​Last weekend’s Wonderwool Wales 2025, the premier wool and natural fibre festival in Wales, has been declared one of the best ever, with an expected record-breaking attendance.
 
A huge crowd on Saturday resulted in many exhibitors having to re-stock ready for Sunday, as most customers were on a mission to buy a wide range of wool-related products at the 19th annual event, held at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells.
 
The organisers were busy calculating the final figures from the event late this week, but the consensus was that the show was a record-breaker, boosted by a bigger than usual Sunday attendance.
 
Chrissie Menzies, Wonderwool Wales director, said: “We were delighted with this year’s show in terms of both the attendance and the business transacted by exhibitors.
 
“We received so much positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors which is a tribute to the whole team involved in delivering this annual event, which is probably the largest of its type in the UK and possibly Europe.”
 
One of the stars of the weekend was a special installation to mark this year’s 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day, which is being created by a group of knitters in France and across the world.
 
Wonderwool Wales 2025 was chosen to lunch the ‘Britain at War’ exhibition, which will now tour the UK for the next 19 months. The exhibition was launched with nine panels but will grow to 80 by September 3 as it tours six other venues
 
The VE Day project has been organised by Tansy Forster from Normandy and her fellow knitters who also created The Longest Yarn installation for D-Day. More than 1,000 knitters from across the world contributed to that project.
 
Wonderwool Wales had a truly international flavour, as Kimberly Perkins from Cat Mountain Fibre Arts, Colorado, jetted in to showcase her hand dyed, multi-textured, yarn bundles and knitting and crochet patterns.
 
Sheep Walk fashion shows, Woolschool Workshops, demonstrations and have-a-go sessions hosted by some of the exhibitors all proved popular with visitors.
 
Wonderwool Wales covers everything from the start to the end of the creative process involving wool. Exhibits of sheep, raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting and crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes and books can be found alongside superb examples of finished textile art, craft, clothing and home furnishings.
 
Helen Hickman, owner of Nellie and Eve, Llanwrda, which creates plant dyed yarns from sustainably sourced Welsh and British wool, was delighted with the business  she secured at the show.
 
“It’s such a lovely, well organised show that gets better every year,” she said. “The standard and quality of exhibitors is very high. A lot of customers were there for the weekend and many said they were amazed by how much can be done with wool.”
 
Phia Ingham, a fashion designer from family business Window of Woolly Wonders, Bangor, said: “We absolutely love the show because there is something for everybody and the people here are so friendly.
 
First time exhibitor Kery Moyle from Ginger Pink Yarns, Frome, said: “It’s like no other yarn show I have been to. I didn’t know what to expect but can’t believe how big it is. It’s fabulous.”
 
Another new exhibitor was Yarn Food, launched by Oliver and Helene Lucas in  Buckfastleigh two months ago, after two years of development. They make a specialist yarn crafter's detergent to clean and preserve yarn fibres.
 
“We want to gain awareness of Yarn Food, so Wonderwool Wales is a great place for us to do that,” said Oliver. “The response has been brilliant.”

As one of Visit Wales' activities to mark the 2025 Year of Croeso, a capital grants fund is running in 2025-26 to support businesses in the tourism attraction sector to invest in weather-proofing measures.

Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 per project are available to support costs of installing weather-proofing measures which will mitigate the impact of poor weather on trading and on the visitor experience.

The scheme is open to tourism attraction businesses which are SMEs, are accredited under the VAQAS scheme (or are eligible and willing to seek VAQAS accreditation) and have been trading for at least a year.

Weather-proofing measures might include, for example, installation of new covered areas, visitor shelters or areas of hardstanding.  Applicants are especially encouraged to consider how their weather-proofing measures might surprise visitors and change perceptions of what visiting the attraction in poor weather might be like.

All expenditure under the scheme will need to be completed by 31 March 2026.

The closing date for applications is 22 May.

Further information is available on the Industry Visit Wales website and in the Welsh Government press notice.

