
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West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
Wine
Roy guides you from
decanters to dessert
Welcome again to the West Wales Life&Style
guide to wine with Roy Roberts of Celtic
Wines.
Roy will be continuing to guide our regular readers
through his A to Z of wine, this time covering D.
Dornfelder is a dark-skinned increasingly appreciated
variety of grape of German origin used for red wine.
Bred in 1956 by August Herold, it owes its name to the
19th century founder of the Wurttemberg viticulture
school. It incorporates every important red wine vine
grown in Germany somewhere in its genealogy.
The best bottles of this variety, usually sold as a
varietal rather than blended, demonstrate the point of
vine breeding.
D is also for Dão, one of the oldest established wine
regions of Portugal, located just south of the famous
Douro Valley with the reputation of producing some of
the country’s best red wines. Locked in on three sides
by high, granite mountains and sheltered from the
Atlantic, the region benefits from long, warm summers.
The mountainous region is home to Touriga Nacional,
the principal variety of port wine.
D is also for Decanters, essentially the process of
pouring (decanting) the contents from one vessel
(typically a bottle) into another vessel (typically a
decanter). Usually, the wine is then served from the
decanter, but sometimes in a restaurant it is decanted
back into the original bottle for service.
Slowly and carefully decanting the wine ensures that
the sediment stays in the bottle and you get a nice clear
wine in the decanter, and subsequently in your glass.
D is for Discorgement, a critical point in the life of
Champagne wine, the grand finale after many months
and sometimes years of peaceful maturation on lees.
The purpose of disgorgement is to eliminate the deposit
that has collected in the neck of the bottle as a result of
the remuage process.
D is for Demi Sec, a French term meaning medium
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Wine
West Wales Life&Style
West Wales Life&Style
dry. In practice, it designates a dosage level that yields 32 to 50 g/l of
residual sugar. In Champagne, the scale from driest to sweetest is:
Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra-Dry (or Extra-Sec), Dry (or Sec),
Demi-Sec and Doux.
D is also for DOC, which stands for Denominazione di Origine
Controllata and is a designation for wines that was introduced in the
early 1960s. It equates more or less to the French AOC/AC system.
The regulations for each DOC wine delimit the production area,
wine colour, permitted grape varieties and max/min proportions,
styles of wine, max/min alcohol levels as well as permitted
or mandated viticultural, vinification and maturation
techniques.
There are 330 DOC wines in Italy today.
DOCG, wine designation was created in 1980 to
differentiate the top Italian wines, as there was a
general feeling that the DOC status was graded too
liberally.
The regulations for DOCG wines are tighter and
more restrictive. For example, maximum permitted
grape yields are lower. Also, each wine must pass an
in-depth technical analysis and tasting to receive the
official DOCG seal of approval from the Ministry of
Agriculture.
DO is another classification standing for
Denominación de Origen. Some wines will have DO
labelled after the name of the region, meaning that
this is a quality-controlled appellation that has been
awarded a higher status of winemaking.
You can also spot a DO wine by the black label on
the back, known as the contraetiqueta.
D is for Dessert Wines, produced with extra-sweet
wine grapes.
The grapes used to produce dessert wines have
a higher sugar content than regular wine grapes,
yielding a sweeter, richer wine.
These high sugar levels are usually achieved by
leaving the grapes on the vine for longer than the
equivalent dry wines.
D is also for Dole, a red wine made from mainly
Pinot Noir with Gamay grapes grown in the Valais
of Switzerland. A high proportion of Dole lacks real
interest and concentration, but exceptions exist.
Dole Blanche is lightly pressed, pale pink version.
D is for Domaine, the French word for an estate - it
typically refers ti vine-growing and wine-making
estates in Burgundy.
D is for Dow, important port shipper.
And finally D is Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust,
a charity we work with that aims for more diverse,
beautiful and resilient natural landscapes in which
species can thrive and people can enjoy a deeper
connection with nature.
