Discover the Dark Sky in 2019
The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are pleased to announce an exciting programme of events to raise awareness of our Dark Sky Project.
We have teamed up with astronomical experts Techniquest to bring you a diverse package, from planetarium shows and laser talks to out of this world crafts including building a constellation viewer and rocket workshops not to mention opportunities to dress up as an Astronaut!
We hope these events will raise awareness of the importance of the night sky, not only to our own health and well-being but also the wildlife and flora and fauna that depend on darkness for survival.
We would also like to introduce a new member of our team, Dani Robertson.
Dani is the Dark Sky Partnership Officer for North Wales and is working on behalf of Anglesey, Llyn and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB’s as well as Snowdonia National Park Authority. She will be in post for two years to assist with the delivery of events as well as coordinate actions associated with our application to the International Dark Sky Association. Good luck Dani.
Spring has Sprung in Our Picturesque Landscape
The team on Our Picturesque Landscape Project have been busy over the winter planning events to engage the local communities with the stunning locations on their doorsteps.
The latest programme of events will be publicised in the Out and About events guide for Denbighshire.
On Saturday, 13 April the project will hold an official launch at the Spring Fair at Plas Newydd in Llangollen, an afternoon of activities, including have-a-go at wool felting, discover the story of wool and meet the sheep. Also, there will be an opportunity to try the new self-guided discovery trails round the grounds and join a guided walk and talk about the future plans to restore the Dell back to its former glory as it was in the romantic period when the Ladies of Llangollen lived at Plas Newydd. The new season for the house and tearooms will be in full swing too, as doors open to visitors from April 1 onwards.
Since the 1700’s people have been on inspirational journeys through the Dee Valley, across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, along Telford’s A5, the Llangollen Railway and the River Dee. They came to enjoy and engage with the unique landscape and many felt compelled to recall this stunning landscape in art. Through a wide range of events and community activities, the OPL project hopes to engage local people today to follow in the footsteps of the artists of the past and to engage in artistic activities themselves to celebrate this beautiful and unique landscape. We also hope to encourage people to discover and learn about their heritage and habitats, the modern day pressures these face and how we can protect and manage them for the future.
If you would like to know more about the OPL project or are part of a community group based along the Dee Valley between Corwen and Chirk and would be interested in participating in the project through art or outdoor activities then please contact our.picturesque.landscape@denbighshire.gov.uk or by phone on 01824 706163.
Plas Newydd, Llangollen
Spring is afoot in Plas Newydd and we’re busy preparing for new season.
The site will be open every day from 1st April through to the 3rd November this year, and visitors will notice a few changes.
In the grounds we’ve had funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Natural Resources Wales to improve the entrances to the Dell, so these are much safer now. The house has benefitted from exciting new audio guides, for both adults and children, which will be available in a number of languages. Children can also enjoy new seasonal trails around the grounds, which will be available to buy in the ticket office.
And finally….if you’re looking forward to Steve the chef’s cooking again, we hope you’ll like the makeover that the Tea Room is getting – we think it should be a great improvement.
Come April, the gardens will be coming to life, and we’ll be celebrating the season with a Spring Fair on Saturday 13th April, from noon until 3pm. There be lambs and plenty of wool-based crafts to get involved in, so why not join as at this fabulous site?