Latest news with #NationalTrustCymru
North Wales Live
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
6 places in North Wales to enjoy a ‘summer of play' with the whole family
The summer holidays are just around the corner, which means endless opportunities for fun, shared experiences with the whole family. And if you're looking for inspiration, you're in luck. There are a number of places across North Wales, cared for by National Trust Cymru, that have an incredible programme of activities and events coming up. Sponsored by Starling Bank, the Summer of Play events* will run throughout the summer holidays, and are the perfect chance to get outdoors, explore, and make special memories together. Read on for a glimpse at some of the places and activities you won't want to miss this summer… Chirk Castle and Garden, Wrexham This summer, go on a Big Play Adventure at Chirk Castle. Explore nature-inspired zones and unleash your creativity by designing your own obstacle course or building a den. Finish your adventure by climbing the straw bale lookout posts to admire your creative efforts from above. On selected weekends, you can even have a go at archery** and fencing. Erddig Hall and Garden, Wrexham Step back in time and experience the garden at Erddig through the playful eyes of Philip and Simon Yorke, the children who once called Erddig home. Dress up and take to the lawn to put on a performance before enjoying traditional garden games, including large dominoes, skittles, and badminton. Plus, don't miss Storytelling Wednesdays with Jake. Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey Take the perfect summer photo on the big green armchair at 1Plas Newydd's garden, before seeking out poetry pebbles to compose your own poem and competing in your very own sports day. Inside the house itself, dress up, spin, and dance in the music room. On Wednesdays during the summer holidays, the garden is open late until 8pm. Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Bangor Why not make the garden and grounds of Penrhyn Castle your playground over the summer holidays? Show off your talents on the performing stage, test your building and creative skills in the construction zone, and get the whole family involved in racket games. With plenty of places to picnic amongst the meadows, Penrhyn Castle is the perfect place to kick back and relax on a warm day. Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool Enjoy a fun-packed summer's day on the great lawn at Powis Castle. Test your speed in a sack race, try your balance on the balance beam, or hop like a frog across the lily pad. If you're feeling sporty, you can even challenge your friends and family to a game of football, badminton or volleyball. Bodnant Garden, Conwy Experience Bodnant Garden in a whole new way as Aardman Animation brings its most famous characters to the beautiful garden with 'Wallace & Gromit: All Systems Go'. The perfect way to get everyone outside this summer, help Wallace and Gromit by completing a variety of activities and games around the garden using a fantastic new Augmented Reality (AR) trail. Following the release of the new movie 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' earlier this year, the beloved characters will be familiar to kids and parents alike.
Wales Online
14-07-2025
- Wales Online
National Trust Cymru invites you to a packed summer of fun
Experience an exhilarating adventure-filled summer at enchanting locations across Wales. Throughout the school holidays National Trust Cymru is providing endless opportunities for fun for all the family*. Whether you're exploring lush gardens, embarking on scenic hikes, or simply enjoying a picnic in the sun, it's the perfect time to create unforgettable memories together. Let laughter fill the air as you connect with nature and each other in beautiful, cherished spaces. Sponsored by Starling Bank, exciting events are taking place, so discover what's happening near you and embrace the great outdoors with family and friends. Dyffryn Gardens, near Cardiff (Image: National Trust Images/Aled Llywelyn) Let the games commence! Head to Dyffryn Gardens this summer to hop, skip and jump your way to being the Dyffryn champion. Find all sorts of games and sports dotted around the gardens including badminton and table tennis, perfect for keeping the whole family entertained. Tredegar House, Newport This summer enjoy an unforgettable trip to the seaside in the heart of Newport, complete with colourful beach huts. Build sandcastles together in the giant sandpit, post a 'seaside postcard' at the mini post office, lounge in a giant deckchair and let your imagination run wild in make-believe spaces. Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire The perfect place to play - The Oak Yard is back for a full summer of family fun. Splash about in water play, make house in 'Sied Dwt' and run wild in the spaces designed with kids in mind. Inside Newton House design your own castle or settle down for a board game or two. Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion This summer Llanerchaeron offers an action packed day for the whole family. Zoom around the estate on balance bikes, explore the grass maze in the walled garden or get to know the animals on the farmyard. Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool (Image: National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra) Enjoy a fun-packed summer's day on the Great Lawn at Powis Castle. Test your speed in a sack race, try your balance on the balance beam or hop like a frog across the lily pad. If you're feeling sporty, challenge your friends and family to a game of football or volleyball. Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire This woodland garden is perfect for a summer day out exploring nature. Enjoy soft archery and games in the meadow every Tuesday before heading up to the sky gazing glade at the top of the woods to watch the clouds float by. Stackpole Estate, Pembrokeshire Spend a day by the Welsh coast this summer with a visit to the Stackpole Estate. Pack a bucket and spade and head for the golden sands of Broad Haven South, go on a self-led trail and tick off the trust's '50 things to do before you're 11¾' as you explore the wildlife-rich lily ponds. Aberdulais, Neath Open from July 24 to August 30 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, little explorers will delight in the outdoor games, craft activities and playing make-believe with a themed dressing-up box. Rhosili, South Gower Coast Keep everyone entertained during the summer holidays and get sporty at Rhosili. Pick from a wide range of games and activities from 10am to 3pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from July 21 to August 31. Discover more exciting days out near you here at *Summer of Play events are free, but normal admission charges apply for each venue. National Trust members and under 5s can enter for free
Wales Online
20-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Three popular Welsh beaches bring in new ban
Three popular Welsh beaches bring in new ban National Trust Cymru wants to protect wildlife and the coastlines with a new initiative The rugged shores of Porth Darfarch, Anglesey (Image: John Miller/National Trust ) Three popular beaches in North Wales have been declared "smoke-free zones" in a bid to protect the natural environment and prevent wildfires. Visitors to these scenic spots will now notice new signs as part of the voluntary initiative, gently urging them to put out their cigarettes and enjoy the fresh sea air smoke-free. The beaches – Porth Dafarch and Cemlyn on Anglesey, and Porthor on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd – are under the care of National Trust Cymru and were chosen for their "environmental significance" with backing from RSPB Cymru. National Trust Cymru is championing smoke-free beaches as a means to safeguard wildlife and coastal areas by minimising environmental litter. Ash Wales Cymru highlights that cigarette ends rank among the most discarded items globally, posing a significant hazard to marine life and ecosystems. The charity warns that over time, cigarette butts disintegrate into microplastics, releasing harmful chemicals such as lead, arsenic, and formaldehyde into delicate marine habitats. By deterring beachgoers from smoking, there's also the benefit of protecting youngsters from second-hand smoke and discouraging them from starting the habit. Article continues below Supporting the initiative is Sarah Murphy, minister for mental health and wellbeing. She commented: "Our ambition is to create a smoke-free Wales by 2030 and creating more smoke-free spaces is one way to achieve this." "It is important we work together to limit the harmful effects of smoking as well as the associated health and environmental risks to our beautiful landscapes." In March 2024, Benllech and Trearddur Bay on Anglesey became the first smoke-free beaches in North Wales, following in the footsteps of Caswell Bay, Langland Bay, Port Eynon and Little Haven in South Wales, reports North Wales Live. Last year, Spain took a firm stance against smoking and vaping on beaches and restaurant terraces to combat the littering of cigarette butts. France has been implementing similar bans since 2011, and Italy and Greece have also introduced stricter anti-smoking measures. The new smoke-free zones in North Wales are not only popular with holidaymakers but are also vital for wildlife. Cemlyn, located on the north coast of Anglesey, boasts an internationally significant colony of Sandwich terns. It's also a hotspot for Arctic and Common terns, and occasionally, the elusive Roseate tern makes an appearance. Cemlyn is recognised as having the UK's third-largest colony of terns, with approximately 1,500 pairs. The pristine water quality is essential for their survival. The area is protected as both a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its ecological importance. Porth Dafarch, nestled on Holy Island's Anglesey, is renowned for its ancient rocky cradle teeming with choughs - the crow family's rarest members, easily spotted by their red legs and beak. The surrounding waters are a sanctuary for seals and porpoises alike. Just as enchanting, Porthor Beach is acclaimed for its melody producing "whistling sands" and serves as a bastion for an array of avian species including Choughs, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Cormorants, Shags, and Yellowhammers, while welcoming seals and dolphins to its shores. National Trust Cymru's project manager in North Wales, Dewi Davies, remarked: "We work hard to look after these special places." Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here The emphasis on conservation is strong, with Davies urging: "We are requesting that people who visit these beautiful locations help us to care for them by not smoking and disposing of harmful smoking materials. They could pose a risk to these special habitats and the wildlife that lives in them, or spark a wildfire." To mark the establishment of new smoke-free zones, Porth Dafarch will host a celebratory beach clean on Thursday, June 19, involving pupils from Ysgol Gynradd Kingsland in Holyhead. The initiative aims to shed light on the impacts of discarded cigarette butts on marine ecosystems. Positioned at the vanguard of the smoke-free beach campaign are the National Trust and ASH Wales, buoyed by a swell of public approval in Wales. Recent polls indicate a significant 56% national endorsement for coastal smoke bans, with even more emphatic backing from the locals of Anglesey, where 87% support the measure. Suzanne Cass, chief executive of ASH Wales, said: "With 325,000 people in Wales still smoking, we must do everything we can to help them quit while creating a cleaner, healthier environment for all. Article continues below "Expanding smoke-free outdoor spaces sends a clear message: smoking is not the norm - people, wildlife and the planet come first."
