Podcasts about Monmouthshire

Julie Morgan MS, Lord Wigley and Anthony Pickles dissect the latest polling with a year to go until the Senedd elections. Ian Gerrard, head of Ysgol Aberconwy discusses the use of smartphones in schools and their effect on behaviour. NUS Wales president Deio Owen talks about the possible plan to allow free movement of students across Europe and Dr Anne Harrington from Cardiff University reminds us that the second world war continued in the pacific after VE day, ending only with atomic warfare. Journalist Abbie Wightwick and conservative group leader at Monmouthshire council, Richard John review the papers.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features making his debut is Bethany Handley.Bethany Handley is an award-winning writer, poet and disability activist from Monmouthshire. Named one of the UK's ten most influential disabled people in politics, law, and media by the Shaw Trust 2024, she campaigns for disability rights and better access to nature. An ambassador for Country Living's Access for All, Wales Coast Path, and Ramblers Cymru, her debut poetry pamphlet Cling Film was published by Seren in February 2025. She co-edited Beyond / Tu Hwnt, an anthology of Welsh Deaf and disabled writers. Her work has been featured by the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Wales, BBC Radio 4, Country Living and more.Bethany's Website is: bethanyhandley.com 

Welcome to the first episode of The Greenprint! In this inaugural episode, we dive into the incredible story of Raglan Golf Club in Monmouthshire, Wales—a course that has truly risen from the ashes. After closing its doors following the COVID-19 pandemic, Raglan was purchased in early 2024 by a group hailing from Monmouthshire, and its rebirth is nothing short of inspiring. Lucy, the driving force behind the revitalization, shares her journey in transforming the course from a state of disrepair to one that's ready to open in early April. From rebuilding greens to adding new tees and bunkers, Lucy has tackled every challenge, including restoring irrigation systems and improving drainage. She also discusses the agronomic hurdles of reopening a course after being closed for over two years, including selecting the right grass species for greens that were initially sown with fescue. This episode is a fascinating look at how a struggling venue can be brought back to life with the right vision, support, and the dedication of passionate people. Tune in for an encouraging and insightful story of revival and community focus. https://www.raglangolfclub.co.uk/   The Greenprint on Linkedin  https://www.instagram.com/thegreenprintuk/   Subscribe to the show to make sure you receive all episodes as they are released

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Minister Darren Jones sorry for comparing benefits to pocket money Sutton Hoo helmet may actually come from Denmark, archaeologist suggests Gigil, alamak among new words in Oxford English Dictionary Numb and humiliated Why Chinas football dream lies in tatters Ask for Angela Daughter wants more to be done to protect women Hundreds lose life savings in whisky barrel scam Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal could run dry in days, operators warn Scottish govenrment minister Christina McKelvie dies aged 57 Trump announces 25 tariffs on car imports to US Journalist at centre of Trumps Signal chat scandal speaks to BBC

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Scottish govenrment minister Christina McKelvie dies aged 57 Numb and humiliated Why Chinas football dream lies in tatters Hundreds lose life savings in whisky barrel scam Journalist at centre of Trumps Signal chat scandal speaks to BBC Sutton Hoo helmet may actually come from Denmark, archaeologist suggests Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal could run dry in days, operators warn Ask for Angela Daughter wants more to be done to protect women Minister Darren Jones sorry for comparing benefits to pocket money Trump announces 25 tariffs on car imports to US Gigil, alamak among new words in Oxford English Dictionary

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Trump announces 25 tariffs on car imports to US Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal could run dry in days, operators warn Numb and humiliated Why Chinas football dream lies in tatters Scottish govenrment minister Christina McKelvie dies aged 57 Minister Darren Jones sorry for comparing benefits to pocket money Sutton Hoo helmet may actually come from Denmark, archaeologist suggests Hundreds lose life savings in whisky barrel scam Ask for Angela Daughter wants more to be done to protect women Journalist at centre of Trumps Signal chat scandal speaks to BBC Gigil, alamak among new words in Oxford English Dictionary

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Journalist at centre of Trumps Signal chat scandal speaks to BBC Gigil, alamak among new words in Oxford English Dictionary Hundreds lose life savings in whisky barrel scam Trump announces 25 tariffs on car imports to US Sutton Hoo helmet may actually come from Denmark, archaeologist suggests Scottish govenrment minister Christina McKelvie dies aged 57 Ask for Angela Daughter wants more to be done to protect women Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal could run dry in days, operators warn Minister Darren Jones sorry for comparing benefits to pocket money Numb and humiliated Why Chinas football dream lies in tatters

In this episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado reconnects with illustrator Louise Lockhart, founder of The Printed Peanut. Since her last appearance in 2019, Louise has made significant life changes, relocating with her family from city life to a farm in Monmouthshire, Wales. Mike and Louise discuss the impact of this move on her creative process, business, and personal life.Louise shares her experiences of balancing motherhood, managing her business, and maintaining creative inspiration, emphasizing the importance of taking breaks and making decisions that prioritize personal fulfillment over financial gain. Reminiscent of their last talk, the conversation is filled with humor and candid reflections on the challenges and rewards of choosing an unconventional path. Louise's story serves as a testament to the courage needed to embrace change and the pursuit of a fulfilling artistic life. I really enjoyed catching up with my fellow art pal from across the pond and I know you'll enjoy it as well. So, without further ado, sit back, pull up her Instagram and enjoy my chat with Louise. Host: Mike Rosado (mrcraleigh.com) (instagram.com/ekimodasor) Post Production: Max Trujillo (instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (mrcraleigh.com) and Burny Wild's (burnywilds.com) 

Is lameness a problem on your dairy farm?  Despite decades of effort, lameness remains a challenge for dairy farmers. This podcast explores a ground-breaking European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Wales project that tackles this issue head-on. Join us as we delve into practical interventions, and discover how Welsh dairy farmers are working together to improve lameness records. This podcast is presented by project lead vet Sara Pedersen of Farm Dynamics Ltd. She is joined by three farms from the Newport and Monmouthshire area who have all looked at finding actionable strategies to implement on their farms to reduce lameness prevalence within their herds.

Join a quest in the little-visited no-man's land between Monmouthshire and Herefordshire to seek out a mysterious church built by the Knights Templar 800 years ago. Who were these warrior monks and what were they doing in this corner of the British countryside? And should we believe any of the modern legends about the Templars? As ever, there will be wildlife surprises along the way. The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022. If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Christmas Eve and the Plodcast team of Hannah, Jack and Lewis have gathered at host Fergus' cottage on a farm in the Monmouthshire countryside. The fire is lit, the mulled wine is poured and guest Kevin Parr is about to deliver the infamous Plodcast Christmas Quiz. Plus, we take a look back at highlights from 2024. So pour a drink, grab paper and pen, make yourself comfortable and join the festivities. And from all the team, have a wonderful and merry Christmas. The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022. If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, host Samuel Goldsmith brings you engaging conversations with Matt Tebbutt and Becky Excell. Matt shares his culinary adventures and passions, beginning with his excitement for last night's dinner. He discusses his new book, 'Pub Food', which showcases elevated pub classics and foraging-inspired dishes from his time as a pub owner in Monmouthshire. Matt also talks about his favourite pub food and the importance of locally sourced produce. We then shift gears to Matt's experiences on 'Saturday Kitchen', where he regales us with stories of his favourite guests, including Tom Allen, Gary Barlow, and the charismatic Idris Elba. Matt shares his Christmas culinary favourites, culinary confessions and Christmas cooking disasters. Becky Excell shares insights into cooking and eating gluten-free. From her recent release, 'Gluten-Free Air Fryer', to her upcoming book, 'Budget Gluten-Free', Becky discusses the challenges and joys of gluten-free cooking. She talks about her favourite Christmas dishes, her love for the air fryer, and tips for making delicious and inclusive gluten-free meals. Tune in for a heartwarming and informative episode filled with culinary inspiration, laughter, and festive cheer. Subscribers to the Good Food app via App Store get access to the show ad-free, and with regular bonus content such as interviews recorded at the good food show. To get started, download the Good Food app today. Find even more inspiration at the Good Food Show Summer at the NEC, Birmingham from 12-15 June, where the Good Food team will be on hand with summer recipes, and you'll be able to watch James Martin, Si King, Nadiya Hussain and more cooking live! Plus, you'll be able to enjoy tips and tricks from top chefs and experts, hands-on workshops and tastings, unique dining experiences and a huge variety of producers and brands to shop from.   Simply use the code GFPOD for 25% off tickets*, and get a FREE Big Kitchen seat in selected sessions. Ends 31 January! https://www.goodfoodshow.com/summer/?utm_source=goodfoodpodcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=podcast   *Offers valid on standard entry tickets only, across all days. Free Big Kitchen seats in selected sessions only and are subject to availability. Not all celebrities appear on all days. Ends 23:59 31 January 2025. Not valid on VIP tickets, 2-day tickets or added extras, or with any other offer. £3.95 transaction fee per e-ticket order. Details correct at time of print. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Overcrowding and lack of capacity in prisons has been dominating the headlines recently but at the UK's only prison dairy farm, state of the art milking machines have been installed, in the hope of improving the chance for prisoners to gain employment on release and cut reoffending rates. Mariclare Carey-Jones goes on a visit to Cilwrgi Farm, near Pontypool in the historic county of Monmouthshire and hears how it's a working dairy farm but with a difference - it's home to a herd of 120 pedigree Holstein cattle, managed by staff and prisoners working as a team at HMP Prescoed.

The eight-toothed spruce bark beetle - landowners across Wales are urged to be on the lookout for signs of a pest that has been found in Monmouthshire for the first time.Agricultural pollution - a three month ban on muck-spreading came into force across Wales this week. We hear what it means for the industry and the environmentA community wetland - how a Welsh housing group has helped its tenants save an area of wetland in Cynon Taf, which was once intended for housing.and in fine voice at a church in Llangollen, there's a revival of the ancient art of Gregorian chanting

Nada Surf front person Matthew Caws chats with Paul about the themes and inspirations behind his band's shiny new album Moon Mirror (New West Records) and reflects on the band's three-decades making records, including tales of being mentored by the late great Ric Ocasek, having an early hit with "Popular," and working on the new one at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire, Wales. But as you'll hear, while it's fun to look back, today, Nada Surf do what's in front of them now.  The Record Store Day Podcast is a weekly music chat show written, produced, engineered and hosted by Paul Myers, who also composed the theme music and selected interstitial music.  Executive Producers (for Record Store Day) Michael Kurtz and Carrie Colliton. For the most up-to-date news about all things RSD, visit RecordStoreDay.com)   Sponsored by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (dogfish.com), Tito's Handmade Vodka (titosvodka.com), RSDMRKT.com, and Furnace Record Pressing, the official vinyl pressing plant of Record Store Day.   Please consider subscribing to our podcast wherever you get podcasts, and tell your friends, we're here every week and we love making new friends.

