Custodians of Dee Valley exhibition on display

* An example of the Custodians of Dee Valley exhibition.

An outdoor exhibition focusing on the ‘Custodians’ of the Dee Valley landscape is  on display in the area.

As part of Our Picturesque Landscape, the National Lottery Heritage Funded project in the Dee Valley, artists in residence Jessica and Philip Hatcher-Moore have interviewed and photographed local caretakers of the landscape.

Jessica has written vignettes about each person while Philip has taken portraits of them. These have been combined on exhibition boards to be displayed in the landscape.

Five of these boards were displayed at Wenffrwd Nature Reserve throughout October 2021 and now the full exhibition of ten boards is on display along the footpath between Berwyn station and the Chain Bridge, Llangollen.

The railway would also like to feature the exhibition at their launch event in Corwen when the station opens formally later in the year.

The exhibition will be displayed at other locations within the Dee Valley in the coming months. This partnership working will allow more people, both locals and visitors to the area, to engage with the images and stories curated by the Hatcher-Moores during their residency.

Jessica said: “I think wherever you live there is going to be an extraordinary cast of characters around you, but that feels particularly true here in the Dee Valley. As our stories show, the dramatic landscape of the area has been inspiring people for centuries, and it’s been such a joy to explore the impact it continues to have on people today.

“The biggest thing that emerged for me from these stories is how the community spirit is very much still alive in the Dee Valley – and how the landscape, with its rich social and natural history, supports it.

“We are very hugely grateful to the Our Picturesque Landscape and National Lottery Heritage Fund for giving us the opportunity to explore these stories."

“Exhibiting these photographs outdoors, in the landscape in which they were shot, adds another dimension to the work, with the interplay of light and shadows dancing across the images,” said photographer Philip Hatcher-Moore who specialises in outdoor installations of his work.

Phil Coles, Chairman Llangollen Railway Trust, said: “Llangollen Railway is very pleased to be helping the local AONB in this project and we hope this helps tourists to the area to understand more about the beautiful Dee Valley."

Town's 2020 Project is within budget, says county council

Denbighshire County Council has given llanblogger a progress report on the town's ongoing 2020 Project, explaining that it is "within budget" and due to finish by the end of next month.

There has been speculation locally that the scheme to widen pavements on Castle Street along with other modifications to the traffic system was running over budget and also behind schedule.

When llanblogger posed these questions to the council, a spokesperson responded: “The Llangollen 2020 Improvement project, which started in October, is being undertaken by Denbighshire County Council in partnership with Welsh Government and Transport for Wales.

“The project is within budget and due to be completed by the end of May.

“The scheme was developed following extensive consultation with the local community, local county councillors and Llangollen Town Council and aims to improve pedestrian access to the town as well as improving the flow of vehicles.

“This work provides more space for pedestrians and improved pedestrian crossing facilities making it easier for pedestrians to walk around the town centre, while upgraded traffic signals will improve the flow of vehicles.”

When work on the scheme began last October, the council said that it would take up to six months to complete. 

New High Sheriff pledges to help keep youngsters on right path

* The new High Sheriff of Clwyd, Zoë Henderson, at her Declaration at Nantclwyd y Dre, in Ruthin.

The new High Sheriff of Clwyd has pledged to work with schools across North East Wales to help keep young people on the straight and narrow.

Zoë Henderson, 60, a former executive with the giant US-based Dow Chemical Corporation, has hit the ground running by arranging a series of meetings with head teachers at the area’s secondary schools.

She held the Declaration to begin her year in office at historic 15^th century Nantclwyd y Dre, in her home town of Ruthin.

Her own education began at Llanbedr village school in the Vale of Clwyd before going on to Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin and she joined Dow after graduating from Wye College, part of London University, with a degree in Agricultural Economics.

She spent many years in sales and marketing roles across the USA and latterly back in Europe before stepping down from Dow, buying the family farmhouse, historic Caerfallen near Ruthin, from her parents and restoring it.

Zoë said: “I plan to take a particular interest in what causes young people to get into trouble with the law and what can be done to prevent this.

“The last thing you want is for a child in their teens looking forward to a wonderful life in the world of work to then see that future blighted by involvement in some sort of crime.

“I was very inspired recently by a visit to my old school, Brynhyfryd, to discuss local issues and I’m looking forward to visiting other Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham schools to discuss the issues faced by young people.”

She succeeds former Airbus UK executive Steve Thomas, from St Asaph, but the origins of the office date back to Saxon times when the ‘Shire Reeve’ was responsible to the king for the maintenance of law and order within the shire, or county, and for the collection and return of taxes due to the Crown.

The Queen appoints the high sheriff of each county of England and Wales by ‘pricking the vellum’, a custom dating back to the reign of Elizabeth I who signified assent by piercing the vellum or parchment by each name and signing the document.

It was in the reign of Elizabeth I that Zoë’s home at Caerfallen was built as the residence of Robert Turbridge, an earlier royal appointment as Baron Exchequer of North Wales with the job of collecting the taxes in recognition of his “constant diligence about the Queen’s affairs in said counties.”

Her duties as High Sheriff will also include supporting the Lord Lieutenant, Henry Fetherstonhaugh, in the event of any Royal visits to North East Wales and to sitting with and supporting judges and magistrates.

Her involvement in legal affairs will be supported by the Under-Sheriff of Clwyd, Sarah Noton, Managing Director of North Wales and Cheshire law firm Swayne Johnson.

Zoë added: “The official charity of High Sheriffs is Crimebeat and Crimebeat North Wales celebrates 20 years this year and in that time has issued grants worth more than £130,000 to projects mostly run by young people and aimed at cutting crime, supporting the victims of crime and improving life in communities across North Wales.