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Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, crowned the 'Best Attraction' at the National Tourism Awards for Wales in March, are holding an event next month for anyone interested in building their own model railway at home.
 
The two-day Model Railway Show and workshop will be held on May 17 and18, from 10am to 4pm both days, at Y Ganolfan Community Centre, High Street, Porthmadog.
 
]Stunning railway layouts created by local modellers will be on show and demonstrations from experienced modellers that range from creating buildings to tracks and wagons.
 
The aim is to give all aspiring modellers the skills to take home and create a simple model railway layout of their own.
 
For more information, please visit https://www.festrail.co.uk/model-railway-workshop/ .

The annual Hergest Croft Gardens Spring Plant Fair in Kington, one of the oldest in the region, has attracted a record number of exhibitors ahead of the event on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5.
 
One of the most eagerly anticipated events in the region’s horticultural calendar, the fair will feature more than 65 stalls selling many rare and unusual plants, trees and shrubs from some of the finest suppliers in the country.
 
There will also be a blacksmith’s demonstration, delicious artisan foods, local craft stalls, catering outlets and craft ales from the Weobley Brewery. In addition, renowned Welsh harpist Aisha Vaughan, ex Clannad, will be performing on the day.
 
“We are absolutely thrilled and delighted that this year’s event has attracted such interest from some of the best nurseries and horticultural specialists in the Midlands,” said Austyn Hallworth, Hergest Croft Gardens’ head of marketing and public relations.
 
“Last year, we exceeded visitor numbers and increased exhibitors, so to be over-subscribed with a waiting list a week before the fair is very encouraging and testimony to the quality of the event.
 
“This is a fabulous day out for all the family and the weather is certainly on our side this year.”
 
For further details about the Spring Fair, visit www.hergest.co.uk/events . Hergest Croft Gardens, set in the Herefordshire border with Powys, is home to National Collections of Zelkovas, Birches and Maples, along with 130 champion trees and over 5,000 rare plants and shrubs.
 
The gardens are open daily from March 29 until November 2, welcoming garden enthusiasts, conservationists and visitors from across the country.

Hargest Croft Gardens is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation representing more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion, Southern Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Welsh Marches.

Meurig James, new CARAS UK chair. ​

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A Welshman who has played a pivotal role in expanding cattle classification breed services is the new chairman of the Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies (CARAS UK).
 
Meurig James was elected at CARAS UK’s annual meeting held at the Cliff Hotel, near Cardigan yesterday (Thursday). He succeeds Nick Green, operations director at Lye Cross Farm, Redhill, Bristol, who steps down after an impactful term as chair.
 
He will serve a two-year term leading the prestigious UK-wide organisation, which recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to agricultural and rural progress.

A native of Whitland, Meurig began his career on the family dairy farm at Pengawse Farm before moving into cattle breeding and genetics.
 
In 1993, he joined the British Holstein Society, where he rose to become head of breed development for Holstein UK. In this role, he oversees the classification of more than 140,000 cattle annually and also leads the National Bovine Data Centre.

Meurig has played a pivotal role in expanding breed classification services to include 14 dairy and beef breeds and in introducing new traits and composites to support modern breeding priorities.
 
His work has contributed significantly to improving herd health, productivity, and data-driven breeding decisions for farmers across the UK.

A well-known figure at agricultural shows and events, Meurig has represented the UK internationally, including at workshops in Europe and through study tours in Argentina and North America.
 
He has also held senior roles within the Young Farmers Movement in Wales, the South Wales Holstein Club and is currently chair of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Livestock Committee and assistant honorary director for cattle at the Royal Welsh Show.

“It is an incredible honour to be elected chair of CARAS UK,” said Meurig. “CARAS plays a vital role in celebrating the people who help drive our industry forward, and I look forward to championing their achievements across all four nations of the UK.”

Wonderwool Wales 2025, the premier wool and natural fibre festival in Wales, is on course to be a record-breaker with advance ticket sales ahead of previous years.
 