The UK general election is now in its final stages and while the union-wide result hardly seems in doubt, each constituency and candidate has a story to tell. Here at the Hiraeth Pod we are recording a series of short interviews with new candidates who are contesting constituencies across Wales. These are new faces on the national scene and will no doubt feature in the 2026 Senedd campaign even if unsuccessful this time around. We plan to speak to each of the main parties in Wales, which we consider to be the ones standing in every constituency at the start of the campaign (though since then some have fallen away, as you are no doubt aware). So we will be sharing interviews with Conservative, Plaid Cymru, Green, Reform, Liberal Democrat, and Labour candidates as we try to uphold the values of public service broadcasting in the digital age. In this pod we speak with former Senedd Member William (Bill) Powell, who is representing the Liberal Democrats in the Conservative-dominated seat of Monmouthshire. A long time councillor and respected parliamentarian in his own right, Bill is facing an uphill task to win the seat as Labour's Catherine Fookes is in pole position but, as ever, Bill is seeking to represent the best of big and small 'L' liberalism in this key border territory. You can find Bill on Twitter/X here: https://twitter.com/WmPowell2021 The candidates in Monmouthshire are: Conservative and Unionist Party: David TC Davies England and Wales Green Party: Ian Chandler Heritage Party: Emma Meredith Independent: Owen Lewis Liberal Democrats: Bill Powell Plaid Cymru: Ioan Bellin Reform UK: Max Windsor-Peplow True & Fair Party: June Davies UK Labour: Catherine Fookes As always, you can find the latest from us @hiraethpod on most social media, including Twitter/X here: twitter.com/HiraethPod We hope you find this podcast interesting and useful. Please do send feedback, it's always great to hear what our audience thinks. Thank you for listening to the podcast. If you have enjoyed it, please leave us a nice rating or comment on your podcast app or on YouTube and, if you are able to do so, please consider supporting our work from just £3/month on Patreon: www.patreon.com/hiraethpod

The UK general election is now in its final stages and while the union-wide result hardly seems in doubt, each constituency and candidate has a story to tell. Here at the Hiraeth Pod we are recording a series of short interviews with new candidates who are contesting constituencies across Wales. These are new faces on the national scene and will no doubt feature in the 2026 Senedd campaign even if unsuccessful this time around. We plan to speak to each of the main parties in Wales, which we consider to be the ones standing in every constituency at the start of the campaign (though since then some have fallen away, as you are no doubt aware). So we will be sharing interviews with Conservative, Plaid Cymru, Green, Reform, Liberal Democrat, and Labour candidates as we try to uphold the values of public service broadcasting in the digital age. In this pod we speak with Cllr Catherine Fookes, who is standing for the Labour Party and seeking to replace David TC Davies as MP in a seat that has a long track record of returning Conservatives. Unseating a Secretary of State would be a significant accomplishment for Labour and the polls indicate that this is a distinct possibility but it is clear that Catherine and the campaign team are taking nothing for granted. You can find Catherine on Twitter/X here: https://twitter.com/CatherineFookes The candidates in Monmouthshire are: Conservative and Unionist Party: David TC Davies England and Wales Green Party: Ian Chandler Heritage Party: Emma Meredith Independent: Owen Lewis Liberal Democrats: Bill Powell Plaid Cymru: Ioan Bellin Reform UK: Max Windsor-Peplow True & Fair Party: June Davies UK Labour: Catherine Fookes As always, you can find the latest from us @hiraethpod on most social media, including Twitter/X here: twitter.com/HiraethPod We hope you find this podcast interesting and useful. Please do send feedback, it's always great to hear what our audience thinks. Thank you for listening to the podcast. If you have enjoyed it, please leave us a nice rating or comment on your podcast app or on YouTube and, if you are able to do so, please consider supporting our work from just £3/month on Patreon: www.patreon.com/hiraethpod

New physical checks have been brought in on some imports of food and plants from the EU. Products deemed high or medium risk now have to be inspected - including live animals, meat and some plant products. We report from a border control post to find out how it works.An investigation is under way following the large scale illegal dumping of waste at a site in Kent. Local residents describe a steady stream of lorries carrying waste being brought to the site.And the largest cider manufacturer in the UK - Heineken - has ripped up thousands of apple trees in a 140 acre orchard in Monmouthshire. The orchard was planted by Bulmers - which is now owned by Heineken - more than twenty years ago. Some local people have raised concerns about the effect on ecosystems in the area, but the company says it's selling the land due to a fall in the cider market.Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

//The Wire//2100Z April 18, 2024////ROUTINE////BLUF: 911 CALL CENTER OUTAGE REPORTED OVERNIGHT. EXPLOSION AT BAE SYSTEMS FACILITY IN MONMOUTHSHIRE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-United Kingdom: An explosion was reported at the BAE Systems munitions factory in Monmouthshire. The explosion occurred at a remote part of the facility where munitions were being manipulated by remote control. No injuries were reported, and blast containment procedures were reported to have functioned as designed.-HomeFront-USA: Last night a cascading failure of 911 call center services impacted many states around the country. Services have mostly been restored as of this report. No official word on the cause of the outage, however unconfirmed rumor suggests that a fiber optic cable being cut may have been the cause for the incident.In Congress, the U.S. Senate votes to dismiss the impeachment of DHS Secretary Mayorkas without trial.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: While entirely possible, it is hard to imagine that a single cable being cut could impact 911 call centers in a wide range of states, among seemingly unrelated systems. However, even without knowing specifics most public infrastructure (especially telecoms) is just that vulnerable on an everyday basis. Despite the obvious vulnerabilities that have been created, many public service telecoms networks have transitioned to cellular systems, or otherwise more centralized systems which, while vastly more efficient, often times do not allow for the hardened and robust nature of more traditional networks.Analyst: S2A1//END REPORT//

This week on the show we're joined by Ivan Carić and Emily Carding of The Key of Dreams, the follow up to the hit overnight immersive experience in the Welsh countryside which was reviewed for us last year by Ellery Weil, who also joins us on the pod for the first time.The Key of Dreams draws on the literary tradition of weird fiction to create a strange and thrilling experience in Treowen Manor an early 17th-century manor house in Monmouthshire where guests stay overnight.We dive in deep on what goes into delving into the realms of the uncanny in a historic locale in this week's interview.SHOW NOTESThe Key of Dreams Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest launched his own business in partnership with eXp UK in September 2023 after a dozen years as an estate agent. He's sold homes throughout Monmouthshire, The Forest of Dean, Powys, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire and has helped hundreds of families and individuals achieve amazing prices for their property.If you want to find out more about how to hit the ground running when starting your own estate agency business, this is 100% worth a listen.

Join us for an exclusive interview with acclaimed author Tim Lebbon as we delve into his illustrious writing career and his latest bone-chilling eco-horror masterpiece, "Among The Living." Hailed as the master of eco-horror, Tim Lebbon has captivated readers worldwide with his gripping narratives and atmospheric storytelling.Born in London in 1969, Tim spent his formative years in Devon and Newport before returning to the countryside with his wife Tracey and their children Ellie and Daniel. Settled in the picturesque village of Goytre in Monmouthshire, Tim draws inspiration from the surrounding countryside, which often features in his evocative writing.Tim's literary journey began in his teens, where he embarked on writing novels, eventually leading to his first published story in UK indie magazine Psychotrope in 1994. Since then, he has penned over forty novels, published by esteemed houses such as HarperCollins, Bantam Spectra, and Titan, among others. His works have been translated globally, captivating audiences with their haunting narratives and richly drawn characters.Notably, Tim's novel "The Silence" was adapted into a Netflix movie starring Stanley Tucci and Kiernan Shipka, showcasing his talent for crafting cinematic tales of suspense and terror. Additionally, his novella "Pay The Ghost" was adapted into a feature film starring Nicolas Cage, adding to his impressive repertoire of cinematic adaptations.Beyond writing, Tim is an avid triathlete, often seen swimming, biking, and running across the Monmouthshire countryside. His passion for endurance sports permeates his writing, as evidenced in novels like "The Hunt" and "Eden," as well as his non-fiction book "Run Walk Crawl: Getting Fit In My Forties."Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights into the mind of a literary master as we explore Tim Lebbon's extraordinary career and his latest foray into the realm of eco-horror. Subscribe now and join us for an unforgettable conversation with one of the genre's most compelling voices.Buy Tims latest release, Among The Living, here: https://amzn.to/497SElfWATCH THIS EPISODE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE: https://youtube.com/live/QuxTs_DoCN4______________________________________Find out more: www.TheWritingCommunityChatShow.ComTHE WCCS – TOGETHER AS ONE WE GET IT DONE!If you would like to advertise your #book on the show, to enroll in a book launch interview, or to have a WCCS social media shout out, visit here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheWCCSFOLLOW US► Our website – https://www.thewritingcommunitychatshow.com► Universal link – https://linktr.ee/TheWCCS► Buy the show a coffee – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheWCCS► Use hashtag TheWritingCommunityChatShow or TheWCCS on social media to keep us current. This show will only succeed with your support!► Support us through Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/WCCS► For our FIVERR affiliate link click here (we will earn a little from you signing up through our link and more if you use the service. We back this service and have used it with great results! – https://fvrr.co/32SB6cs► For our PRO #WRITING AID affiliate link click here – https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=15286Hey! We have spent 3 years using StreamYard. You can see how much we love its features, and how we can make it look great for live streaming. We are huge fans and they are constantly improving their service. Check it out with our link and we could earn from referrals!https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4835638006775808Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support.

Hidden in a peaceful corner of the Monmouthshire countryside is a site steeped in blood, treachery and revenge. Plodcast host Fergus and his son Owen set out one cold January morning to uncover the secret of medieval Castell Arnallt (Castle Arnold) - and track down what remains of this ill-fated and now forgotten Welsh castle. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Plodcast goes fishing this week with plodcast regular Kevin Parr and author and TV presenter Will Millard. Host Fergus meets them on his local waterway, the Monmouthshire and Breconshire Canal, to talk about why fishing matters to much to them. It's the perfect combination of gentle adventure, chat and humour. But will they catch any fish? Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Small Business Snippets, the podcast from SmallBusiness.co.uk. Today's guest is George North, pro rugby player and co-founder of cafe, Baffle Haus, based in Monmouthshire. We'll be discussing sporting mentality and how it can have a positive effect on business success. This podcast is brought to you by Smart Energy GB. For further information on getting a smart meter installed, visit smartenergygb.org You can also visit smallbusiness.co.uk for more on boosting your business. Remember to like us on Facebook @SmallBusinessExperts and follow us on Twitter @smallbusinessuk, all lower case. Don't forget to check out video clips of this episode and subscribe over on our YouTube channel!

