New off road mobility scooter – Tramper

Our new off road mobility scooter called a Tramper enables better access to the countryside for all including people with wheelchairs, pushchairs and limited mobility.

The Tramper is a specially designed four-wheel drive all-terrain mobility scooter, which can be used off road and even on rough ground, mud and grass.

Based at Loggerheads Country Park the Tramper is available for hire for FREE around the park. Users are required to undertake a short induction before heading out on the designated trail around the park.

We would like to thank Natural Resources Wales and the Friends of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley for funding to purchase the tramper.

For more information contact Ceri Lloyd on 01824 712748 or e-mail ceri.lloyd@denbighshire.gov.uk

Environment Minister visit to Bodfari

Hannah Blythyn Minister for Environment recently visited the Woodland Skills Centre in Bodfari to see the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund in action.

The Woodland Skills Centre is a community interest company based in Bodfari providing outdoor education learning. Due to the growth in demand for the programmes they offer, an additional meeting room was required to accommodate the vast range of courses on offer.

The Sustainable Development Fund gave grant funding towards a new timber frame building which included timber cladding, sheep’s wool insulation and lime plaster. All the timber was sourced from local woodlands and all the other materials sourced from local suppliers. The building is heated by a wood burner with electricity from the PV roof on the existing building. It is the only building of its kind with EPC Band A rating in Denbighshire. 

The Minister learnt how the building was constructed over a series of courses for people interested in sustainable buildings and also involved all the centre user groups, including; Community Support (adults with multiple complex difficulties), home education groups, special needs pupils as well as regular volunteers.

If you would like more information about the AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund contact Ceri Lloyd on 01824 712748 or ceri.lloyd@denbighshire.gov.uk

A great day out and the Denbigh and Flint Show

We had a fabulous time at this year’s Denbigh and Flint Agricultural Show promoting the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Denbighshire’s Countryside Service.

This year the theme was health and well-being. We partnered up with our lovely colleagues at Flintshire Countryside Service and Denbighshire Heritage Service and hosted a range of activities including;

• Badge making
• Countryside crafts
• Plastic quiz and pledge
• Nordic Walking advice and taster
• Tramper taster – our new off road mobility scooter

The Show was also an opportunity for us to promote our Take the Lead campaign, asking dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead when visiting some of our countryside sites such as Moel Famau Country Park. The dogs enjoyed the free gravy bones!

We also had an opportunity to support some local businesses in the food hall. Members of the Clwydian Range Food and Drink group worked together to promote and sell tasty food and drink produced on our doorstep!  No gravy bones here but the samples were delicious!

 

An Outstanding Week in September!

September has always been an outstanding month in our countryside, with harvests being brought safely home, trees and meadows taking on their autumnal colours, skies offering a full palette of hues, musky bonfires lingering in the evening air and a welcoming calmness for visitors.

September this year, however, promised to be even more outstanding!

The AONB family worked together to organise a week (and a bit) long programme of events to help people enjoy and be inspired by the UK’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

As NAAONB’s Jill Smith, explains

“Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are some of the most beautiful, cherished and outstanding landscapes in the UK. They are living, working landscapes and as such offer a wealth of opportunities for people to enjoy and benefit from their visit to the countryside.

“Outstanding Week helps people connect with nature, getting them out into and engaging with the the UK’s outstanding landscapes by enjoying local food and drink, country shows, dark sky discovery nights, walking festivals, archaeology walks, wood fairs, foraging, wildlife walks, coastal and marine days, thatching courses, drystone walling competitions, charcoal making, bioblitz, inspiration through art and music and many, many other activities.

“Whether you are looking for an outstanding view, intending to reward yourself with a cream tea or trying to kick start a new health regime, you can’t fail to have a great time in one of the UK’s 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They are Landscapes for Life in so many different ways”.