Event showcases best in local food and drink

A former accountant who has swapped balancing the books for low food miles is attending an exhibition for local food and drink businesses for the first time. 

Katharine Wilding,(pictured) who developed and owns Angel Feathers, launched her first artisan fruit spirit a, 41% rhubarb gin, last year.

She will now be exhibiting her gins and vodkas at the Blas Lleol/Meet the Producer event at Theatr Clwyd, Mold, on March 10, which is being organised by the Llangollen and Dee Valley, and Clwydian Range food and drink groups with the support of the Federation of Small Businesses and Flintshire County Council as part of Denbighshire County Council’s March for Business month. 

Katharine, a former chartered accountant who ran her own firm for 15 years and lives just outside Ruthin on Moel Famau, produces her fruit-based spirits using seasonal, fresh, organic ingredients, grown on her small holding and hand made in her kitchen.

She said: “For years I’ve shopped in local independent shops and love that I am now a part of this ethos of local produce, low food miles.  My spirits are already stocked in a number of local independent outlets and public houses.

“After going to Blas Lleol last year with a friend and seeing all the lovely local produce, I’m thrilled to showcase my spirits this year. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet other producers and potential new stockists, all of whom appreciate local artisan produce.”

Blas Lleol is now in its fourth year and offers food buyers from North Wales and beyond the chance to see what local food producers have to offer.

Katharine added: “No pesticides are used in my produce and if I need an ingredient that won’t grow in the Welsh hill climate, I source it from an organic, ethical supplier and follow the supply chain back to the source. 

“I think people that buy artisan products expect you to go that extra mile and put the time an effort into what you make. All my infusions are made in small batches, so I can carefully hand select what goes in to making each batch. I love that people enjoy my spirits so much and appreciate the seasonal nature of them. 

“I’ve had such a fun time meeting lots of new people and listening to customers ideas – I’m just trying out a new flavour suggested by a customer. I look forward to meeting many more new customers at Blas Lleol.

“March for Business is a great way to help local businesses get training and grow and I’d recommend other traders in the county look at the events taking place across Denbighshire in March.”

Blas Lleol is a free business to business event and you can book via event Eventbrite.

The morning is an opportunity for tasting, meeting and talking with chef demonstrations and a programme of ‘huddles’ where producers and exhibitors will have the opportunity to present their product, message or story to visitors, other producers and exhibitors.

Denbighshire County Council’s March for Business month offers a mix events, training and workshops for the county’s traders.

Events include social media training covering Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as workshops with Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales.

If you would like to attend any of the events visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/marchforbusiness

Latest coronavirus update from Llangollen Health Centre

COVID-19 - PATIENT UPDATE NO 1 

We will be providing our patients with a series of updates regarding the Coronavirus as the situation in the UK develops.  There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in our local area at the moment.  However, as a practice, we are taking some precautionary measures to safeguard our patients and staff against any potential spread of the virus.  We would like to assure our patients that, should the need arise, we have a robust plan in place and that the wellbeing of our patients and staff is our priority. 

Any patient who is worried that they may have Coronavirus (either because they have symptoms of fever, cough or cold, have recently travelled to an affected area or have had contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus) should self-isolate and ring NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. 

This is a summary of the precautionary measures we have taken so far: 

Online booking of appointments has been suspended 

This is to allow us to screen patients before they book appointments to ensure that any suspected cases of coronavirus are identified and handled appropriately. 

Repeat medication can be ordered over the telephone for the foreseeable future 

This is to limit the number of visits patients need to make to the Health Centre. 

Guidelines on making appointments 

We have introduced some guidelines for our receptionists to follow when patients are wanting to book appointments.  This means they will be asking questions regarding symptoms and travel, and offering patients pre-booked telephone consultations instead of face to face appointments if this is appropriate. 

Guidelines on attending appointments 

We are asking patients who have fever, cough or cold symptoms not to attend the Health Centre unless they have been asked to do so by a doctor.  If you have developed these symptoms in the intervening period between booking and attending your appointment, we ask that you do not attend but ring us on 01978 860625 instead. 

We are asking patients to limit the amount of time they spend at the Health Centre as much as possible.  Therefore we are advising patients not to arrive early for their appointments, or if they do, to wait in their cars if possible until their appointment time.   

We are asking patients not to bring family members or companions with them to their appointments unless they really need to (for example carers or to assist with mobility). 

