New digital resources for primary schools to discover Dee Valley landscape

* Pupils learn about invasive species in an interactive PE lesson. 

Free education resources are now available to support schools in learning about the history of the Dee Valley.

Our Picturesque Landscape is a National Lottery Heritage Funded Project that has been working in the landscape of the Dee Valley and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site since 2018.

Over the six years the project has delivered 28 school projects, and engaged over 2,400 pupils with the heritage and environment of this very special place.

As part of the legacy of the project, the Our Picturesque Landscape team have developed an exciting new suite of digital education resources which are free for schools to request from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape.

The new educational resources have been developed by working alongside artists, writers and historians, as well as teachers and pupils from the school sessions delivered by the project team over the years. 

The resources are most suitable for Key Stage 2 learners, and are linked to the Curriculum for Wales framework. 

They will enable young people to discover the heritage of the landscape and stories of the influential characters and events which have shaped the area over the last 400 years. Supporting teachers to confidently lead outdoor learning sessions and opportunities to discover the Dee Valley in a plethora of ways including through the medium of dance, art, creative writing, natural history, science and physical education. 

There are exciting films, virtual reality, a board game to learn about an underappreciated habitat that is rarer than rainforest, and a new Top Trumps game to discover the people that have shaped the area in the past and present.

Any educators or school staff interested in the resources can email our.picturesque.landscape@denbighshire.gov.uk to request digital copies.

Sallyanne Hall, Our Picturesque Landscape Community Engagement Officer, said: “Although the end of the Our Picturesque Landscape project in November will mean that the team are no longer available to go into schools and lead activities we hope that these exciting new resources will support teachers to deliver high quality outdoor learning opportunities themselves and enable pupils to continue to discover the fascinating stories of the Dee Valley in the future."

Councillor Alan James, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “These resources are fantastic for helping pupils learn about the rich history that the Dee Valley has to offer and for keeping the stories of the area alive for generations to come.”

 

 

Early tickets for Llangollen's own Pantomime Group's 2025 show going fast - so be quick!

The first allocation of Early Bird Tickets for Llangollen Pantomime Group 2025 show, Beauty and the Beast, having sold out, they've now released another batch.

But the group says you only have until October 31 to take advantage of the offer.

Hope House Children's Hospices and the Llangollen Parks community group will both benefit from Beauty and the Beast which the group will stage at Llangollen Town Hall from Thursday-Sunday, January 16-19 next year.

Cast and crew are already busy rehearsing for their own version of the classical panto which they promise will be an hilarious fun show with fantastic music and songs.

From its 2024 show, Jack and the Beanstalk, the group was able to donate £1,500 to Nightingale House Hospice and is aiming to make similarly successful donations in January.

A group spokesperson said: "Due to the success of the last panto we are now raising funds for two local charities, Hope House and Llangollen Parks Community Group, who help fundraising to support local parks and outdoor spaces."

* To take advantage of the Early Bird ticket offer for Beauty and the Beast, just scan the QR code in the poster above or book online at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenpanto/ 

Cinderella panto to be staged at Town Hall in December

* The cast of Cinderella.

To The Stage Productions are returning to Llangollen Town Hall this Christmas to stage the all-time favourite pantomime Cinderella.

To The Stage is a not-for-profit enterprise offering performers of all ages the opportunity to perform in Wrexham, Denbighshire and surrounding areas. 

Producers of Cinderella promise a magical journey filled with toe-tapping dance numbers, sing-along songs, heart - warming moments and barrels of laughter for the whole family to enjoy. 

Will Cinderella go to the ball?

You can find out on Thursday and Friday December 19 and 20 at 7pm and Saturday December 21 at 2.30pm and 7pm.

* To book tickets, go to: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/to-the-stage-productions/e-qyeedl

Entries set to open for 2025 Llangollen Round Challenge

* Challengers on a previous Llangollen Round.

The 5^th Llangollen Round Challenge is scheduled for the weekend of May 31/June 1 2025, and entry will be open from November 1 - less than two weeks time.

Organiser Judy Smith said: "For those who don’t know, the Challenge is a hill hike of 35miles, to be taken over either one or two days.  

"If you’re thinking about it, a very comprehensive account of the event will be on our website www.thellangollenround.info  

"We’re looking forward to seeing the entries rolling in. Who will be first?"

The often gruelling run/walk through the beautiful yet tough terrain of the hills surrounding the town was launched in 2012 by members of the Llangollen Ramblers group and is based roughly on the Alpine Walk Tour of Mont Blanc.

The amount raised for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) by the challenge has climbed steadily to almost £120,000 which has been boosted by government returns on charity donations.

