#uplands — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #uplands, aggregated by home.social.
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ST HELEN’S: Europe’s tallest sports floodlight comes down after more than 60 years
A floodlight long said to be the tallest of its kind at any sports ground in Europe is being taken down in Swansea today.
The 150ft column has stood over St Helen’s, beside the Cricketers crossroads in Brynmill, since 1964.
Its removal marks the final and most dramatic stage of the work to clear the ground’s old floodlights, after the other towers came down last week in footage captured by drone.
For more than six decades, the floodlight has been a fixture of the Swansea skyline — visible for miles, and from the seafront below.
Uplands Party councillor Peter May, who has lived in nearby Finsbury Terrace for 30 years, said he had mixed feelings about seeing it go.
“It will be missing from the view from my front garden, but is part of the new era for our beloved St Helen’s to continue as a sporting venue,” he said.
The floodlight’s loss closes another chapter for one of Welsh sport’s most storied grounds.
St Helen’s hosted the first home match in the history of the Wales rugby team, against England, back in 1882.
It was where New Zealand suffered their first defeat to Wales in 1924, and where Swansea beat the touring All Blacks in 1935 to become the first club side to do so.
The ground also has a place in cricket history. It was here, in 1968, that Sir Garfield Sobers struck the first six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket.
And in a quirk of local lore, a teenage Dylan Thomas won a mile race on the ground at his school sports day in 1928 — carrying the newspaper photograph of his victory for the rest of his life.
The floodlights themselves went up in 1964, part of efforts to keep evening fixtures and big matches at the venue.
Cllr May said the previous record-holders had been the 260ft pylons at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground, until they were taken down in 1993.
A crane works to remove a floodlight pylon at St Helen’s, with Swansea Bay and the beach beyond. (Image: Ospreys Rugby)Now the ground is being cleared for a new era. The turf has already been lifted and handed to grassroots clubs across the region, and with the floodlights gone the site is ready for a new playing surface.
The redevelopment plans, unveiled in May, centre on a new South Stand, a redeveloped West Stand and terrace, a fan zone and expanded hospitality.
The work is being carried out in phases, so the Ospreys can still play at St Helen’s throughout the coming season as construction goes on around them.
It marks a remarkable turnaround for a club that only months ago was fighting for survival, before Swansea Council committed £5.1m to secure the ground as a community stadium and the region’s home.
The Ospreys will leave the Swansea.com Stadium and return to St Helen’s after two decades away, playing their first season at the redeveloped ground in 2026/27.
Councillor Stuart Rice said work would continue to involve the local community in the plans.
“We are looking forward to continue engaging with Uplands and city-wide residents on the community aspect of the plans,” he said.
For now, though, eyes are on the Brynmill skyline — where a 150ft landmark that has watched over Swansea sport for two generations is finally coming down.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Floodlights come down in dramatic drone footage
The Ospreys captured the earlier towers being lifted away as the rebuild gathered pace.Ospreys unveil St Helen’s redevelopment plans
The new South Stand, West Stand and fan zone set to transform the historic ground.Council commits £5.1m to secure St Helen’s as Ospreys’ home
#Brynmill #Ospreys #StHelenSStadium #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaRFC #Uplands
The investment that locked in the ground’s future as a community stadium. -
#TÁBOR #UPLANDS www.perplexity.ai/search/new?q... www.paypal.com/donate?busin... aePiot: SEO 4.0 is here. Build your nodes with aePiot and lead the way.
Perplexity -
UPLANDS: Swansea’s beloved Truffle restaurant put up for sale as owners step back after nine years to focus on family
One of Swansea’s most-loved independent restaurants has been put up for sale — with the couple who built it from scratch saying the time has come to hand it on to new owners and focus on their young family.
Truffle, on King Edwards Road in Uplands, has been run by chef Jonathan Cox and front-of-house manager Jodie Barlow-Haynes since 2017. Over nine years, the pair have built the restaurant into one of the city’s most respected independent eateries, with a 4.8-star rating across major review platforms and a loyal customer base that returns again and again.
Known for its French, Welsh and contemporary influences, Truffle has earned a reputation for freshly made dishes using locally sourced ingredients. The fully licensed restaurant also operates a popular bring-your-own drinks policy — a combination that has helped it carve out a distinctive identity in a competitive market.
Inside Truffle — the restaurant has built a 4.8-star rating across major review platforms over nine years. Image: Christie & CoJonathan and Jodie said in a joint statement: “Truffle has been our passion for many years. We are incredibly proud of how the business has grown, with loyal customers who return time and again, and the reputation we’ve built for our service and quality food.”
