News
From Dnipro to Denbighshire
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia was officially mobilised in February 2022, leaving Ukrainians close to the fighting under constant threat. Around 8 million Ukrainians were displaced within their country by June, and more than 8.2 million had fled the country by May 2023. The fighting has caused the largest refugee and humanitarian crisis within Europe since the 1990’s, with many countries offering a safe haven to Ukrainians, including Wales.
Oksana, who is 26, is one of the people who has found safety within Wales and now lives with a sponsor within Denbighshire. Oksana is from a village close to Dnipro, which is near the Donbas region and is one of Ukraine's largest cities.
Oksana studied computer systems and networks at college in Dnipro and worked as a system analyst within the city for 4 years. She is now working at Denbighshire County Council and is on a 12-week placement as a Climate Change Support Officer, helping to process important climate change data.
Oksana had no intention of abandoning her residence in Ukraine. However, when a rocket struck a nearby street, causing a powerful tremor that overturned everything on her bedside table, she had a sudden realization that the war had reached her doorstep. Consequently, she made the decision not to take the risk of trying to relocate to a safer location in Ukraine. During April of 2022, she escaped from Ukraine, while her mother and sister chose to stay behind.
She said: “You don’t worry about the war until it knocks on your window. In March of 2022, I was woken up to a bright light outside my window. It was a rocket. When it hit, my bed moved and everything on my bedside table fell off. When we watched the news later that night, it said that the rocket hit my neighbour’s house, which is only a two-minute walk away. I still can’t believe it’s happening. Today I wake up and get dressed and my Mum and Sister are still over there, and the war is still going on”.
By chance, she came across information online stating that Britain was welcoming refugees from Ukraine through the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ initiative. She also discovered a Ukrainian woman on Facebook who had been residing in Britain for a considerable period. She managed to secure a sponsor for her in Wales.
Oksana reached out to her sponsor, who she had been communicating with through Facebook and relying on Google Translate for translation assistance. Together, they collaborated to gather the necessary documents. As Oksana waited for her visa, which takes three weeks to process, she worked to earn some money. Amidst the sound of warning sirens, she sat in the safety of a hall and worked, anxiously awaiting the approval of her visa.
Oksana personally witnessed missiles being fired at Dnipro airport from the balcony of her apartment. Describing the experience, she said:
“It felt like a nightmarish scene. Multiple rockets were launched, and I could see it all from my balcony. They were like fireworks, like something out of a movie. Concerned about the worsening situation, I sent a video to my sponsor, informing them that my departure might be in jeopardy. My sponsor went above and beyond, helping with the processing of documents and even reaching out to the local radio for assistance”.
Due to the destruction of the airport, Oksana had to travel to the opposite side of Ukraine by train to reach Poland. The train journey took 24 hours and took her to Lviv. Along the way, she encountered another train that had been bombed, further highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Once at Lviv, Oksana took a bus over the Polish border to Warsaw. There, she said she was so happy to see volunteers who were handing out food to the newly arrived Ukrainians:
“They were handing out soup and fruit. I was so happy because I had barely eaten anything for two days, I can’t explain how happy I was”.
Oksana stayed in Poland whilst she waited for her final visa documents to come through. The documents luckily came through a few hours before her flight was departing for Liverpool.
She expressed: "The moment I landed, I paused to admire the crimson sky and the sunset casting its glow over Liverpool. Captivated by its beauty, I couldn't resist capturing the scene in a photograph. Soon after, my sponsor greeted me at the airport, holding up a large sign bearing my name, embracing me warmly, and checking if I was alright”.
Upon settling in Wales, Oksana found employment at a local pub and enthusiastically engaged in English language classes.
Visiting London had been a long-held dream of hers since childhood, and to make her birthday extra special, her sponsors surprised her by arranging a visit to the capital. It proved to be an unforgettable experience. Reflecting on the situation, Oksana shared: "I had been yearning for this dream since my early years, but it's bittersweet to realize that it has come true under such circumstances".
