New 'wasteland to wonderland' garden opens at Pengwern Hub

* Garden volunteer Mike Pelling cuts a green ribbon to officially open the community garden watched by local children.

A group of dedicated volunteers who spent months turning an overgrown wilderness area at the side of Pengwern Community Hub into an attractive garden saw their efforts rewarded when it was formally opened yesterday (Tuesday).

It all began 10 months ago when a grant was secured from Keep Wales Tidy to develop the land at the side of the hub into a garden featuring natural plants and shrubs along with vegetable plots.

The transformation from wasteland to green wonderland was undertaken by a hard-working band of five volunteers from Llangollen.

The plan is for the vegetables to be picked by members of the community then, if they wish, actually cooked by them using the facilities at the hub.

* A group of of local people look around the newly-opened garden at the side of the hub.

Gwion Tomos-Jones, senior community development officer for the Dee Valley, South Denbighshire Community Partnership,said: "There is the potential for some of the vegetables to eventually be sold off or donated to the local foods share. 

"And from July 21 and every then Tuesday between 11am and 3pm we are running a Garden to Table group where people can do just that.

"We are delighted to be reopening the community garden and welcoming people back into the space. 

"The improvements made through funding from Keep Wales Tidy and extensive support from Denbighshire County Council have significantly enhanced the garden, creating new opportunities for the community to come together, learn new skills and enjoy the benefits of spending time outdoors. We are now looking forward to seeing the space being utilised and enjoyed by Llangollen residents."

Performing the official opening of the garden was Mike Pelling who was one of the volunteers who worked on its creation from the very start. 

Also in session yesterday at the hub was the Men:Minded group, which provides support to local men through a wide range of skill sharing.

They are at Pengwern every other Tuesday from 1.30 to 3.30pm and at Pentredŵr Community Centre (Hwb Pentredŵr) every Wednesday between 6.30 and 8.30pm.

Yesterday members were learning knife skills on wooden try-sticks but, according to Joe Hackney who runs the Men:Minded CIC not-for-profit company behind it, themes for the sessions can be almost anything from brick laying to landscape drawing, all depending on what the men coming along want to try out.

He said: "I set up the group 18 months ago. It's a place where men can come to learn new skills and not necessarily about their mental health, although it can be.

"We do our own fundraising and also rely on donations to keep going."

* Joe Hackney of Men:Minded CIC (standing) leads the Tuesday group in learning knife skills.

* For more information or to get involved in Men:Minded scan the code below:

Police investigate damage near Ponderosa Café

Police have launched a probe into damage caused next to the Ponderosa Café, near Llangollen.

* For the full story in the Denbighshire Free Press, go to: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/26275029.police-probe-damage-near-ponderosa-caf-llangollen/

Hard-to-ignore MGS9 could be bargain of year

MGS9 drive by Steve Rogers

Meet the seven seat MGS9, my hot contender for bargain of the year.

This is MGs most significant model since the electric MG4 and offers big family space, a shed load of equipment, decent quality, plug-in hybrid technology with a useful electric range, and a £34k price tag that undercuts just about every competitor.

I could stop here and just say go out and buy one but you deserve a little more meat on the bone.

MG was one of the first Chinese brands to reach our shores having bought the name of a famous British marque. It started slowly attracting buyers with bargain prices but the MG4 with its eye popping styling got people talking and buying.

The earliest MGs suffered reliability problems, mainly software glitches, but the company has got its act together and although it has a bit of a way to go before enjoying the reputation of the likes of Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen or Kia the order books show it is a serious player in the UK market. The HS model was the sixth best selling car in June.

Where to start? It has to be space. At almost five metres long, S9 is one of the few large SUVs capable of carrying a couple of adults in the third row. I am average height and found it roomy enough with the seat in front pushed forward a few centimetres. That still leaves enough legroom for middle row passengers.

MG has made it relatively easy to get into the back with a motor to push the middle seat forward. Sliding the seat back is easy as well. The seats fold flat for an enormous luggage or even a sleeping area, and you can configure the seats to meet your needs.

Even with five seats in place there is a whopping 1026 litres which can turn into a maximum 2093 litres. As a seven seater boot space matches most superminis.