Rebranding Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to National Landscapes to reflect their natural beauty and important role in climate change, conservation and wellbeing.We head to the rocky shores of Anglesey for our bird of the month. The purple sandpiper is a wader that likes our winters!Are you away for Christmas? Who's looking after the hens? We hear from the Cosy Hen Co in Monmouthshire providing Hennels, or hotels for poultry! And earthy paints - we meet an artist from Powys who has taken her love of the natural world and started a business making paint from soil

RAVES AND FARMING?!? This is a proper fun one! I love ever podcast I film but this is just a little different! Today we welcome Huw Evans on! Huw from London at 25 along with 2 other 25 year olds decide it was time for a change. With only a dissertation based on agriculture and a keen enjoyment walking around that type of environment as a youngster behind him the three of them put what money they have as well as selling assets to buy a farm in Abergavenny in Monmouthshire. Next they embarked on their journey to create a regenerative farm. With the podcast I have a lot of people seeking this system but very few acknowledge the financial challenges it will bring, Huw and the team did acknowledge that. That self awareness has allowed them to create a separate business to create a financial stability elsewhere to allow the farm business to flourish on its way to profit ability. That separate business? RAVES. They have weekly rave music on varying in genres as well as hosting weddings and other bespoke events in their picturesque location and buildings. You'll love this! Enjoy!

The lads are back for Season 7 of AiC. During their little break Ryan's survived Storm Betty and the very next day Storm Lewi at Noel Gallagher's big gig in Caldicot Castle, Paddy has travelled to Merthyr with the boys to see CVC and both AiC members have had the night of their lives at the Pastel gig at The Bunkhouse. Ryan drops in some Swans gossip, Paddy admits to fly-tipping and the boys discuss Jada Pickett-Smith mugging of the Fresh Prince, Gyro's, the Carnivore diet and Ebanie Bridges being one of the coolest people they've ever met plus much much more….@ambitioniscritcal1997 on Instagram @TheAiCPodcast on Twitter

25 years ago two Monmouthshire farmers had a plan. BSE had hit the rural area hard, and they wanted to create a food festival to showcase the area's produce. They set about putting it together in the relatively unknown town of Abergavenny. 25 years on and the event is now one of the UK's best known food festivals that attracts a star-studded line up of chefs and producers, hosting demonstrations and discussions and much more. Sheila Dillon has been going to the festival for many years, and in this programme finds out why Abergavenny Food Festival has had such success, how it continues to stay relevant, and what impact it has beyond the town. Presented by Sheila Dillon Produced in Bristol for BBC Audio by Natalie Donovan

Mark is a Wiltshire lad who took the gamble to leave the green green grass of home, moving over the Severn Bridge to take a head greenkeeping opportunity in Abergavenny - and he hasn't looked back. The relocation has gone well, family have settled and Mark has set about putting his thumb print on The Monmouthshire Golf Club. Mark has a progressive view on greenkpeeping, gathering and using data to help aid efficiency and decision making out on the course. We discuss clip volumes, growth degree days, compost teas and the use of social media - some of you may you have noticed. An easy listen, where we also hit vital statistics, favourite hole, whats in the shed, favourite bit of kit and needing that bigger boat! Basis CPD Points - CP/123021/2223/k Socials, Mark Simmons - @marksim93794378 Monmouthshire GC - @monmouthshireGC Joe Hendy AGS - @joeags1 Instagram - mark.simmons324 Facebook - Monmouthshire Golf Club Design - https://booyeacreative.com/ Music - Artist Spencer Flay, Song Unbreakable https://www.spencerflay.com/

In this episode, Chloe and Tom introduce everyone to the Wilder podcast and what listeners may expect from the first three foundational episodes, they also talk about how they ended up rewilding an 80-acre farm in Wales, the purposes of the Grange Project and how to ensure it's financially sustainable.Your HostsTom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/Listen out for:[00:09:32] Our family's journey from climate ignorance to buying an 80-acre farm in Monmouthshire (including how Tom manipulated Chloe into buying it!)[00:11:47] Tom's ‘audio description' of the land and it's recent farming history[00:15:18] The purpose of the Grange Project: Restore, Support, Educate and Influence (and how we might achieve this)[00:25:36] How we're going to pay our bills; the commercial viability of Rewilding ProjectsGrange Project Contact & Social MediaEmail: hello@grangeproject.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grange.project/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grangeprojectYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrangeProjectLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Keen for more: There were a number of books, documentaries and podcasts that were influential to Chloe and Tom on their journey: Books"The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming" by David Wallace-Wells - A harrowing exploration of the potential impacts of climate change if current rates of global warming are not curbed. https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-uninhabitable-earth-a-story-of-the-future-david-wallace-wells/1620822?ean=9780141988870"The Climate Book" by Greta Thunberg – A concise, compelling, and accessible exploration of the climate crisis, blending scientific evidence with personal insights to inspire immediate action on the world's paramount environmental challenge. https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-climate-book-greta-thunberg/6860346?ean=9780241547472"Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea, and Human Life" by George Monbiot - A personal and scientific journey into the benefits and methods of rewilding, seen by many as a seminal text in the field.

Welcome to the trailer episode of the Wilder podcast, where your hosts Tom and Chloe introduce themselves, the podcast, and what to expect from future episodes.[00:00:26] Tom and Chloe are a husband-and-wife duo, parents of three, and are ready to embark on their exciting new adventure with the Wilder podcast and the Grange Project. Baby Eleanor, their youngest, makes a special guest appearance![00:01:03] They discuss why listeners might be interested in their podcast, which will cover all things (re)wilding, sustainability, and biodiversity. They're excited to learn from experts from their positions as 'nature novices'.[00:01:33] Tom, a former British Army officer, introduces himself and his journey that led him to co-host the Wilder podcast.[00:01:48] Chloe, a clinical psychologist who specialises in Systemic Psychotherapy, introduces herself, her passions and her slight trepidation about being co-host of a podcast![00:02:30] They introduce the Grange Project, an endeavour to rewild 80 acres of moderate grade agricultural land in Monmouthshire. Their goal is to learn from experts, ask the challenging questions, and share their journey.[00:03:48] They discuss the key themes the podcast will explore, including rewilding, sustainability, and biodiversity. They address some of the debates in the field of rewilding, the impact of biodiversity loss, and the importance of understanding these concepts on a wider scale.[00:05:10] They delve into their plans for sustainability for their family, including hoped for ventures into horticulture and ecotourism. They also discuss the necessity of the financial feasibility of their projects.[00:06:39] Tom shares a military analogy to explain their approach to creating influence and driving change with the Grange Project.[00:07:49] Tom and Chloe encourage listeners to engage with their Facebook group and page - The Grange Project, and invite ideas for future guests and topics via their website, www.grangeproject.co.uk.[00:08:39] They wrap up the episode, excited for the journey ahead and the learnings they'll be sharing with their listeners.Join Tom, Chloe, and a selection of expert guests as they delve into the fascinating worlds of rewilding, sustainability, and biodiversity.

Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to discuss the latest news and events from around the racing world. They consider the likelihood of Frankie Dettori missing another high profile fixture as his name is set to appear on this week's list of bans after his ride on Inspiral at Ascot. They also discuss the loss of a number of horses from George Boughey's yard after the disappointment of Asadna last week. Tom Marquand joins the show to reflect on his "ride of the week", donating his £500 to the British Heart Foundation, while we hear from Jessie Harrington, who talks to Dave Keena about Sprewell's Irish Derby chances, and Monmouthshire trainer Deborah Faulkner talks of her excitement at having a leading Northumberland Plate hopeful. HH Aga Khan Studs' Georges Rimaud is this week's Weatherbys Bloodstock Guest, talking Tahiyra, Erevann, the success of Siyouni, Sea the Stars and Zarak.

Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to discuss the latest news and events from around the racing world. They consider the likelihood of Frankie Dettori missing another high profile fixture as his name is set to appear on this week's list of bans after his ride on Inspiral at Ascot. They also discuss the loss of a number of horses from George Boughey's yard after the disappointment of Asadna last week. Tom Marquand joins the show to reflect on his "ride of the week", donating his £500 to the British Heart Foundation, while we hear from Jessie Harrington, who talks to Dave Keena about Sprewell's Irish Derby chances, and Monmouthshire trainer Deborah Faulkner talks of her excitement at having a leading Northumberland Plate hopeful. HH Aga Khan Studs' Georges Rimaud is this week's Weatherbys Bloodstock Guest, talking Tahiyra, Erevann, the success of Siyouni, Sea the Stars and Zarak.

Alex Pelosi-Buchanan, Sales Manager at award-winning estate agency Archer & Co, specialises in selling property throughout Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire. Iain invited Alex onto the podcast this week to get to know the man behind the property tours and market update videos and to understand the Welsh property market compared with 'across the water'. We finish up by asking Alex how his team justify an average fee of 1.5% by proving the value of their service.

Today we're heading to Monmouthshire in south Wales to meet Dan Smith who is Farm Manager at Jamie's Farm in Monmouth. Jamie's Farm have a four-winged approach – farming, family, therapy and legacy and they have 6 farms across England and Wales on to which they invite these young people to stay on the farm with the team for five days. Dan himself grew up on various farms across England and Wales as his father was a farm manager. Before joining Jamie's Farm he ran a business in the Cotswolds specialising in farm maintenance, conservation management and farming cover. He has a passion for sharing his experience and helping others to appreciate the countryside. About BenBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.  Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here A-Plan Rural InsuranceThis episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.  Show ReferencesImage credit: Jamie's Farm Timestamps00:27 Ben introduces the show.1:50 Dan comes in.2:06 Dan tells Ben about Monmouthshire.3:55 What is Jamie's Farm, what does it stand for and what does it do?7:18 How did Jamie's Farm start and who is Jamie? 9:07 How did Dan first get involved with the charity?10:15 Covid, cost of living and the 'demand' for the service.12:33 Dan's day to day is varied.15:02 Sponsor message about A Plan Rural Insurance.15:48 Do the young people who come to the farm want to be there and do they experience a shift in their thinking?18:45 Eating together. The importance of the table. 19:50 What has Dan learnt? 20:20 Farming industry not that open minded culturally. 21:53 Rural urban divide - most people don't mix in both worlds - what is Dan's perspective? He believe the void between the two is huge. 24:20 The farming industry is coming under a lot of attack in terms of environmental impact. 25:25 The disconnect between where food comes from and what people are prepared to eat. 26:05 What are the kids eating normally?28:10 The perception of where food comes from. 28:52 Buying local food post covid. 29:42 Dan's journey to getting to this point. Life growing up. 34:15 The love for the 'romantic' side of farming. 35:36 Getting into agriculture without going down the further education route - creating structure. 38:05 Building networks. 38:27 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural. 38:51 Challenges in the wider industry. Especially the challenge of mindset and not being prepared to be challenged. 42:20 Dan's message for the public.43:03 Dan's message to farmers.43:25 Promo of how to follow Jamie's Farm.45:16 Ben rounds up the episode. 

