“Camp fire” cuisine inspires new generation of explorers

* James Kendall with a tinder nest.

A nature-loving duo will be inspiring families to embrace their “inner wildness” and help beat stress with “camp fire” cooking at a top food festival.

Forest school and bushcraft experts James and Lea Kendall will be hosting interactive cooking workshops throughout this year’s Llangollen Food Festival to reconnect parents and children with nature to boost their mental wellbeing.

The couple, who run the highly successful Woodland Classroom in Wrexham, will be unlocking the gastronomic secrets hidden in Wales’ hedgerows and forests and creating a range of mouth-watering treats during the festival, which takes place on October 19 and 20. 

Children will get the chance to toast popcorn over the camp fire and make hedgerow tea, toffee apple slices, hazel chocolate parcels and hedgerow crumble from freshly foraged berries and other herbs and plants on site.

Parents, meanwhile, will be introduced to “weeds for wellbeing” and will learn about the medicinal benefits of a host of garden herbs and plants - as well as the joys of “hunting and gathering” as a family.

James, 39, who has featured in a BBC news programme about the benefits of woodland adventure for mental health, alongside wife Lea, said: “Children absolutely love being outdoors. They always have and usually they don’t need to be pushed. It’s what they’re supposed to do.

“There are the obvious benefits of good bacteria and sunlight but it’s also about developing a love for nature and an appreciation for the outdoors so that we raise children who love nature and will look after it.

“There’s much more awareness now about the impact of human activity with documentaries such as ‘Blue Planet’ highlighting the plastics in our oceans. People are also thinking of mental health and wellbeing more.

“Now is the perfect time for bush craft and forest school.  People understand the benefits of being outdoors and reconnecting with nature.

“It’s our first time at this particular festival but we’re really looking forward to it.”

James and Lea, who live near Wrexham, host courses on foraging, wilderness cooking, bushcraft and outdoor survival skills. They are also trained Forest School leaders and work in primary schools across North Wales.

James is a qualified bushcraft instructor and previously managed the Long Wood Community Woodland, the largest community-owned woodland in Wales, overseeing the management of 300 acres of broadleaf and conifer forest.

Lea, who formerly worked as a learning mentor in a primary school, is a qualified counsellor and practitioner of mindfulness in a woodland setting and also hosts “circus workshops” for young people.

During the festival, families will learn the art of wilderness cooking and will have the opportunity of baking bread in a traditional Dutch outdoor oven as well as learning how to safely light and manage a camp fire and transform seasonal fruits and berries into tasty treats.

“We all have to eat. It’s a universal thing we all have in common. There’s so much food in the hedgerows and woods. Part of our aim is to teach people how to forage responsibly,” said James.

“What’s amazing is that if kids burn the food that they’ve cooked, they’ll still wolf it down and say it’s the best thing they’ve ever tasted. That wouldn’t happen around the dining table.

“They make a connection with the food and have ownership. It’s very rewarding work and we really enjoy it.”

For parents and adults, Lea will be sharing her knowledge of herbs, weeds and plants and their inherent medicinal qualities including dandelions which are renowned for detoxing the liver and camomile which provides stress relief.

“For years we’ve been brought up to believe hawthorn is poisonous but it’s actually a really good heart tonic and lowers or increases blood pressure, depending on what’s needed,” said Lea.

“Anything which is nutritious for the body is good for the gut and this is instrumental in improving mental health.

“The gut produces 90% of the serotonin in our bodies, which is the happy hormone, so if we are eating a bad diet and suffering from stress and depression we have to recognise the link there.

“Very often we can buy vegetables from the supermarket which are much depleted in the nutrients they should contain. One of the best ways to increase the good bacteria in the gut is to go wild and forage to boost your health.

“It’s so accessible to all of us. You can literally open your back door and go out and you’ll find nutritious berries and herbs which will increase your overall health and act as a preventative medicine. They are also completely free and engage your ancient hunter gather brain.

“Foraging is something everyone can do. It can bring families together and it’s great mentally and physically.”

The workshops are part of a packed programme of live cookery events for families over the two-day festival, which takes place at the  International Pavilion, Llangollen.

Edible slime-making, C02 rocket building and pizza designing are also on the menu as part of science-inspired cookery workshops delivered by Kiddy Cook.