The popular, award-winning show will be held at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on April 26 and 27 with 220 exhibitors and is expecting more than 6,000 visitors.
 
A star attraction will be special installation to mark this year’s 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day, which is being created by a group of knitters in France and across the world.
 
The knitters are so enthusiastic that the installation, which will be in Hall 3, is going to be much bigger than originally envisaged.
 
“It has grown from eight to 10 metres and could well be even larger by the time of the show!” said Chrissie Menzies, Wonderwool Wales director. “People from around the world are knitting panels for the installation which is quite amazing.
 
They previously knitted an 80 metre, 3D wool art depiction of the D-Day landings, which toured the UK, before going off to America, and wanted to do another one for VE Day to showcase at Wonderwool Wales before it tours the UK, with panels being added at each destination.”
 
The VE Day project has been organised by Tansy Forster and her fellow knitters who also headed The Longest Yarn installation for D-Day. More than 1,000 knitters from across the world contributed to that project.
 
Wonderwool Wales will have a truly international flavour, as Kimberly Perkins from Cat Mountain Fibre Arts, Colorado, will be showcasing her hand dyed, multi-textured, yarn bundles and knitting and crochet patterns on stand M1 in Hall 1. She’s the first exhibitor to fly in from America.
 
Chrissie revealed that there will be more than 15 new exhibitors at the show, including Paint-Box Threads from near Leominster and Cold Harbour Mill from Devon.
 
Zoe Acketts, of Paint-Box Threads, specialises in beautiful, hand-dyed threads along with fabric for the textile crafting market.
 
“I’m sure we will all be coming away with some of Zoe’s threads,” said Chrissie. “Her curated boxes of colours are just too good to use, you just want to display them in your studio and look at them!”
 
Cold Harbour Mill will be joining other working mill exhibitors who use heritage machinery to produce yarn collections and woven textiles.
 
The company’s yarns are 100% British wool, with single breed Blue Faced Leicester and Shetland collections in a range of natural and woodland inspired colours and four registered Tartans designed and woven at the mill.
 
Away from the show, Newtown Textile Museum is opening early to attract people visiting Wonderwool. Run entirely by volunteers and housed in two weavers’ cottages, the museum will be open from April 24-28 from 12 noon to 4pm.
 
The British Coloured Sheep Breeders’ Association will be adding natural colours to the show by bringing sheep for the first time. Sheep Walk fashion shows, demonstrations and have-a-go sessions hosted by some of the exhibitors are regular features.
 
Limited places are available for some of the Woolschool Workshops - visit www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk for details. Book advance tickets for the event on website also.
 
Wonderwool Wales covers everything from the start to the end of the creative process. Exhibits of sheep, raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting and crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes and books can be found alongside superb examples of finished textile art, craft, clothing and home furnishings.
 
For the latest news about the show, like Wonderwool Wales Ltd on Facebook or follow on Instagram @wonderwoolwales .

Newtown Textile Museum is opening earlier than usual this year to combine with Wonderwool Wales, the wool and natural fibre festival, at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on April 26-27.
 
The museum, which will be open from April 24-28 from 12 noon to 4pm, is hoping that people attending the popular weekend event, which attracts more than 6,000 annually, will combine a visit to Newtown also.
 
The main museum season is from May 1 until September 20 and admission is free.
A new exhibition features the work of a pioneer local photographer, John Owen, an innovator who photographed the great and the good of Montgomeryshire in the mid-19th century.
 
In May, the museum will be hosting talented textile artist, Barbara Cole, a local weaver and teacher. She will be teaching the rigid heddle loom weaving method to small groups in the atmospheric loom floor.
 
Participants will have an opportunity to make either a scarf or hanging. Bookable through Eventbrite, the workshops will be held on May 8,15 and 22 from 1pm to 4pm. As spaces are limited, people are encouraged to book early.
 