In addition to exploring London, she has been actively discovering various parts of the UK, including a recent excursion to the Isle of Wight, accompanied by her sponsor.
On coming to Wales, she said: “My favourite thing about living in Wales is the fact that I am safe. There is a little gym in the garage that I like to use and I also like taking leisurely walks, capturing picturesque moments through photography. There is a garden at my sponsor’s house that is so pretty, with flowers and a big old tree. I even rearranged my bed to have a view of it. I have a deep appreciation for nature, and Wales offers a splendid backdrop for my passion. Moreover, the people here are genuinely kind-hearted".
Working Denbighshire assisted Oksana to find work and she referred herself for support with gaining employment and training. Tom was allocated as her mentor and met with Oksana and helped her find a placement with the Council where she now works as a Climate Change Support Officer and said: “I was looking for a job like this for a while and the interview for the placement was exactly a year from when I first came to Wales. It is a similar job to what I did in Ukraine, I work with data, however it is slightly different data. I like the job and my team is nice”.
Working Denbighshire will continue to help Oksana find other placements in the future.
To find out how you can help and support the people of Ukraine, please go to our website.
Make an impact through volunteering
The Council’s Edge of Care Mental Health Team are looking for volunteers to support the mental health and wellbeing of others in the southern areas of Denbighshire. The aim of the project is to help reduce isolation and improve mental health and well-being.
The team welcomes applications from anyone over the age of 18 who feels that they have some spare time to spend with others. The team will look to match volunteers to citizens based on shared interests and hobbies.
Volunteers don’t have to be qualified professionals and can just be a caring person with or without experience who would like to support others. A package of training will be provided, and the volunteer coordinator will be there to support potential volunteers throughout the volunteering experience.
Volunteers can support citizens by attending social groups, going for walks, catching up over a cup of tea or even a phone call. Many of the citizens have experienced significant isolation and so the team is open to creative ideas to help to increase socialisation and well-being.
Councillor Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care said: “This is a transformative project that we should all be proud of in Denbighshire, and it is the volunteers who are vital in ensuring its success.
"If you feel you are able to support the well-being of others in the community, then please get in touch as it is incredibly rewarding for all involved.
"The impact that a cup of tea and a chat, or even a simple phone call can have on a person’s well-being is truly remarkable.”
A Denbighshire citizen, who has been helped through the service said: “I just love it. It’s been a massive positive step in my life coming here to this group”.
For more information and to register your interest please click here.
Problems with your internet? The Council’s Digital Officer is here to help!
Residents and businesses in Denbighshire can benefit from free advice and assistance from the Council’s Digital Officer who can find the best solution for internet issues they may be experiencing due to a slow connection.
With an increasing number of residents using technology to work from home, and with many services, such as banking and utilities now online, it is essential that people can access a reliable service to meet their daily needs.
Philip Burrows, the Council’s Digital Officer said, “Some residents have slow or unreliable internet connections, and that’s where I come in. I can help by diagnosing the problem and then work with residents to fix it, with the aim of improving the quality of their internet connection.
“We find that people experience a range of issues, for example, some may be fairly straightforward problems that require a tweak to their home network. However, others may have more complex issues which will need to be resolved with a third party.”
Some communities may experience problems which require intervention by Openreach, the company which maintains and provides the major telephony and internet network system around the UK. However, individuals cannot contact Openreach directly, but the Council’s Digital Officer is able to do this on their behalf.
Philip goes on to say, “I can be the go-between to hopefully take the stress out of sorting these types of problems. I can also advise on how to source funding to set up fibre community partnerships if there are specific communities who are all experiencing similar problems. I’m happy to advise any resident or business in Denbighshire on any topic related to their internet connection.”
Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage said, “Ensuring better digital networks is essential and supporting communities to achieve this is a key priority in the Council’s Corporate Plan. Denbighshire is committed to helping residents to understand the options and solutions for improved internet connectivity – crucial for the digital age we live in today. I encourage anyone who is experiencing difficulties with their internet to contact Philip who will be able to advise on the best course of action.”
If you’re experiencing slow internet speeds or have trouble connecting to the internet in your home, contact the Council’s Digital Officer on communitydevelopment@denbighshire.gov.uk
Denbighshire Talking Points are here to help
Talking Points are a way for Denbighshire residents to find out what help and support is available in their local area, to help improve their health and well-being.
The service provides information about what is available in an area, such as community services, activities or support groups. The service is set up in a number of the libraries around the county, with the team attending a different library each day of the week.
The Talking Points service offers a face-to-face conversation with a Community Navigator about what matters and what is important, as well as an opportunity to share knowledge, skills and experiences to improve the well-being of others within the community.
There is no need to book an appointment to go to a Talking Point and residents can simply turn up at a Talking Point when one is taking place. However, appointments can still be booked if requested. This will help the team make sure the right people are available to provide the best information, advice or assistance.
The scheme involves a number of key services within the county, including Working Denbighshire, the CAB, volunteering services and many more.
The Talking Points locations are as below:
- Every Monday (except bank holidays) - St Asaph Library, 9.30 – 12.30
- Every Tuesday - Rhyl Library, 9.30 – 3.30
- Every Wednesday - Denbigh Library and Llangollen Library, 9.30 – 1.00
- Every Thursday - Rhuddlan Library, 2.00 – 4.30
- Every Friday (except bank holidays) - Prestatyn Library and Ruthin Library, 9.30 – 1.00
Community Navigator, Jeff Jones said: “Talking points is there for any resident who feels like they need some help. We work with a number of key services and can help signpost people to the one that best fits their situation. We are set up in different libraries throughout the county and operate each day of the week”.
Councillor Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care said: “This is a vital service that ensures that Denbighshire residents can get the help they need. Talking Points are easily accessible at Denbighshire’s local libraries, where the staff are all very friendly and are ready to have a chat. People’s lives have been transformed through these Talking Points, so I would urge anyone who feels they need some help, or even just some advice, to pop in or book an appointment.”
For more information, please go to our website.
Pilot of new AHP collections for LL16 and LL17 postcodes
Denbighshire’s new Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP) collections will be launched in a pilot scheme from September 2023.
The new scheme will initially be available to residents with LL16 or LL17 postcodes but will be rolled out to the rest of the county at a later date.
This free weekly service has been launched to reduce the amount of waste in residents’ black bins, as currently, 20% of this is AHP waste. It is part of wider work the Council is undertaking to improve recycling rates in the county.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said, “We’re starting by collecting this waste separately now so that when a contract is in place with a recycling facility, we’ll be ready to recycle it straight away. In future, this waste could be used to produce a variety of new products, which might include fibreboards and acoustic panels for floors and walls, and as an engineering material used in road surfaces.”
He went on to say, “While it’s great that we’re looking at even more things we can recycle, we also encourage residents to consider other ways of reducing their waste. One way of doing this is using reusable nappies which is a cheaper alternative to disposable nappies. The Council offers a reusable nappy voucher scheme to help residents by providing £25 worth of vouchers to buy reusable nappies.”
The new AHP collection service will be available to households with babies or children in nappies, and adults who use incontinence products. Registration for the service will open on Monday, 3 July with collections starting from Monday, 11 September.
Further information about the new service, what will be collected and how to register is available on the Council’s website.
New operator of Queen’s Market in Rhyl announced
The Council’s Cabinet have approved the award of the contract to operate the Queen's Market in Rhyl to the Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group. The Queen’s Market will be a catalyst for the regeneration of Rhyl town centre and will provide a mixed-use hall, offering a collection of artisan eateries, retail and events space.