The business, founded by former BBC Radio Leicester presenter turned marketing expert Nikki Geddes, has become a national success since launching 15 years ago from Nikki’s kitchen - and now boasts 13 franchisees across England and South Wales. 

“I used to cook with my daughter all the time when she was younger,” explained Nikki, 48, who delivers her cookery lessons in schools, festivals, and at other public events.

“I came up with the idea of doing workshops and they just took off because there was nothing like it. It was just the right time.”

At Llangollen, her sessions will include ‘Fizz! Bang! Wallop’ where children will discover how Co2 makes dough rise with bread bubble bombs and carbon dioxide rockets and ‘Bonkers Bacteria!’ which is an interactive session about hygiene and germ prevention.

“Our core principles are eating well and being active and if you’re doing those things you have a better chance of maintaining good mental health and being fit and strong,” said Nikki, from Hale, who has an 18-year-old daughter and son aged 15.

“We teach children practical skills like how to read food labels, how to reduce the sugar they are eating, being good global citizens and eating responsibly.

“But we are really passionate about inspiring young children to have fun with food and helping them to make informed choices to have a healthy lifestyle.

“We don’t want children to be frightened by food. If they’re allowed to be creative and taste as they go along they will be more inclined to try what they have made.”

* For more information about the Llangollen International Food Festival please visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Top tips on clearing from Glyndwr University experts

Students who are considering their next step after results day have been given some key tips by experts at Wrexham Glyndwr University.

With A Level results being released today, the Admissions and Enquiries team at Wrexham Glyndwr University are set to be talking to potential students from across the UK about their options among the vast range of undergraduate degree courses being offered at Wrexham Glyndwr University. 

The team will also be on hand at this weekend’s Open Day, on Saturday August 17, and at the next Open Day on Saturday September 7, to advise potential students about their next steps.

Admissions and Enquiries Manager, Andy Phillips, said: “It has been a busy day today and it will continue to be busy in the days following results day.  We have places available on a wide range of courses, from Accounting and Finance to Youth and Community Work.

“We expect a good turnout at our Open Day this Saturday from people who want to start with us in September, and the conversations we have on results day will all be geared towards getting people to come and visit us and see what we’re all about before making their mind up.”

Andy also set out some top tips for students who are looking at university study – and trying to work out the best way to approach universities now that they have their results.

He said:  “One of the key pieces I would give potential students is to have their results to hand – and to be prepared to contact us themselves. While that might seem obvious, we can find ourselves speaking to someone acting on behalf of a potential student – but we do need to speak to them directly. Though that can seem daunting, there are so many ways to get in touch now that it doesn’t have to be a scary initial telephone call – students can reach us via email, webchat, Twitter, Facebook and so on nowadays too!

“However they get in touch, we do want to know about students’ qualifications so suggest having them to hand – write down your A levels, your GCSE results and any other qualifications so they are all in one place to refer to.

“Finally, we always to suggest to students they research what they want from university – not only academically but also in terms of campus life, accommodation, travel and more. 

“At Wrexham Glyndwr University, we are confident students will enjoy studying with us, and if we make an offer on results day, it’s not a 24 hour deadline, it’s valid until the end of August. This is a big step – we want you to have time to make the right decision.”

Wrexham Glyndwr University’s clearing hotline is on 01978 293439 and prospective students can also find out more at: https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/clearing2019/ 

Students wishing to find out more about studying at Wrexham Glyndwr University, to meet key academics from the Vice-Chancellor down, and to take part in a wide range of fascinating experiences can also do so at one of the university’s Open Days.

To find out more, visit: wgu.ac.uk/openday

Police close Castle Street following collision

* Above and below: the scenes in Castle Street this morning.

Castle Street has been closed by police following a collision in which the casualty had to be flown away from the scene by air ambulance earlier this morning.

A message from North Wales Police sent out at around 11am said: "Castle Street in Llangollen is currently closed following a serious RTC involving a pedestrian and a car. Please use alternative routes. Thank you."

A large number of police are at the scene and are diverting traffic away from the town's main street.

This has been causing widespread traffic congestion.

Pedestrians are being allowed to walk along the street but are being asked by police officers not to walk on the roadway.

A unit from the force's forensic collision investigation unit is parked outside the Town Hall.