They added: “We will be sad to leave our successful business but have decided to make a lifestyle change to be able to spend more quality time with our young family. We hope the next owners will take Truffle forward into its next exciting chapter.”
The restaurant is being marketed as a leasehold sale with an asking price of £75,000 by specialist business property adviser Christie & Co, which describes it as “an attractive and profitable restaurant in a popular part of the city.”
Graeme Clifford, the business agent handling the sale, said there were plenty of opportunities for a new owner to build on what Jonathan and Jodie have created. “There are plenty of opportunities for a new owner to expand the business including broadening the food offer, introducing more covers, and extending the opening hours,” he said, adding that the site could suit new entrants, experienced restaurateurs or small multi-site operators.
The dining room at Truffle, which seats multiple covers and has potential to expand, according to Christie & Co. Image: Christie & CoThe sale comes at a difficult time for the hospitality sector across the region. In recent months, Swansea Bay News has reported on a series of restaurant closures, including the much-loved Gorseinon restaurant that shut after years of loyal custom, and two Llanelli restaurants closing on the same day. It is also not the first time an Uplands restaurant has come onto the market in recent years.
Truffle’s owners are at pains to point out that this is not a closure — the restaurant remains open and is continuing to trade while a buyer is sought.
Truffle has been a fixture of the Uplands food scene since 2017. Image: Christie & CoFor those interested in taking on the business, full details are available through Christie & Co at christie.com.
Uplands has long been one of Swansea’s most vibrant food and culture neighbourhoods, home to a mix of independent restaurants, cafes, bars and the weekly Uplands Market. The area’s loyal community of regulars and strong footfall make it one of the city’s most attractive locations for independent hospitality businesses.
Truffle’s sale represents the end of an era for many regulars — but also an opportunity for a new operator to take on a restaurant with strong foundations, a proven reputation and an established and loyal following.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Heartbreak for diners as popular Gorseinon restaurant closes its doors
One of a series of recent restaurant closures across the region.Two much-loved Llanelli restaurants close on the same day as customers share heartbreak
Further closures in the hospitality sector across the region.Iconic Swansea breakfast venue Uplands Diner put up for sale
Another Uplands institution that has previously come onto the market.Uplands Market highlighted in new pedestrian pound report
#Business #ChristieCo #featured #foodDrink #KingEdwardsRoad #restaurant #restaurantSale #TruffleRestaurant #Uplands
The wider story of Uplands as one of Swansea’s most vibrant independent food and culture destinations. -
Wild Moors
"Wild Moors is working to accelerate the transition to a nature-rich, climate resilient and sustainable future by creating an upland environment which is respected, restored and protected."
https://www.wildmoors.org.uk/#SolarPunkSunday #ReWilding #MoorLands #WildMoors #Moors #UpLands #Nature #BioDiversity #Carbon #Habitat #WildLife #Environment #Ecology #UK
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Wild Moors
"Wild Moors is working to accelerate the transition to a nature-rich, climate resilient and sustainable future by creating an upland environment which is respected, restored and protected."
https://www.wildmoors.org.uk/#SolarPunkSunday #ReWilding #MoorLands #WildMoors #Moors #UpLands #Nature #BioDiversity #Carbon #Habitat #WildLife #Environment #Ecology #UK
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Swansea’s road repair blitz ramps up as new resurfacing crews hit the streets
The council says an additional £300,000 has been pumped into the programme, allowing teams to tackle more potholes, worn‑out stretches and weather‑damaged routes after weeks of cold, wet conditions.
Fresh resurfacing lined up across the city
A series of busy roads are now earmarked for work in the coming weeks, including key routes in Clydach, Morriston, Fforestfach, Llansamlet, Clase, Bishopston and Uplands.
Locations scheduled for repairs include:
- Ynyspenllwch Road, Clydach (Ffordd Cwmtawe to Clydach)
- Lone Road, Clydach
- Llanllienwen Road, Morriston
- A48, Morriston (J46 to Bryntywod entrance)
- Carmarthen Road, Fforestfach (Ffordd Cynore to Swansea Road)
- Nantong Way, Llansamlet (outside Royal Mail)
- Rheidol Avenue, Clase
- Bishopston Road, Bishopston
- Maes y Gwernen Road and Drive, Cwmrhydyceirw
- Uplands Crescent
The council says full resurfacing has already been completed at a number of high‑traffic spots, including the Peniel Green Road motorway junction.
