Clean-up team remove tonne of waste from Dee Valley

* Trolley good job!

* Wheely good.

* One the biking team goes around the valley looking for junk.

* Cheers: One of the empty bottles retrieved from the river.

* The river-borne clean-up squad at work.

Volunteers taking part in last Saturday's big Dee Valley Clean-Up scooped up a staggering 1.2 tonnes of man-made waste from the area.

One of the organisers, Aaron Kendell, said: "We had over 100 participants with 60% male and 40% female. Their ages ranged from under two to over 70 years of age.

"We collected over 1.2 tonnes of man-made waste off the valley floor. That’s the same weight as a new Mini!

"We had people mountain biking, walking, canoeing, SUPing, tubing, rafting and kayaking around the valley picking up waste.

"Thanks to your donations, for the first time ever we’re on track to break even. This is huge for us as it fills us with confidence that the clean-up is substantial and established enough to grow into the future.

"Over 60 burgers and 20 litres of chilli were consumed later by the volunteers."

* For more information on the Dee Valley Clean-Up, go to: Dee Valley Clean Up

Have your say about new 20mph speed limit on the A5

 

From September 17 most 30mph speed limits in Wales are changing to 20mph. And Llangollen people can have they say about the move at two special information days next month. The Welsh Government is changing the default speed limit on restricted roads, where streetlights are placed no more than 200 yards apart, usually located in residential and built-up areas which people use frequently.  Not all restricted roads will change to 20mph. Local authorities and the two trunk road agents in Wales, have used Welsh Government guidance and worked with communities to decide which roads should remain at 30mph  - these are known as exceptions. Transport for Wales - together with Welsh Government - will be hosting public information events about the new 20mph speed limits & the exceptions on the A5 in Clwyd South, inviting the communities of Llangollen, Froncysyllte, Glyndyfrdwy, and Corwen to take part. A county council spokesperson said: "These events will give members of the public an opportunity to find out more about the changes relating to the A5, view maps, speak to representatives from the Trunk Road Agent, Welsh Government and ask any questions they might have." The meetings takes place at Llangollen Town Hall Chambers in Parade Street, LL20 8PW, on Wednesday July 12, between 2pm and 7pm, and Thursday July 13, between 9am and 1pm. The spokesperson added: "We are also arranging an online event for those who cannot attend the public information events. More information will be available on this shortly. "We are hoping to inform as many members of the public as we can about the 20mph information days, and with this in mind we kindly ask that you share the attached advert with your networks."

Take a journey through time at Castell Dinas Brân

* Go back in time at Castell Dinas Brân. 

Families will have the chance to experience a rich slice of Llangollen history this July.

They can join the Our Picturesque Landscape team for a day of fun at which they can go back in time to discover the history of Castell Dinas Brân through the ages.

The event will be a celebration of how the historic landscape has attracted visitors to be inspired by the beautiful Dee Valley in art and poetry for centuries and will showcase the project’s important restoration work that has taken place over the last few years.

Alongside the historic ruins at the summit of the hill, two of the main tourist attractions from centuries past were a Victorian tearoom and a Camera Obscura, allowing visitors to view the outstanding landscape from this ingenious structure. 

The Our Picturesque Landscape project will be showcasing its very own portable camera obscura on the day, alongside a Victorian sweetshop.

Visitors will also find plenty of family friendly activities including portraits with a vintage camera, friendly donkeys, drop-in and bookable art workshops, immersive actors and traditional games.

The event is on Saturday July 1, from 12-4pm at the Castell Dinas Brân ‘Pancake’. 

* what3words location: milder.lake.pranced

The event and activities are free of charge to attend. 

North Wales Opera Studio presents tale of love, obsession and jealousy

 

* The cast of Carmen take to the Town Hall stage during rehearsals.

A host of talented performers take to the stage at Llangollen Town Hall next Saturday evening to present the opera Carmen.

The performance, on June 24 at 7pm, comes under the banner of North Wales Opera Studio (NWOS) which was founded by professional opera soprano and teacher Anne Williams-King and David Bartleet, an opera singer, teacher and agent, to give the stars of tomorrow the opportunity to receive top-class training and performance experience.

* Another dramatic moment from Carmen.

Anne said: "Our professional team has years of experience in the world of opera and train people from when they’re just starting out until they’re ready to go into the big wide world of opera."

Carmen, a searing depiction of a woman who craves love but creates obsession and jealousy, is one of the most popular operas ever written.

Bizet‘s Spanish-inflected score is bursting with passionate melodies and famous numbers such as Carmen’s seductive ‘Habanera’ and Escamillo’s ‘Toreador Song.’

Members of the cast are Carmen (Anna Luigi), Don Jose (Mark Jenkins), Escamillo (Kiefer Jones), Micaela (Hazel Neighbour), Frasquita (Katherine Nilsbird), Mercedes (Charlotte Killingly), Remendado (Julio Cancio), Dancairo (Gareth Blake), Zuniga (Simon Edward Willshire), Morales (Gareth Blake) and Lilas Pastia (Leigh Mason).

