Playgroup children help to put Llan on the map

* The map of Llangollen created by children of Cylch Meitrin.

Creative youngsters at a Welsh language playgroup in Llangollen have helped to put the town on the map.

Cylch Meitrin aims to enable its young members to learn Welsh through play.

As a charity the group is always has an eye on improving its finances and over the past few months it has been busy designing and creating a map of the area which it hopes will help boost funds.

The group’s chairman Daniel Davies said: “The idea of the map is to raise money for Cylch. With so many people seeking funding in Llangollen we tried to design a product that tourists would be interested in.

“The children at Cylch drew and printed all the main sites around the Llangollen area on A4 paper and Dave Southwell, owner of WTE ased in Cefn Mawr, helped put everything together with his design and printing skills.

“We are so pleased with the results that we want to promote it through the town as much as possible.”

He added: “Anybody can buy the map, we can have large copies made if any local cafes and restaurants want to use up wall space.

“We would love it if it caught the eye of the council and a large permanent copy was erected within the town centre.

“Seeing how hard the staff and children have worked in Cylch Meithrin Llangollen I really hope this map becomes a success.

“Any money made will be reinvested into Cylch to help us become even better. This will ensure that young children of Llangollen will get the opportunity to learn the Welsh language through play.

“We have copyright over the map so it can’t be printed and used by anybody without our permission.”

* For further details about the map or to place an order, send an email to: daniel0163@hotmail.co.uk.

Slumbering giant to awake in Corwen

A visual art extravaganza will be taking place at Corwen this Saturday when the local community awakes one of the sleeping giants of the area. 

Drewyn the giant will wake up and walk invisibly (but loudly) through the landscape leaving gigantic footprints as he travels.

He’ll then fall back to sleep - leaving an impression in the ground where he lies. 

Members of the community and visitors will have the opportunity to experience it all.

Waking Corwen’s Giant has been created by artist Gordon Rogers of Structure & Agency and is led by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB in partnership with Addo and the local community and has 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.

Celebrating the Year of Discovery the aim is to provide the opportunity to explore the folk lore and mythology of giants in Wales and bringing to life the story of local giant Drewyn.

Throughout the event visitors will find out more about Drewyn as a figure of kindness and his defining act of creating Caer Drewyn hill fort as a gift for his sweetheart - a milk maid - as a place for her to keep her cattle.

On his way down from Caer Drewyn, as well a leaving a trail of footprints he’ll drop a variety of personal belongings - it turns out he has a hole in his pocket -  and visitors will be able to follow this trail of clues which reveal his interactions with neighbouring giants and hint at his ongoing relationship with the mysterious sweetheart.

The concept behind Waking Corwen’s Giant was developed and designed by artist Gordon Rogers of Structure and Agency who developed the process with engineer John Kettles.

Ceri Lloyd, AONB Sustainable Development Officer, said: "Waking Corwen’s Giant is an opportunity to celebrate the myths and legends of the area while bringing a lesser-known local story to the forefront. 

"Working with the local community and businesses to promote the town of Corwen and conserving our environment, the aim is to link in with other organisations and businesses and encourage people to visit throughout the year and enjoy the natural beauty of the area."

Making Corwen’s Giant will be open to the local community and visitors to attend (limited number of tickets) and anyone wishing to attend and experience it all on March 23 will need to register their place at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/waking-corwens-giant-deffro-cawr-corwen-tickets-58280687104.

Illness means new date for Twenty Club's latest play

Llangollen Twenty Club Players are well into rehearsal for their forthcoming world premiere production of Dinner with Otto.

The play, written by Tom George and directed by Lyn Aston, was due to open mid March but due to an unfortunate illness had to be postponed. 

However, the cast, crew and members of Twenty Club were determined to show what they say is a  remarkable piece of writing, so decided to re-schedule the play to show at Llangollen Town Hall on May 30th, 31st and June 1st.

The play is set in March 1919 after the conclusion of the bloodiest conflict in history. 