The development includes 16 individual food and retail units, a double-sided bar, a large flexible events space and an external area capable of holding events, markets or seating.
Following a rigorous and competitive tender process, the Cabinet have agreed that the Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group are to be awarded the contract to be the operator at the premises. The Council will now work with the Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group on agreeing and signing the contract to be the operator of the Queen’s Market.
Construction on the site began in August of last year, after Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction were appointed by the Council to carry out the design and construction.
The work is nearing completion, with the building set to be handed over from Wynne Construction on the 17 of July.
The Council will now work with the Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group to achieve their vision for the interior of the Market. Working in collaboration, the bar, hot food kiosks and market kiosks will now be fitted out. A strategy and target date for opening the facility will also be negotiated and agreed with the operator. The Council will also work with the Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group on identifying and securing tenants for the units.
Recent major projects in the area have delivered multi-million pound private and public sector investments, including:
- Renovation of the Pavilion Theatre and creation of the '1891' Restaurant
- Two national branded hotels
- A co-working space for new enterprises
- The SC2 Waterpark and Ninja Tag
- The Pont y Ddraig Bridge and Harbour improvements
Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation said: “We are committed to the long-term development of Rhyl, with the new market being an integral part of this overall vision. This will bring multiple new job opportunities and will offer the residents of Denbighshire with a unique retail offering, as well visitors who come to Rhyl from further afield.
"The Queen’s Market has been the centrepiece of Rhyl since 1902 and has provided a variety of uses for the town. The building has a sentimental status, which is to be enhanced through the redevelopment of this historic site.
"There has been a £65 million investment to regenerate Rhyl for residents and businesses alike, focused on leisure, commerce, and community projects. The Queens market is yet another step in these developments, which will offer a new and exciting space for the people of Rhyl, and Denbighshire as a whole”.
Andrew Mikhail, Chairman of Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group said: "I am delighted that Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group has been named as the operator of Queens Market in Rhyl. We are determined to deliver excellence in every aspect of Queens Market.
"We have demonstrated our ability to create thriving destinations, and now we embark on a new chapter of transforming this venue into a vibrant hub of leisure, hospitality, and community.
"With passion, innovation, and a commitment to exceptional experiences, we will strive to surpass expectations and bring to life a market that captures the essence of Rhyl's unique spirit. Together, we will write a remarkable success story and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come”.
For more information, please visit our website.
Tourism
New Denbighshire visitor maps have been launched
A series of new, illustrated visitor maps have been produced. The five maps focus on different areas to include an overview map, places to visit, walking, cycling and a map highlighting Denbighshire in relation to the wider region and main transport hubs.
Produced by illustrator, David Goodman, the maps are all hand-drawn and include Denbighshire’s landscapes, rail and bus public transport routes, towns and villages as well as visitor amenities such as libraries, leisure centres, golf courses, theatre’s, cinema’s, museums and tourist information centres.
David commented: “It’s taken us almost a year to get all the information distilled into a series of maps that I hope will be a great starting point for anyone wanting to visit or explore Denbighshire further. It’s an area I’ve got to know really well over the years, and I hope the maps bring as much interest and joy as they did to me creating them.”
Councillor Win Mullen-James, Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “Tourism plays a vital part in Denbighshire’s economy, with a total economic impact of over £432 million, and over 4 million visits made to the county. The ongoing investment in both coastal and rural Denbighshire to improve the visitor offer is really encouraging to ensure sustained future growth.”
The opening of Corwen Station is an exciting addition to the tourism offer following the successful completion of the railway platform canopy as part of the Clwyd South Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Corwen Connectivity - New and Improved Western Gateway to the Dee Valley and World Heritage Site. The new station represents the culmination of many years of hard work by staff and the dedicated team of volunteers at Llangollen & Corwen Railway.
