Easter clothes swap shop opens in Oak Street

Cancer Research UK is inviting locals and visitors to an Easter Clothes Swap in their first ever pop up shop in Oak Street, Llangollen, this weekend.

The shop will be open this coming Saturday and Sunday, from 10am - 4pm.

Organisers will be setting up today (Thursday) and tomorrow and accepting donations of people's pre-loved clothes. 

The only rules are that they should be clean and in good condition.  There will also be a teenager rail and children’s rail.  

The idea came about to make use of the empty former book shop in Oak Street whilst it is currently being marketed for letting by kind permission of the landlords.

Chair of Cancer Research UK’s Llangollen branch Suzanne Evans said: “If you have been looking for an excuse for a spring clear out now is your chance and you get to donate to a great cause at the same time. 

"We thought it would be great to use the empty shop during one of the busiest visitor weekends of the year. As we are only open for a short time it would be great if as many people as possible can support us and spread the word either face to face or via social media.

“We look forward to welcoming as many people there as possible over the two days we are open.” 

Cruise liner group steams out of Llan station

* Passengers from the The Costa Mediterranea visited Llangollen station.

The first visiting cruise liner of the 2019 season berthed at Liverpool Liner Terminal last Friday and provided a boost for passenger numbers at Llangollen Railway

The Costa Mediterranea, gross tonnage 85,600 with room for over 2,600 passengers, was making its first visit to Liverpool and among the passengers taking advantage of local excursions was a coach load which headed for north-east Wales.

Visitors were brought over the hills to Carrog for a steam train trip on the heritage railway through to Llangollen.

As seen in the River Mersey the 12 decker cruise ship made and impressive sight and is due to return again as part of a series of cruises around the British Isles.

The cruise liner programme for 2019 involves visits by 57 day cruise ships with many offering excursions into North Wales.

Railway spokesman George Jones said: "The inclusion of Llangollen Railway in the itinerary for a day excursion into North Wales makes a valuable contribution to the railway and the wider economy. 

"After visiting Llangollen the party moved on to Chirk Castle before heading back to Liverpool in time for the evening sailing when the ship headed for Belfast."

Local author explores a lady's wicked ways

Was Catherine, wife of legendary Wrexham philanthropist Elihu Yale, wicked?

Whether she was or was not will never be established either way as there are no precise historical records to tell us.

For although she is referred to as such in her famous husband's will, he adds nothing to back up his scathing description of his spouse.

So her character must remain a tantalising matter for conjecture and it is precisely this conjecture which forms the foundation for a fascinating new novel by local author David Ebsworth.

He already has a formidable reputation as the spinner of compelling historical fiction on topics such  as the Zulu and Spanish Civil wars.

The Doubtful Diaries of the Wicked Mistress Yale is his seventh novel and is woven around the few facts that are known about the lady's early adult years as the wife of an East India Company official in Madras in the final decades of the 17th century.

Her action-packed story is told through the diaries which the author painstakingly constructs for her.

During this tumultuous period of empire she undergoes everything from the shattering loss of her first husband and two young children to disease right through to an attack by bloodthirsty pirates.

Her later marriage to Yale, a man she actively despises according to the author, comes out of the necessity for a woman left alone with small children in a far-away country to find a protector and provider, two roles for which the man who was eventually to be buried in St Giles' churchyard is perfectly qualified as a rising star of the company.

Many intrigues and plot twists ensue and all are presented in immaculate style by Ebsworth whose evocation of the era, right down to its flowery language, and the overheated, exotic atmosphere of
India is faultless.

As the story comes to a close we find Catherine sailing back home to England after a couple of misdemeanours of her own.

Whether so far she has been worthy of the wickedness ascribed to her by Yale is for the reader to decide.

But if they need further evidence of her character they can catch up with Catherine in the second part of the trilogy which Ebsworth has already started to create and is teased in this book.

* There are a number of buying to explore at: http://www.davidebsworth.com/doubtful-diaries-wicked-mistress-yale

List of Easter church services

llanblogger launches regular Citizens Advice column

From today llanblogger is pleased to be publishing a monthly question-and-answer column provided by Citizens Advice Denbighshire ...

Q: I’m 3 months pregnant and just beginning to show, so last week I thought I’d sit down with my manager and let them know before any speculation could take place. My manager was really happy for me, but this week I’ve been pulled aside and told they’re letting me go due to poor performance. I’ve worked here for 2 years and never had any negative feedback so I don’t understand. Could they be sacking me just for being pregnant? Is this legal?