It tells the story of a young soldier, Ben, returning home to his mother and friends after witnessing the atrocities of war, and now having to live with a deep sense of guilt, and hopelessness for his future. 

Ben had promised to protect his friend, Aled, who went to war with him, but Aled was killed, further adding to Ben’s sense of guilt. 

Aled’s mother forgives him, which leaves Ben feeling even more wretched.  

On his return Ben’s mother sadly realises that he is not the same boy she waved goodbye to. 

Ben shares some of what he witnesssed but his mother realises he has many other secrets that may affect the future course of his life.

With real footage of  World War One transporting you into a very dramatic, and to some, surprising end, it is sure to  keep you on the edge of your seat.  

This is Ben’s story,  a sad and haunted young man trying to come to terms and live with the trauma that impact of any war has on the returning soldier. 

* Tickets are available from Courtyard Books, Gwyn Davies Butchers and Jenni's Llangollen, or

online: www.skiddle.com

Body found near aqueduct

The Leader is reporting this afternoon that a woman's body has been disovered near to the aqueduct

For the full story see:

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/17508479.womans-body-discovered-at-pontcysyllte-aqueduct/

Llantysilio fires go under the spotlight this week

A special scrutiny meeting looking at the circumstances around the mountainside fires at Llantysilio Mountain last summer is being held this week.

The session, being arranged by Denbighshire County Council at Llangollen Pavilion on Wednesday, March 20, will hear evidence from a range of organisations, including North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, North Wales Police, Denbighshire County Council, Natural Resources Wales, as well as representatives of the local community.

As well as the operational response to the fire, the county's scrutiny committee will also hear about how the moorland is currently managed.

Councillor Huw Williams, chair of the committee, said: “This is a special meeting with the aim of understanding all the circumstances and issues around the fire and the response of the various agencies. 

“We feel that the fire was significant in terms of size and the length of time it was active, as well as the impact on the local community, and warranted a special scrutiny meeting to debate these issues.

“Due to the nature of the terrain and the special site of scientific interest designation, there were a number of agencies involved in the response to the fires.   

"Organisations will have considered their own responses but this is about bringing people together for a wider debate. Discussions will provide a clear picture of how each organisation responded, what worked well and what did not work as well.  It will also help us learn any lessons and whether we need to amend existing response protocols. 

“We recognise that the fire had an impact on local residents and motorists using the Horseshoe Pass and we will be discussing the concerns and issues raised by local people at the meeting."

A report will be drawn up after the meeting and will be presented at a later date.

Llan rafters help rescue flood horses

Wrexham.com is reporting how rafters from Llangollen helped to rescue 18 horses from floods in Bangor-on-Dee yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. For the full story, see:

http://www.wrexham.com/news/stranded-horses-rescued-from-bangor-on-dee-floods-as-llangollen-rafters-come-to-their-aid-165425.html?fbclid=IwAR1mgJG2hXXInoUirDPr_w-cxxM960-wIRNFgA6iWyhbL9R1TVR6bQKIP6Q

MP meets charity retail boss in Parliament

* Susan Elan Jones MP meets Robin Osterley in Westminster Hall. 

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has met Robin Osterley, chief executive of the Charity Retail Association, in Parliament.

Mr Osterley said: “It was great to meet Susan to discuss the many social benefits of the charity retail sector. 

"The sector generates more than £270 m in profit for its parent charities each year, with 220,000 volunteers working in 11,500 charity shops, the largest group of volunteers in the UK.”

Ms Jones said: “I think we’ve seen real improvements in many charity shops locally and nationally over the last decade and I want to see that continue. 

"As well as raising a huge amount of money for charities and good causes, the stores are also great at providing low-cost clothing, furniture and other items. 

"Charity shops offer excellent work experience and volunteering opportunities, and paid retail jobs.

"They also offer free collection and the furniture recycling service that so many of us use is fantastic.

"It was good to meet in Parliament with Mr Osterley to discuss a whole range of issues relating to the charity retail sector.”