Chorus members are Lizzie Clifford, Eve Marie, Grace Worrall, Leigh Mason, Emma Williams, Selana Kong, Simon Willshire, Gareth Blake and Julio Cancio.

Carmen is directed by Anne Williams-King with David Bartleet as assistant director. Music director and accompanist is Andrew Charity and costumes, hair and makeup are by Katherine Nilsbird and Lizzie Clifford.

Stage management is by Josh Hubbard and lighting by Jack Shimmin with special thanks from the directing team to John Clifford for arranging transport.

* Tickets are available at the door or online: http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/north-wales-opera-studio

Dinas Bran pupil joins campaign to 'save nature'

* The Senedd building in Cardiff where the petition was being handed in today.

A Year 7 student from Ysgol Dinas Bran has joined 2,000 members of the public and 350 organisations in calling on the Welsh Government for urgent measures to protect nature.

The pupil, named only as Grace, is amongst those handing in a petition at the Senedd today (Tuesday) demanding action after a United Nations report revealed one million species are at risk.

The event was led by a group of young people, including Youth Climate Ambassadors for Wales and was the culmination of months of campaigning by over 350 organisations across Wales, who say urgent action is needed to establish an independent watchdog, to speed up nature’s recovery.

During Great Big Green Week, 10-18th June, Climate Cymru toured around Wales in an electric vehicle, collecting hundreds of letters and messages from communities, children and young people, which left at the seat of the Welsh Government in Cardiff. 

In her message, Grace says: “Nature means everything to me. It means life, being able to live happily, being able to not stress about our future, being safe on our own planet, being…us, and who we’re meant to be.”

BBC presenter, Iolo Williams, said: “It’s fantastic to see this upswell of support across Wales for the protection of nature. We all know how critical it is for our health and wellbeing, for the future of our children and grandchildren, and for the sheer wonder of it. 

"Now, we need the Welsh Government to take the real action that this campaign is calling for. We need deeds, not just words. It’s important that politicians hear that we care about nature and how much of society wants to see nature thrive. I support Climate Cymru’s campaign to make that happen and I hope you, your business, or group can get behind it too.”

The letters and messages demand: “urgent action for nature including legally binding targets for nature's recovery and restoration, and an independent environmental watchdog” were presented on a giant scroll and hundreds of leaves. 

The Nature Positive campaigners believe this letter from organisations such RSPB Cymru, WWF Cymru, the Wildlife Trust Wales, community, faith groups, schools and individuals, to be the largest ever sent to the Welsh Government. 

Vale of Llangollen Rotary has new president

New president of the Vale of Llangollen Rotary Club is Lee Todd (pictured), co-owner of a local supported living company.

From July 1 all 34,000-plus Rotary clubs in over 200 countries will have a new president for the year ahead. 

And Vale of Llangollen has welcomed 46-year-old Lee, who has been a resident in Llangollen for the past three years.

Originally from Exeter, he has been in the care sector since the age of 18, working in the NHS. 

He is currently a co-owner of a supported living company along with his wife and fellow owners. 

He has been a member of the Rotary Club for the past seven months and to be awarded the title of president is seen as a great achievement after such a short while.

Lee said: “It is a great honour for me to be taking on the role of president for the year 2023/24. The club is based in the town where I live,  so this will help enable me to connect with the local community along with our team of Rotarians and our community team.

"We welcome new members from all walks of life who have a desire to contribute to our local community.

"I hope to increase engagement with the club through social media and by word of mouth as this will reinforce the Rotary’s brand and showcase the opportunities that come with it. 

"We will grow the Rotary by way of membership, completing local projects and in our ability to provide a meaningful service."

He added: "My key aims over the next year will be to try and attract the younger generation to Rotary and increase membership.

 

"I want the community to talk to us and share their ideas on how we can help and offer support where needed. 

"I aim to recognise smaller charities struggling for funds, increase our involvement in the community and I would like to engage the young people from our local schools to get involved and to learn more of what we do.

"I am looking forward to the challenges and getting the Rotary name into the community, with more and more projects both locally and internationally."

* For more information on the club, contact Kurly Marwaha at: secretary.llangollenrotary@gmail.com, valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com, @valeofllangollenrotary on Facebook or see www.valeofllangollenrotary

Roadworks planned for Aber Adda

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Aber Adda, Llangollen, Denbighshire 21 June - 23 June   Roadworks, Delays unlikely   Traffic management: Traffic control (give & take)   Description: Long Comm pipe Renew 25mm Job in Footway (6mm Bitmac (Tarmac) )   Works location: O/S BUILDING KNOWN AS HOMELEA   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy.   Responsibility for works: Hafren Dyfrdwy   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU0028102/000060514151