‘We’re using every resource we’ve got’
Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said crews were working flat out to keep up with demand.
“We are using all of our resources to tackle as many of the highway repair requests as possible,” he said.
“Full resurfacing work is being completed at key traffic spots including the motorway junction at Peniel Green Road. Our small resurfacing teams are also out tackling large areas of road that have been impacted by the recent cold and wet weather.”
Part of a wider £300k pothole and resurfacing blitz
The council says the latest work forms part of the £300,000 pothole and resurfacing blitz announced earlier this winter. According to the authority’s early‑February update, teams filled around 960 potholes in January, with repairs running at “around 100 a day” during the coldest weeks. The same update confirmed that full resurfacing had recently been completed on Peniel Green Road at the M4 junction, along with sections of Frampton Road, Carmarthen Road and Ffynone Road in Uplands.
The council said an extra team had been brought in to “speed up and increase the number of repairs”, with more resurfacing schemes scheduled across the city in the coming weeks as the winter programme continues.
£37m proposed for highways and transport
The council’s proposed budget for 20206/27 is due to be discussed by the council’s cabinet on 19 February. This includes a new Economic Growth Fund which according to the council would include an extra £3m for resurfacing and potholes, taking next year’s roads budget to more than £12m within a wider £37m allocation for highways and transport.
#Bishopston #Clase #CllrAndrewStevens #Cwmrhydyceirw #Llansamlet #Morriston #potholes #resurfacing #roadResurfacing #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #Uplands -
Brynymor Road sinkhole shuts street again just hours after councillors’ photo‑op
A new hole has appeared on Brynymor Road, close to the junction with Westbury Street and King Edward Road, just inches from the section that was patched earlier this month. The collapse has reignited safety fears and left residents asking how long the street can stay open before the ground gives way again.
From ribbon‑cutting smiles to flashing blue lights
On Tuesday, councillors marked the reopening with photo‑ops at the repaired site. By Wednesday, cones and flashing police lights were back, sealing off the street as crews scrambled to respond to the fresh failure.
Cllr Peter May gives the thumbs up on Brynymor Road after sinkhole repairs reopened the busy Uplands route.Council cabinet member Andrew Stevens poses beside the freshly repaired section of Brynymor Road, following emergency works to fill a sinkhole that forced the street’s closure earlier this month.
(Image: Swansea Council)Local resident George Hawkins snapped the scene and posted it to Facebook with a single emoji caption: 💀 — a blunt verdict on the repair job.
Closed earlier this month, closed again now
The road was first shut earlier this month when a large sinkhole appeared, sparking emergency works. After days of disruption, the street was reopened — only for a second collapse to follow within hours, forcing another closure and raising questions about whether deeper structural issues are being missed.
Council pressed for answers
Swansea Council has been approached for comment on the recurrence and whether further investigations will now be carried out. For now, residents are left wondering if the authority is really looking into it.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Sinkhole forces road closure in Swansea’s Bryn‑y‑Mor Road
Initial closure earlier this month after a large sinkhole appeared near Westbury Street.Brynymor Road sinkhole larger than expected, says councillor
Councillor Peter May warned repairs would take longer after Welsh Water accepted liability.Sinkhole mystery solved: collapse blamed on old manhole
Engineers ruled out mine workings, saying an old manhole caused the collapse before Christmas reopening.Brynymor Road reopens after sinkhole drama
#BrynymorCrescent #BrynymorRoad #CllrAndrewStevens #CllrPeterMay #roadClosure #Sinkhole #SwanseaCouncil #Uplands
Councillors posed for photos as the road reopened following emergency repairs. -
Brynymor Road reopens after sinkhole drama
Road back in action
The busy route was shut after a gaping hole appeared near Brynymor Crescent, sparking fears of underground mine workings and leaving businesses counting the cost of lost footfall.
Investigations have now confirmed the fault was caused by an old manhole collapsing beneath the surface. Swansea Council’s highways maintenance teams have carried out repairs, allowing traffic to return just in time for the Christmas rush.
Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “The sinkhole resulted in the council needing to implement a full road closure while we investigated the causes. Our highways maintenance teams have done an excellent job, repairing the road as quickly as they have. This should be great news for local businesses, residents and motorists who regularly use this route.”
Councillors welcome swift action
Uplands Party councillors praised the council’s response but acknowledged the disruption.
Cllr Peter May said: “I would like to thank the council teams for their prompt investigation work and repair on this. When a sinkhole opens, there are a lot of unknowns to examine before any repair can be carried out. It has certainly had an impact on the local area.”