Liz Zorab is author of the bestselling 'Grounded – A Gardener's Journey to Abundance and Self-Sufficiency'. She spent more than 20 years working with specialist housing charities and in community development, with an emphasis on innovative volunteering practices. An award-winning gardener, she gained an RHS Silver Medal for a community-led garden featured on BBC's 'Gardeners World Live' in 2002. A health crisis led Liz to turn to her life-long passion for gardening and growing food as a career. Liz spent several years transforming her 0.8 acre plot in Monmouthshire into an abundant smallholding. She is now regenerating a tired and over-grazed 4.5 acre site using permaculture practices. On less than an acre, she grows most of the food and drink her family enjoy each year, giving them food security, resilience and increased self-reliance. She enjoys spending time with Mr J (her husband) and her family, watching rugby and creative handicrafts, and has a distinct dislike of housework. Liz regularly writes for Permaculture Magazine, teaches gardening and self-sufficiency skills and encourages thousands of people to take up their trowels and live their dreams through a vibrant YouTube Channel, Liz Zorab – Byther Farm. If you want to dig deeper into the processes of growing your own organic food, self-sufficiency practitioner, Liz Zorab, offers insights to the rhythm and patterns of her gardening year. In this personal gardening journey, she explores seasonal harvests and how the vegetable garden sits within the wider context of the gardening landscape – including weather, microclimates, water cycles, light levels, seasons and the gardener's personal tastes and preferences. Liz's salt of the earth approach to life and to the garden and her gentle humour makes The Seasoned Gardener an easily digestible read. She provides hundreds of practical tips, including how-to guides, observations and inspiration for both the beginner and practiced gardener alike. Unlike many gardening books that run from January to December, this book starts in the autumn when harvesting is at its peak. Most of the fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers highlighted in this book are grouped according to when we enjoy them most – at the point of harvest. The Seasoned Gardener will show you how to: Enjoy the abundance of each month of the year Decide which plants are best to grow in your garden Find pleasure in your growing space year-round Avoid the pitfalls of doing too much at once Be creative with your garden resources Make the most of your time and energy Celebrate nature's productivity as much as your own. This is a journey of experiment and learning that will inspire you to grow tastier food and savour the experience.

ABOUT THE SHOWWelcome to Leaders in Conversation with me, Anni Townend. The podcast that helps you to grow your confidence and courage as a leader.I created this series of candid conversations for leaders to share their inspirational leadership stories, weaving together the threads of their life, offering valuable insights and rich experience to help and inspire you on your own unique leadership journey.In each episode leaders share their personal life and leadership stories to encourage you to delve in what you really care about – your values and beliefs, your purpose and passions and how to live these through your leadership every day, in all that you do. If you are not already subscribed to the podcast please do subscribe, review and share it! To listen to more episodes go to my website www.annitownend.comABOUT THIS EPISODEIn this episode Wilma and I delve into and weave together:How making change always starts on the inside of ourselvesWhat it means to discover and lead from who we are, not from who we think we should be The value of being present and avoiding the zip wire of time Understanding the deep impact of spending time alone Why now, more than ever, there is a need for a leadership renaissance Wilma's three top tips for leaders looking to lead differently 1. Make time to spend time alone and notice how this shifts your thinking and feeling2 Find your ways of nourishing and replenishing yourself, and your purpose not only for your leadership but for those around you3 Look within, change starts on the inside of ourselves.ABOUT WILMAWilma is a Growth and Development mentor to leaders and emerging leaders in the pursuit of something extraordinary, including People who are part of leading climate change solutions.  She has a very special cottage in the heart of the Black Mountains in Monmouthshire where she invites clients to spend time alone.  Here she uses the space and silence at the to allow the extraordinary to emerge.ABOUT BEING AT THE COTTAGEBeing at The Cottage offers a range of experiences with scope.  When leaders are in the pursuit of something extraordinary, it will have a positive impact for others.  It is something that will steer other people and the planet, as well as themselves, towards a better future.Clients can come and stay from 24 hours up to 7 nights at the cottage, which is tech free, and they are fully catered for with delicious food.Spending time alone at the cottage will give clients a profound experience of what it is to be present and in time.It's important that the experience of being at the cottage is supported afterwards, so work continues together long after the client has left.To find out more about Wilma and Being at The Cottage do visit her website www.beingatthecottage.com/experiences and follow her on LinkedIn where she regularly posts or email hello@beingatthecottage.com

This week on the Driven Chat Podcast, John Marcar re-visits Baffle Haus and LOWE Classics to sit down with Leon Oli Window, who first appeared on the podcast in October 2020. It's been just over two years since our original episode was recorded, and Oli shares his progress with both of his brands, celebrating the UK car culture that he's undoubtedly helped progress from his small but impactful premises in Monmouthshire, Wales.Oli also offers a personal insight into the brutal truths and lessons he's learned whilst balancing his work and personal life, moving on from one highly successful security company to growing his new businesses and brands.To learn more about Oli - give him a follow via @LeonOliWindow, also check out Baffle Haus via: @BaffleHaus and @LoweClassicsThe Driven Chat podcast is brought to you by Paramex Digital. It is available to stream on all the usual podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Audible and more. For more information on Driven Chat, visit www.drivenchat.comContact the show via email: podcast@drivenchat.comGet involved;WATCH >> Driven Chat on YouTubeFOLLOW >> Driven Chat on InstagramDISCUSS >> Driven Chat on FacebookONLINE >> DrivenChat.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ralph Montague is a longevity coach from Monmouthshire, Great Britain. He focuses on sleep and energy mastery. His passion for longevity evolved from working within the anti-aging industry for over twenty years. His first book within the STOP!! Series, is aptly named STOP!! Killing yourself – The Beginners Guide to Living Longer by Removing and Improving, encouraging readers to maximize their longevity with easy-to-follow guidance, checklists, and prompts is out now! Ralph also has just finished his next project; Sleep Mastery courses, helping individuals and companies achieve rested and rejuvenating sleep habits. He plans to have a series of books dedicated to longevity, sleep, and energy with simplistic, no-nonsense advice, for minimal fuss and maximum results.

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by Professor Laura McAllister of the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University to comb through the small print of the agreement struck by Labour and Plaid Cymru to increase the size of the Senedd to 96 members in time for the next Welsh general election in 2026. BBC Wales Parliamentary correspondent Elliw Gwawr works through what was included - and also what wasn't - in the Queen's Speech. And with the dust still settling on last week's council elections - which saw the Welsh Conservatives lose almost 44 per cent of their councillors and control of the one council they led - Fliss and James are joined by the former leader of that authority, Monmouthshire county councillor Richard John, to reflect on what went wrong for his party.

Senator Matt Canavan (pictured) has declared LNP's net-zero by 2050 target as "dead". Subsequently, some of his National Party compatriots have told him to "pull his head in". You can read about that in this story - "Net-zero ‘dead': Nationals force climate war eruption in Coalition" and hear his National Party counterpart, Michelle Landry, telling him the pull his head in - "Matt Canavan told to 'pull his head in' by government colleagues over net-zero by 2050 comments". Other Quick Climate Links for today are: "Council election 2022: Liberal Democrats in Monmouthshire"; "Replacing NSW coal plant with renewables would create thousands more jobs than gas, report says"; "Will the Biden administration let one company kill US solar?"; "Thousand a day displaced by climate change, but they aren't protected like refugees: Expert"; "1.5 vs 2C: What difference can a lousy half a degree of global warming make?"; "AusNet proposes first industry led, 10GW renewable zone in Victoria"; "New survey finds most Australians want climate action from government, and are likely to vote for it"; "‘Last meaningful opportunity': Federal election firing up young climate activists"; "Matt Canavan declares net zero by 2050 is ‘all over bar the shouting' after PM tries to quell divisions"; "Election 2022: Government's commitment to 2050 climate change target questioned"; "Too many new coal-fired plants planned for 1.5C climate goal, report concludes"; "Australia has little credibility left in the Pacific"; "Estimating Volume Changes for Floodplain Harvesting in New South Wales, Australia"; "Energy Crises in the Time of Covid: Precarious Fossil Infrastructures"; "Scott Morrison is setting up another fake fight on a carbon ‘tax'"; "Victoria's solar rebate expansion will help wean state off gas, say experts"; "Nature-based solutions, and how countries like Singapore and The Netherlands are using them to fight floods"; "Here's one way to burn less fossil fuel – use human energy to heat buildings instead"; "Climate divisions reopen as Coalition Senator says net-zero commitment ‘all over'"; "4 ways we can change our behaviour to adapt to the climate crisis"; "A year of hunger: how the Russia-Ukraine war is worsening climate-linked food shortages"; "What next? The world is at a crossroad"; "Eggheads want European producers to manage their e-waste universally"; "Ukraine Live Updates: War's Effects Widen as Russia Vows More Reprisals"; "Grounded, and loving it. Can giving up air travel bring joy?"; "Farming push to delay eco-friendly subsidies risks net-zero target – report"; "Labor edges closer to Coalition on coal in bid to woo Hunter Valley, Queensland voters"; "California's Terranova Ranch is getting ready for large electric farm equipment"; "How Biden Can Help the Climate on Earth Day—Without Congress"; "Climate change is upping hurricane rainfall totals"; "Rural electric co-ops face barriers to going renewable"; "Coalition climate policy forced big polluters to pay $15m for carbon credits in past year"; "Ratings agency says Morrison climate policies “obscure, unclear and confusing”: "One in five reptile species globally are under the threat of extinction"; "Reaching the Paris Agreement without protecting Indigenous lands is “impossible”, says report"; "Labor's climate plan would have ‘little financial impact' on coal: Grattan"; "Coalition climate policy forced big polluters to pay $15m for carbon credits in past year"; "Now it's the Coalition's turn to walk both sides of the street on climate"; "What is Labor's Safeguard Mechanism plan? Is it a ‘sneaky carbon tax' or a sensible way to cut emissions?"; "Russia cuts gas to Poland and Bulgaria as West mounts new arms push"; "Hunter $182m 'super hydrogen hub' unveiled"; "Business waiting for detail on Labor climate plan"; "There's No Scenario in Which 2050 Is ‘Normal'"; "Scott Morrison's carbon tax attack fizzles in net-zero world"; "Amid net-zero infighting, Australia is on track for the world's biggest increase in cyclone victims"; "View from The Hill: Warring within Coalition over 2050 target brings some gold dust for ‘teals'"; "Net zero by 2050 will hit a major timing problem technology can't solve. We need to talk about cutting consumption"; "A crash course in Doug Ford's love-hate relationship with electric vehicles"; "In Ontario's York Region, council just voted to allow development on 1,400 acres of Greenbelt farmland". Enjoy "Music for a Warming World". Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