Check the museum’s website www.newtowntextilemuseum.co.uk , Facebook or Instagram pages for future events.
 
Run totally by dedicated volunteers, the museum is keen to recruit new members to the team to keep the history of Newtown and its textile industry alive.
 
The museum has a fantastic shop with all sorts of hand-made textile treasures made by local artisans, which are available to purchase.

“The leaflets will also encourage those who wish to spend a day in the hills to branch out, off the beaten track, to enjoy some of the hidden gems in the valley.”
 
Severe weather events, specifically Storm Darragh, caused significant disruption for the Elan Valley Estate, with numerous fallen trees obstructing trails.
 
Welsh Water Elan Valley rangers have undertaken extensive work to clear these obstructions, ensuring the accessibility of these challenging walks.
 
Elan Valley is now pleased to offer these routes to experienced walkers seeking to explore the more remote and scenic regions of the valley.
 
The leaflets are available to purchase at Elan Valley Visitor Centre for £8.95 or can be downloaded at: https://elan-valley.co.uk/walking-routes/ . The price includes the eight routes, an introduction to the walks and a convenient pocket-sized packet to keep them safe.
 
The walks generally take a full day and should only be attempted by experienced walkers with the necessary skills using a map, compass or GPS. The routes generally cover isolated areas, with no mobile signal and can be exposed in inclement weather, so preparation is a must.
 
The new pack completes a trio of leaflets available at the visitor centre. Family Friendly Walks include 12 ,waymarked routes of varying difficulty and are among the most popular walks around the estate. Waymarked Cycle Routes range from the Nantgwyllt Flow Trails to Ceidwad Coch, the red mountain biking route.
 
Elan Valley has also announced a selection of Easter activities for families and visitors. The Easter Scavenger Trail, which takes place until Sunday, April 28, invite participants to explore Cnwch Woods and complete a scavenging quest for a prize.
 
The trail follows the Blue Route Walk, is wheelchair and pushchair accessible and is expected to take approximately 40 minutes. Participation is £3 per child.
 
The Epic Elan Easter Expedition, running until Sunday, April 27, offers an Easter egg hunt experience. Participants follow directions on an expedition sheet, track down hidden Easter eggs using clues and claim a prize upon completion. The cost is £2.50 per child.
 
Dam Open Days will offer visitors the opportunity to venture into Pen y Garreg Dam and ascend the central tower, with rangers present to answer questions.
 
These self-guided tours provide an insight into the dam’s engineering and offer panoramic views from the central platform. The cost is £5 per adult and £1 per child under 18, with half of the proceeds donated to WaterAid.
 
This tours is available on Tuesday, April  22 at 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm and 3pm. Advance booking is recommended, either at the visitor centre or online. https://elan-valley.co.uk/events/dam-open-days/

Graham Taylor, Geoff Bilby and Alan Austin from Powys Ramblers with the new Elan Valley Hill Walking Pack.
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Looking for the perfect spot to star bathe on the edge of an International Dark Sky Park in beautiful Mid Wales?
 
Then look no further than Lôn Lodges - https://www.lonlodges.co.uk/ - located in secluded spots on Lôn Farm, Nantmel, near Rhayader.
 
Comprising two luxury lodges and a glamping lodge, each with a private hot tub, the accommodation is perfect for romantic getaways, family adventures, group retreats or wellness experiences, offering the ultimate blend of comfort and connection to nature.
 
Amongst its many attributes Lôn Lodges offers guests fantastic night time stargazing, being located close to the Elan Valley Estate, which became the first privately owned but publicly accessible park to achieve International Dark Sky Park status in 2015.
 
The estate was granted silver-tier status by the Arizona-based International Dark Sky Association, meaning that the entire 45,000 acres of the Elan Valley are protected against light pollution for the benefit of those who live, work and visit the spectacularly beautiful area.
 
Whilst staying at Lôn Lodges, which comprise two luxury lodges and a Stellar Safari Lodge – guests discover the dark sky magic, immersing themselves in wonderful views of the Milky Way, planets and shooting stars on clear nights.
 
