Llangollen juniors design town's summer fete flyer

* The winning design for the summer fete flyer.

Llangollen Summer Fete made a successful return in 2024 five years after closing down in 2019 due to the pandemic.

This year's event will return on Saturday June 7 and a competition to design the flyer was run with Year 6 pupils from local junior schools Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Gymraeg Y Gwernant.

The children, aged nine to 10 years old, submitted their entries and a winner has been chosen whose design will now go into print.

The panel of judges from the Summer Fete Committee had to do choose a single winner in stages. 

The flyer will be delivered to all houses in Llangollen as well as being posted to noticeboards in surrounding areas. 

All the other entries will also then be laminated and form The Treasure Hunt around the fete site on the day. 

For anyone wondering who the winner of the competition was, they should look out for the flyer coming through your door, says a spokesperson for the committee. 

They added: "This year we wanted to include and involve the young people of our town in the fete in a meaningful way and that's why we came up with this idea to run the competition. 

"The entries we received were so excellent that it was a really difficult process to choose a single winner because they were all so creative and clever - it was such a delight to see all the designs that we've decided the whole town must see them all and have the opportunity to enjoy and celebrate the work of our junior designers too. 

"We'd really like to thank The Cornmill for sponsoring all the costs of the competition and The Treasure Hunt, as without their generosity we couldn't celebrate the work of our young people in this manner. We hope to see all the locals from the valley at the fete as this is for our community.

"The committee have also involved young people in other ways and we'll post more about that and the fete in the coming days and weeks in the lead-up to the big day." 

* Llangollen Summer Fete will take place on Saturday June 7, from 12noon-5pm at Plas Newydd Historic House and Gardens. There will be a lot more information about the fete on http://www.facebook.com/llangollensummerfete and http://www.instagram.com/llangollensummerfete . 

At the event, there will be a full entertainment schedule, food and drink, games, crafts and lots of local businesses selling their goods. 

Wellbeing walks set to launch across Denbighshire

The council’s Nature for Health Team are launching a series of weekly Wellbeing Walks in Llangollen designed to promote health, wellbeing, and community connection. 

They will take place across various locations in Denbighshire offering residents a chance to enjoy nature, improve their wellbeing, and meet like-minded individuals. 

Nature for Health is a collaborative project funded by the UK Government, that engages with individuals and communities to promote the role access to nature can play in improving health and wellbeing. 

The programme welcomes people of all abilities to get involved with conservation and healthy outdoor lifestyle activities on your doorstep. 

Starting Tuesday, May 6, these free inclusive walks will occur weekly on different days in various locations across the county. Each walk will last approximately 30 minutes and will cover level ground at a relaxed pace, making them accessible to all abilities. 

Whether you're looking to socialise, gain confidence, or boost your wellbeing, these walks provide a fantastic opportunity to do so, says the council. 

Details for the Wellbeing Walks:

When: Weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, beginning May 6 

Where: Llangollen, Rhyl, Loggerheads, Ruthin and Corwen

Duration: 30 minutes 

The Llangollen walks all start from the Health Centre car park, are led by Chloe, and are on Tuesdays May 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Charlotte Wheeler, Community Wellbeing Officer for Nature for Health said: "We’re thrilled to launch these weekly Wellbeing Walks, giving people across Denbighshire the chance to connect with nature, improve their wellbeing, and meet new friends. 

“Spending time outdoors has been proven to boost both mental and physical health, and these walks provide a simple yet meaningful way to deepen our connection with the natural world while embracing the benefits of fresh air, movement, and community."

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Transport and Environment, said: "The Nature for Health Programme is committed to promoting health and wellbeing by encouraging engagement with nature. Introducing weekly Wellbeing Walks is another fantastic way the team is helping Denbighshire residents lead healthier, happier lives—fostering a deeper connection with the natural world while encouraging outdoor activity and social interaction."

* For more information, please contact natureforhealth@denbighshire.gov.uk or join the team for one of the walks. Registration is required from the first walk and for regular participants. 

MP welcomes expansion of Domestic Abuse Orders

Clwyd East MP Becky Gittins has welcomed the expansion of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders. 

From this week, victims in North Wales - as well as their friends, families or support workers - can apply for Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPO) in the family court at Caernarfon, Prestatyn or Wrexham. 

Police can also apply on their behalf in the magistrates’ court for protection against abusers.

 

Domestic Abuse Protection Orders build on existing police powers, providing stronger protection for victims including forcing perpetrators to stick to strict exclusion zones wearing GPS tags and attending substance misuse or mental health interventions. 

 

Unlike current schemes, these orders cover all types of domestic abuse – including physical, controlling, or coercive behaviour, economic abuse and stalking – and can be issued by all courts. There will also be no maximum duration for these orders, compared to the 28-days current protection orders offer.

 

Becky Gittins said: “Having pushed for this pilot to be extended to North Wales, I am delighted that the Government has taken this step and made these protection orders available to victims across the region.

 

“It is imperative that victims know how to access these orders. If you’re experiencing abuse, contact your local family court, police, or your support worker today to help access a DAPO.

 

“These are practical measures which can make a real difference and are part of this Government’s commitment to make our communities safer, support victims, and halve violence against women and girls within a decade.”

Two big events planned to celebrate VE-Day 80th anniversary

The Town Hall will be lit up in red, white and blue as the grand finale to a special two-day programme of events in Llangollen to mark the 80^th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe. 

Both Bank Holiday Monday (May 5) and Thursday May 8 – the big day itself - will see community-based celebrations across the UK to celebrate the landmark anniversary of VE Day.   

In Llangollen the town council has arranged a full package of events to celebrate the occasion in style all centred on the Town Hall and nearby Centenary Square. 

On Bank Holiday Monday at 9.30am the flag will be raised in the square as the town crier proclaims that the festivities are getting underway. 

