Broad Oak Farm Certified Campsite CH4 0HG

05/09/2026

EXCITING NEWS for Wrexham and Erddig Fans! 🤩🌿✨

National Trust confirmed today that Erddig’s recent dog-friendly trial has been a success, which means dogs on short leads can now officially explore the formal garden year round! Yay!!! 🤩

Dogs weren’t allowed into the garden at all before the trial so this is another big win for dog-friendly days out in Wrexham… for anyone who missed the news from earlier in the year, NT Chirk Castle gardens are also accessible to dogs following another successful trial this year! 🙌

Ted’s going to be VERY pleased about this one! 😁🐕🌿✨

15/08/2026

News, analyses, investigations, opinions, podcasts and more. On-the-ground reporting from Ukraine

13/08/2026

13/08/2026

We are now at 289 confirmed cases, with over 1500 pending cases, including the first reported case in Newton Stewart Dumfries Scotland.

Whilst you need to have a conversation with your vet to get Blue tongue vaccine, if you think you might avoid it, then the numbers above suggest differently. We are now 5 weeks in and the high temperatures are causing fast replication of the virus and midge transmission.

At present there are reports of a scarcity of available vaccine, but if you require to join a queue then you are better further up the queue than asking too late. The vaccine takes either 21 to 28 days to take full effect depending on manufacturer.

There are numerous videos now on social media of folk who havent vaccinated and are now in what can only be described as a circle of hell where they treat infected animals, some live, some die, but they continue getting new infected animals and the circle continues.

Whilst we have previously featured cost calculators, I'm not sure they take into account the full cost, you don't just have your costs for losses, there are the costs for vet visits, fallen stock scheme, medication, hours treating animals and most importantly the mental strain that can take its toll. From videos folk are racking up £1000 of pounds in costs with smaller flocks and even the perceived high cost of vaccination was cheaper.

Also, consider if you lose a part of your flock genetics what would that mean to you, many have spent a lifetime breeding. Also consider what genetics may be rare and valuable to the Hebridean breed its self. Top knots, 4 horns , rarer lines etc.

It may be that you can only get 50 doses initially and you have 75 sheep , what/who do you prioritise. It may be good to ask yourself that question now and make a plan.

Whilst not wishing to be alarmist, the situation is what it is, it wont suddenly go away, at present the perceived spike is mid September but all weather dependant.

It is appreciated that some folk are in more remote corners and will rightly feel safer but it only takes one animal movement. We should all be making considerations of what on an individual basis you should do, the risks facing you, upgrade your skills and knowledge as to what the signs are and what treatment to use. Best chance for sheep survival has been quick decisive action after spotting signs get appropriate meds etc in. Treat as you would for BT even if not confirmed.

Dehydration seems to have been a big issue, folk have been drenching with water and glucose (and twin lamb drench), having water available near to sheep not in a trough at the other end of the field / shed seems to be anecdotally giving better results . Also having sheep as healthy as they can be without burdens sees more positive outcomes

The above is not written from a veterinary back ground but from the prospective of a farmer with his eyes wide open, feel free to use or ignore the information as you wish

Remember it is a notifiable disease, there is help out there.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue-latest-situation?fbclid=IwdGRjcATm9M1URENQBOUEQ3Bkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEete-G09nELCGBVm0-M9X5l50rqSbO3erXkdFCt7qnCNYduTNBxazvoKaUwek_aem_fz_ikP2JeKcoXFbPWHdGGQ

13/08/2026

07/08/2026

We are currently in crisis, as is every rescue in the country 🥺 These are 4 more hand rear kittens, who are around 10/14 days old. This takes our total of hand rears to 11, without all the other kittens we have in care already and 1 pregnant cat. These little ones have come all the way from Anglesey, where they were found on an industrial estate with no sign of a mum anywhere 😓 They were very kindly brought to us today by the person who has been looking after them until now and have now gone to one of our amazing hand rearers. The amount of cats we are asked to take in everyday is phenomenal and it's just getting worse. We constantly see posts from people selling kittens, kittens who aren't neutered and most likely won't be, therefore just adding to the issues that rescues everywhere are having to deal with. We can't carry on like this, it's just not possible, but then what happens to the ones we say no too? Where do they go? Who looks after them? Please do the right thing and neuter your cats, stop adding to this, stop making our lives full of impossible decisions of who we can or can't help ☹️ If anyone would like to help us with a small donation towards the care of all these cats and kittens in our care then we would very much appreciate it, thank you for an extremely exhausted New Hope team 💜

New Hope For Forgotten Cats
Lloyds business account 46403963
Sort code 30-99-50

PayPal

Or payments can be made directly off our account at Daleside Veterinary Group in Shotton, Penyffordd and Wrexham.

24/04/2026

💐 Sending flowers repeatedly
🎁 Endless gifts
👋 Turning up unannounced
📱 Constant calls and messages
🕵 Watching or spying on you

If this behaviour is unwanted, repeated and made you feel scared or threatened, it may be stalking.

Real life isn't the same as the movies. Unwanted, repeated attention can have a serious impact on your day-to-day life.

🚩 It's not a red rose; it's a red flag.

Click here for advice and information on what to do now if you're being stalked ➡️ https://orlo.uk/T0T66

23/04/2026

Between 20 and 60 per cent of older adults take naps during the day

23/04/2026

This is Baxter - he sadly died after a suspected adder snake bite near a Welsh beach. 💔 His owner is raising awareness in the hope of saving other dog lovers from the same heartbreak.

Baxter's decline was so sudden. One minute, he was running around like thefit, healthy five-year-old spaniel he was. The next, he had to be carried around. He didn't even yelp, just held his paw in the air. 😞

Just 30 minutes after the suspected bite, he had been sick, and his breathing was ragged. He was carried in to see the vet on a rug, where he was given anti-histamines and paracetamol and placed on a hydration drip. But it wasn't enough.

Owner Jo arranged to pick him up that evening, but then she got the devastating phone call that he had taken a turn. She shared. "His heart had stopped and, by the time I got there, he had died." 💔

Determined to warn others of the risk, she shared a cautionary message on Facebook. "Dog owners often associate adders with coastal dunes but this happened on grassland. They can be found in any open, sunny habitat. This year they seem to have come out early. Usually they will do their best to avoid people and dogs. But early in the year, as they emerge from hibernation, they can be a little drowsy and might not be so quick to get away, so extra care is needed."

Despite sharp rises in the UK's dog population, adder bites remain unusual and fatalities are exceptionally rare. While almost all bitten dogs display symptoms, 95.4% reportedly survive with swift veterinary intervention.

Deaths typically occur if the bite goes untreated, and are more frequent in smaller dogs.