The big selling point for Chinese brands is to load their cars with equipment, a trend pretty much started by MG. The entry Comfort highlights are heated, powered front seats, panoramic roof, 360 degree surround camera, auto dipping LED headlights, powered tailgate, wireless AppleCarplay and Android Auto, along with a substantial list of driver safety aids.

I should say the camera picture quality is not the best and if there is some way of improving the definition I could not find it. Premium grade adds leather, ventilated and massaging front seats, wireless charging and a Bose sound system.

MG has gone for a widescreen layout along the dashboard with two 12.3in screens and makes for a striking display. The driver’s binnacle offers plenty of relevant information and is easy to navigate via steering wheel buttons.

The central infotainment screen is a bit of a mixed bag. It is not difficult to find your way around but the response is not all that it should be. Too much finger dabbing just to get a result. It is the same with voice control, functions you expect to work don’t, the ‘lady’ has clearly never heard of the BBC radio stations.

Another strange glitch concerned the passenger side door mirror which tilts up rather than down when reverse is selected.

I did like the line of keys under the touchscreen for quick heating commands.

Plug-in hybrids have grown in popularity in the last year or so because of the potential to drive on purely electric. Ranges have improved across the board, shooting up from mid forties to mid eighties. The smaller MG HS can manage 75 miles and even this seven seater can return 62 miles in the right conditions, more than enough for the average daily commute.

The S9 mates a 1.6 litre petrol with a 24.7kWh battery powering an electric motor so combine the two and it has a range closing in on 700 miles. Once the battery is spent expect around 43mpg. Power delivery is good and the transition to petrol seamless.

There shouldn’t be any complaints about the ride as the suspension copes well with speed humps and potholes. This is a big car so expect some body roll but it is not excessive and anyway no one is going to be playing rally driver down back roads.

Most of the competition comes from its home country, Jaecoo and Chery pushing hard, along with the accomplished Kia Sorento. It delivers exactly what large families want and for value, low running costs and practicality S9 is difficult to ignore.

Fast facts

S9 Premium plug-in hybrid

£36,950 (starts £34,210)

1.5 litre turbo petrol + electric motor 224bhp

0-62mph 9.6secs; 124mph

42.2mpg combined

Electric range: 62 miles

18g/km. First VED £115

Boot: 332-2093 litres

Insurance group 44

Towing: 2000kg

Former Eisteddfod competitor returns as Minister for Culture

* Culture and Sport Minister Heledd Fychan chats with Eisteddfod Friends chair Paul Spencer about his group's valuable fundraising for the festival over many years.

* The Minister meets volunteers in the floral tent.

A former competitor at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod returned to the this year’s festival but this time as the Welsh Minister for Culture and Sport.

 

On her visit, during which she was given a guided tour of the busy Eisteddfod field by its chairman John Gambles, Heledd Fychan MS stressed how important the annual festival is in providing cultural activities which help overcome division in society.

 

She also praised the Eisteddfod for the strong emphasis it places on multilingualism and the promotion of the Welsh language through its signage, publications and advertising. 

 

The Minister, originally from Ynys Môn, revealed that over 20 years ago she competed with her choir, Côr Glanaethwy, quite a few times, winning on a number of occasions. Her young son has been following in her footsteps competing with his own cluster choir from the Bangor area.

 

She said: “I remember my choir had some successes here over the years and actually, a few years ago, when my son was here with the school choir he loved it, so it’s great to be back.

 

“This is my first time visiting the Eisteddfod as a government minister and I have really enjoyed meeting the volunteers working around the field.”

 

She added: “Obviously, the history of the Eisteddfod is a really interesting one as it’s about peace and bringing cultures together and celebrating them.

 

“I think it's really pertinent today when we so much division in our society that the Eisteddfod actually serves to remind us all of what unites and the part culture can play in this.

“It’s also important to be reminded that we have two national languages and that people coming to the Eisteddfod can experience the Welsh language as well and see the similarities between some languages.”

 

During her tour the Minister met people in their various work areas, including artistic director Dave Danford, backstage volunteers Mark Jones (stage manager) and John Gibbens then Michelle Davies of the floral team on their stall where she received a welcome spray of cold water on her neck to help keep her cool in the day's blazing sun.

 

Ms Fychan looked in on the heritage tent to receive a full briefing from Chris Adams on how the Eisteddfod’s records right back to its 1947 origins are being carefully preserved.