A: It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been working for your employer, being fired because of pregnancy, or pregnancy-related issues, is automatically classed as unfair dismissal.

Although your employer said you were being sacked for poor performance, you’re right to be suspicious as this only came to light after you told your manager about your pregnancy. If your employer says your dismissal has nothing to do with you having a baby, you will need to prove that it was. You can ask your employer to send you written reasons for your dismissal.

As you have been employed for two years, your employer can only dismiss you for specified fair reasons, such as gross misconduct or persistent poor performance. Except in the most serious cases of gross misconduct, your employer will be expected to follow a fair process and show the dismissal was for a fair reason.

If you want to challenge the dismissal, you can take your case to an employment tribunal. You should first raise a grievance with your employer and contact the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service about Early Conciliation. Be sure to act quickly as time limits in employment tribunals are short.

To prepare for the tribunal, gather as much evidence as possible. This includes emails with your employer about your pregnancy, previous performance appraisals, and correspondence about you being dismissed. The new Citizens Advice Discrimination Toolkit, found on their website, can help you with this.

Record-breaking time for Denbighshire business

Denbighshire’s business community has taken part in a record-breaking month.

The county council’s fourth March for Business month saw more than 530 attendees take part in 26 varied events, the highest figures so far.

Working with partner support providers, business month offered a range of training events including updating businesses on the £1bn North Wales Growth Deal, a food event to showcase local produce and a summit on town centres with industry experts.

Cllr Hugh Evans, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “I’d like to thank all the businesses, support providers and experts who have taken part in our biggest ever business month.

“The focus of March for Business was decided after we asked businesses what support they wanted. As a Council we listen to our business community and we are here to support entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

“The feedback from March for Business has been really positive with businesses telling us the support provided will help them moving forward. With a difficult trading environment facing High Street retailers and uncertainty around Brexit, it is vital we continue to provide support to Denbighshire businesses so they can carry on growing the economy and creating jobs county-wide.”

Other events included a session for businesses to make the most of the Urdd Eisteddford when it is held in Denbigh in 2020, helping businesses with taxation as well as social media training.

Organisations who worked with the Council included Business Wales, the Federation of Small Businesses, the West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce and the Development Bank of Wales.

Fiona Evans from Denbigh’s Snow in Summer, said: “March for Business is a great opportunity for businesses to attend various free events and workshops throughout to help benefit their business.

“The social media workshops I have attended have been really beneficial for promoting the shop such as the Instagram workshop, and also the Urdd event.

“I would recommend March for Business, it’s a good opportunity to network with other local businesses.”

March for Business is part of the Council’s work on developing the local economy to make sure the county’s communities are resilient and residents have access to good and services.

Hannah James, who owns Rhyl’s Clwyd Chambers, said: “There were great events at March for Business. Marketing advice is invaluable to small businesses and the events give small businesses access to quality advice at an open and applicable level.

“I would recommend businesses take advantage of the training and support provided by the council.”

Llan features prominently in new tourism film

* The Chain Bridge features in the new film.

... as does Castell Dinas Bran.

Two of Llangollen's most iconic landmarks feature in a new film promoting key tourism experiences and attractions in Denbighshire.

Launched to coincide with Visit Wales’ Year of Discovery, the film highlights key destinations across the county including the Chain Bridge and Castell Dinas Brân along with Llangollen Railway, Plas Newydd and Valle Crucis Abbey.

It also features a variety of experiences like paragliding in Llangollen, stand-up paddle boarding on the River Dee, cycling on the Horseshoe Pass, mountain biking at One Planet Adventure and kite surfing in Rhyl.

The film was launched at the recent Tourism Forum, where nearly 100 people gathered to hear from guest speakers including Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Development Bank of Wales. The Forum is held twice a year and has proven to be a huge success for tourism businesses to learn from each other and develop new partnerships.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “The film really showcases the beauty of Denbighshire from Llangollen and the Dee Valley in the south to the northern coastal towns of Prestatyn and Rhyl. With the start of the main tourism season upon us and the recent opening of SC2 in Rhyl, we urge both visitors and local people to re-discover our part of North Wales.”

North Wales is fast becoming the renowned destination for being the capital of adventure and this film really highlights the varied and accessible experiences available in the county for all ages and interests.

The film received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. It forms part of the Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador project which will be launched shortly. It aims to improve the visitor experience by providing online training modules about Denbighshire’s tourism offer.

