Wolfscastle is situated in the valley of the Western Cleddau at the northern entrance to the Treffgarne Gorge and at a point where the railway from Paddington to Fishguard crosses the A40 trunk road. It is equidistant between Fishguard to the north and Haverfordwest to the south. Wolfscastle village which lies in its own Community Council area has a population of about 175 – 180.

The village has a history stretching back to the dawn of time – situated as the village is, on the edge of the Treffgarne Gorge, with its Pre-Cambrian rocks, which were laid down a thousand million years ago. The village and the surrounding area are rich in historical remains and virtually every crag and rock, field and lane, mansion cottage and church bears evidence of past peoples and their various activities.

The twentieth century saw many changes affect the community as everywhere else. In addition to vastly increased volumes of traffic, the village has acquired a new role as a leisure facilitator. In addition to the Wolf Inn, there is the very popular Allt-yr-Afon Country Hotel, a pottery, the renovated Motte and Bailey Castle, whilst Nant-y-Coy Mill has now become a very popular Arts Centre attracting countless numbers of visitors throughout the year. At the start of the twenty first century, it is pleasing to record that school, Sunday School, chapel and church still flourish and community spirit, as exemplified in the Annual Festival Week, is the envy of many another community.

At the 2008 Wales in Bloom Awards Ceremony held at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Nant-y- Coy Arts Centre were the very proud winners of the Royal Horticultural Society Discretionary Award,. This award was given for the restoration to the highest of standards of an old mill building, complete with working water wheel, nature trail and excellent interpretation panels featuring birdlife, mammals and other wildlife.

In 2005, representatives from all walks of life from within the community held a number of meetings in order to prepare an Action Plan for the village. The results have formed the basis for adoption and implementation of the Action Plan.

March 2007 saw the culmination of the efforts of the Community Forum’s Heritage Working Group over the past year, in the form of an Exhibition staged in Penybont Vestry and covering various aspects of the history of the three wards of Treffgarne, Ford and St Dogwells. The organizers were delighted to see so many local residents drop in and, if the comments in the Visitors’ Book are to be believed, the whole thing was an effort that was well worth making.

It is hoped that other projects described in the Action Plan will be achieved as quickly as practical with the various partners working in unison with local people to design, find and implement schemes.

There are a number of events currently organised by the Millennium and Festival Committees, including a very successful Festival Week which this year has raised approximately £3000 in order to support the Senior Citizens of the Community, Pupils of the local primary School and the development of a new play area on the Village Green for the children of the community. Once again and as part of this year’s Festival an Open Garden evening was held at Treffgarne Hall and proved to be a great success, with visitors from far and near visiting this popular event.

Features which give a particular character to the village are the open valley of the Western Cleddau, which runs into the heart of the village, the two-arched bridge and the village green, which was purchased by the Community Council a few years ago. We are now very proud of the fact that the Riverside Heritage and Amenity Area Car Park has been developed with generous financial support from PLANED and Pembrokeshire County Council Regeneration Unit. To coincide with the Official Opening held in April 2009 year a number of Trees were donated and planted along the River Bank thus improving the area immensely. Interest in improving the quality of the environment is apparent.

In 1989 Wolfscastle won the Best Kept Village Award and the Wales in Bloom Award in 2003, 2005, 2007 2008 and 2009. The community were very proud that the Revd Geoffrey Eynon Co-ordinator of the Wales in Bloom Competition in the Village was awarded the Norman Stewart Memorial Prize for promoting the community and the ideals of Wales in Bloom.

The areas of open space within the village are attractively maintained and generally litter free, buildings are looking neat, gardens generally well cared for. Every effort is made to encourage the very few residents not already participating in the Wales in Bloom Competition to start by placing one potted plant which will add to the overall effect, making Wolfscastle an even more beautiful community for us to live in and, in doing so, meet the objectives of Wales in Bloom to enhance the beauty of Wales.

The two rivers – Cleddau and Anghof and the surrounding woodland attract a variety of wild life and the quieter hobbies of fishing and bird watching.