Coastal works to improve the visitor experience have also started in Rhyl; not only to protect the town from flooding but also to upgrade and expand the promenade for residents and visitors alike. There are closures to certain sections of the promenade, however alternative access points to the beach are available and clearly signposted and all businesses and visitor attractions are open as usual. Cyclists are able to follow a clearly signposted route. The latest works form part of a £65 million investment in the town including a new harbour, the SC2 Waterpark, a newly renovated Pavilion Theatre and the 1891 Restaurant as well as national chains building new hotels.
If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration of where to visit this summer, take a look at the new Discover Denbighshire brochure, updated town trail leaflets or call into Rhyl or Llangollen Tourist Information Centres. Further information and the new visitor maps can all be found on the North East Wales website – www.northeastwales.wales
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
4 - 9 July 2023
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a week-long arts festival in North East Wales, which for 76 years has brought together performers from across the globe to share their love of song, dance and spoken word.
Llangollen 2023 opens with a bang on Tuesday 4 July: Alfie Boe and musical theatre super-group, Welsh of the West End perform in an evening concert created just for Llangollen. Guy Barker’s Big Band perform on Friday 7 July; guaranteed to raise the roof with a formidable power-house of top-drawer jazz players, guest soloists include: Tommy Blaize, Vanessa Haynes, Clare Teal and Giacomo Smith.
Mid-week the Eisteddfod’s commitment to peace is highlighted through The White Flower: Into the Light, a large-scale classical music concert on Wednesday 5 July. Massed choirs and NEW Sinfonia join performers from Wales, Bosnia and Ukraine for a concert of remembrance culminating in a message of peace and hope. On Thursday 6 July daring cross-genre multi-instrumentalists Propellor Ensemble present an immersive theatrical experience blending contemporary music, folk, dance and dynamic live visuals; inspired by the wonder of the natural world.
Two incredible live finals form the closing weekend, Choir of the World and Stars of Tomorrow. The very best choirs, dance ensembles and operatic stars feature on Saturday 8 July whilst the next generation of talented performers compete on Sunday 9 July.
The outdoor festival site has had a makeover for 2023 with a vibrant daily dose of world, folk and popular music, dance showcases, comedy, thought-provoking talks, workshops, street food and shopping, family friendly entertainment all with an international flavour.
The festival site, incorporating the iconic 4000-seat Royal Pavilion, is a 5-minute walk from the town centre, with ample parking on-site.
A wide range of ticket prices/options exist; Field entry starts at £5, and Evening Concert tickets cost £10-£48. Tickets can be booked online: www.llangollen.net or by phone: 01978 862 001 (Tuesday-Thursday 9am-5pm).
Climate Change and Biodiversity
Ruthin heritage house hosts nocturnal nature walk night
Nocturnal nature lovers recently met the residents of a Ruthin heritage site.
The Council’s Biodiversity Team helped unlock the night-time routines of Nantclwyd y Dre’s bat residents during a public event at the house.
As part of the Council’s recent Wildflower Week, a Bat walk night was held at the heritage site to allow the public to experience the mammals coming to life as the light goes down.
The Grade I listed house is home to Lesser horseshoe, Brown Long-eared brown and Pipistrelle bats and has a unique ‘batcam’ for people to watch them in action when the house is open.
Bat detectors and night vision equipment helped the group spot and track the animals in the darkness during the event.
Joel Walley, Ecology Officer, helped lead the group through the night to explore the hustle and bustle of the bat’s busy nights.
He said: “It was great to take the group around this fantastic heritage site in Ruthin which is home to a very strong population of bats. The engagement and interest in the animal’s habits was brilliant and I hope the experience has helped them really get to grips with how all our bat species in the UK navigate life after dark.
Kate Thomson Manager of Nantclwyd y Dre, said: “Visitors to the house and garden can see our maternity roost of bats live through the bat cameras in the attic spaces. They are surprisingly active even in the daytime as they have their babies and rear them here at Nantclwyd. The extensive gardens are full of flowers providing the moths and insects the bats need to feed on! The house and gardens are open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 11 and 5.”
