Pancake land near castle bought as "protection for future"

* Land beside Castell Dias Bran has been bought to protect it for the

future, says the county council.

Land leading up to one of the Dee Valley’s most iconic features from Llangollen has been bought to protect it for future generations, according to Denbighshire County Council.

The council owns the freehold to Castell Dinas Bran, which includes the summit where it located and it amounts to around five acres.

Now, a partnership involving the council, Natural Resources Wales and Llangollen Town Council have purchased 36 acres of land on the western approaches to the castle locally known as the Pancake. 

The purchase price of the land is £70,000, the council as said. This has been split between the three organisation with the county thought to have contributed the largest share. 

Discussions were led by Howard Sutcliffe, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB Officer and Ranger Service Manager.

The castle,  which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM), is one of the most important landmarks in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

It provides stunning views over the Dee Valley and over 30,000 visitors climb up to the castle each year.

The castle itself was purchased by the former Clwyd County Council in the late 1980s and Denbighshire County Council invested about £120,000 in reconsolidation work in the early 2010s.

Three years ago Natural Resources Wales designated all of the surrounding grasslands to the castle a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Two years ago the land was put on to the open market and funding was secured by the three-way partnership towards the purchase.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities and Chair of the Joint Committee for the AONB said: “Dinas Bran is such an iconic location and enjoyed by thousands of visitors year after year.  It is a major attraction in the Dee Valley and contributes towards the success of the visitor economy in the region.

“Opportunities like this to purchase the land are extremely rare, it was a great chance for the council to work towards buying the land, with the aim of protecting the land and allowing access to the castle for future generations to enjoy.

“We were delighted that Natural Resources Wales and Llangollen Town Council were on board with funding and shared our vision to protect and conserve this jewel in the AONB and the Dee Valley’s tourism and heritage crown.”

Richard May, Natural Resources Wales Conservation Officer said: “We look forward to working with our partners at the AONB to manage the site’s special features ensuring that we and future generations continue to enjoy Dinas Brân’s rich natural and historical heritage.

“The grasslands found here are very special and Dinas Brân has the second largest area in Wales of one of these important habitats.

“The SSSI also holds rare plants and important species of birds and butterflies that rely on the grassland and other habitats.”

Gareth Thomas, Clerk of Llangollen Town Council, said: “Llangollen Town Council are pleased that their involvement in this project has secured the purchase of this significant area of grassland.

“Through the foresight of former town councillor Karen Edwards, the Town Council was alerted of the potential to purchase this parcel of land.

“Fellow Town Councillors were more than happy to support her, and the effort of other partners, to bring this site into public ownership to safeguard, not only the land, but also the Castle against any future uses which could adversely affect these valuable historic and natural assets.”

In a joint statement Llangollen’s two county councillors, Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile, said: “We are both delighted that the purchase of this land has now been completed as we have been supporting this initiative from the beginning.

“Bringing this land into public ownership will support our Countryside Service team to continue to manage the area around the castle effectively as well as preserving its long term security for future generations.”

Former town councillor Karen Edwards said: “I’ve lived in the Llangollen area for most of my life and have always been passionate about the natural and historic environment here. 

“During my period as a town councillor I recognised the importance of the site forming part of the hill slopes leading to Castell Dinas Bran which was actively being advertised for sale. 

“I felt strongly that the site was too valuable to fall into private hands and that the best course of action was to attempt to bring it into public ownership in order to safeguard it for the future. 

“I entered into successful negotiations with the vendors who agreed to have the land held in abeyance in order for the partners to have the time to explore possible sources of funding.

“After I resigned as a town councillor I continued to work closely with the Howard Sutcliffe of the AONB and Gareth Thomas, the Town Clerk, as my passion  for this project had not diminished.  

“I am delighted that all the effort and those of my colleagues has finally come to fruition and that the land is now secured in the public sector for everyone’s continued enjoyment.”