* To view the film, please visit North East Wales Facebook or YouTube Channel -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkPlkchN1HQ&feature=youtu.be

£2 million countryside project unveiled at Plas Newydd fair

* Visitors had the chance to meet a newborn lamb.

* An expert gives a demonstration of traditional spinning.

* A castle-shaped cake is cut to mark the launch of the OPL project. 

* Visitors to the fair are shown around the Dell. 

A £2 million five-year campaign to engage local communities with the stunning locations on their doorsteps was officially launched during a spring fair at Plas Newydd yesterday (Saturday) afternoon.

Since the 1700s people have been on inspirational journeys through the Dee Valley, across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, along Telford’s A5, the Llangollen Railway and the River Dee. 

They came to enjoy and engage with the unique landscape and many felt compelled to recall this stunning landscape in art. 

Through a wide range of events and community activities, the Our Picturesque Landscape (OPL) project aims to engage local people to follow in the footsteps of the artists of the past and to  celebrate the beautiful and unique landscape around them. 

The team also hopes to encourage people to discover and learn about their heritage and habitats, the modern day pressures these face and how we can protect and manage them for the future.

The spring fair featured an afternoon of activities, including have-a-go at wool felting, discovering the story of wool and meeting a young lamb. 

There was also be an opportunity to try the new self-guided discovery trails round the grounds and join a guided walk and talk about the future plans to restore the Dell back to its former glory as it was in the romantic period when the Ladies of Llangollen lived at Plas Newydd. 

David Shiel, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty officer for Denbighshire Countryside Service, explained to visitors plans to put in a viewing platform over a small section of the river which runs through the Dell, remove some of the trees from the end nearest to Brook Street to open up the view across the Castell Dinas Bran and to create a pond in another corner of the area.

During the afternoon a cake made in the shape of the castle was cut to mark the OPL project's launch.

* For more details about the OPL project or if you are part of a community group based along the Dee Valley between Corwen and Chirk and would be interested in participating in the project through art or outdoor activities, then contact our.picturesque.landscape@denbighshire.gov.uk or by phone on 01824 706163.

Myths and legends talk at the museum

Railway heads back to the 1940s

* Winston Churchill gives a victory sign.  

Llangollen Railway is turning back the clock to the World War Two era as it stages its Home Front Weekend this Saturday and Sunday.

The Home Front side of the period is represented with civilian vehicles parked at various locations together with displays of life in the 1940s.

Look-alikes of Winston Churchill, General Montgomery and Air Vice Marshall Harris are mingling with the crowds throughout the weekend to undertake inspections and make patriotic speeches. 

Earlier this afternoon there was a mock air raid and demonstration of military firepower, which will be repeated tomorrow. 

Entertainment is being provided at each station along the line by live performers singing songs of the era including the Bluebird Belles, George Formby, the Airborne Angel and Jayne Darling.

Tonight (Saturday) Llangollen Station will offer live acts for the evening dance with a real ale bar from 7-1p.m.  

A drum head church service will be held on Sunday morning at Llangollen Station.

* Further information on departure time so of trains and events can be obtained by contacting the Station Office at Llangollen on telephone number 01978-860979, or the website at www.llangollen-railway.co.uk   

* The Bluebird Belles serenade travellers in 1940s style.

* Military vehicles parked in the station approach.

* Period memorabilia on sale on the platform. 

* Military policemen on patrol.

* A serviceman feeds his ferret before boarding the train.

Cittaslow hosts series of networking events

* Discussions between groups at the Cittaslow meeting.

Over 25 town clubs and organisations attended a recent series of networking meetings organised by the Cittaslow Committee of the Town Council. 

The three meetings were based around Cittaslow principles and brought together groups involved in environment, food & farming, tourism, culture and heritage; and community and social inclusion.

The purpose of the meetings was to bring like-minded groups together to explore the potential for strengthening links and communication between them, and to test interest in Cittaslow Llangollen providing a role as an “umbrella organisation” for groups in the town and valley.

Councillor Austin Cheminais, Deputy Chair of the Cittaslow Committee, said: “I am delighted to have heard so much support for the Cittaslow principles and for the idea of the Cittaslow Committee continuing to support town groups in their work, as well as helping them working more closely together and with the Town Council.  

"It was fantastic to hear the buzz in the room as the various groups got talking with each other.

“We are still in the early stages of working out what might be feasible and sustainable ways of working together, but it is great to have got the conversations started.”

