Caryl gets keys to National Trust property

* Caryl Hughes now has the keys of Llyndy Isaf.

Life changed completely for one young woman from near Llangollen at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show earlier this week.

Caryl Hughes, aged 23, a young farmer from Dyffryn Ceiriog, became the first winner of the National Trust Llyndy Isaf scholarship.

Winning the scholarship means Caryl will be given the keys to Llyndy Isaf - the iconic 614-acre upland farm in Snowdonia saved for the nation through the Snowdonia Appeal in 2012 – and take control of the farm for a year starting in September.

Caryl told us she was both on top of the world and nervous about the challenges ahead of her with this unique opportunity, which she believed would be life changing for her and her dog Mist – who will be moving with her to Llyndy Isaf.

Caryl said: 'This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I intend to take full advantage of. It’s not every day you get the chance to farm a 614-acre farm, especially not at the age of 23 and especially if you are female.

"I’m a bit nervous of taking on Llyndy, it is a daunting challenge, especially because it hasn’t been farmed for a number of years, but I’m really excited about it and all the new experiences and opportunities I’m going to get in the next 12 months. I’m really looking forward to working with the National Trust and getting to know the whole team and all of their work – especially in agriculture.

"I don’t see it why we can’t do it as well as the ‘boys’, if not better. Women are renowned for being better at multi-tasking, but I’m confident I’ll rise to this challenge as well as anyone else. My priorities will be to re-establish a flock here with good grazing management to retain this natural environment around us. That’s Llyndy’s unique quality and challenge all in one.

"The views in Snowdonia are spectacular and I feel honoured to be allowed to live and work there - but also it’s not too dissimilar to home-so maybe that’s why it appeals to me.

"I hope to use the skills and ideas I gain in Snowdonia and adapt them to use at home in the Berwyn when the scholarship is over. I’m sure I will look back on the scholarship with pride, and the skills and experience I gain will live with me forever."

Appeal saves Llyndy for the nation

Llyndy Isaf farm drew international attention when it was saved for the nation in the National Trust's successful one million pound fund-raising appeal last year.

The campaign to acquire Llyndy Isaf was spearheaded by Welsh Hollywood actor Matthew Rhys in his role as Snowdonia Appeal Ambassador.

The Americans series star said: "When I visited Llyndy Isaf, I could see that such a beautiful and special part of Snowdonia demanded our support. I am delighted that Caryl now has the opportunity to learn a vocation and time-honoured way of life, where she can contribute to the survival, preservation and future of this incredibly important place."

This 'once in a lifetime' offer is the result of an innovative partnership between the National Trust and Wales YFC.

Applications were invited from all Wales YFC members. The scholarship was designed to encourage the successful candidate to develop key skills and broaden their knowledge of the industry. The winning scholar will have the opportunity and responsibility of managing all aspects of running the farm including form filling, stock management and practical work.

Caryl is 23 on 28 July, and lives on an upland farm with her parents and brother in Dyffryn Ceiriog.

She went to Aberystwyth University where she studied agriculture and animal science. As part of the course, Caryl went to live and work in New Zealand in her third year - on a milking farm for eight months and a sheep farm for 2 ½ months.

Caryl is interested in training and working sheepdogs (she has a sheepdog called Mist who’s eight-years-old, and who will be joining her at Llyndy).

Betsi board accepts critical report on its management

The BBC is reporting that the board of the Betsi Cadwaladr Univerity Health Board has fully accepted a highly critical report into its mismanagement.

See full report at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-23454408

How to reach the eisteddfodf maes

The maes at the Denbighshire and District National Eisteddfod, being held on the outskirts of Denbigh from August 2-10, is easy to reach and accessible from all directions, say organisers.  

Discussing the traffic management plan put in place with the local council and emergency services, chief organiser Hywel Wyn Edwards said: "I'm sure you've all started spotting the distinctive yellow signs on roads around north east Wales, guiding people to the eisteddfod.

"We urge all visitors travelling by car to the area to ensure they follow the signs as they are there to help to guide you to and from the Maes as safely and as easily as possible.

"It's our aim to run the traffic as smoothly as possible and without affecting local non-eisteddfod traffic, during the week, and once again this year, we are encouraging people to use public transport, the shuttle buses and of course to walk or cycle to the maes.  

"It is well located close to Denbigh, and we hope many people will take advantage of this."

Service buses will run from the train station at Wrexham for anyone wishing to reach the maes by train, and a regular shuttle bus will run between Denbigh and the maes throughout the week.

Details can be downloaded from the Eisteddfod website, www.eisteddfod.org.uk.

Below are the details of this year’s traffic management system, to help you to reach the maes safely from all directions. If you are travelling from Wrexham, the Marches or mid Wales, follow the A541 to Denbigh through Mold after leaving the A483, or travel to Ruthin on the A525, and follow the road to Denbigh. Then, turn right on the Myddleton Park roundabout to join Whitchurch Road before turning left into the car park opposite Kilford Farm.

109 test positive for drink driving in North Wales

Over 8,000 breath tests were administered throughout North Wales during the month-long Anti Drink and Drug Driving Summer Campaign.

 

Led by Gwent Police, officers stepped up the pressure in a concerted effort to deter people from driving motor vehicles whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

 

During the June campaign a total of 19,906 breath tests were administered throughout Wales with 436 being arrested.