 

It was then over the official gift shop and the adjacent visitor centre where she chatted to Ian Lebbon, chair of the Eisteddfod’s marketing committee and also chair of Denbighshire Destination Forum Partnership.

 

Later, she visited the competitors’ reception centre to be greeted by Alison Da Silva and then the Friends of the Eisteddfod tent where she spoke to the group’s chair Paul Spencer about the valuable financial contribution it has made to the festival over many years.

Tough uphill ride means hospital trip for a Westhead

* Louis needed a trip to hospital after struggling uphill in the Chinese mountains.

One of the three Westheads cycling to Thailand for charity ended up in hospital on the latest leg of their mammoth journey.

Mates Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham are making their 1,000 journey in aid of the British Heart Foundation in memory of Tony Edge, the father of their friend Harrison who died following a heart attack in 2024.

As they were heading into China Louis had a brush with a car which left his bike in ruins. He got back on the road thanks to contributions from supporters back home which enabled him to buy a replacement machine.

After treatment to a fractured wrist and some recuperation he was able to rejoin his two friends in the saddle.

But a fresh problem arose as the trio were heading out of the 30 degree heat of the desert into the much cooler - at times downright cold - weather of the mountains.

After tackling a five-kilometre tunnel - all uphill - the lads were finding it hard to breath. They eventually got a lift in a police vehicle and found themselves a bed for the night.

But at 2.30 next morning Louis felt a sudden pain in his chest, which necessitated a trip to the local hospital accompanied by Dyfan.

In their daily video log, in which he can be seen fitted with tubing on his face, he says: "I had really low oxygen because of going up and down all day in the freezing cold. The doctor advised me to drop down to the next town and my lungs will feel better then."

One thing that's going right for them is that donations continue to flow in online for the British Heart Foundation for which they have so far raised over £50,000. And at one point in their latest update they thank one of the donors, local firm Ifor Williams Trailers, for their contribution.

* llanblogger is recording their adventures along the way. To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish, go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads 

Take a deadly trip down the Nile with Twenty Club

As it celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026, Llangollen Twenty Club is inviting new and returning members to get involved in its latest production of Agatha Christie's classic mystery, Murder on the Nile.

A club spokesperson said: "Whether you've trodden the boards for years or are a relative novice, we'd love to meet you.

"The play is set aboard a luxurious paddle steamer cruising down the Nile and this classic mystery is packed with romance, jealousy, betrayal, and, of course, murder. 

"We are looking for a diverse cast of talented actors to bring this iconic story to life. With a wonderful range of characters, it's an ideal opportunity for anyone looking to be involved with The 20 Club, whether returning, or being welcomed for the first time.

"Some familiarity with the play and characters may be helpful, and audition pieces are available on request." 

Audition dates are tonight Tuesday July 14 and/or Tuesday July 21 at 7.30pm and the venue is Garth & Trevor Community Centre, Heol Penderyst, Trevor, Llangollen LL20 7UD.

Performance dates are Wednesday to Saturday November 11-14

Rehearsals start the first week of September and are then every Tuesday and Thursday evening at a venue yet to be finalised but will be Llangollen.

At £10 a year, membership of The Twenty Club is required for anybody cast and to be paid on or before the first rehearsal.

* For the more details of the auditions and the club, email: contact@twentyclub.co.uk or text text 07970 000542,  

Man, 46, dies following incident at Llangollen bridge, say police

North Wales Police have this afternoon given details of the incident which closed Llangollen bridge for a short period last Friday evening.

In an official statement they say: "At 8.16pm on Friday 11th July, police officers responded to the bridge on Castle Street, Llangollen following witnesses reporting seeing a man jump from the bridge. Following searches conducted in the river, a 46-year-old man was located and conveyed to hospital in Wrexham, where he later sadly passed away.

"The man's family and the Coroner have been informed, and the circumstances are still being investigated. Our thoughts are with the individual's family and friends at this time, and I would like to thank officers, our emergency service partners, and the assisting public for their response to this incident.

"As a policing team, we are aware of safety concerns locally regarding diving off the bridge, and whilst this is not a criminal offence, we will continue to work with Denbighshire County Council, Llangollen Town Council, and other partners to highlight the dangers to the general public, and officers will continue to advise and warn individuals intending to jump from the bridge of the dangers of doing so."