This year has been an exceptional year for applications. Such is the demand that Aberystwyth University has experienced a 14 per cent increase in applications, and successful applicants are accepting Aberystwyth as their first choice in greater numbers than ever before.

In April of this year the University announced that it would not consider any new UK/EU applications received after the 15th April 2010 and that it would not be offering places in UCAS 'Extra', nor would it be participating in 2010 Clearing. Aberystwyth University is the only Welsh University to be in this position.

More recently the Director of Admissions wrote to all students holding an offer, to say that the University can only guarantee acceptance this year if the terms of the offer (the grades achieved) are met squarely.

Clwyd YFC has received a financial boost of £200 to help fund county training and activities from NFU Cymru members in Clwyd. The Clwyd Federation has 15 clubs across the county, with almost 500 members. The county organises a large number of events each year including county sports and competitions, training, foreign exchanges, entertainment evenings and balls.

On presenting the cheque to the movement at the recent Denbigh and Flint Show, Ceiriog Jones, Clwyd NFU Cymru County Chairman said, "NFU Cymru is proud to offer its support to the young farmers of the county. Young farmers are the future of the industry in the region and it's so important to support their development. The federation is a vital part of the rural community here in Clwyd and we're delighted to be working with them and recognising the good work they do. It's also about ensuring that the training and activities they offer can continue."

Accepting the cheque, Mari Jones, Clwyd YFC Vice-chairman said, "The partnership between NFU Cymru and Clwyd YFC goes back decades and for that we are very grateful. The continued support from the NFU Cymru ensures that young people in rural communities are gaining the skills needed to move the industry forward. It also furthers their own personal development and opens up and improves job opportunities, for those members not exclusively from farming and agricultural families."

www.nfu-cymru.org.uk/

Efforts to improve the iconic Welsh Black cattle breed have been given a boost thanks to a new scheme funded by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales. The Welsh Black Cattle Society will receive £60,000 under the Rural Development Plan for Wales to performance-record animals in terms of growth and ability.

HCC Project Executive Dewi Hughes said: "This is an excellent opportunity for the Welsh Black Cattle Society to naturally develop the genetic progress of the breed by exploiting the latest technology through ABRI performance recording and integrating linear assessments of cows to identify the best performers and the best of breed type."

This new project also involves the selection of 12 top young bulls to be monitored for growth and muscle over a six month period at IBERS' Gogerddan site near Aberystwyth.

Semen will be taken from the best bull on trial and offered to Society members free of charge to artificially inseminate their cows.

"Using a bull with superior performance figures can result in the value of any subsequent calves increasing by up to £47, so it makes sense for farmers to improve their herds in this way," said Mr Hughes. "Cattle breeds have steadily improved over hundreds of years thanks to selective breeding programmes instigated by farmers," he said. "This new scheme introduced by HCC will enhance and accelerate this natural process for members of the Welsh Black Cattle Society."

Notes:

The project will involve identifying the best possible cow on phenotype and breeding from them. The project forms part of the work carried out by HCC under the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013, which is financed by the European Union and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Gwynedd Council and its partners will be holding a dog fouling awareness day in Pwllheli and Abersoch, on Wednesday, 1st September.

Gwynedd Council staff will be joining forces with staff from North Wales Police on the campaign. This follows the success of similar events in Barmouth, Caernarfon and Tywyn.

The aim of the day is to raise awareness of the danger dog faeces can pose to public health as well as the social connotations, and to encourage dog owners to be responsible and clear up after their animals while out and about.

Free poop-scoop packs will be given to members of the public during the awareness day and officers will be on hand to give advice and information. New warning signs will also be erected on the day.

With just days to go before the summer holidays end, why not bring the children along to Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water's Llyn Brenig site to enjoy some fun activities before they go back to school?