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, and the Council’s Biodiversity Champion, said: “Nantclywd y Dre is a fantastic place for learning about history in Denbighshire and also a very important place for protecting local biodiversity. I am really pleased that members of the public have experienced how the team at the house go the extra mile to protect its many bat residents.”
Wildflower makes a special appearance during week of celebration
A wildflower has taken up residence for the first time ever at a coastal meadow.
The Council’s Biodiversity Team made a new discovery while running a public event to promote Wildflower Week on Prestatyn’s Beach Road East Meadow.
The Council’s Wildflower Meadows Project started in 2019 and has seen over 10,000 individual plants recorded across all sites involved so far. In 2023, along with the county roadside nature reserves which take the total number of wildflower sites up to 140, there will be just over 70 acres of meadows helping and protecting local nature.
The aim of the first ever Wildflower Week was to unlock the bustling life of the county’s meadows through a number of events for the public to enjoy.
And during the event at Prestatyn which included Buglife Cymru on hand to talk about the meadow insect residents, a pyramidal orchid was discovered by the team.
The wildflower has pink flower spikes that forms a pyramidal shape and is usually located on chalk grassland, coastal habitats, scrub, roadside verges, old quarries and railway embankments.
Pyramidal orchids flower in June and July and will attract a variety of butterflies and moths.
Liam Blazey, Biodiversity Officer said: “It was fantastic to find this plant which is very rare across the UK at our site here in Prestatyn. Our meadows are all about bringing back the biodiversity we have sadly lost over the years for our future generations, and this really does showcase what our project is all about.”
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “These sites are extremely important in helping tackle the impact of climate change in the county, they are giving our nature a much stronger chance of surviving and thriving for our future generations to enjoy in Denbighshire.”
The pyramidal orchid has been recorded by the biodiversity team who manage and monitor all the species found on the county’s meadows to help protect and grow future support for them.
This project has also been funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being (ENRaW) Grant which supports projects that improve places where people live.
If you need further information, please email biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk
Traditional meadow management comes to tree nursery
A day of traditional meadow management skills was recently held at the Council’s tree nursery.
To celebrate the last day of the Council’s recent Wildflower Week, Countryside staff, the North Wales Scything co-operative and local residents were invited to the St Asaph Tree nursery, based near the business park to learn how to scythe or improve their proficiency in this traditional skill with the help of a local scything expert.
Phil Lewis from Smithy Farm led the demonstration on land at the tree nursery showing the ancient art of helping meadows thrive.
Scything is thought to date back to the Roman ages. It involves using a long-curved blade that is situated on an angle to a handle to allow cutting grass by hand.
The traditional technique was how hay would have been harvested from Denbighshire meadows and pastures before the use of tractors became more widespread.
The technique is friendly to the wildlife that frequents meadows as it gives them time to move on and those scything the change to spot any animals or insects.
It is also a greener way to manage grassland due to fuel free operation and better for physical use due to less hand vibration.
Those present on the day also learnt how to peen and sharpen their scythes and got to try their hand at using a hand/manual hay bailer.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It was great to be able to help people revisit the past of how meadows were managed and also learn about the benefits of scything against today’s conventional methods.”
School pours in green initiative to tackle climate change
Prestatyn pupils are taking a green approach to a traditional school drink.
Ysgol Bodnant are pouring out a green initiative to give their support to the environment surrounding the school.
Staff have worked to reduce litter produced during snack times at the school through the introduction of greener materials.
The school has introduced more reusable cups and bottles to cut down on waste when giving pupils milk.
Previously staff ordered in 240 milk cartons / small plastic bottles a day. This has now been reduced to 60 small cartons for nursery pupils only, to support their self-serve option and help reduce spillages.
The other 180 pupils now have a plastic reusable cup and each class at Ysgol Bodnant has 10 large glass milk bottles which staff use to decant into the cups.
