Images of salmon spawning captured on Rhug Estate

* One of the images Jack Perk took of the salmon.

Incredible images of wild salmon during their spawning season have been captured by a wildlife photographer as they travelled through the Rhug Estate.

Jack  Perks filmed and photographed the salmon on the Rhug Estate to help document the £6.8 million LIFE Dee River project which is facilitated by Natural Resources Wales, with funding also provided by Dwr Cymru, Environment Agency and Snowdonia National Park Authority.

The project aims to transform the River Dee and its catchment by restoring the river and its surroundings back to their natural state, most notably improving the numbers of salmon, lamprey and freshwater pearl mussels to help them become more sustainable in future.

The Dee is the largest river in north Wales with a catchment area of more than 1,800 km2. 

It is also one of the most highly regulated rivers in Europe, and along with Llyn Tegid it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). 

The Alwen and Camddwr rivers join the Dee between Cynwyd and Corwen collectively running through the Rhug Estate for eleven miles.

From its headwaters in the uplands of Snowdonia, the Dee descends via Llyn Tegid, the largest natural lake in Wales. 

After flowing through a broad valley to Corwen, it tumbles eastwards through the spectacular Vale of Llangollen, under the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage Site, before breaching the Welsh foothills near Bangor-on-Dee, and meandering northwards through the Cheshire plain to its tidal limit just below Chester.

The main uses of the River Dee are farming, predominantly cattle and sheep grazing; water abstraction for water supply for 2.5m people; tourism including recreational angling, canoeing and navigation and nature conservation.

Rhug Estate takes its job as a custodian of the land very seriously. 

Almost 9km of riverside corridors have been introduced so the livestock cannot get to the river’s edge. This means the riversides have been fenced off so as to protect the waterways, the riverbanks and encourage habitats for wildlife.

Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate, said: “It is only natural that I would care for the rivers that run through the estate and the aquatic life that resides in them as much as I care for the land on our organic farm, the animals that we rear and the wildlife we encourage to visit. 

"We are proud to be able to play our small part in this enormous project being managed by Natural Resources Wales.” 

Joel Rees-Jones, LIFE Dee River Project Manager, said: “The communities living along the River Dee and Llyn Tegid will be at the heart of this project. We will work closely with local stakeholders to ensure they understand the biological, social and economic value of the habitats and species found within the river, that contribute to the designation as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

“We look forward to working with land managers and farmers throughout the catchment to improve these important habitats, supporting the future sustainability of rare species for which the Dee is famed for worldwide. Creating fenced riverside corridors, similar to those carried out by Rhug Estate will be core to this work, as well as tree planting, soil profiling and pollution prevention advice.”

* To learn more about the project visit the Natural Resources Wales website:www.naturalresources.wales/LIFEDeeRiver or follow @LIFEAfonDyfrdwy on social media or email the team at lifedeeriver@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Plan to welcome visitors safely to Denbighshire

* Llangollen's Horseshoe Falls is ready to welcome back visitors.

Denbighshire County Council has produced a plan to ensure the county can welcome visitors safely as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

Denbighshire’s Destination Management Plan has been developed in partnership with tourism businesses across the county and seeks to coordinate activity over the coming months to ensure a positive experience for visitors, residents and business.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of the Council, said: “We have worked in partnership with tourism businesses to produce a plan that ensures key sites and facilities are ready to welcome visitors and that local residents will feel safe and well-informed.

“Tourism contributes £552million a year to Denbighshire’s economy and we want people to come to Denbighshire this summer and return again year after year, so it is important we make the county safe and welcoming to visitors while giving residents confidence that they remain safe.

“To do this we will build on the work we have already undertaken and continue to encourage responsible visitor and resident behaviour, recruit more Tourism Ambassadors and actively engage with existing Ambassadors to encourage visitors and residents to visit sites across the county to help alleviate busy periods at our honeypot sites.

“The Council and its partners will play a key role in supporting the tourism industry, work with it and enable it to re-establish itself over the coming years. It’s very important we continue to work closely together to ensure our sites and facilities are safe and suitable for residents and visitors as we move through 2021.”

Activity across the authority will be coordinated within its Business Recovery Group which has representation from all relevant Council services as well as from North Wales Police and the private sector.

Actions within the Destination Management plan include:

•  Engagement with businesses, communities and with residents and visitors

•  Ensuring that Denbighshire’s facilities, sites and attractions are ready for residents and visitors as the tourism industry gradually moves back to full capacity

• Promoting messages about responsible visits and developing sustainable tourism

The Tourism Strategy Group will monitor delivery and be ready to identify any issues that need to be addressed to ensure that Denbighshire has the most successful tourism season possible.