Leader Live
20-06-2025
- Leader Live
Smoking ban introduced on three North Wales beaches
Cared for by National Trust Cymru, the beaches are part of a new scheme launched in partnership with ASH Wales aimed at protect wildlife, nature, and public health. The 'smoke-free' zones were introduced on June 19 to mark National Clean Air Day and include Porth Dafarch and Cemlyn on Anglesey, as well as Porthor on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd. The shores of Porth Dafarch, Anglesey, North Wales (Image: National Trust Images/John Miller) Dewi Davies, project manager for National Trust Cymru in North Wales, said: "We are delighted to partner with ASH Wales Cymru on this initiative which will benefit both people and nature. "All three locations we've chosen as voluntary smoke-free zones have been selected because they are environmentally significant. "We work hard to look after these special places and are requesting that people who visit these beautiful locations help us to care for them by not smoking and disposing of harmful smoking materials which could pose a risk to these special habitats and the wildlife that lives in them, or spark a wildfire. "As a conservation charity, people and nature are at the heart of everything we do, and we all have a role to play in helping to protect our natural environment for future generations to enjoy." Cemlyn, Anglesey (Image: National Trust Images/Paul Harris) The scheme aims to reduce cigarette litter, which poses a threat to marine environments and wildlife. Cigarette butts break down into microplastics and release toxic chemicals into the water, and discarded smoking materials can also pose a wildfire risk. The beaches were chosen for their environmental importance. Porth Dafarch, on Holy Island, is home to a colony of choughs, the rarest member of the crow family, as well as seals and porpoises. Cemlyn supports one of the UK's largest colonies of Sandwich terns, with around 1,500 pairs, and is part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a National Nature Reserve. Porthor, known for its 'whistling sands,' is a haven for birds and marine life, including choughs, razorbills, guillemots, and seals. Notice boards have been placed at each site to inform visitors of the scheme. Suzanne Cass, chief executive of ASH Wales, said: "Smoke-free spaces are not only popular—they're essential for protecting our wildlife, natural landscapes, and future generations. "Expanding smoke-free outdoor spaces sends a clear message: smoking is not the norm - people, wildlife and the planet come first." According to National Trust Cymru, public opinion shows 'strong support' for the scheme, with 56 per cent of Welsh adults supporting a smoking ban on beaches. In Anglesey, support for the ban rises to 87 per cent. The launch was marked with a beach clean at Porth Dafarch, involving pupils from Kingsland Primary School on June 19.
North Wales Chronicle
20-06-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Smoking ban introduced on three North Wales beaches
Cared for by National Trust Cymru, the beaches are part of a new scheme launched in partnership with ASH Wales aimed at protect wildlife, nature, and public health. The 'smoke-free' zones were introduced on June 19 to mark National Clean Air Day and include Porth Dafarch and Cemlyn on Anglesey, as well as Porthor on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd. The shores of Porth Dafarch, Anglesey, North Wales (Image: National Trust Images/John Miller) Dewi Davies, project manager for National Trust Cymru in North Wales, said: "We are delighted to partner with ASH Wales Cymru on this initiative which will benefit both people and nature. "All three locations we've chosen as voluntary smoke-free zones have been selected because they are environmentally significant. "We work hard to look after these special places and are requesting that people who visit these beautiful locations help us to care for them by not smoking and disposing of harmful smoking materials which could pose a risk to these special habitats and the wildlife that lives in them, or spark a wildfire. "As a conservation charity, people and nature are at the heart of everything we do, and we all have a role to play in helping to protect our natural environment for future generations to enjoy." Cemlyn, Anglesey (Image: National Trust Images/Paul Harris) The scheme aims to reduce cigarette litter, which poses a threat to marine environments and wildlife. Cigarette butts break down into microplastics and release toxic chemicals into the water, and discarded smoking materials can also pose a wildfire risk. The beaches were chosen for their environmental importance. Porth Dafarch, on Holy Island, is home to a colony of choughs, the rarest member of the crow family, as well as seals and porpoises. Cemlyn supports one of the UK's largest colonies of Sandwich terns, with around 1,500 pairs, and is part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a National Nature Reserve. Porthor, known for its 'whistling sands,' is a haven for birds and marine life, including choughs, razorbills, guillemots, and seals. Notice boards have been placed at each site to inform visitors of the scheme. Suzanne Cass, chief executive of ASH Wales, said: "Smoke-free spaces are not only popular—they're essential for protecting our wildlife, natural landscapes, and future generations. "Expanding smoke-free outdoor spaces sends a clear message: smoking is not the norm - people, wildlife and the planet come first." According to National Trust Cymru, public opinion shows 'strong support' for the scheme, with 56 per cent of Welsh adults supporting a smoking ban on beaches. In Anglesey, support for the ban rises to 87 per cent. The launch was marked with a beach clean at Porth Dafarch, involving pupils from Kingsland Primary School on June 19.