 

North Wales Police administered 8,281 breath tests with 109 testing positive, which equates to 1.3%.

 

Chief Inspector Darren Wareing from North Wales Police said: “We want to get the message across that drinking alcohol and driving or driving under the influence of drugs is unacceptable and that it puts other roads users’ lives at risk.

 

“Through our annual Christmas and summer campaigns we have consistently warned the public that drink and drug driving can kill. It can also lead to a lengthy driving ban and possible loss of jobs and livelihoods with some even facing imprisonment. 

 

“We are disappointed that there is still a group of people who are not listening or ignoring the consequences and continuing to drink or take drugs and drive.

“With the current warm weather, more people may be tempted to have a few drinks, at barbecues or whilst drinking in beer gardens during the afternoons, and may drive without thinking of the consequences.

He added: “Think before you go out, watch what you drink and plan how you will get home.”

 

North Wales Police has a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences which are drink and drug driving, dangerous driving including unnecessary risk taking, speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt and using a mobile phone whilst driving.

 

Chief Inspector Wareing added: “We are committed to assisting in reducing casualties on the road through the use of targeted operations around high risk groups of people and locations while enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences.”

 

“It is important to stress that the work does not stop here – any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive, campaigns such as this raise awareness and we will continue to target those breaking the law as part of daily policing.”

 

Anyone with information regarding individuals who are believed to drive whilst over the legal limit or under the influence of drugs, can contact North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 

Notes:

 

• Some of the highest readings recorded during the campaign were 134mg, 115mg and 98mg. The legal limit is 35mg.

 

• Gwent Police carried out 2,058 breath tests with 64 testing positive, refusing or failing to provide.

 

• Dyfed Powys Police administered 7,544 tests of which 142 tests were positive, refused or failed to provide.

 

• In the South Wales Police area 2,023 tests were conducted with 105 testing positive, refusing or failing to provide.

 

• During the 2012 campaign a total of 19,277 were stopped and breath tested by police in Wales and 360 of these tested positive, refused or failed to provide. In North Wales, 10,517 drivers were tested with 101 testing positive, refusing or failing to provide.

Llan now has Buy Local page on Facebook

Community group Keep Llangollen Special has just set up a Facebook page to promote its Buy Local initiative, which encourages people to support their local shops rather then spending their money outside the town.

The new page can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/BuyLocallyLlangollen?fref=ts

People are being encouraged to visit the site and "like" it to show their support for the campaign.

Keep Llangollen Special reviews its first year

Community group Keep Llangollen Special (KLS) held its first annual general meeting at the Hand Hotel on Tuesday night.

New officers were elected for the forthcoming year and retiring chair, Mike Edwards (pictured below), gave the following appraisal of the group's first year:

"Behind scenes the Management Committee have been working hard meeting at least once a month and discussing a number of issues and initiatives.

* I can understand the frustration in certain quarters that little seems to have been achieved, but major projects such as the Business & Community Hub proposal have long lead times particularly when you are trying to attract Grant Aid funding.

* Our main achievement to date is our Buy Local (BL) initiative which has gathered pace as we have established it as a regular monthly event. Even with such a small group of people it has sometimes been difficult to find members to deliver posters and get them printed.

* We have spent some time investigating a loyalty card scheme following a presentation from a company who provide the infrastructure. The result of these investigations has established that Llangollen has too small a population to support a "commercially" viable scheme. We have been offered a template to establish and run our own scheme, but the Committee decided against this at the present time due to a lack of resources.

*One scheme which is making progress towards launch is the Smartphone App.

* Going back to our Business & Community Hub (BACH) initiative, I have visited Glyn Wylfa in Chirk on a number of occasions and I would recommend everyone to visit because it is extremely impressive what they have been able to achieve. However, it has taken them several years to reach the stage they are at having secured Big Lottery Funding, planning consent and a property which generates income to support the community based activities

* My view has always been that we need to move from a campaigning, lobbying protest group and it is proving difficult to lose this image. In order to move forward we need to redouble our efforts to be seen as a constructive, progressive community organisation working with all interest parties in Llangollen to project the image, identity and already internationally known brand of Llangollen. 

* The independent businesses in Llangollen seem not to have fully appreciated the impact that Sainsbury's will have on their business, but they really need to get their acts together to meet this challenge or else we are going to see shops shutting up and we will be left with a high level of vacant properties as there are in many towns and cities throughout the UK. We need business owners to come on board and fight this corner with us.

* Finally, I have done my twelve months as chair so it's time for someone else to takeover and move us forward. I would like to thank Phil Jones and the Committee for their immense support throughout my year."

Rachel Morris was elected chair, Phil Jones as vice-chair, Di Slater as treasurer, Phil Thane as web master, Annie Powell as membership secretary and Mike Edwards stays on the committee as an ordinary member.

Information on minor injuries in Llan

The following message has been sent by Llangollen Health Centre:

 

From August 1, the minor injuries service in Llangollen will be provided by Dr JRA Davies & Partners – the GP practice. 

 

The service will continue to be run from the Health Centre on Regent Street and will be available from 8.30am until 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.

 

The service is open to patients of Dr JRA Davies & Partners and to those not registered in the local area, such as day trippers and visitors to the area.

 

In the event of a minor injury the health centre advises you to phone the surgery in the first instance so that your injury can be triaged. 

 

The telephone number to call is 01978 860625.