Councillor Melvyn Mile, a member of the Cittaslow Committee and also a county councillor, said: "I was impressed by the turnout across all three sessions. The process of inviting all the different groups, societies, charities and other interested parties together and getting them talking to each other has been a major achievement. Let's look to build on this momentum and look at what can be achieved by working together."

The Cittaslow Committee says it will look at the ideas discussed in the sessions over the coming weeks and propose some ideas to the groups on how greater collaboration might work in practice. 

Llangollen became a designated Cittaslow town in 2013 after a substantial effort from a large group of councillors and local volunteers to secure the designation, and has remained a member of the international network. 

Cittaslow promotes a way of life for market towns that is environmentally sustainable and supportive of local community groups and businesses. 

The Cittaslow Committee currently consists of nominated town councillors - Sheena Grindley, Tony Baker, Austin Cheminais, Robyn Lovelock and Melvyn Mile - plus co-opted members Mair Davies and Lesley Richards.

* Organisations that sent representatives included Ysgol Dinas Bran, Friends of the Earth Llangollen, Matt’s Food Bank, the Llangollen & Dee Valley Good Grub Club, the Llangollen Community Garden, the Llangollen Tidy Town team, the Llangollen Civic Society, Llangollen Museum, Llangollen Railway, Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Dee Valley Active, Rural Futures, Plastic Free Llangollen, the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Llangollen Citizens Advice Bureau, Vale of Clwyd MIND, Ymestyn Befriending Service, Llangollen Refugee Support, City Church Llangollen, St Collen’s Church, Ysgol y Gwernant, South Denbighshire Community Partnership and the Llangollen Health Centre.

Jobs safe at Moreton Park, reports Star

The Shropshire Star is reporting that 53 jobs at Moreton Park garden centre in Chirk are safe after its owners, Wyevale, were taken over by another company.

* For the full story, see: https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/oswestry/chirk/2019/04/11/100-jobs-safe-after-garden-centre-takeovers/

Stunning images feature in Pavilion art exhibition

* Punk Notes by Des Jones.

Over 60 striking images feature in the latest exhibition at the Pavilion by Llangollen Artists.

A total of seven artists with a hugely varied range of styles are taking part in the free-to-view show which lasts until June 14.

Amongst the exhibits by Des Jones are a couple of pictures executed in printers ink of musicians, the most notable of which to some will be the one entitled Punk Notes which depicts a guitarist in an all-action pose.

An appropriately haunting image of an Old Ghost House is part of the eclectic display by Carys Haf  Roberts. There’s a definite otherworldliness to this atmospheric mixed media offering which leaves one wondering exactly where the house is located.

Raising the mood significantly is the adjacent work of  Philip Charles Parker, all are brilliantly observed and vividly coloured, none more so than the jocular oil on canvas creation entitled Won’t You Pour Me a Cuban Breeze, Gretchan?   

Outstanding colours coupled with draughtsman-like precision also abound in the pictures of Jenny Saltmarsh. A good example of her style and a real eye-catcher is the study of motorbike race ace Joey Dunlop scorching around the track.

Landscapes but far from traditional ones feature in the thoughtful work of Richard Buxton, including the acrylic on canvas piece Landscape With Ravens. Its presentation is simple but extremely effective.

Tellingly evocative of the subject is the oil rendering Ready, one of the collection displayed by Louise Edwards, which shows a First World War soldier posing with his mates for a picture presumably ready to go “over the top”. On his face is a gritty smile perhaps because he’s aware what his fate might be.

A particularly stunning landscape of Dinas Bran Castle and the hills surrounding it is one of the memorable offerings from photographic artist Simon Collinge.             

* Old Ghost House by Carys Haf Roberts. 

* Won't You Pour Me a Cuban Breeze, Gretchen by Philip Charles Parker.

* Joey Dunlop by Jenny Saltmarsh. 

* Landscape With Ravens by Richard Buxton.

* Ready by Louise Edwards.

* A photographic study of Castell Dinas Bran area by Simon Collinge.

Convoy heads through Glyndyfrdwy

llanblogger reader George Jones took this picture of the latest windmill farm load leaving the Tollgate lay-by on Tuesday.

He says two base units formed the police-escorted convoy through to Llidiart y Parc lay-by with eastbound A5 traffic being held back to allow movement through Glyndyfrdwy.

This is an on-going operation until July 31.

Meantime, he says the Ruabon roundabout four-way traffic lights and A539 is a route to avoid as work proceeds in connection with a new superstore on land near the junction.