Ysgol Dinas Bran celebrates "fantastic" A Level resullts

* Above and below: Dinas Bran students celebrate their A Level results.

Delighted A level students celebrated fantastic exam results at Ysgol Dinas Bran today.

Overall the pass-rates at A level are very pleasing with over 75% of grades awarded at A*-C, well above national averages and nearly 30% achieving A*/A grades. 

 Among subjects, Chemistry, Design and Technology, French, Further Mathematics, History and Physics, all had 100% pass-rates at A*-C.

There were some outstanding performances from students. 

Laura McAndrew achieved four A* grades, in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and French -a terrific achievement! She will now continue with her studies doing Modern Languages in Newcastle University. 

Zoe Nicholas also achieved three A* grades in Maths, Further Maths and Chemistry and is now going on to study Chemistry in Oxford University. Emma and Lucy Brown both gained 3A* grades in Maths, Biology and Physics. Emma is going on to study Biomedical Sciences at Birmingham University and Lucy will be studying Physics at Birmingham University. 

Laura Gibbs gained 2A* in Further Maths and Physics and an A grade in Maths. She is now going on to study Physics and Astronomy in Durham University.

It is also congratulations to Eve McSpadden who achieved four A grades and is going on to study Ecology and Conservation at Lancaster University. Other students who achieved two A grades or more were:

Sarah Gibbs                            3 A Grades

Eve Barrett                            1 A* Grade 1, A Grade, & 1 B Grade

Oliver Evans                            1 A* Grade 1, A Grade, 1 B Grade & 1 C Grade

Megan Jones                            2 A Grades & 1 B Grade

Thomas Bolton                             2 A Grades & 1 B Grade

Olivia Eggington              2 A Grades & 1 B Grade

Ryan Verschueren              2 A Grades & 1 B Grade

Early indicators suggest that the vast majority of students who applied to university have been successful in their first choice applications, says the school.

Headteacher Mark Hatch said “We are delighted with these results. A levels are hard exams; the students have worked hard and deserve their success. 

"We wish them well for the future, whatever their chosen route. A big thank you also to all the teachers for their tremendous work and support of the students.”

* Denbighshire County Council has congratulated the county’s young people on their examination successes. 

It says early indications show an increase above the Welsh national standards in students achieving A*-C grades. 

The council says: "There are some excellent individual achievements across all schools with most young people progressing to their chosen pathways. There is also a pleasing increase in students achieving A* and A grades this year."

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire's Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “Yet again this year we have seen some great results in Denbighshire, with some outstanding performances from individuals across the county.

“The results reflect the hard work going on in our schools to maintain and improve performance and we must commend our students and staff for the tremendous amount of work and effort that went into preparing for their examinations. 

“Young people are at the very heart of our Corporate Plan and we want to see them achieve and have the skills to progress to further education, alternative training or new careers. We would like to offer our sincere congratulations to the class of 2019 and we wish them every success in their chosen pathway.”

Police warn over "safe account" phone scams

North Wales Police are warning people to be alert to ‘safe account’ scams after an increase in reports from members of the public.

Residents have reported receiving phone calls from scammers claiming to be calling from their bank, or police fraud investigators. 

The caller will state that there is an issue with the victims bank account and advise them to move their money to a ‘safe account’. 

The victim will often be told that bank staff are suspected of being involved in a fraud which deters the public from seeking advice in their local branch.

In some cases victims have been played an automated message stating £600 had been taken from their account and requesting the victims press ‘1’ to continue.

Financial abuse safeguarding officer DC2675 Rachel Roberts said: “This is not a new scam but there has been a recent resurgence in victims being duped in this way. Many of the victims are elderly and have lost thousands of pounds.

“Often the victims have no reason to doubt the fraudsters as they appear to know the victims personal details. The fraudsters will urge victims to act quickly and create a fear that the victims money is in danger of being lost.”

Police have issued the following advice to residents 

• If you receive a telephone call from anyone asking you to move your money into a different account end the call immediately. 
• Do not give personal details, including banking details, to anyone you do not know either in the street, on the doorstep, over the telephone or internet as these details can be used to steal your identity.
• Beware of cold calls even when the caller appears to have personal information such as your address, date of birth or bank account details.
• Your bank and the police will never ask you to transfer your money into a ‘safe account’.
• If you receive unexpected contact from persons claiming to be from your bank take time to think. Do not be rushed. If you have concerns about your money wait 10 minutes and call your bank on a trusted number to check the validity of the call.

