A teacher whose life was saved by the Wales Air Ambulance is making an emotional plea for donations to keep the vital service flying.

Mike Hughes, 31, who teaches geography at the Sir Richard Gwyn Catholic High School in Flint, was air-lifted to hospital following an horrific crash. He was co-driver in a Subaru Impreza which left the track and careered more than 60ft through the forest before coming to rest 30ft down in a ravine during the 2005 Cambrian Rally.

Mike, who lives in Treuddyn near Mold, is understandably now one of the Wales Air Ambulance's most enthusiastic supporters. He will be joining the charity at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham, between May 24th and 26th to raise awareness and money for the service. They need £6 million a year to keep their three air ambulances in the air. It costs £1,500 every time a helicopter responds to an emergency. The charity doesn't receive any government money or lottery cash and is totally dependent on public donations.

Read more: Help Keep Wales Air Ambulance Flying

Manx2.com has welcomed the Department of Economic Development's proposals for a revised Manx Grand Prix Festival.

Chairman Noel Hayes said: "The TT is the highlight of our year, so anything that raises the profile of the Grand Prix makes it more attractive to a broader range of participants and attracts more visitors to our island.

Read more: Manx2.com Welcomes Two Weekends Of Classic Bike Racing

Historic plans to set up a professional body for people who work in social care are set to become a reality.

The creation of the Academy of Care Practitioners was announced by Care Forum Wales at a conference at Glyndŵr University, in Wrexham. The new organisation will be the first of its kind in the UK.

Read more: Historic New Academy For Social Care Workers

The start of the 2012 season has seen some new developments at Elm Grove, a 4 star Georgian country house based in St Florence nr Tenby. To keep up with the growing popularity for iPhone & android phones Jane & Alan Rees-Baynes commissioned a new mobile specific website for Elm Grove. This allows potential guests to view the website in a much more user friendly format for those using their mobiles to access the internet. Co-proprietor Jane Rees-Baynes says “ guests can see our special offers, find out information about the house, read our reviews and even book a room from our new mobile site which was built by Ian Vaughan”. 

It’s not just mobile technology where Elm Grove are making their presence felt – social media, in the form of Facebook and LinkedIn, are also being used to communicate to new and existing guests. Special offers, recipe information and news are posted regularly along with progress updates on room refurbishments during the winter. Most recently Elm Grove have used this channel to highlight their availability for film and photo shoots – resulting in several enquiries. 

Technology aside, Jane has been using her time over the winter to get some gastronomic inspiration, picking up new ideas at Angela' Gray’s Llanerch Vineyard Cookery School – attending two courses for fish dishes and baking. Many of the dishes have already made it onto Elm Grove’s menu including Potted Seafood, Gilt headed Bream and Tart au Citron.

Read more: Busy times at Elm Grove Country House

The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) welcomes the announcement by John Griffiths, the Welsh Government Environment Minister, that the first consultation exercise for selecting highly protected Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) is underway.

Ten sites are up for consideration – though no more than three to four will be designated by the Welsh Government by 2014.

Read more: Countryside Council For Wales Welcomes Consultation On Marine Conservation Zones

As the London 2012 Olympics approaches, the National Parks of Wales invite the world to enjoy some of Wales' most inspirational, beautiful and breathtaking landscapes.

While running 26 miles, high jumping over hedgerows or synchronised swimming in lakes is not obligatory, and is far from being encouraged, each of the three National Parks in Wales is offering alternative options to people who wish to escape the hurly burly of daily life, or want to get rid of the winter blues and mental cobwebs, or simply want to get fit for the summer holidays.

For each of the 26 miles in an Olympic marathon, each National Park Authority has recommended a walk – from the shortest of strolls to the hardest of hikes.

Read more: National Parks Wales: Winning Landscapes