In the town hall there will be a free event with performances by a wide range of local groups such as Llangollen Silver Band and The Melodics Choir, dancers Valentine and Karen Lyon and solo singers Charlie Jones and Phil Robinson. 

Throughout the day wartime archive video and photographs will be shown on a big screen while schoolchildren from Bryn Collen and Y Gwernant will make VE Day decorations to deck out the hall. 

There will be stands by local organisations such as Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Dementia Friends, Friends of Llangollen Health Centre, Llangollen Food Share and the local branch of the Royal British Legion for which donations will be accepted.

Complimentary teas, coffees, and cakes will be served throughout the day and the event will come to a close with a performance by North Wales Opera who are currently rehearsing in the town hall for their Opera Cavalleria Rusticana, and the group’s Eve Callahan will sing a VE-Day song.  

 Celebrations continue on the evening of Thursday May 8 when church bells will ring out at 6.30 and the Royal British Legion will lead a short commemoration on the Town Square followed by the lighting up of the Town Hall in symbolic red, white and blue by the mayor. 

May what's on guide for Pengwern Community Hub

Here is the What’s On Calendar for May at Pengwern Community Hub in Llangollen.  

Bookings of social trips should be made two weeks prior to the date of the trip, say organisers.

MS backs efforts to save special riding centre from closure

* Sam Rowlands MS with trustee Victoria Everall while visiting the Clwyd Special Riding Centre.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is calling on people to support the Clwyd Special Riding Centre. 

The riding centre is a charity based at Llanfynydd, near Wexham, facing a critical financial shortfall.  

The charity has annual running costs of £365,000 per year and urgently needs to raise funds to remain open after May 1.

 

The centre supports a wide range of therapeutic activities, including hippotherapy (physio on horseback), mechanical horse therapy, Changing Lives Through Horses Programme, Equine Assisted Learning, and Riding for the Disabled (RDA) sessions.

 

They have launched a Crowdfunder, which has raised over £40,000 so far, but more support is needed to hit the £365,000 target.  If the target isn’t met, donations will be returned.  You can donate online at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/clwyd-special-riding-centre-in-financial-crisis.

 

Sam Rowlands MS said: “The Clwyd Special Riding Centre is a wonderful charity, which has supported countless individuals over the last forty-three years.

 

“The centre is now facing an unprecedented financial challenge, and it’s not for a lack of trying on their part.

 

“I would encourage everyone to get behind the Centre and support them so they can stay open, and continue to support people for decades to come.”

'Vibrant and eclectic' Fringe opens for 28th edition from July 11-20

Llangollen Fringe Festival returns this summer for its 28th edition, from July 11-20.

Organisers say it promises to be a vibrant and eclectic celebration of the arts, showcasing the very best in comedy, music, dance, theatre, spoken word, and community-led workshops.

Established in 1997, the Fringe has grown into one of Wales’ most distinctive independent arts festivals, attracting performers and audiences from across the UK and beyond. 

This year’s programme will feature an exciting mix of internationally acclaimed artists, emerging talent, and local creatives. 

The 2025 music line-up includes London Afrobeat Collective, a high-energy eight-piece known for their electrifying fusion of afrobeat, funk, jazz and Latin grooves. They will kick off the party with their joyful, multilingual rhythms. 

N’Famady Kouyaté, the dynamic balafon player and Glastonbury Emerging Talent winner, brings his rich blend of Mandingue traditions, jazz, indie, and pop.

Scottish folk innovators Breabach celebrate 20 years at the forefront of contemporary traditional music with their powerful mix of pipes, fiddle, step dance and Gaelic song. 

Adwaith, the bold Welsh-language trio and double Welsh Music Prize winners, showcase their expansive new album Solas, exploring identity, place, and transformation.

The Tubs bring jangly indie rock with folk undertones and post-punk edge, hailed by Pitchfork and Iggy Pop alike, while Afriquoi delivers a thrilling late-night set fusing Congolese guitar, Gambian kora and UK dance music. 

Festival favourite Mr. Scruff returns alongside MC Kwasi for a legendary genre-hopping DJ set packed with deep cuts, visuals and infectious energy.

Jali Bakary Konteh, heir to one of the most revered kora dynasties in West Africa, brings his virtuosic playing and fresh rhythmic arrangements, blending traditional Manding music with contemporary influences. 

Cerys Hafana, the trailblazing Welsh composer and triple harpist, stirs ancient sounds with experimental textures and archival inspirations, creating hauntingly innovative folk fusions.

From across the border, Bill Ryder-Jones, former Coral guitarist turned critically acclaimed solo artist and producer, brings the emotionally resonant songs of his acclaimed 2024 album Iechyd Da to the Fringe, following a year of sold-out orchestral shows and headline performances. 

Also appearing are Filkin’s Drift, the dynamic fiddle-guitar duo whose spellbinding harmonies and adventurous compositions - born from an 870-mile walking tour - blend English and Welsh traditions with remarkable sensitivity and flair.

Artistic Director Neal Thompson said: "We’re so proud to bring the 28th edition of the Fringe to life this July. Llangollen has a long tradition of celebrating music and culture, and this year’s programme reflects our ongoing commitment to artistic diversity and accessibility. Whether you’re here for the music, to laugh, learn something new, or simply soak up the atmosphere – there’s truly something for everyone.”

Alongside the headliners, Llangollen Fringe will once again be buzzing with free events and live music thanks to the return of two much-loved strands. 

Free Workshops offer a vibrant series of community-led sessions across a wide range of artforms, welcoming all ages and abilities to take part. 

Meanwhile, Music Around Town transforms Llangollen into an open-air stage, with live performances popping up in local venues across both weekends. 

* Full programme details and tickets: www.llangollenfringe.co.uk