Olivia Griffin

Penrhyd-Cyhoeddus, an Ammanford-area Welsh-language folk performance group, won first prize in the under-25 folk dance category at the National Eisteddfod in Llantwd, Pembrokeshire. The group received the Dawnswyr Elli Trophy and a £200 cash prize during its 50th anniversary year. Founded by Jennifer Maloney in 1976, it provides young people with opportunities in clog dancing, singing, acting and folk performance, and recently marked its anniversary with a concert and a trip to Patagonia.

A TikTok video featuring Highland cattle at Cefn Golau Francis Family Farm near Ammanford attracted a surge of visitors. The resulting crowding, inappropriate feeding and inconsiderate parking have raised safety, animal-welfare and neighbour concerns. Farm owner Dean Francis warned that the cattle could be moved from public view if parking problems continued. The animals were later temporarily moved while essential work was completed, and visitors were asked to check social media updates, use only the supplied feed and park considerately.

Diod café in Llandeilo is offering one free child’s meal for every paying adult who spends at least £12.50 on food and drink, from 31 July to 2 September during the school holidays. The café is praised for its Welsh produce, community atmosphere, customer service and strong ratings, and has received recognition from TripAdvisor and Muddy Stilettos Wales.

John and Jean Weld say they faced years of legal uncertainty after buying a home at the Brecon View Eco Village in Garnant. When the developer became insolvent, a lender’s charge over the wider site and the appointment of receivers led residents to face demands to contribute to a £437,000 debt or vacate their homes. The Welds say a settlement and subsequent confirmation of their title at HM Land Registry secured their property. A separate dispute over the development’s foul drainage system and a boundary issue also threatened water and sewerage services, but residents agreed a way forward and avoided disconnection. The couple say the prolonged ordeal has significantly affected their mental wellbeing, while relevant parties had not responded to requests for comment.

Graham’s Family Dairy is recalling one-pint, one-litre and two-litre bottles of semi-skimmed milk with a July 31, 2026 use-by date after veterinary medicines, including penicillin, were found in some batches. Shoppers in Ammanford who bought the milk through retailers such as Tesco, Morrisons or Spar are advised not to drink it, to return it for a refund and seek medical advice if they experience an allergic reaction.

Garnant stylist Iestyn Griffiths has opened The Co.Lab, an inclusive collaborative hair and beauty salon at Nelson Street in Swansea. The venture brings hairstylists and beauty professionals together, including senior hairstylist Demi James and beautician Ayla Davies. Griffiths began hairdressing at 13, trained locally, worked across nine salons and earned a level 3 qualification before building his own client base. The salon’s launch event is scheduled for July 25 and will include entertainment, refreshments, discounts and opportunities to meet the team.

The Ammanford Farmers Market will return to Ammanford Arcade Plaza on College Street on August 1, 2026, from 10am to 2pm. The temporary venue is the market’s original home while organisers work with the council on a permanent location. The event will feature local traders selling food, produce, crafts, drinks and plants, with free parking available nearby.

A mother says her son’s placement at Coleg Sir Gâr’s Ammanford campus was withdrawn weeks before the academic year, leaving him without a confirmed destination despite long‑term transition planning from his special needs school. She reports the college stopped responding to her inquiries and believes other families are similarly affected. The college says transition activities do not guarantee places and that decisions are based on learners’ needs and available provision. It confirms changes to its Pathway 1 programme and says it is working with local authorities and partners to support affected students.

Newly released ONS figures show that 29.4% of conceptions in Carmarthenshire in 2023 ended in abortion, a slight increase from 27.5% the previous year but still among the lower rates in Wales. Conwy recorded the highest rate in Wales, while Monmouthshire had the lowest. Regional differences are highlighted across England and Wales, with the highest rates in Liverpool, Knowsley, and Lambeth and the lowest in East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire, and the Forest of Dean.

RSPB Cymru has acquired the 96‑hectare Gallt‑y‑bere site in north Carmarthenshire to connect two parts of the Gwenffrwd‑Dinas reserve, creating continuous habitat suitable for endangered species such as the hen harrier. The land contains internationally significant habitats, including Atlantic oak woodlands and peat bogs, and its restoration is expected to benefit various rare birds and mammals. Upcoming surveys supported by Natural Resources Wales will guide future management, while collaboration with farming tenants aims to promote nature‑positive practices. The charity also plans to involve local communities as it continues its long‑standing conservation work in the region.

A community open morning will be held by the 2475 Ammanford RAF Air Cadets on July 18 in Pen-y-Banc, offering activities, refreshments and opportunities to meet cadets and volunteers. The event celebrates 50 years of the Canberra cockpit display and raises funds for its restoration while encouraging local residents and former cadets to participate and learn about joining or supporting the squadron.

A 130‑year‑old community venue in Tumble, long known as the Workies, will close permanently on 19 July. Statements from the club’s committee and longtime members highlight its historic role as a social hub and express sadness over its loss. Residents recall decades of events, friendships, and community traditions, describing the closure as deeply felt and symbolic of broader changes in the village.

A series of free community events is scheduled in Ammanford from July to November 2026, including a food festival, free tennis sessions, an outdoor bowls open day, a vintage car show, a local history celebration and a summer extravaganza, with details and timings for each event to be confirmed closer to their dates.