* For further information visit the North Wales Police public web page and clicking on the fraud information box. Here you will find advice on various types of fraud and a link to Action Fraud (www.actionfraud.police.uk) or call on 0300 123 2040.

Direct trains from Gobowen to London planned

Direct trains from Gobowen to London have been promised by the new operator of the West Coast Main Line. 

First Trenitalia has today (Wednesday) been announced as the successful bidder to operate the West Coast Partnership.

The Department for Transport says this will mean that from December 2022 passengers will benefit from 263 extra train services every week and that destinations including Gobowen and Llandudno will now be served by direct trains to and from London.

Subject to approval from the Office of Rail and Road, two trains per hour will run between Liverpool and London.  

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "This award is positive news for passengers, with more services, more direct connections and ambitious plans for a cleaner, greener railway, and also represents a decisive shift towards a new model for rail."

Keith Williams, Chair of the Rail Review, said: "The railway needs reform that prioritises the customers and communities it serves, with an absolute focus on delivering benefits for passengers. I have also been clear that my review must not stop or delay investment and innovation.

"This West Coast Partnership delivers for passengers. It is a step forward that is firmly in line with the review, introducing benefits for passengers today and capable of incorporating the reforms needed for the future."

First Trenitalia will oversee the introduction of new environmentally-friendly trains, entirely replacing the diesel-only fleet and reducing CO2 emissions by 61%. 

It will also invest £117 million in a major refurbishment of the current Pendolino fleet, providing more comfortable seats and additional luggage space.

Obituary of distinguished Llangollen-born diplomat

The Guardian has carried the obituary of Sir Wynn Hugh-Jones (pictured) who was born in Llangollen and died recently at the age 95 after a distinguished career as a diplomat and general secretary of the Liberal Party.

You can see this at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/11/sir-wynn-hugh-jones-obituary

Petrol Honda CR-V is a strong family market contender

* The Honda CR-V. 

* The CR-V cockpit.

Honda CR-V road test by Steve Rogers

CARAVANERS have always loved the Honda CR-V. The SUV offered a huge amount of space and effortless towing but has the Japanese company shot itself in the foot by dropping diesel from the latest model?

Honda would say not because diesel sales have fallen off the cliff and are unlikely to recover as car companies plough resources into petrol hybrid and electric power. Catering for towing is hardly top of the priority list but pulling a caravan or trailer with a petrol engine is always going to be second choice.

So here's a challenge for CR-V. Towing my four berth 7.2 metre caravan 340 miles to Redruth in Cornwall. The car's 1.5 VTEC turbo engine seems an unlikely match and more importantly what is it going to do to the gallon? My last petrol experience was 1989 when I got 20mpg from a 2-litre Mazda 626. Painful on the pocket.

With 170bhp under the bonnet I had no worries about CR-Vs ability to pull my van. It has a capacity of 2000kg, way more than I need. No, my concern was the 220Nm of torque, a lot less than a diesel. The six speed gear box was going to be busy.

How did CR-V do? I was right about having plenty of gear change practice but as long as the right gear was chosen the car felt very comfortable and pulled strongly uphill. The downside is engine noise. The VTEC likes its revs and tends to shout and scream once passed 3000rpm.

I kept a close eye on the computer readout for fuel consumption and was pleasantly surprised. The CR-V never fell below 25mpg and even reached 30mpg for the long cruise down the M5. The average at journeys end was 27.2mpg and it was much the same for the return trip, not a a bad return and not much worse than a Mazda CX-5 with similar power to CR-V from a 2.2 diesel which I used to tow a few weeks earlier.

Given the choice I would still opt for diesel but those choosing CR-V for towing are not going to be too disappointed.

But what of CR-V as an everyday family car? It has been the people's choice since it was launched 24 years ago and according to Honda is the world's best selling SUV. I drove it at the launch and wrote that it was a game changer with driving characteristics much closer to a car than the cumbersome 4x4s of the time.