Residents are interested in sustainable and healthy living including the careful use of materials and recycling waste, eating fresh local produce and walking or cycling rather than automatically using the car. There are many footpaths and bridleways in the vicinity which are used regularly by locals and visitors alike.

The local School has won Sustainable School Bronze and Silver Awards, and have now completed the Gold Award, which they will receive at the end of the current school term. The School has also successfully completed a number of years of the Pembrokeshire ‘Health Promoting Schools’ scheme. There is a school garden, which has been designed, planted and is now maintained by the children. It is keenly admired by the community and neighbouring schools – the jewel in the crown.

A major project at the School this year was the creation of a Willow Maze, which was planted and weaved by the pupils, staff, parents and friends of the school. The project was managed by Melissa Holloway and Cassandra Lishman of the People Enabling Co-operative

At the beginning of the autumn term, a committee was set up in order to start making arrangements for the School’s 175th anniversary. This British School was erected in 1834 at the expense of Wm. Edwardes, of Sealyham, with the aid of a parliamentary grant of 17/-, and the carriage of some of the materials by the neighbouring farmers. A number of events have already been held such as a community trip to St Fagans and a dinner dance at the local hotel. The highlight of the celebrations will be an open day when past, present and future pupils, staff and friends are invited along to a party atmosphere with entertainment and photographic and memorabilia exhibitions throughout the afternoon..

Ysgol Casblaidd has a proud history of serving the community and has had great successes locally and nationally throughout its history.

There is of course, a very close link between the local Penybont Chapel and the community. The chapel are very fortunate to have a large vestry, which is used regularly by the community to hold various events, such as coffee mornings, concerts, pantomimes. The local organisations - Over 60’s, WI, Community Forum and the Community Council etc. also use the facility to hold their regular meetings.

To mark the bicentenary of the original chapel and the centenary of the present chapel in 2007 a very successful Flower Festival was held last July to mark this event. Large crowds, in excess of 1000 people from many parts of the world, attended the 5 day event, and were very complimentary of the chapel facilities and the community as a whole.

The recycling facilities in the village are very limited with only a ‘bottle bank’ situated at the car park of the Country Hotel, which is regularly used by the residents. However, the inhabitants are encouraged to take their recyclable items to an amenity area approximately seven miles away. At the end of July 2008, every household became involved in the Orange Bag Recycling Scheme, and was encouraged to take part However, the pupils of the local school have been made aware of the importance of recycling over a number of years and have encouraged their parents and members of the community of how important it is to recycle as much as possible in order to protect the planet for future generations.

Every household have received a Composting Bin, in the hope that this will encourage the whole community to compost their waste products. Also, composted grass cuttings are collected from the riverside to be used by local gardeners. It is hoped that a site for recycling can be identified in the future within the community.

The two local hostelries – the Wolfe Inn and the Wolfscastle Country Hotel Alltyrafon) are very colourful with their array of shrubs and plants. The management and staff are very supportive of the efforts of the community in keeping Wolfscastle clean, tidy and colourful at all times.

The local WI continues to plant and maintain the flower border on the A40 trunk road adjacent to the railway bridge. Also they have also been assisting the school children in the planting and growing of fruit and vegetables in the School Garden.

The Community Council in conjunction with the school was very proud to host the launch ceremony of the 2005 Wales in Bloom Competition. To mark this event, 5 trees were planted in and around the school by representatives from the Wales in Bloom Foundation as well as local dignitaries. The community was also very proud that we were able to host the prestigious awards ceremony in October 2005 the venue was the well known Alltyrafon Country Hotel.

Although funding of the Wolfscastle in Bloom is not apparent, it is obvious from the displays and efforts put in to the annual competition that large amounts of money is being spent by the residents to enhance their own properties. We are very fortunate that Pembrokeshire County Council plant and maintain the flower troughs at the school and riverside amenity area both with winter and summer planting.

The County Council also are encouraged to ensure that the hedge banks, verges, village green and all other council owned property are maintained. The Riverside Amenity Area and other open spaces within the community are maintained voluntarily by a local resident.

Every encouragement to promote Wales in Bloom within the community and beyond is advertised in the local community, through the distribution of ‘flyers’ to every household, posters in the local businesses, notice board, the local press and the community newsletter.