Llangollen organisations back regional Borrow Bus project

* The North East Wales Borrow Bus.

Organisations in Llangollen are backing a scheme to help households across North East Wales help save money and to reduce local levels of waste. 

The Lottery-funded Borrow Bus project is led by reSource, a community interest company based in Ruthin, working in partnership with Drosi Bikes  of Llangollen.

Also involved are the Pengwern Community Hub and Friends of the Earth Llangollen.

According to the scheme's sponsors, the aim is for the bus to travel around North East Wales making it easy for people to share and borrow household and garden items that are used infrequently, so encouraging a local circular economy. 

Over time it would increasingly attend complementary events such as repair cafés, community festivals etc.

To learn more about how the local community and how they could benefit from the project organisers are asking people in the areas involved, including Llangollen, to take part in a survey.

They say this will only take five minutes to complete with responses needed no later than August 19.

All entries registering for a mailing list will be entered into a draw for a £50 voucher.

Organisers add: "All responses are confidential. No individual named person or data is shared without their explicit agreement."

* The survey can be seen at: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/BorrowBus-BaselineSurvey/?fbclid=IwAR2BoZ2jSREkv4z0NjJ6p6A2Hbm0Z0-7CgzMOopoRLC87zgbz_Ms_d6qles

* For further details, contact: Bws.Benthyg@innovas.co.uk 

New bench is installed at popular viewing point

* The new bench at the viewing point.

A popular view point from which to see the mighty Pontcysyllte Aqueduct has been given a new lease of life at Trevor Basin.

The vegetation in the foreground has been maintained at a lower height so that the view of the aqueduct is revealed in all its glory and a rustic bench installed.

The bench is made from the trunk of a mighty elm tree that had to be felled for safety reasons at Plas Newydd in Llangollen 3 years ago.

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Our Picturesque Landscape Project the volunteers that took part were taught the skills involved and can now proudly sit and absorb the views.

Councillor Win Mullen James, Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said:  “Many visitors and local people stop to look at the stunning view from this point and now they can sit and spend time enjoying the picturesque landscape. We would like to thanks the National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this possible”.

Our Picturesque Landscape Project centres on the landscape of the Dee Valley and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site. It takes the theme of inspirational journeys that have been, and continue to be, a feature of the area which is cut by the canal, Telford's A5 and the River Dee. Visitors have drawn inspiration from this beautiful valley in art and poetry since the 18th century and it continues to draw tourists in search of the sublime.

This landscape is under growing pressure with high numbers of visitors drawn to what are often our most fragile sites. The communities on its doorstep, born from the industrial endeavours that shaped it, are now less connected to the benefits the landscape offers. The five year project will invest in the resilience of key visitor sites and engage communities in its appreciation and management while reinterpreting this rich landscape for a new generation.

Projects have been developed under 3 themes -Conserving the Picturesque Landscape, Accessing the Picturesque Landscape and People and the Picturesque.

Our Picturesque Landscape Project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is a partnership project developed by theClwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Pontcysyllte Aqueductand Canal World Heritage Site, Denbighshire County Council, Wrexham County Borough Council, Shropshire Council, The Canal & River Trust, Natural Resources Wales, Cadw,Cadwyn Clwyd, Aqueducks (Friends of the World Heritage Site) and the Friends of theClwydian Range and Dee Valley.

http://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/our-picturesque-landscape-project/

Denbighshire calls or hosts for Ukrainian refugees

Denbighshire County Council is calling on people living in the county to get in touch with the Welsh Government if they can offer a home for those resettling in the UK as a result of the atrocities in Ukraine.

The council has worked closely with Welsh Government to welcome families and individuals to Denbighshire and teams from the Council have been working to carry out checks at properties put forward as a sanctuary. 

Teams are also working to support people’s health and well-being needs, as well as supporting families to find places in school for their children.

Welsh Government has now renewed its call for more hosts that can offer a home to come forward and Denbighshire County Council is supporting them to share information and reach local communities.

