Press Releases

Slugs from France, Spain and Italy are invading Britain

A new study undertaken by scientists from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, published this week in the scientific journal PLOS One, shows that Britain is crawling with 20% more species of slugs than ever before. Most are already widespread, and may pose new threats to gardeners and agriculture.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales (Amgueddfa Cymru) is the first national museum in the world to trial the Culture and Heritage Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology (Apple iBeacon), in partnership with People’s Collection Wales and the Locly (app and platform). The programme is being trialled at one of Amgueddfa Cymru’s sites — the National Slate Museum in Llanberis — and will enable visitors to discover more about the collections on their mobile devices as they walk around the site.

National Waterfront Museum’s four year programme of events and exhibitions, to commemorate 100 years since the start of the First World War kicked off on the weekend when children helped to sow poppy seeds to remember those who have fallen in all wars. For the rest of the commemoration period, the poppies will provide an annual reminder and a place to gather and reflect.

During his brief and tragic life, the Welsh artist James Dickson Innes (1887-1914) painted a unique vision of the Welsh landscape in an intensely colourful Post-Impressionist style. Marking the centenary of the his death, a new exhibition Landscapes by J.D. Innes: Beauty Most Wild at National Museum Cardiff, from 12 April to 20 July 2014, sheds new light on the work of this unjustly neglected artist. Generously supported by the Brecknock Art Trust, this is the first exhibition of Innes’s work in twenty-seven years.

Swansea’s National Waterfront Museum will launch a brand new bilingual monthly song and craft session for the under-fives in a push to widen its commitment to the Welsh language and further develop free activities for families.

In May 2013, when Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales announced its new structure, the organisation’s Senior Management Team also signalled the need to review Premium Payments. This was one of a series of actions to achieve the £2.25 million savings required (at the same time as seeking to increase other income by £0.25m).

Premium Payments are an attendance allowance, given to staff who are contracted to work rotas, that includes weekends and Bank Holidays.

Around half of Amgueddfa Cymru’s employees are currently paid an additional £54.24 per day (on top of their basic salary) for working on Sundays and Bank Holidays, and £30.06 per day (on top of their basic salary) for working on a Saturday.

Due to a reduced budget, Amgueddfa Cymru’s Premium Payments scheme cannot continue in its present form. The organisation is therefore consulting with its staff and Trade Unions on a way forward.

Amgueddfa Cymru is also reviewing its Severance Scheme as part of the changes.

No compulsory redundancies are proposed as part of these consultations.