Continuing our series looking at local government across the country ahead of May's elections, we speak with Richard John, the leader of Monmouthshire County Council about his experience of leading one of the most distinct local authorities in Wales. We touch on the Shared Prosperity Fund, devolution within Wales and why Monmouthshire is the only local authority in the country to own and run a Post Office. You can find Richard on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/RichardJohnRJ You can also find out the latest from Hiraeth here: https://twitter.com/HiraethPod If you are enjoying the podcast, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast app of choice.

This week's Driven Chat Podcast has a two-wheeled theme as John Marcar, and Amy Shore record from the motorcycle meet up location, Baffle Hause in Monmouthshire, Wales.Our guests this week are brand founders Andrew Salter and Sam Daymond, who created Baffle Culture as a social media profile whilst at university together. Later, thanks to the community around the subject matter, Baffle Culture achieved a physical presence as Baffle Haus. Andy and Sam share their story of how the brand began and how it evolved into premises. We also hear how the two may have ended up running a very different business altogether!Baffle Haus is a coffee shop, a motorcycle apparel retailer, and an event space for riders, drivers, and anyone who wants to experience the culture of sharing the ride.Find the episode in the usual podcast places and see the entire back catalogue at drivenchat.comGet in touch with the show via email - podcast@drivenchat.com or slip into our DM's on your preferred social feed, and don't forget to check out our youtube channel via YouTube.com/DrivenChat, so see some premium visual car content!The Driven Chat podcast is brought to you by Paramex Digital - for more information on Driven Chat, visit www.drivenchat.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Imagine stepping away from a comfortable and stable job and starting up a specialist classic car dealership, just as a global pandemic is unfolding.This week on The Driven Chat Podcast, John Marcar talks to Harvey Window, one of the directors of Lowe Classics based out of Baffle Haus in Monmouthshire. Lowe Classics offer attainable classic cars with examples ranging from everyday favourites like Mini's and MG through to the weird and wonderful like a 1971 Dastun 240z Irmscher racing car. These guys specialise in 'the special'.In this conversation, John talks to Harvey about his career, some of the highlight cars he's sold so far, and some solid classic car conversation and passion with some tips and ideas for anyone aspiring to jump into the world of classic car ownership.Find the episode in the usual podcast places and see the entire back catalogue at drivenchat.comGet in touch with the show via email - podcast@drivenchat.com or slip into our DM's on your preferred social feed, and don't forget to check out our youtube channel via YouTube.com/DrivenChat, so see some premium visual car content!The Driven Chat podcast is brought to you by Paramex Digital - for more information on Driven Chat, visit www.drivenchat.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Setting out to give voice to forgotten lowland landscapes of Monmouthshire overlooked by visitors, plodcast host Fergus instead get lost as the little-used footpaths have disappeared or been blocked. With ravens and skylarks for company, he finds that the countryside can sometimes be a frustrating place to explore on foot. Back in the studio, we meet Jack Cornish, Head of Paths for the Ramblers, to discuss what can be done when footpaths go missing… See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ravens call over the stark winter landscape of farmland in deeply rural Monmouthshire. Robins sing and, from a distant barn, cattle low. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are. Recorded by Fergus Collins and presented by Hannah Tribe. Photo from Getty Images. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hello babies! Thank you for listening to our podcast, which is technically STEAM education. On today's episode, Lisa sits next to a rude passenger on a flight, and Emily's dog Alan is doing better. On Chunch Chat, we judge Martha's recent exploits. On Wiki of the Week, we read the Wikipedia page for "Vulcana," an early fitness influencer. Miriam Kate Williams (6 May 1874 – 8 August 1946) sometimes called Kate Roberts and better known by her stage name Vulcana, was a Welsh strongwoman born of Irish parents in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.

Cop 26 is over, but what will be the impact in our countryside? We speak to the Welsh minister for climate change, Julie James. Stump up for Trees encourage farmers to think of carbon offset as a crop which they can sell, by planting trees on land that isn't suitable for producing food. We hear about a Monmouthshire farmer's "lockdown project" making connections through a shared sense of farm history. Our amateur astronomer, Katrin Raynor-Evans is looking forward to the Christmas Comet and can the green-fingered of Glamorgan, germinate 30 year old seeds, to bring back the the very rare, Shore Dock?

Hello and welcome to the 64th episode with the return of DJ Chappers.This week's show is all about the music of Rockfield Studios, which is a recording studio just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales. so I'm going to be talking about the history of Rockfield, why it is so special and which massive artists recorded there.In 1963 brothers Kingsley and Charles Ward converted an existing farmhouse into a recording studio by investing in an 8-track tape deck and sound proofed it. Then in 1965, they became the world's first residential studio, set up so that bands could come and stay in the peaceful rural surroundings to record. They have two studios, which are both set up for digital and analogue recordings.The show is going to be very studded to say the least so you can expect to hear some cracking tracks from the likes of Ace, Queen, The Cult, The Icicle Works, Oasis and Coldplay. So please enjoy your journey back through the history of music!

As part of the Great Big Green Week, the campaigners travelling around Wales to highlight climate and nature emergencies. A momentous day as thousands of Marsh Fritillary caterpillars are put back in the landscape of Llantrisant Common. We hear how the Usk County Agricultural Show was the only one in Wales, this year, to open to the public. Fermenting pickle in Monmouthshire to help prevent food waste. And Nevern Castle in Pembrokeshire undergoes a renaissance.

Situated in the beautiful rolling countryside of Monmouthshire near the village of Llanvetherine lies White Castle Vineyard – the home of Robb and Nicola Merchant. Having diversified some 12 years ago, they have turned their dream into a thriving business. They are now producing some of the finest wine in the world having recently been awarded a Gold Medal in the Decanter World Wine Awards – the first Welsh wine to do so! In this episode, Robb tells us how it all started and how others can get involved in the growing Welsh wine industry.

Alpaca perhaps rather curious creatures but they're rapidly gaining popularity across Wales. But why keep them? This week Pauline Smith explores the potential of these South American animals as farm livestock; a tourist attraction or simply to keep as a companion pet. At Aberystwyth University's Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre in the Cambrian Mountains there's a herd of 8 alpaca. Scientists are studying to discover their suitability to life here in Wales and how they could provide new opportunities for hill farmers. Meanwhile at Usk Valley Alpaca in Monmouthshire they've been breeding and selling these animals for livestock and pet animals for more than a decade and are planning to double their 93 strong herd. They also run a tourism business with the Alpaca at their "Cute Farm Experience" and whatever their commercial value, Alpaca are also increasingly being used as a "therapy animal". Students have reportedly "flourished" after four alpacas were introduced at Headlands school in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Passionate about plants, birds and all other wildlife from an early age, Dr Stephanie Tyler, has spent a life time dedicated to the environment and conserving the natural world around her home in the Wye Valley and beyond. Ornithologist, zoologist, naturalist, conservationist, and author Dr Tyler is particularly known for her work on Dippers and the conservation of river habitats. For more than forty years, she has been studying this aquatic songbird on rivers in Monmouthshire and in the Black Mountains. This spring is no exception, as Pauline Smith joins her to see how they're fairing and to learn more about Dr Tyler who, earlier this year, was awarded the MBE for services to nature conservation in the UK and Africa.

Monmouthshire based former Kruger magazine co-founder, Silver Circle Gin Distillery and Dark Arts of Digital magic maker Joe Howden joins Mike & Ceri to get his take on tracks 17 - 24 of their mix-tape baby.   Featured Artists: Sister Nancy Musical Youth The Specials Charles & Eddie Isaac Hayes Pantera SebastiAn Radiohead - - - - - Playlist? YEAH https://open.spotify.com/playlist/26rUZT3LrYuQ1TnKDNbMjW?si=TiySQAxSRVyYvUX27aglNA   EP003 https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4XUYDdkTZYOrZGVPZfRxIz?si=qn6Vl-3kR9iKFStkpP5i1w - - - - - Silver Circle Distillery https://silvercircledistillery.com/ Dark Arts of Digital https://www.darkartsofdigital.com/ Playlist? YEAH artwork by Ryan Hunt https://www.etsy.com/uk/people/Rytimk --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/playlistyeah/message

Campaigners call for action to limit the amount of goods being imported into Wales, linked to deforestation. Closer to home, we hear how churches are doing their bit to help the environment. We ask what's the future for agricultural shows and speak to the organisers of Barley Saturday, an annual spectacle held in Cardigan but cancelled this year. Finally - access to the countryside, a volunteer with the Ramblers' Rights of Way Project takes us on a walk, mapping the paths around his home in Monmouthshire.