Work has taken place at sites across Denbighshire, including Moel Famau and Loggerheads country parks, to ensure measures are in place to keep visitors safe.

These include improvements to the car parks at Moel Famau and the upgrading of paths at Loggerheads and works at Horseshoe Falls to improve access.

Ian Lebbon, Chair of Denbighshire Destination Management Partnership, said: “The Denbighshire Destination Management Partnership is pleased to have been closely involved with the county council in the production of the Destination Management Plan.

“We recognise and very much appreciate the importance that the council places upon the tourism industry within the local economy for residents and visitors as well as those working within the sector. Denbighshire has a proud and successful history of attracting and welcoming visitors to our wealth of attractions. We look forward to continuing to work closely in partnership with the council in maintaining and building on that success in the future."

Streamlined waste service goes up for discussion

An update on Denbighshire’s new waste and recycling service will be given to councillors this week.

This aims to offer residents new kerbside recycling services for textiles, small electrical goods, batteries and where needed, nappies and incontinence waste. 

On Thursday, Denbighshire County Council’s Communities Scrutiny Committee will hear an update on plans for the weekly recycling service, along with a four-weekly residual waste collection, to be implemented during 2023.

The new weekly trolley box recycling service was approved by the council’s cabinet in December 2018.

The roll-out will start after the completion of a new centralised waste depot on the Colomendy Industrial Estate in Denbigh, with construction set to begin this summer.

Tony Ward, the council’s Head of Highways, Facilities and Environmental Services, said: “This project contributes significantly to the council’s environmental ambitions as we will be using less fuel, recycling more waste and producing higher quality recycling suitable for use in the UK manufacturing industry.

“We fully recognise this is a significant change in the way we collect waste and recycling, but together we can make it happen and the council will be engaging fully with residents, schools and other key members of the community as we move towards the 2023 launch.

“The new service will see increased recycling performance to meet the Welsh Government’s 70% target by 2025, and future proofing the service against policy change and waste related legislation with an expectancy the target could rise to 80% in future.

“It should result in a minimal amount of residual waste being created and residents can free up even more space in their black bin by using a new kerbside recycling services for textiles, small electrical goods, batteries and where needed, nappies and incontinence waste.  

“This is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and alternative solutions will be in place for those households who find managing their waste more challenging.”

“The new service will also offer the council the option to explore a more significant switch to ultra-low emission and electric powered vehicles for waste collection. 

It will also allow the council to tackle issues relating to seagulls attacking waste bags left out and a lack of storage for householder waste containers in certain parts of the county, including some areas in West Rhyl.

“This includes providing a seagull proof sack and a trial of microchipping containers to evaluate the benefits in regards to reducing escaped waste, abandoned bins or bins left out or stolen and contamination of recycling.” 

Police appeal for witnesses to Aldi incident on Saturday

On its Facebook page the Denbigh and Conwy Rural team of North Wales Police is appealing for witnesses to a recent incident in Llangollen.

Their post says: "We are appealing for information about an incident at Aldi in Llangollen at about 5.20pm on Saturday 8th May. 

"After a 17-year-old man was refused service, he became aggressive and abusive to staff, and has tried to leave the store without paying. 

"When challenged by staff, he has assaulted them. A member of the public who tried to assist was also assaulted.

"If you witnessed this incident (or filmed it on your phone), or you were the male shopper who tried to help, please contact us as soon as possible. 

☎️ 101

💻 http://ow.ly/H3t750EIdxe 

Ref Z063768

Welsh Labour win police and crime commissioner election

Welsh Labour's Andy Dunbobbin (pictured) has been elected as the new North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner after victory in last Thursday's election, which was counted today (Sunday).

He won with a total of 98,034 votes against 90,149 for Conservative Pat Astbury.

In his election material the Flintshire county councillor said: "Having, lived, studied and worked in North Wales my whole life, I have a deep understanding of the challenges we all currently face in our communities.  

"There are some who I listen to saying that they feel left behind and their voices aren’t getting heard. I hear you and I want to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I want to be your voice and the bridge linking North Wales Police to our communities. 

"As a proactive county councillor for many years, and with the last six years being Armed Forces Champion,  I have used my vast experience to lead - and achieve - the Gold award of Governments’ Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) throughout a period of significant cuts and changes.