Honda has done such a lot to improve CR-V down the years and the fifth generation is the best yet, as it should be, and is built on the same global platform as the Civic. It doesn't look a lot different from the previous model until you get close up and see all the new body creases and bulging wheel arches, all intended to give CR-V more kerb appeal.

A spacious cabin has been a big strongpoint and has got even better thanks to the longer wheelbase. Back seat legroom has to be the best in its class, there is even room for a seven seater version, a first for CR-V, while the boot is massive with the back seats dropped.

A couple of adults could sleep in it and it took my two adult bikes without any trouble. The sill is about as low as it will go and the tailgate aperture nice and wide for easy loading.

The SUV/crossover market is crowded, some would say overcrowded, so Honda has tried to distance itself from the pack with a combination of greater cabin space and more upmarket trim. It is not premium, but is knocking on the door.

Dashboard layout is clean and simple with the gearstick perched high in the centre console. This leaves a lot of space for stowage between the seats with the central box large enough to take a litre bottle of water with room to spare.

Honda has chosen Garmin for the navigation system which isn't my favourite. The graphics are not detailed enough and look more suited as illustrations for a child's book. At least reaction time for the touchscreen is good although I was none too impressed by the advanced traffic warning that twice wanted to send us on a wild goose chase.

We ignored the first report of a big delay and found there wasn't any, but took the second alternative route because of an apparent delay which also turned out to be out of date.

That apart, CR-V continues to be a strong contender. Driven solo the 1.5 VTEC is a bit of a flyer with 40mpg plus economy and commendably low emissions, and while the handling is not as dynamic as the Mazda CX-5 or the new Seat Tarraco, it has a more comfortable ride which is more in tune with the needs of a family.

Key facts

CR-V SE 6sp manual

£28,405

1.5 VTEC turbo; 170bhp

0-62mph 9.3secs; 130mph

44.8mpg combined

143g/km. 1st year tax £210

Boot: 1756 litres max

Insurance group 24

Gardening club's summer open show this Saturday

Llangollen & District Gardening Club has its Open Summer Show at the RAFA Club this Saturday, August 17.

A copy of the show

 schedule can be picked up from Watkins & Williams, the Library, Tourist Information, Zingibers and Courtyard Books. 

Chance to get an inside look at Glyndwr University

* The Gallery, a new facility at the university.

* Vice Chancellor Maria Hinfelaar. 

An exclusive opportunity to see the elite Colliers Park football training facility is among the experiences on offer at Wrexham Glyndwr University’s next open day.

The event takes place on Saturday, August 17 and transport will be available from Glyndwr’s main Plas Coch campus in Wrexham to take interested students on the behind-the-scenes tour.

During the tour, sports academics at the university will be on hand to show visitors around the newly-redeveloped site, which is operated by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), in partnership with Wrexham Glyndwr University.

The tour will be held at 11.30am (with transport leaving Plas Coch at 11.15am.) It will also feature a session looking at body composition and an overview of the sports programmes on offer at Wrexham Glyndwr University.

The new facilities at Colliers Park are among the latest upgrades students at Glyndwr can expect to see, with series of recently-opened social learning spaces and upgraded teaching rooms and lecture theatres on show which have been completed under the university’s ongoing Campus 2025 estates renewal strategy. 

In one of the recently opened spaces, The Gallery, prospective students and their family will get the chance to chat with Glyndwr’s Vice Chancellor Maria Hinfelaar face-to-face over coffee. The session, at 10.30am, is designed to offer the chance to ask questions about the university, its courses and what it’s like to study at Glyndwr in an informal manner.

There are also a host of other, subject-specific talks, demonstrations and activities on hand throughout the day.

Wrexham Glyndŵr University Admissions Manager, Andy Phillips, said: “We’ve got lots of activities and talks taking place this open day, including ‘Criminology: Your Route into Public Services,’ ‘Psychology Café – the Psychology of Love Island,’ ‘Stop & Search Knife Crime,’ an interactive physiotherapy session - and much more.

“There’s also the chance to get your hands of some of the amazing high-tech equipment our academics and students use in a PlaySpace arena – with an opportunity to explore everything from Virtual Reality headsets to 3D printing, ethical hacking and the internet of things. ”

The August open day is designed to give prospective 2019 entry students a taste of what it's like to study at Glyndwr, to let them learn more about the wide variety of degree programmes available and to show them what each of Glyndwr’s campuses has to offer -  as well as being giving them the chance to meet with course staff and current students.

