Councillor Arwel Roberts appointed as new Vice Chair

Community to benefit from the introduction of two new football pitches

The Council have completed works to install two junior football pitches at Cae Hywel field in Upper Denbigh.

A total of £5,977.44 was awarded to fund the project from the Commuted Sums Grant Funding (CSGF), which is funding specifically held for the enhancement of open spaces and play areas.

The open space in Denbigh has been utilised by the community as a recreational field for many years, and already has a children’s play area which includes a zip wire, basketball hoop and a large open grassed area.

Denbighshire staff and Local councillors consulted with residents to see what the recreational field would benefit most from in the immediate future. This identified that the large open space was missing a much-needed facility where kids could play football and exercise.

As a result, the Council's Street Scene team, local Councillors and locally based civil engineering company Jones Bros who work nationally throughout the UK, worked in collaboration on a project to provide Cae Hywel and the community with two Welsh Football Association standard football pitches fitted with goal posts.

The civil engineering company also donated and installed a wheelchair accessible picnic table on the site. The introduction of this feature along with the football pitches will transform what used to be an open space grassed area into a multi-use facility for the local community to enjoy.

Patrick Williams, project coordinator for Jones Bros said: “We as a Denbighshire based company are delighted to contribute to the local community and feel this will provide a safe space for people to socialise and be active”.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “This is a great example of what working collaboratively with local councillors and having an open dialogue with the community can achieve.

"I would like to thank Jones Bros for their kind donation to ensure that the space is accessible to every member of the community.

“Projects such as these are essential to ensure that communities have access to a safe space to play and exercise”.

From left to right: Mr Patrick Williams of Jones Bros, Cllr Pauline Edwards, Cllr Delyth A Jones, Council Area Co-ordinator Neil Jones

Wales’s New National Park Proposal

Natural Resources Wales announce consultation on new National Park.

A 10-week public consultation period on proposals for a new National Park in Wales will run between the 7 October and 16 December 2024.

Welsh Government has commissioned NRW to assess the evidence and case for a new National Park and make a recommendation.

There is further information on their website, together with details for public drop-in events at Loggerheads, Prestatyn, Corwen and Llangollen. There are also public online events that you can attend via Microsoft Teams

To find out more visit Natural Resources Wales’s website.

The Council is warning residents of a parking scam

The Council are warning residents of a scam circulating the County where they receive texts or emails asking them to pay parking fines.

Recently, the Council have been made aware of a scam that has been targeting residents claiming they have received a fine for parking illegally. Recipients receiving these texts and emails, are notified that they have had a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued by a local council and are invited to pay the fine through clicking a link which directs them to a fake government website.

The Council would like to remind residents the Authority’s Civil Enforcement Officers only issue Penalty Charge Notice by attaching them onto the vehicles.

Anyone who has received texts or emails are encouraged to report it to Action Fraud, through calling them on 0300 123 2040 or by visiting their website.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “We have been made aware of residents receiving fraudulent texts and emails claiming that the Council have issued them with a Penalty Charge Notice for parking illegally.

"We’re urging residents that receive these messages to report it to Action Fraud and to not pay the fine through using the link provided.

"Our Civil Enforcement Officers only issue Penalty Charge Notices by attaching them onto the vehicles themselves”.

Your Voice . Your Decision: A Lasting Power of Attorney

A lasting power of attorney gives you a voice and protects your decisions. They are helpful for everyone over the age of 18.

This legal document makes it easier for the people you trust to support you when you need it most.

It means you keep control of certain decisions by choosing who you want to make them if you lose the power to make certain decisions. It could be to help with decisions about finances during a short hospital stay, or support to manage decisions about your health and care in the longer-term.

How it works

There are two different types of lasting power of attorney, also known as LPAs. One covers property and finance, such as paying bills or managing bank accounts. The other covers health and care, such as medical treatment or living conditions. 

When you make a lasting power of attorney you, known as the “donor”, name people you trust, known as “attorneys”. Attorneys make decisions on your behalf if you’re not able to. The Office of the Public Guardian is responsible for registering lasting powers of attorney. Once in place the people you trust can quickly and easily step in.

What you need to know

• close family or friends would not be able to make decisions on your behalf if you lose the power to make certain decisions without an LPA
• registering a lasting power of attorney is probably easier and cheaper than you think. Depending on your circumstances, there even may not be a charge
• making a lasting power of attorney helps plan for your future on your own terms

Learn more about lasting powers of attorney: https://powerofattorney.campaign.gov.uk

Who will speak for you if you can’t speak for yourself? Join the conversation online #YourVoiceYourDecision

Farmers help forge stronger protection for the Curlew

Farmers have been thanked for giving their support to the first year of a project designed to help an under-threat bird.

Clwydian Range and Dee valley National Landscapes is taking part in the project “Curlew Connections Wales”, a Curlew Recovery Wales partnership project working with Bannau Brycheiniog and GWCT.

This is under the all-Wales partnership project Gylfinir Cymru, an all-Wales partnership project that aims to help breeding Curlew across the country, including Denbighshire.