"Despite the many challenges, and by working closely with many Chief Officers and their teams, I have built a strong network across many public services. 

"I work constructively with others across the six Local Authorities of North Wales along with third sector and other voluntary/community groups. I have delivered in making our Armed Forces community of North Wales as an inspiration for others to follow.  This is also widely recognised as I’m elected as North Wales Armed Forces Strategic Group Vice-chair.  

"Whilst employed previously as a Social Innovation Outreach Worker, I was involved in developing and sustaining positive relationships with a wide range of local people including community leaders, council officers, local groups and third sector organisations.  I pride myself on engagement, listening and strategising. This has played a huge part in my successes to date. 

 

"My deeply-embedded partnership approach has always paid dividends for all parts of our community so that we all benefit.  I have solid knowledge and experience within Local Government, third sector and other public services – vital attributes needed as a Police Crime Commissioner. I am also an ambassador for the White Ribbon campaign. 

 

"I have five pledges which are outlined below:

 

1. To champion local neighbourhood policing - giving communities a real say in policing for their areas and increasing Police visibility. We all want to feel safe and secure. 

 

2. To adopt a ‘victim first’ approach to policing, putting victims of crime first and ensure that their rights are protected.  

 

3. Keep up our fight against violence against women and girls and all forms of domestic violence. As a White Ribbon Ambassador I promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women. 

 

4. Ensure North Wales Police is fully equipped to deal with the future of online threats, working with colleagues across Wales.

 

5. Ensuring a value for money in police budgets, and prioritising local policing teams. It is public money for public services."

* For the full election story, see: Election 2021: Labour gain police commissioner in north Wales - BBC News

Polling station switch put people off voting, says councillor

* The polling station was switched to the foyer of the International Pavilion.

One of Llangollen's county councillors has raised the issue of the change in polling station with Denbighshire council chiefs.

Due to Covid precautions the usual station at the town hall was switched to the International Pavilion, which was said to provide more room for social distancing.

But Cllr Graham Timms claims its out-of-town location put some people off casting their vote in last Thursday's elections for the Senedd and the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.

He told llanblogger: "I have written to Denbighshire County Council about the change of location of the polling station from Llangollen Council Chamber to the Pavilion.

"Whilst it was changed for good reasons it wasn't well publicised and  added a few minutes extra walking time for most of the population of the town. 

"This discouraged some voters from turning out to vote. 

"I was told by a number of people that they were not voting because of the extra distance to the polling station from their homes on the other side of the town.

"I've also made the suggestion to have two polling stations in Llangollen. This would be especially important if the  Pavilion is used again.

"Whilst it is easy for many voters to get in the car and drive the extra mile, we need to ensure that those who choose to vote in person can do so conveniently."

This year's Fringe Festival will go ahead ... but later

This year’s Llangollen Fringe will go ahead despite the pandemic.

In its latest briefing email the popular annual festival of music and arts says the show will go on later in the year, from September 10-18, and will be a mixture of online entertainment and live shows.

The Fringe team says: “While the Covid crisis seems to be easing there is still understandable uncertainty about what lies ahead and what it will be possible to do entertainment-wise. 

“We have our fingers on the pulse, so rest assured we will bring you the very best that is possible. 

“Hopefully, we will be able to put on a hybrid of online entertainment and some shows - in the Town Hall and elsewhere - where some size of actual live audience is allowed.”

They add: “One of British music's emerging one-off geniuses, Baxter Dury, was scheduled to play the 2020 Fringe. He is still very keen to play for us and we are hoping that something might be arranged for Saturday July 31. A Fringe Taster if you like!

“There is no certainty obviously, but again watch this space and we'll keep you updated. A taste of what we might be getting is here - Baxter Dury.”

Looking ahead to next year’s festival, the team says: “Fringe 22 will be a year of celebration because the Fringe will be 25. 

“The 2022 festival will revert to July and run from the 21st to the 30th.

“The hotly anticipated appearance in Llangollen of Warmduscher has twice been thwarted by the virus. 

“Not to be beaten, we already have them in our 2022 schedule for a taste of their 'braggadocious brand of transatlantic street surrealism' and the 'anarchic bar brawl of their live incarnation'. 

“While we're always wanting to look to the future, it's good to look back from time to time as well and the 25th Fringe seems an appropriate time to do that. 

“So, any of you with Fringe memorabilia or special memories from the 25 years, we'd love to hear from you.  Please drop an email to Chris@llangollenfringe.co.uk