Western Mail

[Indigenous Welsh Plants Are at Risk of Dying Out...][Derived Headline]

INDIGENOUS Welsh plants are at risk of dying out because of the effects of climate change, according to a leading organic gardener. But author Allan Shepherd, who started off tending a garden on rock star Robert Plant's Welsh estate, has produced a blueprint to help gardeners deal with our rapidly changing seasons as well as help the planet.

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WALES' children are being taught in crumbling schools which pose a danger to staff and pupils, according to a survey published today. Figures in the report produced by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) Cymru show nearly half of all teachers rank the state of their school buildings as "poor" or "very poor".

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WALES' children are being taught in crumbling schools which pose a danger to staff and pupils, according to a survey published today. Figures in the report produced by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) Cymru show nearly half of all teachers rank the state of their school buildings as "poor" or "very poor".

Rugby Union: Down Under

GOOD old Aussies. You can always rely on them to stir things up a bit. Just a few weeks ago, I was concerned that Wales' trip Down Under was going to be a pretty low-key affair and hard to generate much interest in. After all, Gareth Jenkins had decided to leave most of his front- line players at home to work on their conditioning ahead of the World Cup.

Rugby Union:

GARETH THOMAS (Toulouse, capt) Position: Full-back/wing/centre

There's No Life in Mars - Again

MARS yesterday abandoned its plan to use animal products in chocolate, apologising to vegetarians who organised a campaign against the change. The confectionery giant announced last week it was changing the whey used in some chocolate and ice cream from a vegetarian source to one with traces of rennet, an animal enzyme.

Sellers Rush to Beat Home Information Pack Debut

HOUSE prices rises slowed dramatically in Wales and England over the past month, according to the latest report from property website rightmove.co.uk. Researchers believe the slowdown - to just 0.4% - is the result of a glut of new properties flooding the market as sellers look to avoid paying for new Home Information Packs.

Cockles in a Right Pickle Over Food Miles

WELSH cockles, picked straight from the coastline, may sound like the perfect answer to environmentally-friendly low food miles. But pickled varieties may rack up a longer journey from beach to plate than you might think, according to reports yesterday.

Animal Additives

Common animal products for vegetarians to look out for: Rennin (rennet) is a coagulating enzyme obtained from a young animal's stomach, usually a calf's stomach, that is used to curdle milk in foods such as cheese.

Rugby Union: Lewis 'Relieved' As Heineken Cup Gets Thumbs Up

WELSH rugby boss Roger Lewis admitted he was "hugely relieved" by the announcement that a full-strength Heineken Cup tournament would go ahead next season. With leading English and French clubs threatening to boycott the 2007-08 tournament as part of an ongoing dispute with organisers ERC, the four Welsh regions were facing a financially lean - if not fatal - season.

Rugby Union: Thomas Boys in Search for More Oz Glory

THE Thomas boys - Gareth and Gavin - are planning to shock Australia again. Skipper Gareth and namesake Gavin are the only two players in Gareth Jenkins' Wales squad on tour Down Under who know what its like to score tries against the Wallabies. 'Alfie' went over for what he remembers as a "147-metre wonder try" during the 28-19 loss to Australia at Cardiff Arms Park in December 1996.

Rugby Union: Gregan Ousted As Australian Skipper

VETERAN scrum-half George Gregan has lost the Australian captaincy on the eve of the Wales tour. The 34-year-old, who will quit Test rugby after the World Cup, was picked in a 30-man squad yesterday, but Stirling Mortlock and Phil Waugh were named as co-captains.

For the Rugby-F Wife of Theit's 'Come On Wales' Not'allez La France'

SHE may be France's new Second Lady, but it doesn't stop Abergavenny-born Penelope Fillon putting Wales first when it comes to rugby. In her first big English-language interview since her husband Franois was named prime minister, Mrs Fillon has spoken of how she still supports the land of her birth despite her move to France's equivalent of 10 Downing Street.

Pregnant Motorist Fined for Her Car Being Just Outside of Parking Bay

Furious builders who saw the booking in Trinity Square, Llandudno, shouted at the warden, and took a photograph of the car with the wheel jutting outwards. Paula Maguire, 27, of nearby Deganwy, who is expecting twins, appealed to the council but has been told the pounds 30 fine will stand.

Pensioners Living in Remote Valley Are Left in the Sidings Over Free Train Travel

PENSIONERS in a remote valley are unhappy that they have been excluded from a scheme giving free train travel to their neighbours. Today holders of Cerdyn Cymru bus passes will be able to travel for free on the Heart of Wales line from Swansea to Shrewsbury via Ammanford and Llandrindod.

Heapheapehapehapehap

A NORTH Wales headmaster, who was previously cleared of sexually molesting one of his boy pupils, has now been sacked from his post. Christopher Barker was headmaster of Ysgol Tanyfron near Wrexham but was suspended when the allegations were made.

Education Suffering As Pupils and Staff Endure Leaky, Crumbling Buildings

A survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) Cymru shows nearly half of teachers think their school is in a poor state, posing a risk to health and safety. Two-thirds say crumbling classrooms are affecting education. The findings from teachers follow a report from inspectors earlier this year which showed a fifth of all secondary and a third of all primary schools in Wales were in inadequate accommodation.

The Scale of the Problem

46% of members said their school was in a poor or very poor state of repair; 61% reported inadequate heating or ventilation.

For the Rugby-Fan Wife of the French Pm It's 'Come On Wales' Not 'Allez La France'

SHE may be France's new Second Lady, but it doesn't stop Abergavenny-born Penelope Fillon putting Wales first when it comes to rugby. In her first big English-language interview since her husband Franois was named prime minister, Mrs Fillon has spoken of how she still supports the land of her birth despite her move to France's equivalent of 10 Downing Street.

Teacher Cleared of Molesting Pupil Is Sacked

A NORTH WALES headmaster, who was cleared of sexually molesting one of his boy pupils, has now been sacked from his post. Christopher Barker was headmaster of Ysgol Tanyfron near Wrexham but was suspended when the allegations were made.