Curlews are under severe threat and are ‘Red Listed’ on both the Welsh and UK Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC). Over 80 percent of the breeding population has been lost across Wales since the 1990’s.

This decline is due to a number of reasons including habitat loss, pressures during nesting season and the impact of predation on the birds.

Collaborative work is happening across the Clwydian Range and Dee valley National Landscapes area to protect the birds which is funded by Welsh Government through the Heritage Lottery fund (HLF). These areas include large parts of Denbighshire, as well as parts of Flintshire and Wrexham.

Local Curlew and People Officer Sam Kenyon has led on the project and has praised the support of all farmers involved during the project’s inaugural breeding season.

Approximately 30 curlew pairs were located and electric fences were put up around a few nests to protect the birds and eggs from predation.

The efforts of all farmers involved to collaborate in giving the rare animal a chance has been ‘heartwarming and made all the difference’ according to Sam. She said:

“It’s been really inspirational to see neighbouring farms join together to give support to the nests and these iconic birds situated on their land.

Several took a single field approach towards protecting these vital nests and to support the project overall which is a real commitment I completely value. Some of our farmers agreed to delays in cutting forage in their fields as they protected the birds, meaning they’ve been late in accessing quality feed for livestock.

Through the project we have been able to give back in recognition of their valuable support with payments to compensate for these delays in the access to nutrients, done through the Welsh Government funding we have. But what really stands out is how committed our farmers have been to wanting to safeguard this rare bird on the land.”

Sam added: “Without their support, knowledge and observations, we could not have found the nests to protect and limit the impact of predation on eggs.

It’s been really good to work with other farmers, supporting us to put together a team effort in helping to protect one of Wales most historical birds.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “This is an important project for a bird that was once a popular sight not just in Denbighshire and North Wales but across the whole of the UK. We are grateful that this project and funding allows the Clwydian Range and Dee valley National Landscapes to really move forward with protecting the curlews we have and encouraging the populations to survive and hopefully thrive in the future.

We are also extremely grateful for the immense support provided by the farming community towards this project alongside the small team of volunteers who have worked with the lead officer to monitor this important animal. Farmers on the project have given this under-threat bird a vital chance this season and we look forward to next season.”

New Henllan Community nature space takes shape

Features have been added to a new Henllan area to help support both nature and the community.

Work is progressing at the Henllan Community Nature Space which began life back in the Spring of this year.

The area is one of four new community nature spaces – alongside similar areas at Rhyl, St Asaph and Clocaenog – that the Council’s Countryside Service and Climate Change teams are creating in the county this year to boost benefits for both local wildlife and residents’ wellbeing.

The Community Nature Spaces work alongside woodland creation work this year at schools across the county has received funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Breathing life into the site, Ysgol Henllan pupils joined with Denbighshire Countryside Service rangers and volunteers to shape the new nature site at land behind Meifod Road by helping to plant over 1,700 trees.

Work has now been completed on the central pond on the site which has been lined, fenced off and is now collecting water.

The surrounding sculpted banks and hibernacula have been dressed with clean soil imported from another of the Community Nature Space sites

Stone surfaced footpaths are also now in place on the sites and an additional shallow wetland feature between the site entrance and future woodland glade that formed during the earthworks has been retained and adopted into the scheme.

Picnic tables and benches have been installed on the site and work on an outdoor classroom is nearing completion.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It is great to see this site developing well after all the work the pupils and volunteers put in to plant the trees.

“The area will become a fantastic place for local residents young and old to enjoy and learn from wildlife on the land and bring other benefits including improved air quality, urban heat cooling and opportunities to support community physical and mental wellbeing.”

A Ruthin nature space has been recognised for its contribution to supporting local nature

Llanrhydd Street Nature Space was honoured at the recent Wales in Bloom 2024 awards ceremony held at Abergavenny.

Denbighshire Countryside Services alongside with the Council's Climate Change Team and volunteers originally breathed life into the old school field next to Ruthin Hospital in 2022, both for nature and for the enjoyment of the local community.

Local school children rolled up their sleeves to help plant nearly 800 trees on the site as part of the part of the Council’s continuing effort to reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity

And in keeping with the school theme, an outdoor classroom area was also built on the site not only to help the children learn about biodiversity but also give a helping hand to local nocturnal residents.

The classroom constructed of wood by local craftsperson Huw Noble incorporated a ‘Bat Roof’ which was specially designed to provide the features bats need to roost during the day.

Paths were created through wildflower meadows on the site, a pond developed to support nature and picnic benches added for community us.

The site has been managed since by Countryside Rangers with the support of volunteers backed by Nature for Health.

Entering for the first time, Llanrhydd Street Nature Space has been classed as Level 4 ‘Thriving’ under the Royal Horticulture Society and Wales in Bloom It’s Your Neighbourhood awards 2023. This area of Wales in Bloom is a scheme for volunteer-led community gardening groups which are focused on cleaning up and greening up their local area.

Senior Countryside Ranger Jim Kilpatrick said:” We are really pleased that through the work of all volunteers young and old alongside our rangers has helped this fantastic site for nature and the Ruthin community be recognised.