The university has a wide range of courses available at foundation, undergraduate and post graduate level, many of which can also be studied part-time. More than half of current Wrexham Glyndwr students study part-time and includes a wide-variety of age groups.

A number of the university’s supporting services will also be on hand on the day to speak to prospective students, including the award-winning careers team - whose work supporting students has been recognised with a national accolade from AGCAS (the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service.)

There is also the opportunity to speak to the admissions team about course entry requirements and the application process, and the student funding and money advice team for information on funding and fees.

The open day runs from 10am – 2pm with last entry at 1pm. You can drop in throughout the day but don’t forget to check the list of talks and events so you don’t miss something that’s important to you. 

* For more information or to book to attend the Open Day visit: wgu.ac.uk/openday.

Llangollen has county's highest earning car park

* Llangollen's Market Street car park.

A car park in Llangollen is the top earner for Denbighshire County Council.

The Daily Post put in Freedom of Information requests to local authorities across north Wales to discover exactly how much their car parks made in fees during 2018/19. The total was £4.3 million.

And the reply from Denbighshire showed that Martket Street in Llangollen was its highest earner, bringing in £137,244.03 during the period.

Two other car parks in the town also made it into the county’s top ten.

East Street came in at number eight by notching up £42,723 and the tally for Mill Street was just a little less at £41,036 which brought it in at number 10.

Denbighshire’s full top ten is:

Market Street, Llangollen £137,244.03
Rhyl Promenade £108,677.23
Sky Tower, Rhyl £65,078.84
Nova, Rhyl £61,507.72
Factory Ward, Denbigh £54,818.91
Market Street, Ruthin £47,489.88
Morley Road, Rhyl £43,891.30
East Street, Llangollen £42,723.93
Underground, Rhyl £42,224.55
Mill Street, Llangollen £41,036.60

* See the full story at: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/parking-cash-cows-netted-north-16733201

Oak Street Gallery to host John Peacock exhibition

* John Peacock's work entitled Marigolds.

Artist John Peacock is to stage an exhibition at the Oak Street Gallery in Llangollen.

His medium is stitched collage, with the use of fabrics, stained and oiled brown paper, colour papers and newspaper.

His work is often enhanced with coloured inks, dye, paint and/or bleach. 

Much of his inspiration comes from the countryside, particularly trees and woodlands. Antique embroidery and patchwork, Oriental carpets and rugs often influence the colour pallet used in his work.

There will be an opening event on the evening of Saturday August 17, from 7pm to 9pm.

The exhibition will run from August 18 until September 14, and the gallery will be open Wednesday – Sunday, 10am-4pm.

 * Orchard by John Peacock. 

New campaign will celebrate best in local produce

* The Launch of Taste North East Wales at Llangollen’s Horseshoe Falls with, from left, Pip Gale, of Gales Wine Bar, in Llangollen, rafters from SAS Outdoors, Robyn Lovelock, Donna Hughes, Cadwyn Clwyd; Janet Monshin Dallolio, Joe Bickerton, Wrexham County Borough Council; Emma Cornes and Jane Clough. Picture: Mandy Jones.

Taste, a 40-day fiesta of food-filled experiences, will this autumn celebrate the fantastic range of produce available from the north east corner of Wales.

Taste North East Wales will run through September, October and into November with 30 events showcasing ways for visitors and local residents to savour the region’s rich culinary tradition.

So if tastes run to black-tie catered rafting on the River Dee at Llangollen, afternoon tea in a prime ministerial library at Hawarden in Flintshire or a costumed medieval feast at Wrexham museum they and many others can be catered for.

The programme is backed by rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd along with the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB and the Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham local authorities.

The money is from a pot of almost £8 million of funding administered by Corwen-based Cadwyn Clwyd from the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. It is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government as part of a six-year plan to revitalise rural communities and their economies.

Taste North East Wales is being supported by Cadwyn Clwyd for its first two years but is then intended to become an annual and self-sustaining event which will include dining experiences, production tours, demonstrations, tastings, workshops and masterclasses and also incorporate the established food festivals at Llangollen, Mold and Wrexham. 