Llan's Oggie Shop enjoys real taste of success

* Llangollen Oggie Shop owner Ross Anderson with local suppliers oggie baker Pauline Jones, left, and Lorraine Hughes, of Megan’s Kitchen.

It’s oggie, oggie, oggie for a former financial services specialist who has swapped the world of insurance for sausage rolls and pastries – by running a pie shop and delicatessen.

And the big seller for Ross Anderson and his wife Tracey, who are celebrating five years at the Llangollen Oggie Shop and Deli on the town’s High Street, is the traditional Welsh delicacy that’s believed to outdate the Cornish pasty.

They can sell hundreds in a day at the height of the summer season when tourists flock to the town.

Since opening Ross, from Llangollen, has seen the business almost double its turnover and he bases its success on a commitment to local produce and the oggie, made by local baker Pauline Jones, is just one example.

Legend has it the oggie was first served to the 12th century builders of St David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire – 600 years before the pasty appeared – but Ross gets his fresh every day from Pauline.

He said: “I was a financial services broker for 20 years but it was very stressful and I fancied a change and when this opportunity came up I took it and it’s been very positive.

“Ironically my very first job was in the food sector - as a fish fryer at Harry Ramsden’s in Manchester and I stayed there for two years and Tracey’s parents had kept a couple of pubs in Llangollen, The Grapes and the Prince of Wales.

“It’s been a good move to open the Oggie Shop but it has been a learning curve as well.

“Our shop was originally an open market site underneath the town hall assembly rooms when they were built in 1867, becoming a shop in 1885 and since then it’s been a grocer’s so we’re continuing a tradition and from the start we’ve decided to stock as much local produce as possible.

“As well as Pauline’s oggies we have other pies and pastries while the Welsh cakes and bara brith are made across the road at Megan’s Kitchen as well as other pastries and pies and we stock other Denbighshire products such as Chilly Cow ice cream from the Vale of Clwyd.”

The Llangollen Oggie Shop’s commitment to locally-sourced products has worked well for them and is the kind of unique shopping offer that has seen them featured in Denbighshire County Council’s #lovelivelocal campaign which promotes the lively and high quality food and drink offer on the county’s high streets.

This is being featured on a series of videos on social media in the run-up to Easter as the campaign highlights what the county has to offer shoppers and encourages people to support local independent businesses by using the hashtag on Twitter and Facebook to share good experiences they’ve had as well as promote products and services locally they have ‘loved’.

Ross now employs Tracey and one other full-time staffer along with four part-timers and he said: “In the quiet months we can run the shop with just a couple of us but we scale up in the summer and basically we will stay open as long as there are people about.

“I had never really thought about being in the food business but I came across the fact that the shop, known as Bailey’s Delicatessen, was for sale in a commercial agency and I knew it and felt it had a lot of potential and the location was really good.

“Food is a happy business and I wanted to get the shop attached to the town and the community and establish it as a Llangollen entity. I’m a big believer in presenting yourself well and we aim to establish a rapport with the customer so that they return.

“The five years have just passed so quickly and we have doubled turnover. On a good day in the summer we can take 30 times more than we might on a rotten January day but in the recent spell of warm February weather we took a record amount for an off-season weekend due to such a high level of visitors to the town.

“It can mean some long days but I do feel I’m still in the honeymoon stage - even after five years it hasn’t worn off yet.

“We do get lots of local customers and we do try and look after them and we gets lots of outdoor sports enthusiasts because Llangollen is something of a mecca for them.

“And we’re always on the look out for new products sourced locally and luckily there seen to be more and more becoming available and we believe it’s great for visitors to experience a taste of the area they are visiting and maybe take some home with them as well.

“Llangollen is a great and thriving place for a food and drink business. We hold a celebrated Food festival every October at the international pavilion site, which is currently listed in The Telegraph’s top 10 UK food events.

“I can be found there running around organising the music stages over that weekend.

“The town itself boasts real quality restaurant offerings showcasing local produce, like The Corn Mill and The Three Eagles. And alongside ourselves we have great specialist food shops promoting local produce like Porters Delicatessen, Zingiber and The Phoenix.”

* Denbighshire County Council’s #LoveLiveLocal 2019 campaign to promote the county’s rich and varied food and drink offer uses the hashtag #LoveLiveLocal across all social networking platforms to encourage shoppers to visit its towns.

* For more on #lovelivelocal go to as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

No record breaker but a beautiful handler

* The ToyotaYaris.

Toyota Yaris road test by Steve Rogers

If we are to believe what we hear nearly all of us will be driving hybrid or electric within 10 years.