In recognition of this massive cash support for CRUK and the involvement and commitment of around 100 volunteers who run the event the Round was selected for the Flame of Hope Award last year.

These national awards are CRUK's annual accolades to celebrate the achievements of its most outstanding and inspiring volunteers.   

Forthcoming events at Pengwern Community Hub

Pengwern Community Hub will be hosting a range of events over the coming weeks, including: 

Running Your Own Business with Colleg Llandrillio and Menai – starts 5^th November at 1pm  for 3 weeks

An Introduction to DIY, Basic Plumbing and Maintenance also with Colleg Llandrillo and Menai – starts 26^th November at 1pm for 3 weeks

Halloween Party for food and fun on 31^st October 4.30 – 6.30pm. Making pumpkin soup with own-grown pumpkins.

Shea sings with his another of his musical heroes

* Shea sings during the Kerry Ellis show in Chester.

Young singing star Shea Ferron had another opportunity to sing with one of his musical heroes in Chester yesterday (Thursday) evening.

Shea, 22, had gone along to the city's Storyhouse theatre to see Kerry Ellis, hailed as the Queen of the West End, perform there as part of her current UK tour.

And in another highpoint for the young man Kerry, who sang a smash-hit Llangollen Eisteddfod concert with John Owen Jones this summer, called him up on stage to belt out one of his favourite musical theatre numbers, Bring Him Home from the musical Les Miserables.

It was the second time that Shea has won this sort of tribute to his talent. 

During his 2023 concert at Llangollen Eisteddfod Alfie Boe called him to the Pavilion stage for a dream-like duet with exactly the same number.

Later the same evening Shea Ferron was announced as the winner of the Eisteddfod’s coveted Voice of Musical Theatre award, landing him a trophy and £2,000 prize money.

* Shea sings with Alfie Boe at Llangollen Eisteddfod 2023.

Shea, a tenor and former student of the Performing Arts at Manchester’s Institute for Contemporary Theatre, is a regular at the Eisteddfod where he has been one of its army of volunteers since he was 14.

He is also a member of the John’s Boys choir which reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent.

And of his fantastic experience in Chester he said: "It was a wonderful evening watching the Queen of The West End herself, Kerry Ellis, performing in the Storyhouse.

"It was also an incredible experience to get the opportunity to perform in Kerry’s show singing Bring Him Home from Les Miserables. Thank you for the opportunity Kerry. Here’s to the next one!"

Eisteddfod launches solo competitions for 2025

* Mario Kreft, Director at Pendine Park Care Organisation, sponsor of the 2024 Pendine International Voice of the Future, with Shimona Rose, the winning soprano from Singapore, runner-up, Welsh soprano Manon Ogwen-Parry and broadcaster Sian Thomas at Llangollen 2024.

Llangollen International Eisteddfod has opened the application process for soloists and instrumentalists for next year’s festival, which take place between Tuesday 8 and Sunday 13 July 2025.  

There will be 7 solo competitions, 18 group competitions and 4 non-competitive ways to take part, with the world's best soloists and musicians invited.

This year, the festival has introduced youth versions of its Voice of the Future and Voice of Musical Theatre competitions, to encourage younger singers to take part. This is following overwhelming feedback from audiences and competitors in 2024.

The Eisteddfod’s International Voice of the Future competition is always one of the highlights of the festival, which has existed since 1947 to promote peace through music and dance. 

The 2024 Pendine International Voice of the Future winner was Shimona Rose, a soprano from Singapore, with the competition being sponsored by Pendine Park, a care organisation that supports numerous cultural initiatives locally. 

The Voice of Musical Theatre competition was won in 2024 by Shea Ferron, a member of celebrated local choir Johns’ Boys Male Chorus (themselves previous winners of the Eisteddfod’s Choir of the World competition).

Llangollen International Eisteddfod opened its group applications last month. Applications have already been received from choirs from as far away as the USA, Zimbabwe, Philippines, Denmark, Portugal and Canada, as well as dance groups from Burundi, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco and the Republic of Congo, and ensembles from Australia and Ghana.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, said: "Every year our festival attracts some of the most talented singers, dancers, musicians and choirs from around the world. We've been delighted with the response from every corner of the globe for our group competitions this year, and we are now pleased to be opening applications for our solo competitions. 

 

"After listening to feedback from our audiences, we have launched exciting new competitions for young people. We want to bring the best young talent in the world to Llangollen and our standards remain incredibly high. We look forward to welcoming all our competitors next July, as North East Wales once again becomes a vibrant destination for music and dance."