To offer a home in Wales for refugees from Ukraine you must:

1. live or own residential property in Wales
2. have not been matched with guests from Ukraine
3. be able to offer a spare room or separate home for at least 6 months
4. have leave to remain in the UK for at least 6 months
5. not have a criminal record

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Denbighshire has a long history of accommodating and supporting refugees and over the last five years the Council has resettled 25 families, made up of 95 individuals, predominantly in response to the refugee crisis in Syria and Afghanistan.

“We are pleased to have been able to welcome families and individuals arriving in Denbighshire from Ukraine over recent weeks and that work continues.

“The Council is working to ensure the relevant support is available for families once they arrive in Denbighshire, this includes our education team processing applications for school places.

“Through Home Office funding, we are well placed to provide the necessary support and have a working group to manage the programme, as well as a dedicated team working directly with families, and additional support from partners in the third sector and from local volunteer groups.

“A number of Denbighshire residents have come forward to offer accommodation to those who have been forced to leave Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict and on behalf of the Council I would like to thank them for their generosity.

“However, we need those individuals or families who can provide a home to get in touch with the Welsh Government

* If anyone has any enquiries, or would like to offer accommodation, they should visit: gov.wales/offerhome

Llangollen company pledges support to veterans' charity

* Jason Rickwood and Hugh Luckock.

An outdoor adventure and activities company in Llangollen has pledged its support to veterans’ charity, Launchpad.

Bearded Men Adventures provides accommodation, catering, adventure and activities such as white water rafting, coasteering, river tubing, mountaineering and paddleboarding.

The company has agreed to donate 1% of their annual income from activities to the charity.

The business, which was set up in 2018 by two friends who just so happen to have bushy beards, Jason Rickwood and Hugh Luckock, caters for families, groups and individuals as well as schools, corporate businesses, stag and hen groups.

Passionate about giving back to good causes, both Jason and Hugh selected Launchpad as their chosen charity and said they admire the work that Launchpad provides to veterans.

Launchpad provides vital accommodation and support for up to 100 veterans across three houses in the North of England and helps residents to transition from military to civilian life. Bearded Men Adventures invited staff and residents from Launchpad’s Speke House in Liverpool to experience a day of outdoor adventure activities, which included white water rafting.

Jason, 36, a veteran himself, served 12 months with the Royal Engineers and most of his family have a connection with the Army including his two brothers and father. In addition to Bearded Men Adventures, he is also a Level 4 snowboarding instructor and teaches the Royal Navy snow board team during the winter months.

Hugh, 34, said: “We’ve been going for four years now and despite Covid-19 having an impact on our business, we’re really starting to see the business taking off. Supporting veterans is a great thing to do and when we found out about what Launchpad does to support those veterans who may be struggling with the transition, we wanted to support them and be part of a charity that is doing positive things.”

Jan Buckley, acting activities co-ordinator at Launchpad’s Speke House who also attended the white water rafting day last week with seven residents, said: “We are very grateful to Jason and Hugh to committing to supporting Launchpad. We had a great day out and all residents really enjoyed it. It has given everyone a boost and was good to see residents bonding together.

“Being outdoors and keeping active provides a positive and stimulating experience for our residents and is a good way for them to manage their mental health and wellbeing. Everyone who attended has been talking about it and commenting on how much fun they had.”

Bearded Men Adventures and Launchpad are exploring the possibility of a camping trip in September for residents. This will be a two-day adventure activity programme led by Bearded Men Adventures and will include wild camping and bushcraft skills.

Launchpad’s Speke House includes 50 self-contained flats and communal areas such as a lounge, kitchen/dining area, IT suite and garden. Staff work with multiple partners to support each resident on their journey to living independently.

* For more information on Bearded Men Adventures and their activities, please visit their website as: www.beardedmenadventures.com/outdoor-activities-north-wales/

'Visit Llangollen' Liverpool kids tell city's refugee families

* The horse-drawn boats on the canal (above) and the Oggie Shop in Castle Street are 'must see' attraction in Llangollen, say the Liverpool schoolchildren.

Messages welcoming refugee families to Liverpool from a group of the city’s schoolchildren contained a tip for them to visit Llangollen.