Their strategy concentrates on the rewilding
of animals, the rewilding of ecosystems and the
rewilding of people. The Society of Vintners directly
supports the trust with every sale made. Please
visitdurrell.org for more information
After having missed so many opportunities for Concerts,
Weddings, Family Events, not to mention Hugs and seeing Old
Friends things are finally easing up and we may soon have the
opportunity to say Hello to you again here at Rhosygilwen!
We have Catrin Finch, Llyr Williams, Martin and Eliza Carthy,
David Tress, Yoga with Hilary, Our Wednesday Art group,
Trystan Llyr Griffiths, Weddings and Parties, The Rhosygilwen
Proms, Treasure Island, Young Musician of Dyfed,
Rhosygilwen Dinners and many other things going on to whet
your appetite!
We look forward to seeing you here at Rhosygilwen very soon!
rhosygilwen.co.uk
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West Wales Life&Style
Mercedes EQB:
An all-electric SUV to
Whether a large nuclear family or a
small extended family: as a sevenseater,
the new Mercedes EQB allelectric
compact SUV offers space for many
family constellations and a wide variety of
transport needs.
This gives it an exceptional position not
only in the compact segment, but especially
among electric cars. The two seats in the
third row can be used by people up to 5ft
4inches tall, and child seats can also be fitted
there.
The new EQB is the second fully electric
compact car from Mercedes-EQ. The
powerful and efficient electric drive,
clever recuperation and predictive
Navigation with Electric Intelligence
are just some of the features that
link it to the EQA.
The electric offensive from
Mercedes-Benz Cars is not
only picking up speed, it is
accelerating with as much kick
as the Mercedes-EQ vehicles
themselves. The design of the
new all-electric compact SUV
interprets the progressive
luxury of Mercedes-EQ in an
edgy and characterful way.
“With the all new EQB we have
created an iconic electric SUV
that takes the heritage of our boxy
off-road vehicles and transforms
this into the future. We combine
the significant boxy silhouette with
futuristic elements such as the black-panel
front to create the extraordinary look of the
vehicle”, says Gorden Wagener, chief design
officer of Daimler Group.
Customers will have the choice between
several models with front-wheel and allwheel
drive and various power levels, some
rated at over 200 kW. The usable capacity
of the batteries in Europe is 66.5 kWh.
A particularly long-range version is also
planned.
Generous space and variable, level boot
The new EQB enriches Mercedes’ successful
compact car family and is closely related to
two models in particular: to the EQA, whose
advanced drive technology it shares, and to
the GLB compact SUV. This is where the long
wheelbase, the spacious and variable interior
and the third row of seats with two additional
individual seats come from.
The amount of space is generous: the
headroom and knee space in the rear of the
get the family buzzing
five-seater reaches a comfortable level. The
boot is level and spacious: The load volume
of 495 to 1710 or 465 to 1620 litres (figures
for five- and seven-seaters respectively) has
the qualities of a compact estate car. The
inclination of the backrests in the second row
can be adjusted in several stages as standard,
and as an option it features longitudinally
adjustment of 140 millimetres. This enables
the boot to be enlarged by up to 190 litres and
put to versatile use.
As an option, the EQB has a third row of
seats with two additional individual seats.
Extensive safety features include extractable
head restraints, seat belts with belt tensioners
and force limiters on all outer seats and a
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side windowbag that also covers
passengers in the third row. Four
child seats can be fitted in rows
two and three, plus one more in the
front passenger seat.
To increase luggage
‘
space, the third row
seats can be lowered
into the load floor.
Electro design
aesthetics with
corners and edges
The EQB interprets
Mercedes-EQ’s
Progressive Luxury in an edgy and
characterful way. It features the
typical Mercedes-EQ black panel
grille with central star. A further
distinctive design feature is the
continuous light strip at front and
rear. A horizontal fibre-optic strip
connects the daytime running lights
of the full-LED headlamps, ensuring
a high level of recognisability in
daylight and at night. The inside
of the headlamps is finished to a
high level of quality and precision.
Blue colour highlights within the
headlamp reinforce the signature
Mercedes-EQ appearance.