The Monmouthshire Golf Club in South Wales has taken on two young and exciting key team members since the turn of the year, replacing two very long standing team members.Mark Simmons has taken on the role of Course Manager with Steve Williams having taken on the Head Professional's position.Most interesting in this story however is that both have been working really hard since their arrival - but are yet to meet their members due to the COVID-19 Lockdown!Both are prolific Twitter users in communicating to their members what they have been doing on a daily basis:Mark: @MarkSim93794378Steve: @Swanseacity1 

Welcome to the second Sound Escape from BBC Countryfile Magazine, a short meditative journey into the countryside right now to immerse yourself in the sounds of nature. In this episode, we take an icy dawn walk along the frozen Mon-Brec canal in Monmouthshire to hear song thrushes, siskins, tits, a great spotted woodpecker and even a brief burst of treecreeper. Plus, we meet the first of this year's lambs. Presented by Hannah Tribe See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Joining me is Sal Preston, a pioneer who set up Monmouthshire's first outdoor nursery in 2019. The thing that I find about people who set up projects like this on their own, is the sheer amount of determination and passion it takes. It may have been a tough first year, but there is also so much potential growth to come in today's new outdoor-focused world! I want to find out how today's guest went from teaching in mainstream primary schools to operating her own outdoor nursery.SERIES 1: The Road That Led Us Here. In this first series for the Nature Nurtures Podcast, we interview pioneers in education about how they built their businesses, and the journey that brought practitioner to their role in working with children. Join us as we speak with people all over the UK, USA and New Zealand.Gain early access and exclusive content at https://thecabin.naturenurtures.co.uk/membership

After the heavy rain and floods of mid January, we head out on a cold, clear morning into the waterlogged woods and farmland along the River Usk in Monmouthshire to discover how the landscape has changed and how the wildlife and livestock are coping. Listen on for an evocative walk in the countryside accompanied by the very first stirrings of spring. Plus don't miss the Podcast Postbag and two wonderful sounds of the week sent in by listeners. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Harold Jones (11 January 1906 – 2 January 1971) was a child murderer who committed the murder of two preadolescent girls in Monmouthshire, Wales in 1921 when he was 15. Jones was acquitted of the murder of his first victim, 8-year-old Freda Burnell, at Monmouthshire Assizes on 21 June 1921. Just 17 days later, he murdered an 11-year-old neighbour named Florence Little. Jones pleaded guilty to Little's murder and also confessed to having murdered Freda Burnell at his second trial. Owing to his being under 16 at the time he committed the murders, Jones escaped capital punishment for his crimes; instead being sentenced to be detained at His Majesty's pleasure on 1 November 1921.[4] Jones was released from prison in 1941, later marrying and fathering a child. He died of bone cancer in 1971 at the age of 64.

William Henry Davies, (born July 3, 1871, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales—died Sept. 26, 1940, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, Eng.), English poet whose lyrics have a force and simplicity uncharacteristic of the poetry of most of his Georgian contemporaries. --Bio via Britannica.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

William Ayot has worked in personal development and organizational settings, using poetry and the arts to teach worldwide. He speaks about his emotional state at the age of 30, being clinically depressed, not finding any joy in relationships, and he then “fell into a hole.” William was able to climb out of his hole by doing ritual work and discovering the world of personal development. Working with groups of Shamans who used rituals in a very particular way. “I was fascinated, and this began to help me in my personal process.” After completing a ritual for the atonement of the feminine, William met a woman whom he fell in love with and is still in a relationship with to this day, over two decades later. He then realized that ritual work was also applicable to people in relationships. From here, he found himself working for individuals and groups, teaching them the process and value of ritual. When working with couples, William will design and create a ritual for the couple to practice. This helps to know people’s spirituality, what they need when interfacing with each other, and the sacred world. He strives to meet people where they are most present and connected in their lives and the world. At this point, he creates rituals that initiate change. Listen in to find out why rituals are a way of creating an image to send a message to the soul, how rituals are a critical part of our intention-setting and co-creating and why rituals can tie up loose ends with our sense of lack in the current environment. (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear explanations, stories, and examples.)   Bio:  William Ayot is an award-winning poet, author, teacher and ritualist. Over three decades, he has worked in personal development and organizational settings, using poetry and the arts to teach around the world. William creates rituals for individuals and groups in his purpose-built ritual garden in Monmouthshire, Wales. He has published four collections of poetry, a prose book on ritual, and is currently writing a book for and about men in a time of epochal change. In this episode, William and Dr. Jessica Higgins discuss:  How to co-create rewarding, lasting relationships How rituals can be transformative for both individuals and couples Knowing a person’s spirituality before creating or prescribing a ritual for them is important How rituals are a way of creating an image to send a message to the soul “The soul doesn’t deal in data or numbers. It deals in pictures and images.” William Ayot Why we are cutting off from a deep and profound part of ourselves by disregarding ritual in our life Why we are giving our partner a gift when we use ritual in our lives What William encourages us to do to feel more connected in the world How to conduct rituals safely with the intended best effect The five basic stages of a ritual and the importance of closing the ritual down before leaving  Why ritual is as important for men as it is for women “Rituals are a unique way for a human being to give a message to their psyche or their soul.” William Ayot Mentioned: Shifting Criticism into Connected Communication – Free Guide Re Enchanting the Forest: Meaningful Ritual in a Secular World   Connect with William Ayot   Visit William on the web   Connect with Dr. Jessica Higgins:   Facebook: facebook.com/EmpoweredRelationship  Instagram: instagram.com/drjessicahiggins  Podcast: drjessicahiggins.com/podcasts  Pinterest: pinterest.com/EmpowerRelation  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjessicahiggins  Twitter: @DrJessHiggins  Website: drjessicahiggins.com   Email: jessica@drjessicahiggins.com Get access to my new group coaching starting in January. Sign up today! If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the “Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins” button here.  Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship.  Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here.  Thank you!   If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Connected Couple Program or engaging in relationship coaching work with me.

Pubs, restaurants and cafes have been banned from selling alcohol in a bid to tackle a rise in coronavirus cases. We speak to the landlady of a rural pub in Flintshire and a chef in Monmouthshire. In search of Angel Sharks - a critically endangered species, yet one of the few places where they seem to be increasing is off the coast of Wales Woodlands for Water - improving the water quality, habitat connectivity and biodiversity within the Alun and Chwiler river catchments. Pied Flycatchers - a project to improve the habitat of this increasingly rare, small woodland bird, in the Amman Valley. Recycling - a fond farewell to Huw and Molly but not before they've packed up their belongings in an environmentally friendly way.

In this episode, Caroline talks to Jade Wakley, Deputy Headteacher at Pembroke Primary School in Monmouthshire. Jade explains her team's successful curriculum development journey, from implementing the Cornerstones projects to using the Maestro platform to design, deliver and manage a curriculum that meets the new Curriculum for Wales requirements. We also discuss how Pembroke community have been coping during the pandemic. This podcast offers lots of ‘on the ground' tips for primary leaders.  Notes And LinksHere is a list of links to some of the things we reference on the show. Curriculum for Wales online webinar – https://cornerstoneseducation.co.uk/events/ (Sign up) Curriculum for Wales overview – https://gov.wales/curriculum-wales-overview (Website) Pembroke Primary – https://www.pembrokeprimaryschool.co.uk/ (Website) Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/Cornerstonesedu (@Cornerstonesedu) https://cornerstoneseducation.co.uk/curriculum/cwricwlwm-maestro/ (Cwricwlwm Maestro – More information) https://cornerstoneseducation.co.uk/ (Cornerstones Education – Website)

Ben speaks to Monmouthshire farmer, lecturer, cider maker and NFU county chair, Kate Beavan, about her life and work as well as her tv appearances and her messages to the public and to farmers across the UK.

Nick Ramsay MS reviews the life of Welsh Conservative legend Peter Thorneycroft, another representative of Monmouthshire, and a man who made it to Cabinet three times: as Chancellor of the Exchequer, as the first ever Secretary of State for Defence, and as Margaret Thatcher's first Conservative Party Chairman.

In the final episode of series 6, we return to spring on the beautiful River Usk to celebrate the marvellous common toad – our cleverest amphibian. Follow Fergus Collins as he explores pools along the River Usk in the Brecon Beacons to meet hundreds of these warty wanderers as they gather to spawn. Plus, we explore some of the literary associations of the toad – from Shakespeare to Orwell. Find more about Britain's amphibians at the Countryfile Magazine website See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A decade of educating and talking about sheep farming on a family farm in Monmouthshire.

The National Beer Day Podcast, Listen as we sit down with our great landlord friend, Stuart Savidge from The hall inn, Monmouthshire, Tori Davies of Saracen Solutions, our own Alasdair Grant Mackenzie Hobbs and hosted by Ben Coates of Moogies Media We look at the industry as it is, where it is going as lockdown is due to be eased and how we all we celebrate National Beer Day which is celebrated in Britain on June 15th every year, so sit down and listen in. #nationalbeerday

This week Shelly and Bella talk to ghost investigator Phil Jones about his investigations in and around Monmouthshire. They also reveal a new show format for once a month and 3 new members of the Weird Wacky Wonderful Team.Show Notes:Ghost Watchers Inc.  www.ghostwatchersinc.co.ukRichard Lennie Show Notes: John Walson's sighting is on https://youtu.be/OOA7PefNImQUFOvni2012    The video is on  https://youtu.be/VdHcyXAAmf0( This video shows both the purple beam traveling faster than the speed of light and the Lightships next to Venus)Check out our website www.weirdwackywonderful.co.uk where you can listen to all of our past shows and learn about our guests, send us suggestions for other shows and even buy merchandise. Title music by Bill Blair check out his other work and contact him via his youtube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcPBGhzVOT2gbew_zBy5vzw Logo by Heidi from Angelbot3d check out her work and contact her at http://www.angelbot3d.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wwwpodcast)