Suspension of Non-Essential Activities 

We have agreed with the Friends of Llangollen Health Centre to temporarily close the Friends Café and we have suspended some of the other group activities that take place in our group room and waiting room areas. 

Latest traffic bulletin

Latest local traffic notification from one.network is:

Roadworks

A5 Berwyn Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire

09 March — 09 March

Delays likely - Traffic control (multi-way signals)

Works location: A5 Junction of Berwyn Street with Hill Street, Llangollen

Works description: Trial hole

Responsibility for works: Welsh Government

Current status: Planned work about to start

Works reference: PD5012059104144429

Stuart Davies has better day at Tory conference

Last year, former Llangollen county councillor and Tory activist Stuart Davies was escorted from the Welsh Conservative Conference in Llangollen for asking the then Prime Minister, Theresa May, “Prime minister, why don't you resign?”

This year he was lauded from the stage, by name, by the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, for helping in the victory of the Tories in the general election in Clwyd South.

Things got even better for former town mayor Mr Davies when the PM left the Pavilion. 

He was wearing the original rosette he wore in the 1997 general election campaign when Boris Johnson stood for Clwyd South in his first attempt to become an MP.  

Mr Davies was his media officer then. 

The PM saw him by the doorway and immediately came across and shook his hand saying, “How are you Stuart, how are you matey!”

Mr Davies said it was a "lovely end to an uplifting day fir me."

County welcomes new council homes funding

Denbighshire County Council has welcomed a funding announcement from the Welsh Government which encourages the building of council homes.

The Welsh Government wants local authorities to build more council homes using modern methods of construction (MMC) that will allow for the building of better quality homes, faster than traditional methods allow, in order to meet the growing need for affordable housing.

Ministers are making a £45million investment in the modular housing industry in Wales, to ensure it can deliver the next generation of social housing with £20 million for MMC businesses and £25 million for round four of the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme, focusing on innovative housing delivered through MMC.

As part of its Corporate Plan, Denbighshire County Council has committed to build 170 new council homes by 2022.

Planning permission has been granted for 22 new energy efficient council homes to be built in Denbigh on land above Tan y Sgubor, funded through the Innovative Housing Programme.

The frames and walls for the new houses will be made off site in North Wales by Creating Enterprise, a subsidiary of Cartrefi Conwy, utilising MMC methods.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We welcome the Welsh Government’s continued investment in council housing which supports us to deliver our challenging Corporate Plan target.

“We have already secured planning permission for homes in Denbigh and Prestatyn with further plans to be submitted for Rhyl later in the year.

“The Council recognised a need to ensure housing is available to meet the needs of Denbighshire residents. We made housing a priority in our Corporate Plan and we are delivering on our promise to provide a wide range of accommodation available to suit different needs and council homes are an important part of this.

“We are also looking further into the future and considering how we can bring our existing housing stock up to higher energy efficiency standards in response to the climate emergency and look forward to ongoing dialogue with the Welsh Government to help us achieve this for the benefit of our residents.”

The Council has pledged to support the development of 1000 new homes in Denbighshire by 2022, with 260 of those designated as affordable."

County launches schools cooking competition

Young people aged seven to 14 years have the chance to shine in the kitchen with the MasterChef-style competition, Come & Cook.

The annual Denbighshire schools cooking competition aims to encourage young cooks to discover their local food and to develop the next generation's cooking skills.

The young chefs will create a menu using as many locally produced ingredients as possible and the competition will challenge pupils to learn about where their food comes from and explore the key issues of seasonality and sustainability.

The first round will take place in the county’s schools with a closing date of Friday, 12 June and then school winners will be invited to cook dishes for a VIP panel at a live MasterChef-style final, hosted by Denbigh High School, at the end of June.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire County Council’s lead member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said:  “The Council is supporting this competition because it’s such an amazing way for young people to demonstrate their skills and their passion about cooking by using ingredients that are local and healthy.

“This helps pupils learn about a healthy balanced diet which has a positive impact, not only on physical health, but also on mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as school performance.

“We are encouraging schools and young people to start thinking about and road-testing the recipes immediately.”

Over the past four years the annual competition has attracted and nurtured young talent and in line with the Eatwell Guide, to promote healthy eating, Denbighshire Education and Children’s Services has rebranding the competition under the title of Come & Cook.