With concerns over inflation biting into tourist spending, recent figures released by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority reveal its visitor attractions are 'bucking the trend' hitting a record-breaking quarter of a million visitors in 2011.

The figures show that National Park sites are increasingly giving visitors great value for their money, with free galleries, action-packed family days and quality family time near stunning scenery.

More than 255,000 visitors passed through the doors of the Authority's sites last year, including Carew Castle and Tidal Mill, Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort, Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre, Tenby National Park Visitor Centre and Newport Visitor Centre.

Read more: National Park Centres Visitor Numbers Hit Quarter Million

A dedicated scuba diver from Llanelli has scooped a top award in recognition of his unstinting support for his local club.

Alun Newsome, 26, Training Officer for Llanelli Sub Aqua Club, was presented with the British Sub-Aqua Club's (BSAC) Jonathan Crusher Award after a flood of nominations from young divers he has trained.

Read more: Dedicated Diver Fro Llanelli Scoops Top Volunteer Award

The tourism industry has been given a training boost with a new project offering subsidised training for companies and their employees in certain parts of Carmarthenshire.

The Galluogi project is working in partnership with Coleg Sir Gâr, Gallu and the Carmarthenshire Tourism Association to help businesses provide staff training through short courses, seminars and workshops in course areas identified as a need by the business.

The project is based at Coleg Sir Gâr's Pibwrlwyd campus and is funded by the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, supported by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Read more: Training Boost For Carmarthenshire Tourism

Writer Mark Twain said, "The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

Pembrokeshire pupils have put these words of wisdom into action and, with help and funding from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and South Hook LNG, recently helped to plant more than 1,000 trees and shrubs at three county schools.

Read more: Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Supports Tree-mendous Effort By Local School Children

We have all experienced the musicality of birdsong at dawn, but finding out why birds start twittering as dawn breaks is just one reason to book a unique walk in the Gwaun Valley on Sunday 6th May.

People have the chance to celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday May 6th with a Dawn Chorus Walk organised by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust.

Read more: Get Up With The Lark To Experience Nature's Orchestra

The Open Spaces Society, the leading pressure-group for the protection of common land, has objected to an application from the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority to retain a four-mile fence across open country in the heart of the national park. 

The fence was erected on common land as an emergency measure during the foot-and-mouth epidemic of 2001 and it should have been removed by 2006. When the Ramblers complained about it to the then environment minister Sue Essex in 2002, she said: "The firm intention is that the fences are to remain only for as long as they are required and definitely no longer than five years."

Read more: Open Spaces Society Fights Four Mile Fence On National Park Common Land