Listen to delightful birdsong at the spring equinox. Fergus Collins wanders along a winding stream through a woodland in his homeland of Monmouthshire picking litter and identifying a variety of birds by their song. A lovely listen if you are currently unable to leave home and explore the countryside. For more information on how to bring the countryside to your home and garden, visit our website countryfile.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Storm Dennis hammered Britain Sunday, bringing a month's worth of rain in just 48 hours to parts of South Wales, which bore the brunt of the country's second severe storm inside a week.Rivers across Britain burst their banks and a number of severe flood warnings remained in place as authorities strove to get people to safety and to protect homes and businesses. The Met Office, Britain's meteorological service. said the disruption is set to carry through into Monday.Major incidents have been declared in a number of areas in England and Wales as authorities mobilized resources to deal with the impact of the overflowing rivers that have cut off some communities.A man in his 60s died after falling into the River Tawe in South Wales mid-morning and his body was found further along the river, Dyfed-Powys Police said on social media. Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious or being linked to the bad weather.On Saturday, Storm Dennis was blamed for the deaths of two men who were pulled from the sea in separate searches off England's southeastern coast.Dennis has been so intense that England posted a record number of flood warnings and alerts and a rare "red warning" for extremely life-threatening flooding was announced for South Wales.The Met Office, Britain's meteorological service, only issues its highest red warning when it thinks the weather will be so dangerous there's a "risk to life" and that people must take immediate action to protect themselves. It was the first time a red warning has been sounded since December 2015.Though the warning only lasted a few hours, South Wales Police declared a major incident as firefighters and rescue crews continued to help communities following multiple floods, landslides and evacuations. Nearby Gwent Police said residents of Skenfrith, Monmouthshire, were being advised to evacuate due to the flooding.The Met Office said the highest wind gust recorded was 91 mph (146 kph) at Aberdaron in north Wales on Saturday. It also said a total of 157.6 mm (6.1 inches) of rain fell at Crai Reservoir in the Welsh county of Powys over 48 hours to Sunday morning. One of the worst-hit areas in South Wales was the village of Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Taff, near Cardiff, which saw entire streets left underwater since the early hours of Sunday morning.As the wet and windy weather started to clear across parts of the south and headed north and eastwards, the number of flood warnings across the U.K. declined but there were still around 360 of them in place Sunday, from the north of Scotland through to Cornwall in southwest England.John Curtin, the executive director of flood and coastal risk management at the Environment Agency, said in a tweet that at one point during the day, England had the most flood warnings and lower-level alerts in force — 594 — than on any other day on record.The local authority in Herefordshire, an English county that borders central Wales, declared a "major incident" amid widespread flooding and said it was focusing on making sure "vulnerable residents are evacuated." West Mercia Police, also declared a "major incident" for Shropshire, another county in central England that borders Wales.Flood warnings could remain in place for a while since much of Britain is still saturated from last week's Storm Ciara, which left eight people dead across Europe.Curtin from the Environment Agency said in a tweet that the "high but not exceptional" rainfall figures of the past 24 hours shows how the legacy of Storm Ciara has "driven the widespread significant flooding we're seeing."Army personnel have been seconded to assist people in areas of West Yorkshire that were badly hit by flooding during last weekend's Storm Ciara.The British Red Cross said that with water levels expected to peak on Monday or Tuesday it was ready to respond across the country."British Red Cross have been liaising with relevant local authorities, offering to support people affected by Stor...

In this week’s Podcast, we spoke a variety of business leaders across Wales including: Economy Minister, Ken Skates AM, spoke to us about Welsh Government funding of 650k for a new Software Development Hub in the Welsh capital. Walter May from Global Welsh tells us about a new investment portal enabling Welsh Diaspora to invest in Wales based businesses. Colin Lea of Transport for Wales talks to us about the  £7 million investment to upgrade and maintain station ticket machines. Monmouthshire based Estuary Oils, have the opportunity to win of £100 million in contracts thanks to Sell2Wales. Ashley Smith from Estuary Oils spoke to us about the opportunity. Brains Brewery have recently moved to their new site and have released a special beer to celebrate the move. Head Brewer Bill Dobson explains all. Ashley Rogers from the Growth Track 360 Campaign speaks to us about the campaign and their plans for the North Wales Rail Network. Ben Samson tells us why Swansea University has become the first organisation in Wales to achieve Gold standard for its work in promoting the benefits of cycling to staff. Dean Jeffery of Tourism Swansea Bay covers a new joint initiative with BayTrans, to promote Swansea bay as a leading tourist destination.

Staff picking up enquiries handed off from Monty, the Monmouthshire Council website chatbot, have needed training to ensure they put aside council speak and adopt the simple, text-friendly language these machines have learned to use. This was one of many interesting nuggets of information to emerge from the discussion stimulated by Monmouthshire's decision to open up a new customer service channel that allows customers to submit queries into the council website as text and receive automated answers rather than having to use navigation or search to get there. Some users clearly don't realise they are ‘talking' to a machine. Many of the issues raised whenever ‘bots' are discussed arise in this conversation: the threat to jobs, the benefits of freeing staff from answering questions like 'when's my bin day?' to handle more important and complex enquiries, instances when users prefer the anonymity of speaking to a machine, and the return on investment in this technology. Our panel agree that text and voice-based interaction is moving ahead rapidly for all customer-facing organisations and public services are no exception. Integration with existing systems is the big challenge. This programme is part of the Free Thinking series produced by CLGdotTV in association with Paul Tonks founding director of Tailor Made Projects Limited

Part 2 of Adele Nozedar's wise and wonderful foraging walk in the Brecon Beacons in Monmouthshire. Learn the edible and medicinal uses of many common wayside flowers and other plants and listen to funny and curious tales from folklore. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Adele Nozedar shares wonderful stories and wisdom about edible wild plants while wondering through a Monmouthshire meadow.This is part one of a joyful two-part podcast with a wonderfully wise country woman – you'll learn a huge amount of folklore and the practical uses as food and medicine of many common plants. For more information, please visit https://www.countryfile.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

During this Botcast episode, we talk to Emma Jackson, Digital Programme Manager and Abigail Barton, Communications and Engagement Manager at Monmouthshire County Council. We Build Bots have been working with Monmouthshire County Council to develop their bilingual chatbot; Monty. Monmouthshire welcomed residents to ‘Love Digital' on Friday, 25th January – St Dwynwen's Day, the Welsh equivalent of Valentine's Day – with the launch of Monty which is available 24/7/365 on Monmouthshire's website – monmouthshire.gov.uk – and via its Facebook messenger service – @MonmouthshireCC. Monty is the first local authority chatbot in Wales and is set to enhance Monmouthshire County Council's digital experience. During this episode, they share how they have approached their digital transformation strategy, the key challenges they face as a council and how Monty is helping to combat these challenges. We also talk about what challenges they foresee for councils over the coming years and how they think chatbot technology and AI will help with these challenges. Lastly, we ask them what advice they would give to Councils who are wary about chatbot adoption. If you're a council interested in learning more about how chatbot technology could help you save money, increase efficiencies and transform your customer service, book a demo ⇢ wbb.intelagent.ai/book-a-demo or email us at info@webuildbots.ai. As always, we love to hear what you're enjoying, what you're not and what you'd like to hear more of so please send your questions/ requests/ feedback to us via the Anchor.fm app directly or using #thebotcast on any of our social channels listed below. Twitter - @webuild_bots Instagram - @we_build_bots Facebook - @webuildbotsai Linkedin - @webuildbots

Sarah is a garden designer. She co-designed the gardens at London’s Olympic Park and has twice won gold medals at Chelsea. She was trained in fine art and there is a distinct, painterly quality to her work. For the TOAST Podcast the writer and broadcaster Laura Barton travelled to Sarah’s own walled garden in Monmouthshire – a beautiful, Victorian garden which she inherited from her grandmother – to discuss the garden’s past and present and how it shapes her creative vision. Our first podcast series, titled A Creative Practice, follows the writer and broadcaster Laura Barton as she journeys with six creative women to the places they find inspiring – from a walled garden in Wales to the rugged coastline of Northern Ireland.

Tonight I’m delighted to be once again staying in Wales and heading down to beautiful Monmouthshire to talk to farmer and director of the Food, Farming and Countryside commission, Sue Pritchard. Firstly we talk about her early life growing up in the Rhondda Valley, in a family shaped by Wales's industrial heritage, who were mainly miners and smallholders. We also go into how although she was adopted, farming and keeping animals really was in her blood, as she found out much later. We discuss the scholarship that she won to study at a prestigious international school, and the culture shock it meant, before going on to talk about student life in the early 1980's at Bristol University studying politics and social policy, and dyed pink hair and dungarees! We then go on to talk about her career, firstly in the NHS in training and development, and then as an independent consultant specialising in leadership and change. We also go into what makes a good leader.  We then talk about her move back to Wales, and the dream come true that was being able to buy a farm in Monmouthshire with her Parents and family. We discuss the changes they've made there, including working with the resources they have, and helping disaffected teenagers.  Lastly, we talk in detail about the Food, Faming and Countryside Commission, and the detailed report they're compiling, visiting people from all around the country to gather their views about what matters most to them for the future of rural communities.  It was a genuine pleasure to talk to Sue tonight, and learn more about her life and what she's doing.  Check it out folks..      Episode Sponsors: AFTP - Agrifood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 10% discount on selected courses us the word 'podcast' at check out! NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk   Podcast Partners: Farmer's Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com   

https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/log-fire/ Field recording made of a crackling log fire fire on New Year's Day while staying in a cabin at Kingstone Brewery in Monmouthshire 01/01/2018. The sound of the burning fire had a pleasing low-register rumble that added to the relaxing feeling of a warm fire in winter. Gear: Sony PCM-M10

Welcome to the 29th CONKERS’ CORNER. In this interview I have the privilege of speaking with award winning Investment Fund Manager @gervais_mam Gervais Williams. He is currently the Managing Director of Miton Group Plc, where he and the team monitor the market trend changes beyond the credit boom, and aim to set up funds with investment strategies harnessing forthcoming investment trends. Gervais grew up in Abergavenny in Monmouthshire; a county in South East Wales. As the son of a Farmer, he had always liked business but did not know how he was going to get into it. He attended the University of Liverpool where he attained an Engineering Degree and went onto become a Chartered Engineer. It was in 1985 that Gervais made the switch into the Investment industry, after successfully applying for a Trainee Fund Manager role at the Throgmorton Investment Trust. He started analysing small companies, did his industry exams and remained with the group for five years. Gervais first “dabbled a bit” in stocks and shares during the Thatcher revolution and the Conservative government’s de-nationalisation policy of utilities and services. He participated in some of the privatisations, however he admits that he has never really invested that much of his own personal account, preferring instead to invest in the funds he worked for. He states that when he started analysing small companies they were in fashion and were central to all portfolios His criteria then was to look for small companies which generated good earnings growth, with lowish PEs and limited downside risk. Gervais says that there were a lot of bankruptcies at that time and you had to be mindful of their accounting policy issues. Gervais became an Investment Manager in UK & Irish Small Cap Stocks at Thornton Investment Management (now part of Dresdner Bank) in July 1990. It was during this time that he worked with Peter Webb, managing the Thornton UK Smaller Companies Unit Trust. In March 1993 Gervais was appointed as a Fund Manager with Gartmore Asset Management. There he gained an extensive experience of investing in quoted stocks in the UK and Ireland, with a particular interest in companies with smaller market capitalisations. He headed up the UK Small Cap Desk for many years running portfolios such as UK & Irish Smaller Companies, Gartmore Growth plc, Gartmore Irish Growth Trust plc and Gartmore Fledgling Trust plc.During this period of success the team collected many investment awards. The humble Gervais once said that he joined Gartmore at “a fortuitous time as it coincided with a major shift in the markets after a prolonged period of recession”. He remained with Gartmore for nearly eighteen years. When Gervais decided to leave Gartmore he did so with the intention of looking at all the opportunities available to him before choosing to the best in join Miton Group in March 2011. To build up the assets under management and was able to offer investors opportunities to invest new strategies and funds. Since 2011 Miton have established four new funds that Gervais has managed along with Martin Turner, and taken on the mandate for The Investment Company plc. These funds have genuinely active investment strategies. The funds are: the Diverse Income Trust Investment Trust, the CF Miton UK Multi Cap Income OEIC, the CF Miton UK Smaller Companies OEIC and the Miton UK Microcap Trust. On a professional level Gervais has remained focused on small stocks throughout his career. So much so that his experience and passion for that niche led to him writing his book “The Future is Small” http://www.thefutureissmall.com/ explaining the unique characteristics of the UK’s AIM market for smaller, growing companies. When Gervais joined Miton they issued their Full Year results in April 2011 with Funds under Management of £1.7 Billion. Last month Miton http://www.mitongroup.com/ published their Interim results which showed they had £2.542 Billion in Assets under Management. Listen n...