“I want to continue that work and also from my business background ask if we can promote that work better and do some things differently which might be more effective.

“I think I can do that and it gives me a real focus on ensuring that Crimebeat is fit for the future and for the differing needs of different parts of North Wales.”

Zoë, a keen horsewoman who has ridden all her life including during her time in the USA where she lived in Indiana in the Mid West, has kept busy since leaving Dow, first on the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board and more recently on the Board of Natural Resources Wales as well as doing business consultancy work.

She has also been gradually restoring Grade Two Star-listed Caerfallen and its buildings, including a 16^th century barn which is now a beautifully appointed holiday property.

* For more information on the office of High Sheriff of Clwyd go to https://highsheriffs.com/clwyd/ and for the work of Crimebeat North Wales go to http://www.crimebeatnorthwales.co.uk/

Collen Players' next variety and music hall show is May 6

* The cast of the last Collen Players' show in March.

The first acts have been announced for The Collen Players' next variety and music hall show.

Due to be held in St Collen's Community Hall on Friday May 6, The Good Old Days will transport the audience back in time to a place where a selection of acts will recreate the rumbustious Victorian music hall of the naughty 1890s.

Chairing the proceedings as usual will be Father Lee Taylor, who is an aficionado of this form of vintage entertainment and originally put together The Collen Players to present the very first Llangollen music hall just a couple of years ago.

So far announced as appearing in a bill of comedy, sing-a-long, dance and tribute acts are Mike Connolly, Alison Jarvis, John Williams, Phil Robinson and speciality act Colin Bourdeic.

There will be a special prize for best dressed Victorian in the audience.

* The show begins at 6.30pm and tickets, priced at £15 and including supper, are available by calling

01978 861768, or emailing stcollens@gmail.com

More night works to take place in Castle Street

* The recent re-surfacing work in Castle Street.

Denbighshire Count Council has announced that night works are due to take place in Llangollen as part of the town’s major public realm improvement project.

Work to re-surface Castle Street from Market Street junction up to and including the Mill Street/Abbey Road junction will take place between May 3 and May 20, excluding weekends, between 6pm to 12am, Monday to Friday.

The re-surfacing works have to be conducted under a road closure, says the council. 

It explains: "Consideration was given to other options, such as undertaking the work during the day or conducting a shorter series of night time closures.

"However, it was determined these options would not be feasible for safety reasons and because, in the case of the shorter series of night time works, they would cause more disturbance to residents.

"The council would like to thank residents for their understanding during this period."

Families urged to join scheme for free healthy food

A Welsh Government minister is encouraging eligible families to sign up for Healthy Start to get healthy food and vitamins for free.

Families can get a pre-paid card that is topped up every 4 weeks with credit to buy healthy food - fruit, vegetables, pulses and milk and infant formula. They can also get free Healthy Start vitamins.

Currently, nearly 40% of people within Wales who are eligible for the scheme are not claiming it.

Healthy Start is available to those who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, and are in receipt of certain benefits. From the 10th week of pregnancy until a child turns 4, you could be entitled to more than £1,200 to spend on healthy food.

Healthy Start cards can be used in retailers that sell food and accept MasterCard.

They can be used to buy:

• cow’s milk
• fresh, frozen and tined fruit and vegetables
• dried and tinned pulses
• first infant formula milk

You can also collect free Healthy Start vitamins. Taking certain vitamins during pregnancy and in early childhood improves both mothers’ and children’s health – just ask your midwife or health visitor for advice on where to get them.

Flintshire mum-of-two Emma already benefits from Healthy Start. Emma was told about the scheme by her partner’s mother.

Following the birth of her first child, she began accessing the scheme in 2019 and then again after her second child was born. Emma says the Healthy Start Scheme has helped financially and encouraged her to buy healthy foods.

To make the most of her allowance, which is automatically added to her card every four weeks, Emma  said: "My tip would be to organise and plan ahead what meals you are going to make for the family. I use fresh fruit and vegetables, but I also use frozen and tinned fruit and vegetable so we can always have some in the meals we make. I always use my Healthy Start allocation to buy these foods."

Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle said: "Typically four in ten people in Wales who could be receiving Healthy Start have not yet applied. I would urge people who think they may qualify to apply on line. Sadly, the increased cost of living is affecting so many families in Wales and across the UK, and I want to ensure that people are aware of Healthy Start and making use of the scheme to help them buy healthy food for their families."

* To find out if you’re eligible visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk.

Three local roadworks alerts

 

The following local roadworks alerts have been issued by one.network:

Berwyn Street, Denbighshire 19 April - 22 April   Delays likely - Traffic control (multi-way signals)   Description: ALTER AN EXISITNG SERVICE 3M PUBLIC...   Works location: O/S 8 BERWYN STREET   Public facing description: Wales & West Utilities Ltd has not assigned a specific description to this Works. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Wales & West Utilities Ltd.   Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities Ltd   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: XY254005000326317 Castle Street, Denbighshire 19 April - 22 April   Delays likely - Traffic control (multi-way signals)   Description: ALER AN EXISTING SERVICE 3M PUBLIC...   Works location: O/S 8 BERWYN STREET   Public facing description: Wales & West Utilities Ltd has not assigned a specific description to this Works. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Wales & West Utilities Ltd.   Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities Ltd   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: XY254005000326318   Regent Street, Denbighshire 19 April - 22 April   Delays likely - Traffic control (multi-way signals)   Description: ALTER AN EXISTING SERVICE 3M PUBLIC...   Works location: O/S 8 BERYWN STREET (REGENT STREET)...   Public facing description: Wales & West Utilities Ltd has not assigned a specific description to this Works. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Wales & West Utilities Ltd.   Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities Ltd   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: XY254004000167429