Emma Cornes, the campaign's co-ordinator, said: “What we are doing is showcasing this whole area through the medium of its fabulous food.

“We have put together a programme of unique food-based experiences and we want as many people as possible to explore, experience and eat the best of what North East Wales has to offer.

“If you want to go rafting, work in a community garden, attend a medieval banquet, visit an egg farm or go foraging you can do it and experience the unique flavours of the area through each opportunity.”

Pip Gale, of Gales Wine Bar in Llangollen, is part of the Ravenous Rafting experience which will include canapes made from locally sourced ingredients ahead of a white water trip down the River Dee followed by Sunday lunch at Gales, again profiling key local ingredients.

He said: “We live in an amazing place with amazing food and we are now working together to put North East Wales on the food map.

“The produce from this area is particularly good. Everyone knows the lamb is fantastic but we have so many other food producers making lots of lovely products that deserve to be better known, from craft beers and ciders to chocolate, honey and ice cream.”

* For more information on Taste North East Wales, go to: www.tastenortheastwales.org

Friends of Pengwern are going stargazing

Friends of Pengwern is hosting a stargazing session next Tuesday evening.

Spokesperson Emma Davies said: "Come and join us to gaze at the night sky and spot some meteorites and shooting stars.

"We will be walking up to the meadow so please wear suitable footwear, bring a torch and maybe bring a blanket and a flask."

She added: "This is part of the ongoing Nature for Health project, with many more events coming soon.

"The project is a collaboration between Denbighshire Countryside Service - Gwasanaeth Cefn Gwlad Sir Ddinbych and Denbighshire Housing Services."

The session takes place on Tuesday August 13, from 9-11pm, and those interested in taking part are asked to meet at Pengwern Community Centre, LL20 8BB.

Rescue team called to incident near Llangollen

NEWSAR - North East Wales Search and Rescue - have given details of an incident they were called to in the Llangollen area early this morning (Friday).

On their website they says: "North Wales Police called the team in the early hours of this morning after a couple got into difficulty walking near Llangollen. 

"The incident site was not completely clear so, in cooperation with the casualty group, we used some phone technology to get a precise location.

"We were then able to direct Police Officers to the site while we started team members moving to assist. Shortly afterwards the group was located by Police Officers and assisted to safety and we stood down. "

More details about town council by-election

A by-election will be held for one member to represent the vacant seat on Llangollen Town Council following the resignation of Cllr Karen Edwards.

Any person wishing to stand as a candidate at the by-election should contact the Returning Officer at Denbighshire County Council on 01824 706114 (email elections@denbighshire.gov.uk) to obtain nomination papers.

Completed nomination papers must be presented in person to the Returning Officer or her Deputy at County Hall, Ruthin by 4pm Friday, 6 September 2019.

Should the election be contested it will take place on Thursday, 3 October 2019 with polling taking place at the Council Chamber at Llangollen Town Hall. 

Medieval re-enactment at Valle Crucis this weekend

As part of the Kids' History Festival organised by CADW,  the Prince's Retinue will be in residence at Valle Crucis Abbey transporting visitors back in time with a range of exciting living history displays tomorrow and Sunday.

Vicar recruits task force to help preserve historic St Collen's

* St Collen's parish church should become more of a tourist
attraction/experience, believes the vicar. 

Llangollen’s go-ahead vicar is putting together a special task force to help preserve a vital part of the town’s heritage.

Father Lee Taylor (pictured below) has made an appeal for volunteers from Llangollen to form a steering group to make the historic parish church of St Collen’s more of a tourist attraction or experience.

Father Lee, who took over at the church late last year and has since introduced a number of new ideas, said: “I am hoping that the group will bring together a diverse group of people - of all faiths or none - who have experience in grant applications, tourism, history, architecture, electrical work and so on.

“They will work on fundraising, making bids to Heritage Lottery and other charities. 

“I am looking for people to contribute their time, not money. There are no other expectations.

“It is really voluntary work – not necessarily for the church – but for preserving a crucial part of history for this town.

“Our carved oak ceiling is one of the wonders of Wales. It dates back to 1450, before Michelangelo began work on painting the Sistine Chapel. It has many intricate figures and characters that tell fascinating stories.” 