The function-oriented greenhouse
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with upright windscreen makes the
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An iconic electric SUV
that takes heritage and
transforms it into the
future
’
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view, which is further enhanced by
the rise of the beltline. Outwardly
positioned wheels give the EQB a
powerful character and confident
stance on the road. Exclusive to this
model are light-alloy wheels in a bior
tri-colour design, up to 20 inches
in size, in some cases with rosé goldcoloured
or blue decorative trim.
The LED tail lamps merge
seamlessly into the tapered LED
light strip. This underlines the
horizontal sense of width of the
EQB in the rear view. In addition,
the number plate is placed on
the bumper, which allows for a
beautifully sculpted tailgate. The
studded roof rails underline the
high utility value of the new EQB.
The large body of the dashboard
has a cut-out in the driver and
passenger area.
The driver faces a
Widescreen Cockpit,
with control and
display via MBUX
(Mercedes-Benz
User Experience).
The robust character
of the interior is
underlined by tubular
elements in an aluminium look.
They sit as handles in the doors, in
the centre console and instrument
panel on the passenger side.
Efficient driving pleasure
and Navigation with Electric
Intelligence
ECO Assist offers a recuperation
process optimised to the particular
situation. It incorporates navigation
data, traffic sign recognition and
information from the vehicle
sensors into its efficiency strategy.
Anticipatory driving saves power,
thereby extending the range.
The standard Navigation with
Electric Intelligence also contributes
Glass • Mirror • Soffit
Double Glazed Units • Fascias
Guttering • Window Trims
Sealants • Fixings
to the effortless handling of the
EQB in everyday life. It calculates
the fastest route to the destination,
including any necessary charging
stops. On the basis of continual
range simulations, the system
makes allowance for any necessary
charging stops as well as for
numerous other factors, such as
the topography and the weather. It
is also able to react dynamically to
changes, for instance in the traffic
situation or personal driving style.
In addition, the Navigation with
Electric Intelligence ensures that
the high-voltage battery is brought
to an optimal charging temperature
before a planned charging stop, if
needed.
Sophisticated charging
technology and green power
At home or at public charging
stations, the EQB can be charged
at up to 11 kW with alternating
current (AC) using the onboard
charger. The charging time for
a full charge depends on the
available infrastructure and vehicle
equipment. Charging at a Mercedes-
Benz Wallbox is considerably faster
than at a household socket.
And it is of course even faster at
direct current (DC) fast-charging
stations.
Depending on the SoC (State of
Charge) and the temperature of
the high-voltage battery, the EQB
charges at a corresponding charging
station with a maximum power of
up to 100kW. The charging time is
then just over 30 minutes from 10-
80 percent SoC.
Cooperative support for the
driver and high level of crash
safety
The EQB features intelligent
driving assistance systems with
cooperative support for the driver.
Active Lane Keeping Assist and
Active Brake Assist are fitted
as standard. In many critical
situations, the latter has the ability
to prevent a collision or reduce its
severity with autonomous braking.
The system is also able to brake for
stationary vehicles and crossing
pedestrians at typical city speeds.
The enhanced functions of the
Driving Assistance Package include,
for example, the turning manoeuvre
function, the emergency corridor
function, the exit warning function
alerting the driver to approaching
‘ character
A powerful
with a
confident
stance on
the road
’
cyclists or vehicles, and a warning
when pedestrians are detected near
zebra crossings.
The EQB is also a true Mercedes
when it comes to passive safety.
Building on the robust bodyshell
structure of the GLB, the body of
the EQB was adapted to the special
requirements of an electric car. The
battery sits within a frame made
out of extruded sections. This takes
on a structural function which until
now was maintained by the cross
members in the underfloor. A guard
in the front area of the battery is
able to prevent the energy storage
unit from being pierced by foreign
objects.
Thanks to a perfect blending of
safety, design, performance and
green credentials, the new Mercedes
EQB is a compact SUV that while
have the whole family cheering.
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West Wales Life&Style
Fishguard Road, Haverfordwest • 01437 768014 • www.vincentdavies.co.uk
Free Parking • For opening times visit www.vincentdavies.co.uk
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