Volvo is really going for it saying every new car from 2019 will be electrified.

The numbers of hybrid and electric cars has certainly shifted up a gear in the last 12 months with just about every manufacturer offering something in the alternative fuel line.

Toyota was one of the pioneers and has several hybrids in its line up but do they really come up with the goods on economy?

It depends on whether your driving needs match those of a hybrid car, there is such a thing as a hybrid driver. Let's looks at a couple of examples. 

The Toyota driver who delivered the Yaris hybrid had a traffic free early morning 180 mile motorway dash and managed 36.4mpg - it said so on the dashboard computer. The clear message is if you spend your time charging along motorways don't buy a hybrid.

Example two: I took the Yaris on a 12 mile drive made up of four miles down hill, seven miles on dual carriageway doing about 55mph and a mile in a 30mph zone powered purely by the electric motor. Result: 89.8mpg, and I am sure I could have cracked 90mpg if I had gone another few hundred yards on electric power.

That shows what is possible but will be a rare event. What you can expect from the Yaris hybrid if its journeys are in and around town, A roads, or sticking to around 60mph on motorways is pretty impressive if my 62.4mpg after a week and nearly 500 miles is anything to go by. The official average is 78.5mpg which will be a bit of a stretch.

From a safety point of view my driving style was calmer and more considerate because I wanted to exploit the hybrid potential so I tried to keep the needle in the green zone, the place to be for the big economy numbers. So there was no harsh braking or flooring it from the traffic lights, although should the need arise Yaris is no slouch up to 40mph thanks to the CVT auto gearbox.

So what of Yaris? The little hatchback has been around for yonks and has a reputation as a car for, lets say, the older community. My wife's niece, who is in her forty somethings, asked for advice before changing her car and almost had a dicky fit when Yaris was suggested among the sensible options.

"I don't want one of those, that's the sort of car mum would drive," was her response. Mum, by the way, is 71 and drives a Honda Jazz, another car her daughter would not consider. She bought a Citroen DS 3 which I concede is the coolest of all the small cool cars, and, as it happens, is also my wife's favourite small car and she is 68!

Yaris sits in a host of good superminis and although its looks have improved down the years, is not eye candy in the same way as a Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza, Nissan Micra etc, etc, etc.

Nevertheless it does have a five year warranty, and in hybrid form has genuine economy credentials so running costs should be low. 

Yaris does not break any records on interior space but is still adequate and is well equipped - automatic dipping headlights and such like - and so it should be for £20 grand.

It rides a little on the hard side, not uncommon in small cars, and has a too much road noise, but it handles beautifully and would have been a good buy for my wife's niece but you know how stubborn young women can be...

Fast facts

Yaris Excel Hybrid

1329cc 4-cyl VVT-i; 73bhp

59bhp electric motor

0-62mph 11.8seccs; 103mph

78.5mpg combined

Emissions: 82/gkm

First year road tax £100

Insurance group 8

£19,620

Test car: £20,785 with sat nav and metallic paint

Spring fair at Plas Newydd this Saturday

The team on Our Picturesque Landscape Project (OPL) have been busy over the winter planning events to engage the local communities with the stunning locations on their doorsteps.

This Saturday, April 13, from 12 noon to 3pm, they will hold an official launch at the Spring Fair at Plas Newydd in Llangollen.

The fair promises an afternoon of activities, including have-a-go at wool felting, discover the story of wool and meet the sheep. 

There will also be an opportunity to try the new self-guided discovery trails round the grounds and join a guided walk and talk about the future plans to restore the Dell back to its former glory as it was in the romantic period when the Ladies of Llangollen lived at Plas Newydd. 

The new season for the house and revamped tearoom is now in full swing.

Since the 1700’s people have been on inspirational journeys through the Dee Valley, across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, along Telford’s A5, the Llangollen Railway and the River Dee. 

They came to enjoy and engage with the unique landscape and many felt compelled to recall this stunning landscape in art. 

Through a wide range of events and community activities, the OPL project aims to engage local people to follow in the footsteps of the artists of the past and to engage in artistic activities themselves to celebrate this beautiful and unique landscape. 

The team also hopes to encourage people to discover and learn about their heritage and habitats, the modern day pressures these face and how we can protect and manage them for the future.

For more details about the OPL project or if you are part of a community group based along the Dee Valley between Corwen and Chirk and would be interested in participating in the project through art or outdoor activities, then contact our.picturesque.landscape@denbighshire.gov.uk or by phone on 01824 706163.