Father Lee, who recently organised a colourful parade through the town and service of dedication to St Collen as patron saint and the man the town is named after, added: “Our hope is to get a better lighting system that brings out all these details, bringing the stories to life and giving a real impact on all who come through our doors.

“We are a dynamic, bustling town here In Llangollen - a tourist destination for people from all over the world who come here to experience the steam railway, the canal and aqueduct, the many festivals, the abbey and castle ruins, the famous walking routes and of course the International Eisteddfod. 

“I believe that the church should always reflect the community in which it is placed.

“As part of a tourist town, St Collen's needs to play its role in engaging with those who delight in history and architecture.”

* Anyone interested in joining Father Lee’s steering group can email him at: frleetaylor@hotmail.co.uk 

Audi plays numbers game with its new A1 Sportback

* The new Audi A1 Sportback, outside and in.

Audi A1 Sportback road test by Steve Rogers

They are playing a new numbers game at Audi and it got a friend very excited.

He was admiring my A1 Sportback and noticed 35 in front of TFSI on the tailgate. He could hardly contain himself thinking the little A1 had a 3.5 litre under the bonnet. A reasonable assumption.

I could have led him on offering a very fast spin but decided to burst his bubble revealing the Sportback was powered by a modest 1.5 litre petrol.

So what is the numbering all about? Not sure anyone will be interested but I will explain anyway. In the near future we will be switching from horse power to kilowatts to denote power output. It is because electric cars, of which there will be many, have outputs expressed in kilowatts so Audi are preparing the ground.

Audi has come up with a numbering system ranging from 30 to 55. The 35 on my 1.5 litre Sportback tells us it has 110-120kw or 150-163bhp. Glad to have cleared the air with that one!

If my friend was intrigued by the numbering he nearly fell over when I revealed the price. All but £29,000.

Yes this is a load of money for a supermini - you could buy four Dacia Sanderos and still have a grand to spare - but the Dacia is bargain basement while the A1 is premier league so you get almost the same quality and specification of a £70,000 A8 but in a much smaller car.

Sort of takes the pain out of downsizing. Interestingly hardly anyone goes for a basic model, customers packing the car to the roofline with the many extras on offer.

Probably best to distinguish Sportback from A1 which is a two or four door hatchback while this one is more of an estate car and is roomier than you might think. It is also prettier than the lacklustre A1 taking its styling from the trendier Q2 SUV.

And on the subject of SUVs Audi is about to add the citycarver to the Sportback range. More of a baby SUV it is blinged up with fatter wheel arches, new sills in a contrasting colour, stainless steel finish and raised ride height.

Regardless of the cost A1 Sportback is an appealing motor, great to drive, a comfortable four seater, five at a pinch, with a decent sized boot. It took a set of golf clubs which is always a good test.

All A1 models drive well but the S Line tested here is more for the enthusiast, the firmer suspension encouraging the driver to push because it drives as if it is on rails.

Inside is what you expect from Audi - classy. The trim is largely top grade with plenty of leather, and while the dashboard isn't eye catching it is functional with a 10 inch touchscreen controlling most functions. Significantly the heating controls are separate, operated by switches which is far less distracting for the driver. If only all cars were the same.

The driver's binnacle is changeable, just as it is in larger Audi models, so you can select full width Google mapping when using the navigation.

Earlier I described the 1.5 litre engine as modest which it is compared to the fictional 3.5 litre but in reality this is a tremendous performer for its size. It fairly buzzes along with good throttle response at low revs and never shouts and screams near the limit. Gear ratios are well chosen as well.

Performance aside the engine's greatest asset is economy - it shuts down two of its four cylinders to save petrol. Over 500 odd miles it never fell below 45mpg and on a four up 100 mile Sunday stroll the Sportback returned 60.4mpg. That is just brilliant.

The Sportback's heady price is always going to raise eyebrows but customers are happy to pay whatever it takes to spec up the car. If your budget is tight then look elsewhere but if you want a small car without compromise then look no further.

Key facts

A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S-Line

£24,805/£28,800 tested (starts £17,570)

1.5 litre; 147bhp

0-62mph 7.7secs; 137mph

44.8-45.6mpg combined

120g/km. 1st year road tax £170

Insurance group 26

Boot: 335 litres

Town Council looks to fill vacancy