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.
* 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.”
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.
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. "
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.
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.
* 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.”
