Wednesday 13th April 2011 Carbon neutral farm a success
A farm in Ceredigion now produces enough power from an array of solar
panels to run the entire farm, shop and farmhouse. The family-run
Blaencamel Farm at Aberaeron is one of Wales’ first carbon neutral
farms thanks to 39 solar panels installed on the roof of a farm
building. Surplus power generated is fed into the National Grid to
earn extra income for the farm. Organic vegetable farmer Peter Seggers
is now building an electrically powered tractor. West Wales

Friday 11th March 2011 Pub dig for legendary buried elephant
Local folklore telling of a buried Victorian circus elephant at a
Ceredigion pub has led to archaeologists digging up the garden. The
Tregaron Elephant is said to have died on tour in 1848 after drinking
contaminated water and was buried behind the town’s Talbot Hotel. The
elephant is thought to have been with Batty’s Travelling Menageries, a
circus that visited the area that year. An excavation in April will
test the rumour as it searches for the creature’s final resting place.
The dig is being organised by the University of Wales Trinity St
David's archaeology department. The project’s leader is Dr Jemma
Bezant of the School of Archaeology, History and Anthropology. West Wales

Monday 20th December 2010 £12m coastal defence project approved
£12m worth of coastal defence work has been approved for Borth in
Ceredigion. The project is intended to reduce the risk of flooding and
coastal erosion at the seaside resort near Aberystwyth for the next
hundred years. An artificial reef to attract surfers is part of the
plans. Work should start in January now the project has been given the
go-ahead by Environment Minister Jane Davidson. Borth county
councillor Ray Quant said: "This is fantastic news for the Borth
community after so much uncertainty over the years on the financial
resources needed to deliver a quality new coastal defence scheme." West Wales

Tuesday 7th December 2010 Carmarthenshire hotel closes
A hotel once co-owned by actor Neil Morrissey is closing after its
parent company went into administration. Followset Ltd, the company
behind Hurst House in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, folded on 24
November with the loss of more than 30 jobs. Administrators Grant
Thornton had failed in their attempt to sell the hotel as a going
concern. Men Behaving Badly star Morrissey co-owned the Grade II
listed 17-bedroom hotel between 2001 and 2008. The actor formerly had
interests in three properties in the coastal town. Alistair Wardell of
Grant Thornton said : "We have regrettably taken the decision to close
the hotel due to the difficulties of trading in administration whilst
a sale was pursued. We continue to hope for a sale in the short term
in the absence of which the hotel will be marketed." West Wales

Tuesday 30th November 2010 Welsh sheep stalked by big cat
Farmers think a big cat may be attacking livestock near a village in
Pembrokeshire. There have been a number of unexplained incidents and
police and council officials are examining the 'unusual death' of a
lamb. The animals appears to have been killed by another animal but
not a dog or fox. Farmers in Princes Gate talk of sightings of a big
cat in the area which they say is about 4ft (1.2m) long with a curved
thick tail. A paw print, found near the latest dead animal, is now
being analysed. Farmer Malcolm MacPhee said he found one of his best
Suffolk pedigree ewes torn to shreds. "It's a huge worry for all the
farmers in area," he told The Daily Telegraph. West Wales

Tuesday 14th September 2010 Atlantic challenge robotic yacht doomed
An unmanned robotic yacht built by scientists from Aberystwyth
University has been launched off the Irish coast. The yacht’s
adventure is part of the transatlantic Microtransat Challenge and is
the only craft taking on the journey this year. Pinta, the 3m long
robotic yacht is not expected to complete the task. Scientists at
Aberystwyth University have been unsuccessful in previous attempts to
cross the ocean since 2006. Dr Mark Neal, one of the founders of the
challenge from Aberystwyth University, said: "We're the only team
taking part this year. A team from Brest (France) pulled out at the
last minute partly because of the weather conditions. I don't think
Pinta will succeed because there are some horrible weather conditions
out there. There are 35 to 40 knot winds and the remnants of a
hurricane. It will probably capsize. It is waterproof, but it won't
survive the continual flipping over. At this point it could well turn
out to be the world's first robotic sailing boat shipwreck." West Wales

Friday 4th June 2010 Calls for statue of Tudor king
A former tour guide is calling for a statue of Henry VII to be erected
at Pembroke castle. Melanie Phillips once worked at the castle which
was the birth place of King Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty.
The king was born in the castle in 1457 and lived there until he was
11. Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart has pledged
his help to find funding for the statue.

Ms Phillips said: "There's a little plaque by a wooden seat outside
and inside the castle there is another plaque in the room where he was
born, but that's it. The founder of the Tudor dynasty was born here
but there's no statue at all. When I would show tourists around they
could not believe it." West Wales

Monday 24th May 2010 Lawnmower speed record at Pendine
A land speed record was mown down on Pendine Sands when Don Wales hit
86.069mph in his lawnmower. Mr Wales beat the record with two one mile
runs in opposite directions within one hour. The record was previously
set in the USA at 80.792mph by Bob Cleveland. Don Wales has record
breaking in his blood, his grandfather was famous record breaker Sir
Malcolm Campbell.

The team, Project RunningBlade and supported by The National Motor
Museum in Beaulieu, Mr Wales hopes to return to beat the 100mph
barrier. The project hopes to raise money for Great Ormond Street
Hospital for Sick Children and Wessex Heartbeat. West Wales

Wednesday 28th April 2010 Student festival plans 'shambolic'
A licensing hearing has been told by objectors that plans for a
proposed beach festival at Pembrey Country Park in June appear
"shambolic."

Sixteen opponents plan to address the committee in person while more
than 100 have written objecting to the event. Acts including Calvin
Harris and Plan B are due to appear at the Beach Break Live festival
due to be held at the Carmarthenshire beauty spot.

Local councillor Stephen James said: "It's there for all to see that
not enough work has been done. He added that he was "genuinely
concerned" the safety of youngsters would be put at risk and claimed
the organisation "was shambolic." West Wales

Tuesday 13th April 2010 Accolades for Ceredigion rural beaches
Five beaches in the unspoilt rural area of Ceredigion have reached the
highest possible bathing water quality, cleanliness and their unspoilt
natural beauty. The beaches at Aberaeron South, Clarach, Llanrhystud,
Mwnt and Penbryn have all received a 2010 Green Coast Award. They are
among a record of 50 Welsh beaches to be honoured with the Green Coast
Award this year.

Councillor Eurfyl Evans, Ceredigion's Cabinet Member with
responsibility for Economic Development and Tourism said: "This is a
perfect start to the holiday season in Ceredigion. The Ceredigion
coast and our rural beaches are amongst the best in Wales and visitors
to the area this season can be assured of the highest possible
standards." West Wales