The letters were compiled by the Action Asylum project housed at Asylum Link Merseyside, working with two schools, The Beacon Church of England Primary and Bishop Martin Church of England Primary, as part of this year’s Refugee Week celebrations.

According to a story in The Guide, Liverpool, suggestions from the 10-year-olds included sampling local attractions such as doughnuts in Liverpool ONE and mini golf at Otterspool.

Other highlights were Bold Street’s Cat Café, the soft play centre Fantasy Land, and the city’s two football stadiums – although one girl admitted she preferred cricket.

Junior culture vultures also praised the city’s museums, the Western Approaches bunker and the Tate Gallery.

And, soon after ‘Wales welcomed the world’ at the recent Eisteddfod, one adventurous young writer recommended a 45-minute trip out to Llangollen.

Once in town, the junior travel guide suggested stopping off to see the horse-drawn barges, adding: “Make sure to go to the Llangollen Oggie Shop.”

The letters were shared with refugees studying English at Asylum Link Merseyside, who have since written back, and whose messages have been read out in the classroom.

In their letters, the schoolchildren urge the new arrivals that “there is no need to be afraid” and tell them “you’ll never walk alone”.

* To see the story, go to: https://theguideliverpool.com/schoolkids-letters-describe-the-perfect-day-out-in-liverpool-for-refugees/

On-the-loose cockerels offered safe new home by animal lover

* The two cockerels pictured in their place of safety.

A pair of colourful cockerels which have been seen pecking away on a grassed area close to the busy A5 on the entrance to Llangollen, worrying scores of passers-by, have been taken in by a local animal lover.

Anna Grace Richards has taken to Facebook to say that she’s offered them both a place of safety on her own land at least until their owner comes forward to claim them.

In her post, which has so far attracted over 60 supportive comments, she says: “Morning all. These two flamboyant fellows have been clucking about on the Maesmawr/A5 junction for a few weeks, now. 

“I'm aware that they've been discussed on here before, and it does seem as though they may have been dumped. 

“I was keen to get them away from the main road, and I think some kindly people have been feeding them as they were much happier to be approached than a couple of weeks back. 

“Hence yesterday I gathered them up and they are now happily pecking up our paddock and roosting in our old duck house. 

“I thought I better let people know, as I think they might be missed and I know I would have felt concerned if I didn't know where they'd gone! 

“This is their home if they need it, but obviously, should anyone be or know of an owner of these two lovely boys, drop me a message and I'll reunite them.” 

She adds a short video to her post to shown how contended the two birds now seem. 

Some of the comments which have been flooding in say: “This makes me so happy. What a lovely home they now have.” 

“Phew! I wondered where they'd gone. So glad they're safe.”

“Oh my! That’s amazing news! Thank you so much for offering them a lovely home! This makes me so happy Julie Francis.”

“Thank you so much for saving them, such beautiful boys, I did message quite a few rescues who said they couldn’t take any boys.”

“Anna Grace Richards I know it’s so sad, we have hens but some of the girls think they’re boys crowing. Thank you for giving them a safe space. Have been thinking about them recently so happy to know they’re safe.”

“They look very happy, I was concerned everyday coming home from work seeing them so close to the A5, well done.” 

Fringe Festival announces weekend ticket details

Llangollen Fringe Festival organisers have announced details of their weekend tickets. 

Weekend 1  The 1st weekend ticket covers Saturday 23rd Day and Night with Act I of A Gathering of Folk during the day and, afterwards, The Turbans in the Town Hall.  You also get to see the fabulous support band Cosmic Dog Fog in between!  Then chill out on Sunday 24th with a laid back afternoon in the Bridge End for Act II of A Gathering of Folk.  Ticket link here! Weekend 2  The 2nd weekend ticket covers Friday 29th with the fabulous and amazing Talisk.  Then on Saturday 30th, why not enjoy the Fringe on the Fringe at Gales Wine Bar Marquee with a Super Saturday of music to suit all tastes, link here, then come on over to the Town Hall to see (and hear!) the Musik of Kraftwerk performed by the Ebony Steel Band.  Ticket Link here!   The full line-up for this years festival, our 25th Birthday Edition, click here!