Cllr Stuart Rice added: “We have been working with local traders on Brynymor Road to try and mitigate the effect that the sinkhole had on footfall. Hopefully it will now be business as usual again for them in the crucial run up to Christmas.”
From mystery to repair
The sinkhole saga gripped the Uplands for weeks, with speculation about possible mine links and councillors warning the collapse was larger than first thought. Swansea Bay News reported extensively on the closure, from the initial shock to the investigation and the promise of repairs before Christmas.
Now, with the road back open, attention turns to recovery for local businesses and reassurance for residents who watched a key city route vanish beneath their feet.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Sinkhole mystery solved: collapse blamed on old manhole
Investigations revealed the cause of the Brynymor Crescent sinkhole and hopes for a pre‑Christmas reopening.Council investigates possible mine link to Brynymor Crescent sinkhole
Early fears suggested historic mine workings could be to blame for the collapse.Brynymor Road sinkhole larger than expected, says councillor
Councillors warned the collapse was more extensive than first thought.Sinkhole forces road closure in Swansea’s Brynymor Road
The initial shock closure that disrupted traffic and businesses in the Uplands.#BrynymorCrescent #BrynymorRoad #CllrAndrewStevens #CllrPeterMay #CllrStuartRice #roadClosure #Sinkhole #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaSinkhole #Uplands
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Sinkhole mystery solved: Brynymor Crescent collapse blamed on old manhole – road could reopen before Christmas
Contractors have now completed investigations and confirmed the cause of the collapse was an ageing underground structure that had gone unnoticed beneath the tarmac. Backfilling began yesterday, and resurfacing is due to start next week.
If the weather holds, the road could reopen before Christmas – though heavy rain forecast for Monday and Tuesday may cause delays.
The update marks a turning point in a saga that began in late November, when a sudden collapse forced the closure of Brynymor Crescent and sparked speculation about historic mine shafts beneath the area.
Earlier reports suggested the sinkhole was “larger than expected” and potentially linked to old workings — but the latest findings rule that out.
Cllr Peter May said:
“The team have established that the cause of collapse was an old manhole beneath the road surface. This has now been dealt with and contractors began backfilling yesterday, with resurfacing to begin next week.”
Pending no unforeseen issues, the road should be open by the end of next week — or earlier if possible.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Sinkhole forces road closure in Bryn-y-Mor Road
A sudden collapse shuts down a busy Swansea street, sparking urgent investigations.Brynymor sinkhole ‘larger than expected’
Councillor warns the damage may be more extensive than first thought as investigations continue.Council investigates possible mine link
Officials explore whether historic mine workings could be behind the Brynymor Crescent collapse.#BrynymorCrescent #BrynymorRoad #CllrPeterMay #manhole #roadClosure #Sinkhole #Uplands
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Uplands Market highlighted in new ‘pedestrian pound’ report
The Pedestrian Pound is published by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, and shows that investing in better streets and places for walking and wheeling delivers quantifiable commercial returns.
Data shows that pedestrians spend more money than people arriving by car, and pedestrianised town centres have higher footfall.
Living Streets say that this is particularly relevant for Swansea, where the city centre has experienced a decline in footfall in recent years, despite recovering well from the pandemic. 23 per cent of high street services are vacant, and fewer visitors are coming from outside the city.
One of the case studies in the report is Uplands Market, a social enterprise founded by Urban Foundry. The market has transformed Gwydr Square, a side road just off the main street in Uplands, into a traffic-free space for people by temporarily removing a handful of parking spaces for a few hours each month. The market has improved the local economy and encouraged more walking in the neighbourhood.
The first Uplands Market was held in July 2013. Apart from the pandemic, the market has been held on every last Saturday of the month ever since, providing retail space for independent producers of high-quality, locally-made food, drink and craft items.
AdvertisementFootfall at Uplands Market is weather dependent but there can be over 3,000 people on warm sunny days – far more than in the area on a usual Saturday morning. It has been ranked as one of the top ten street markets in the UK by The Daily Telegraph and has twice been runner-up in The Observer Food Monthly awards.
The market intentionally doesn’t offer refreshments, and some local businesses offer special market day deals, helping to support local cafes and shops by bringing increased trade on market day.
In 2018, a survey with about 300 visitors at Uplands Market and its sister market in the marina found that 67 per cent of people had specifically been attracted by the markets and a fifth of people also spent money in surrounding local businesses, typically spending in the region of £10 to £25. Additionally, 77 per cent thought the market had given them a more positive view of the Uplands area. Anecdotally, many people originally attracted by the market now also shop in Uplands on non-market days.