Kerena and Stephen Pugh, who run the lodges with their family, alongside a busy sheep farm, have spared no expense with the luxury accommodation, with each lodge sleeping up to six people and offering peace and privacy.
 
Their latest addition to the Stellar Safari Lodge is a private sauna and exhilarating cold shower experience. “The wood fired sauna and cold shower experience are proving very popular and certainly fits well into our little magical retreat,” said Kerena.
 
Whether you’re looking for peace and tranquillity or the thrill of outdoor activities, the Rhayader area, known as the “Outdoors Capital of Wales,” has something for everyone. Enjoy endless hiking trails, family-friendly walks, cycling routes, pony trekking, fishing, golfing to name but a few outdoor activities.

The breathtaking Elan Valley, home to waterfalls, lakes, reservoirs and educational centres, is also on the doorstep while Rhayader offers a variety of shops, including the famous Hafod Hardware store, cosy cafés and welcoming pubs.
 
Lôn Lodges is a Visit Wales Quality Assured Glamping destination and a regular visitor is Dafydd Wyn Morgan, of Cambrian Mountains fame, who has set up his own night photography and videography business, Serydda - https://www.serydda.co.uk .
 
Having had his stargazing photography published by national magazines and television channels, Dafydd specialises in presenting “the night sky in harmony with the landscapes of the natural world”.
 
Based in Tregaron, he was instrumental in establishing the Cambrian Mountains Astro Trail in 2019 and Lôn Lodges was one of the first tourism accommodations he photographed at night.
 
The lodges recently hosted friends and family of late Alyn Wallace from across the UK and Europe as they attended the unveiling of an art installation in his name above Craig Goch Reservoir in the Elan Valley. Alyn died unexpectedly on March 28 last year and was one of the world's best astro-photographers.
 
As part of his work as an astro-tourism specialist, Dafydd has completed an astro-tourism package for Lôn Lodges to provide eye-catching content for a social media campaign this year.
 
“Stellar Safari Lodge is well placed to benefit from astro-tourism, being in a super-dark location with views of the Milky Way, the winter family of constellations and even the Aurora Borealis,” said Dafydd.
 
“Kerena and Stephen provide a great pair of binoculars for viewing the night sky. I recommend sitting in the hot tub for stargazing followed by marshmallows over the fire and under the constellations. Lôn Lodges now has a superb gallery of images highlighting how great a place it is at night. As I often say, night is the best time of day!”
 
Events are being held  at Elan Valley Visitor Centre on June 29 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Elan Valley achieving International Dark Sky Park status.
 
Visiting night photographers can complete the Alyn Wallace Big 5, an astro-adventure to places that Alyn himself experienced, by booking with Serydda.
 
Lôn Lodges is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent membership organisation representing more than 600 tourism and hospitality business across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Eryri (Snowdonia).

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways was judged the ‘Best Attraction’ at the recent National Tourism Awards for Wales.
 
The highly anticipated awards, hosted by Visit Wales, celebrated the best of the tourism industry throughout the country.
 
The railways qualified for the national awards after winning the ‘Go Attraction of the Year’ award at the Regional Go North Wales Tourism Awards last November.
 
Paul Lewin, the railways’ general manager and Stephen Greig, the railways’ visitor experience manager, were delighted to pick up the prestigious national award.
 
“Receiving this award is a huge honour and is testament to the hard work of all our staff and volunteers,” said Paul. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their hard work.”
 
Stephen added: “This is a fantastic achievement and we are very proud that we can display both our ‘Go Attraction of the Year’ and ‘Best Attraction’ awards at our stations for our visitors to see.
 
“Now, the challenge is to build on these achievements during the upcoming season, continuing to provide our passengers with an unforgettable experience. There’s no time for complacency.”
 
The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways have now turned their attention to the start of a new season. Their first passenger trains set off on March  29, hoping for a busy season ahead.