If you have ever wondered what watery beasts inhabit our ponds and gardens there is the chance to find out on Sunday 29th August when all will be revealed. Join Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water's Countryside Rangers to become a bug hunter and investigate the fascinating life of mini beasts as the rangers take a peek at the secret world of bugs beneath the water and in the undergrowth. This pond dipping and mini-beast safari is suitable for beginner and expert explorers alike and can be enjoyed by the whole family.

There will be a choice of two sessions during the day which will start from the rangers' office at 11am or 2pm and last for approximately one hour.

From Friday 20th August, Liverpool Bay became one of 15 Marine Protected Areas in the UK – the others are in English, offshore or Scottish waters – and all become part of a European network of protected areas, established to safeguard Europe's most important areas for wildlife.

Liverpool Bay, a sea area which extends from the west coast of Anglesey to the north west of England, is internationally renowned for populations of red-throated diver and common scoter – birds that, outside the breeding season, spend most of their lives out at sea.

Nearly 1,000 red-throated divers spend the winter in Liverpool Bay - 5.4 per cent of Britain's total overwintering population. The bird lives up to its name, with a red throat, grey-brown plumage and up-curved bill.

Team HTC-Columbia send strong line-up to Cycling Tour of Britain

Top sprinters André Greipel and Mark Renshaw to tackle the Cycling Tour of Britain.

André Greipel and Mark Renshaw headline a strong provisional 'Team HTC-Columbia' line-up ahead of this September's Cycling Tour of Britain [which reaches Wales on 13th September]. In addition to the two sprinters, a pair of former World Time Trial champions in Michael Rogers and Bert Grabsch will head to Britain, alongside current Italian Time Trial champion Marco Pinotti and his German equivalent Tony Martin.

Having won four stages and the overall 2009 Tour of Britain with the now departed Edvald Boasson Hagen, Team HTC-Columbia will be battling to defend their title against 16 other determined teams over eight challenging stages come September.

"We are delighted that Team HTC-Columbia are sending such a strong team to the race, which clearly speaks volumes about how importantly they regard The Tour of Britain," said Race Director Mick Bennett.

Environment Minister Jane Davidson has today urged Welsh families to get out on their bikes and make cycling a regular part of their lives. The Minister was speaking as the Welsh Assembly Government launched Bike4Life in Wales, providing tips and advice to encourage Welsh families to cycle regularly. Bike4life is part of Change4Life, the campaign to help Welsh families eat well, move more and live longer.

Speaking about the many benefits of cycling, the Minister said:

"We know that adults and children in Wales should be getting much more exercise than they often do. As a keen cyclist myself, I would love to see more Welsh families getting out and about on their bikes. Cycling really is a fun way of getting a regular dose of exercise and is the perfect way for families to keep fit and have fun together. It is also a great way of exploring the beautiful Welsh countryside that surrounds us.

"The Bike4Life guides that we are launching today have a wealth of ideas to help families enjoy cycling, from working out the best equipment to buy, to tips on how to cycle safely. I would urge Welsh families to take a look at the advice and guidance on offer."

Families can access the tips and advice by visiting the Bike4Life section at www.wales.gov.uk/change4life. Alternatively, to receive copies of the leaflets by post, parents can email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 0800 100 900 (or 029 2090 6801 from a mobile).

Visitors were lucky enough to come face to face with that elusive night-time creature, the bat, on an evening walk around the lake at Bwlch Nant yr Arian. During the leisurely stroll led by Leigh Denyer, a Forestry Commission Wales education ranger, visitors saw a number of bats flittering around the lakeside, including Serotine, one of the UK's largest bats, and Pipistrelle, the UK's smallest.

Bwlch Nant yr Arian, which is managed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, provides the perfect habitat for these flying mammals. The woodland edge offers ideal roosting conditions and there is plenty of food in the form of the insects that are attracted to the lake.

Bats communicate on a special wavelength, usually inaudible to humans, and each species of bat has its own wavelength. During the walk, Leigh was able to identify the different species of bat with the help of a bat detector, a device that translates bats' unique language of echo location.