The cups are then collected and go through the dishwasher in the kitchen and are used again during the lunch time.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “The Great Big Green Week is all about having a go to tackle climate change and its fantastic to see the children at Ysgol Bodnant doing their bit by helping cut down on waste which reduces impact on the environment.
“Well done to the pupils and staff for this great effort which will make an important difference going forward in reducing the impact of climate change.”
Library looks after local biodiversity
New nature homes for smaller wildlife residents have been created at Rhyl Library recently.
As part of The Great Big Green Week’s encouragement for community action to tackle climate change and protect nature, library staff linked up with Working Denbighshire to create a brand-new bug hotel.
Rhyl Library has committed to be ‘Bee Friendly’, providing an area for pollinator friendly flowers and places for insects to live and thrive.
Library and Working Denbighshire staff, plus two participants of the service, built the bug hotel out of old pallets from deliveries, cardboard boxes and tubes.
The new addition to support local wildlife is now situated in Rhyl Library’s garden.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “This fantastic work at the library is really important to help support and improve the local biodiversity around Rhyl. The volunteers and staff have done a brilliant job in creating these vital homes for our smallest wildlife which will benefit biodiversity moving forward.”
Greener transport to support summer maintenance work
The Council’s StreetScene operatives who carry out frontline maintenance duties, has taken delivery of two new electric vehicles (EVs) to support frontline services.
The Council declared a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency in July 2019 and committed to seeking to become a Net Carbon Zero and Ecologically Positive Council by 2030.
A section of this work is reducing the reliance on fossil fuel powered vehicles and replacing them where appropriate for the service with non-fossil fuel powered transport.
Already the Council has over 50 EVs in the fleet which include taxis, an electric minibus used in the Ruthin area, a mobile observatory van, bin lorries, EV ATV used by countryside staff, EV vans used for goods transport by different services and EV cars supporting social services staff.
StreetScene has taken charge of two Citroën ë-Berlingo electric vans which will provide teams using them with a range up to 174 miles on a single charge.
They will be used during the summer to support additional resources needed for street cleaning work during the tourism season, as well as general ongoing maintenance duties.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “We are working very hard to reduce our fleet’s carbon footprint by replacing fossil fuel vehicles with greener alternatives where it is appropriate for the service.”
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Guided Walk at Coed Bell, Gronant, with the Friends of the AONB
Earlier in May, Rangers Steve and Imogen held a guided walk for The Friends of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) around Coed Bell in Gronant. This was a chance for the Friends to see the fantastic work the Ranger team and volunteers have done over the last few years managing the site to enhance the bluebell display and to learn how the site is managed for biodiversity.
While there, they also visited the Scheduled Ancient Monument at the south of the site. This area is part of the Sustainable Management Scheme (Grazing Project) and again, the Friends had a chance to see the work the Ranger team have done to reduce the huge amount of bracken and gorse there with the view of getting grazing animals on there in the very near future.
The attendees really enjoyed the visit and a couple even said it was the best bluebell display they had ever seen, and you can see why!
The Green Communities Fund
The Green Communities fund, a partnership project delivered by rural development agency Cadwyn Clwyd and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) with support from Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham councils has supported improvements to outdoor community activities and infrastructure across North East Wales.
43 communities have been supported through the Enabling Natural Resources and Wellbeing grant, 24 within Denbighshire, 8 in Conwy, 4 in Flintshire, and 7 in Wrexham, all given support to transform their outdoor community spaces for wildlife to thrive and to create desirable places to live, work and play.
11 of these projects are situated in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, spanning Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Wrexham.
A total of 4 new Community Miles routes have received funding from the project at Nannerch, Nantglyn, Froncysyllte and Garth.
Nantglyn Community Miles
Llangollen Rural Community Council created two of these routes improving the accessibility of footpaths in Froncysyllte and Garth, to encourage outdoor walking in the villages.