Sheila Dillon and The Food Programme team go camping, to discover the possibilities of food and drink in the outdoors. Joining Sheila around a Monmouthshire campfire are BBC 6Music presenter Cerys Matthews, author of 'How to Eat Outside' Genevieve Taylor, forager and wild drinks teacher Andy Hamilton, Matthew De Abaitua - author of 'The Art of Camping: The History and Practice of Sleeping Under the Stars', and Josh Sutton - who has just written a book called 'Outdoor Ovens' and is also known as the Guyrope Gourmet. Produced by Rich Ward.

Living with the Tylwyth Teg British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881) Book 1 Chapter 6 by Wirt Sikes All about the wondrous music and dancing of the Welsh fairies, and the dangers of joining in with their dance. Sikes tells us the legend of Rhys and Llewellyn, the Bush from Heaven and the story of Twm and Iago in the Forrest of the Magic Yew. Running Order: Section 1 00:50 The Tale of Elidurus 2:05 Section 2 5:32 Shui Rhys and the Fairies 5:42 Section 3 8:15 St. Dogmell's Parish, Pembrokeshire 8:20 Section 4 10:06 Dancing with the Ellyllon 10:10 The Legend of Rhys and Llewellyn 10:50 Section 5 13:13 Death from joining in the Fairy Reel 13:18 Legend of the Bush of Heaven 14:45 Section 6 16:07 The Forest of the Magic Yew 16:13 The Tale of Twm and Iago 16:41 Section 7 19:12 Taffy ap Sion, a Legend of Pencader 19:16 The Traditions of Pant Shon Shenkin 24:40 Section 8 25:38 Tudur of Llangollen; the Legend of Nant yr Ellyllon 25:41 Section 9 30:45 Polly Williams and the Trefethin Elves 30:50 Section 10 32:25 The Fairies of Frennifawr 32:31 Section 11 36:47 Curiousity Tales 37:14 The Fiend Master 37:57 Section 12 41:35 Iago ap Dewi 41:40 Section 13 42:35 The Original of Rip van Winkle 42:46 Shui Rhys and the Tylwyth Teg   Names Used in this Section All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you. Elidurus Shui Rhys St. Dogmell's Parish, Pembrokeshire Ellyllon Rhys and llewellyn Twm and Iago Taffy ap Sion Pencader Pant Shon Shenkin Tudur of Llangollen Nant yr Ellyllon Polly Williams Trefethin Frennifawr Iago ap Dewi Rip van Winkle Giraldus Cambrensis Pembroke Castle Vale of Neath Udor udorum Halgein udorum Sir R. C. Hoare's Translation of Giraldus Cardiganshire Tylwyth Teg Cardigan Teir-nos Ysprydion fou Moelgrove Sir John Franklin Edmund William Rees, of Aberystruth Rhys and Llewellyn Carmarthenshire corelw Duw catto ni! Hai, holo! O dyn! Carnarvon Clynog Carnarvonshire Llwyn y Nef Cymru Fu Caio Craig-y-Ddinas Mathavarn Llanwrin Cantref of Cyfeillioc Ffridd yr Ywen Twm and lago gwr cyfarwydd - conjuror Duw! Duw! Pencader, Carmarthenshire Wbwb Plucked from the Fairy Circle Careg Hir Sion Evan y Crydd o Glanrhyd Catti Shon Pencader Sion Glanrhyd Evan Shenkin, Penferdir Dir anwyl fi! Pencarreg Dinas Bran Castle Nant yr Ellyllon Tudur ap Einion Gloff Nos da'ch' Ac i chwithau Fron Rev. T. R. Lloyd (Estyn), in 'The Principality.' Trefethin Ship Inn, at Pontypool, Monmouthshire ffollachau Pembrokeshire Frennifach tatws-a-llaeth Tipton W. Howells, Archdeacon Beynon Bluebeard, Psyche, Eros Taliesin, Gwion Bach Cerridwen Bunyan Llanllawddog, Carmarthenshire Llangwyly Grimm Catskills Hartz Mountains Washington Irving Joseph Jefferson Epimenides Dennys The Fatal Draught   British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.   Save Save Save Save Save

Mike Parker is the author of the best-selling Map Addict, an affectionate history of Ordnance Survey maps and the people who can’t get enough of their beautiful maps. He’s an accomplished guidebook writer, a former stand up comedian and has presented TV and radio programmes about Wales, his adopted homeland. In 2015 he stood for Parliament for Plaid Cymru, the party of Wales and has written a book, the Greasy Poll, about the experience. We go for a spin from Castle Meadows in Abergavenny, as it hosted the National Eisteddfod, a huge annual festival of Welsh language, culture, music and song. Continue reading →

Rob Lewis (James 3: 3-12) Visiting speaker www.abergavennybaptist.co.uk

Sunshine Radio launched across Herefordshire and Monmouthshire on 14th December 2007.

Find it hard to get up to listen to the dawn chorus? Then follow editor Fergus Collins on a three-hour walk listening to birdsong on the Blorenge Mountain in Monmouthshire. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Until the Civil War in the mid 17th century Wales was the most Catholic part of Britain. Mrs O’Keefe details the increasing severity of the laws against the practice of the Catholic religion in England and Wales from the time … Continue reading →

As the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal celebrates its 200th anniversary, Helen Mark takes a boat trip to find out about the canal's importance to the South Wales landscape. Helen is joined by David Morgan from British Waterways to find out more about the canal's history and Helen and David help local brewer, Buster Grant, to deliver his celebratory ales to local pubs in the way that they would have been delivered 200 years ago. Stopping off en route, Helen finds out more about the lime industry in the area from Nigel Gervis who still produces lime today which is used in maintenance work on the canal's locks and bridges. Helen also meets Ceri Cadwallader from the Blaenavon World Heritage Site to find out about the Forgotten Landscapes Project and the importance of the canal's industrial heritage and its place within the communities of Monmouthshire and Brecon today. And Helen jumps aboard a second boat with ecologist, Mark Robinson, to find out about the wildlife that now inhabits the banks of the canal. Finally, Helen and David join forces to roll out the barrel as Buster's beer arrives at its final destination. Presenter: Helen Mark Producer: Helen Chetwynd.

Author and poet Owen Sheers visits South Wales, the setting for his book Resistance, which was inspired by the tales he heard growing up of a secret rural army trained to hold off a potential German invasion during the second world war. Owen meets one of the last surviving members of the rural auxiliary unit and speaks to some of the people who had no idea that members of their family were highly trained to move silently through the surrounding countryside, ensuring it became a difficult and hostile environment for the German army to infiltrate. Finally Owen heads underground into one of the secret bunkers, where ammunition was hidden in the Monmouthshire countryside.

An afternoon with eminent Welsh historian and heritage officer of Blaenau Gwent, Frank Olding, who was a foundt of information, I try my hand at my school Welsh Again, This foundation happened after a serious battele wbetween the Welsh and the Anglo Saxons, when the Saxons wiped out the whole royal family of Powys, except Heledd, the Princess, who sickened of life, retired up the mountain to found a religious community in the sixth century with the servivors and remaining holy men. She is the author of Can Heledd, poetry written about the battle beginning the 'Hall of Cynddylan is lonely tonight' sung to an old Welsh Air. We discuss Arthur, recusancy in the area, the Cistercians and the reformation and we ring the bells! Post about the Monmouthshire links to Guernsey! And the  joke section is back!  

Ballet exams, Church swaps, The Pope's visit, lack of coverage on BBC EWTN, SQPN at Atlanta at the Catholic New Media Day and Eucharistic Congress,the breakdown of my microphone, Some cool feedback from Al Iguana about the martyrdom of Tyfdfil which gave Merthyr Tydfil its name. Homour and St Cadoc Part One. Lineage, Baptism by St Treddin of Trevethin monastery, brother of Samson of Dol and of St Tegfedd.Education at Caerwent under Tatheus or Tathwyn. Alll the St Cadoc Churches in Gwent and Monmouthshire.Miracles and the Missal of St Gildas. First pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem and St Brychan teaches him Latin at Brecon. He founds another monastic settlemant at Llangadog. Penychen and his encounter with the warrior Illtyd and his conversion by Cadoc. Finally Cadoc in Scotland! His miracles as he travels on pilgrimage to St Andrews and remains ther for seven years!

Sixth Century Gwent- South Wales having bee Christianised by very holy saints following the removal of the Romans is threatened by another people the superstitious and irreverent Angles and Saxons. Having done a deal with Ceowulf at Gloucester, they begin wandering down into South Wales and raiding for what they ould get. Pickings were poor on the whole but the Kings who had set up their daughters in religious foundations, or who had retired to live as religious having finished their childbearing of then had a few items around, living peaceably supporting the communities on the foothills of the Brecon Beacons and in the lovely valley North of Pontypool.No doubt they thought they were worth raiding, carrying off the young women. Tegfedd and Tydfil (mother of St Teilo) stood their ground, however, asking the Saxons to leave Holy Ground they were dragged off and suffered their fate. There is a song 'O Perfect Love' from www.music.podshow.com Homily of Benedict XVI on www.sqpn.com and some videos of his visit if you were not able to get EWTN streaming on your computer. Visit www.maryinmonmouth.blogspot.com for all sorts of newsof catholic life in Monmouthshire, including the opening of the new Lourdes Grotto at Tredegar to celebrate the Lourdes anniversary. Please remember to leave a review.........www,podcastalley,com, digg.com and iTunes store-it would help people to find this podcast. Finall please send me some Mail on the MaryinMonmouth Group on Facebook or on www.googlemail.com.