The majority of people in Wales (57%) walk for travel purposes more than once a week2, but charity Living Streets says more needs to be done to integrate walking with public transport and make places more attractive for pedestrians.
Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive, Living Streets said: “Many high streets in Wales are struggling, so it’s heartening to see how Uplands Market in Swansea has been so successful for the local economy – and a real asset for those who live in the area.
Advertisement“The Pedestrian Pound proves that making high streets and town centres into spaces where people can walk and wheel increases time – and money – spent in those businesses. Uplands Market is a great example of how creating accessible and attractive public spaces can help to bring communities together.”
Tara Tarapetian, Director of Urban Foundry, said: “Uplands Market has been a great addition to Uplands as a community. It’s taken what would have been a car-dominated space and made it more pedestrian-friendly. Walking and wheeling have been brilliant for the local community and people visiting the market often go on to shop at local businesses in the area.”
Rana Verma owns Babita’s Spice, which trades at Uplands Market, with his wife. He said: “The market is a very social experience for many people, and they can come and shop at a leisurely pace. We find that people feel a lot more comfortable bringing their children, their pets, their toddlers in prams, and the fact that there’s no traffic just make that logistically a lot more straightforward.”
#Business #LivingStreets #market #retail #Swansea #Uplands #UplandsMarket
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UKH Articles - Missing #Wildlife - Lost Species That #ReWilding Could Return to Britain's Hills
‘The #UK has some of the lowest #biodiversity on earth, and most of our #uplands are ecologically barren. But it doesn't have to be this way. So what animals are missing, and how might the #landscape familiar to climbers and walkers change if they returned?’ Sarah Ryan
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UKH Articles - Missing #Wildlife - Lost Species That #ReWilding Could Return to Britain's Hills
‘The #UK has some of the lowest #biodiversity on earth, and most of our #uplands are ecologically barren. But it doesn't have to be this way. So what animals are missing, and how might the #landscape familiar to climbers and walkers change if they returned?’ Sarah Ryan
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title:hills around derwentwater
description:shot of hills new derwent water from catbells walk#England #Lakedistrict #Nature #UpLands #Hill #Grass #Plant #Clouds #Cloud #Sky #Outdoors #Pastoral #Field #Photography #Photo #Leica #Landscape #Calm #Serene #Tranquility #Derwent #Derwentwater #Keswick #Catbells #Bnw #Bw #Blackandwhite #Blancoynegro #Monochrome
L1010376 1.jpg -
title:hills around derwentwater
description:shot of hills new derwent water from catbells walk#England #Lakedistrict #Nature #UpLands #Hill #Grass #Plant #Clouds #Cloud #Sky #Outdoors #Pastoral #Field #Photography #Photo #Leica #Landscape #Calm #Serene #Tranquility #Derwent #Derwentwater #Keswick #Catbells #Bnw #Bw #Blackandwhite #Blancoynegro #Monochrome
L1010376 1.jpg -
OnlineFirst - "‘They’re part of what we are’: Interspecies belonging, animal life and farming practice on the Isle of Skye" by Tom Fry:
@CamUniGeography @UEcologies #farming #uplands #subjectivity #rewilding #conservation #morethanhuman #politicalecology
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25148486231151809
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OnlineFirst - "‘They’re part of what we are’: Interspecies belonging, animal life and farming practice on the Isle of Skye" by Tom Fry:
@CamUniGeography @UEcologies #farming #uplands #subjectivity #rewilding #conservation #morethanhuman #politicalecology
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25148486231151809
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#uplands / #marginal correlation here? h/t @undertheraedar
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RT @undertheraedar
I also found the '% of full time workers working 49 hours or more' map interesting. I'd take a punt and say the answer is 'hard working farmers' but I'm not an expert on that - definitely not an urban pattern though(the 25% here relates to those in full time work, obvs)
https://twitter.com/undertheraedar/status/1601563942526283777 -
My stall in Uplands Market, Swansea all set up today and there until 1pm today (Saturday) #photography #gower #wales #cymru #swansea #uplands #uplandalsmarket #outdoorselling #buylocal #localmarket #smalltrader
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My stall in Uplands Market, Swansea all set up today and there until 1pm today (Saturday) #photography #gower #wales #cymru #swansea #uplands #uplandalsmarket #outdoorselling #buylocal #localmarket #smalltrader