The council aimed to enhance one trail in each village and provided a link to the existing Community Miles route in Trevor, so residents could make better use of the walking routes in their communities, in addition to promoting the area to tourists visiting the World Heritage site.
Corwen Community Garden, a Denbighshire Countryside Service site had experienced repeated periods of water shortage due to a combination of anti-social behaviour and increased spells of dry weather conditions. A new, secure building was constructed from locally sourced Larch with the ability to harvest more rainwater coupled with a 50 % increase in storage capacity. The project also increased the composting ability of the site and created a new fruit bush hedgerow aimed at maximising the productivity of the site for the local community to enjoy. Gwllangollen, a self-funded CIC based in Llangollen supplied locally sourced wool from the Dee Valley for weed suppression to help the newly planted hedgerows.
Improvements at Corwen Community Garden
Locally sourced wool weed suppression.
Two communities, Llandegla and Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, installed solar arrays on their village halls along with battery storage reducing both their carbon emissions and fuel bills. Already carbon neutral with an existing solar array, Llanbedr DC village hall hope their new installation will bring them closer to being one of the first net zero public buildings in Wales. Located within the AONB they received additional funding from the Sustainable Development Fund which contributed to the fitting of low energy LED lighting with all external fittings being Dark Skies compliant bringing added benefits to not only night-time visibility and light pollution but also conditions for nocturnal wildlife.
Llandegla Village Hall solar installation
Outside Lives, a social enterprise located in Gwernymynydd, near Loggerheads, used their grant to substantially upgrade facilities that provide activities and events to support wellbeing and growth. A wildlife pond with a wheelchair accessible viewing platform was created along with improved access tracks throughout the woodland and compost toilets, all created with minimal impact to the environment.
The Outside Lives project was featured on ITV Wales News and you can view it below.
Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places Dark Skies Project
The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are spearheading a national all-Wales Dark Skies project. Leading on behalf of the eight Designated Landscapes of Wales; Eryri, Bannau Brycheiniog, Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks, and Anglesey, Llŷn, Gower and Wye Valley AONBs, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB will manage the national Dark Skies project.
All Designated Landscapes have dark skies ambitions, all at different stages with everyone doing their own thing locally to improve their dark skies. A commonality that has been found between all Designated Landscapes is capital works that can be done to improve night skies. By working together, the project hopes to have a positive impact on the protected landscapes. The NOS project already has 3 years of successful collaboration and partnership working across North Wales. The goal is to expand this across Wales to enable the project aims to be beneficial to Wales as a whole.
Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB has been granted funding through the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places programme to fund lighting schemes and retrofitting projects across the 8 Designated Landscapes between 2022 to 2025. The project will aim to reduce light pollution in these areas and to lessen the negative impacts for biodiversity, climate and public health and for the protection of Dark Skies.
Light pollution is an increasing issue globally, with an increase of up to 400% in the last 25 years. It is only in recent years that the true impact on biodiversity has begun to be recognised. By reducing light pollution in designated areas, the project will improve connectivity by restoring a natural nightscape. Light pollution is a major driver of insect decline, especially winged insects and caterpillars. It disrupts the life cycle of a multitude of species both terrestrial and marine. Restoring natural darkness will strengthen ecosystem resilience and promote recovery of biodiversity. By looking at this on a landscape scale the project can significantly improve nocturnal corridors.
Dark Sky lighting is low energy and low carbon. It will lead to reduced carbon emissions in each designated area. Light retrofitting programmes will also reduce the overall energy consumption within the areas.
As part of the project Ridge and Partners LLP a lighting design specialist company have been procured to work with the Dark Skies project to deliver light retrofitting projects in all eight areas. Ridge will start by visiting each of the eight areas to conduct a baseline light pollution survey and to identify opportunities for improvement and the biggest pockets of light pollution and areas where retro fitting of lights will have a significant impact. They will identify and advise the project on which areas and buildings to target to produce the biggest positive change in light pollution.