“It’s developing really well since we began in 2022 here, the meadows are thriving in season and the trees planted are really coming on strong.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Council Biodiversity Champion, said: “The volunteers and staff have made a real positive difference to what was once an old school field at Ruthin thanks to their dedicated work to improving biodiversity and the surroundings for the community. It’s brilliant that they have received this recognition for all their hard work.”

What to do with your pumpkins?

With Halloween fast approaching, did you know .......

• Pumpkins are Fruits, not vegetables
• You could grow pumpkins at home
• The heaviest pumpkin ever weighed 1226 kg
• Your Halloween pumpkin needs to go in your food waste caddy, not your general waste bin

Denbighshire Home Library Service

Denbighshire’s Home Library Service is back after a short break with a brand new team. If you can’t get to the library, then let the library come to you with our free service to your door. Every four weeks we will visit your home to deliver and collect your items to Denbighshire residents who are unable to get to the library themselves. This may be due to disability, inability to carry heavy books, housebound without any family or friends to collect books for you or a caring role.

We offer novels, information books, large print and talking books. You can also use our online catalogue to request items 24/7. Our excellent team will discuss your reading choices and preferred language and formats with you. User preferences are recorded and the team will choose and prepare the items, these are then delivered to your door.

We can bring items to your home, sheltered accommodation, nursing home or day centre. The value of the service is demonstrated in the frequent praise received by the team.

“The service is great, really appreciate it, I’d be lost without it!”

“The books are chosen with care across the topics that are of most interest to me, many thanks”

For more information or if you or someone you know would like to be considered for the service please call Ruthin Library 01824 705274 or email blair.gardiner@denbighshire.gov.uk

Home Library Assistant Wenna Edwards preparing the bags ready for delivery

Home Library Assistant, Blair Gardiner ready to deliver the books to homes in Denbighshire

Childcare Applications

Our Flying Start Childcare Applications are now open for Spring Term 2025.

Does your child turn 2 between 2 September 2024 and 5 January 2025? If so, and you live in a Flying Start area you may now be eligible for our Flying Start Childcare to start in January 2025.

Our applications are open between 4 October and 15 November 2024.

To find out if you are eligible and to complete an application form, please click on this link >>> www.denbighshire.gov.uk/flying-start

Denbighshire Tourism Forum

New technologies and new opportunities are on the cards at Denbighshire’s next Tourism Forum, which will take place on Wednesday, 16 October at the Oriel Hotel, St Asaph.

Hosted between 10.30am - 1.30pm, the Forum provides a great opportunity for delegates to hear about the latest tourism developments and meet other like-minded businesses and share experiences.

Guest speakers at this event include Joe Bickerton, Tourism Manager Wrexham Borough Council who’ll be highlighting new in-bound travel opportunities for the sector in Denbighshire created by the raised international profile of Wrexham FC.

Other speakers include Rhian Hughes, Smart Towns Digital Officer, who will be describing how insights from electronic data can be used to manage assets, resources, and services efficiently and in return can be used to improve operations and future prosperity within towns, and Ceri Lloyd, Sustainable Development Officer, Clwydian Range and Dee Valley. Ceri will be explaining the reasons why all designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in England and Wales are becoming National Landscapes.

Tourism plays a vital part in Denbighshire’s economy, with a total economic impact in 2023 of £736 million, up 17% on the previous year. Visitor numbers in Denbighshire also continue to grow, with the 2023 figure showing 6.4 million.

A variety of information stands will be present including, Business Wales, Federation of Small Businesses, Woodland Skills Centre, Denbighshire Heritage Service, Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape, Smart Towns, Working Denbighshire, Denbighshire Tourism and Llangollen International Eisteddfod

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said:

“Tourism is a vital industry, which is rooted firmly within Denbighshire.

Our visitors come to experience our culture and heritage and explore our mountains and coast. Denbighshire has so much to offer, all within one County.”

Ian Lebbon, Chair of Denbighshire Destination Management Partnership, said:

“We have three great speakers lined up for the forum, who are all eager to share their knowledge and know-how with the sector. As always we welcome everyone involved in tourism and also anyone who wishes to get real insight into this vibrant and vital industry.”

To book your FREE place, please click on this link.

Cost of Living Support

Did you know that we have a section on our website which gives information about the support available to people to help with their cost of living?

It covers help for:

• Armed forces / veterans
• Carers
• Disabled people
• Families
• Pensioners
• People who are not working
• People who have lost a loved one
• Students

There are also links to Citizens Advice Denbighshire, information about Child Trust Funds and much more. Here is a link to our website, where you can find all the information. 

Advice from our Digital Officer

Are you suffering from stuttering video conferences and slow internet while at home? 

Our Digital Officer is available to offer free impartial advice on your home internet connection, possible upgrade solutions and home Wi-Fi problems.

Contact Philip Burrows - philip.burrows@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Another successful jobs fair held by Working Denbighshire

In September, more than 400 people attended Working Denbighshire’s Jobs fair at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl.

Over 50 businesses exhibited, including nationally recognised names such Clwyd Alyn, North Wales Fire & Rescue, Asda, Alpine Travel, Gamlins Law and Balfour Beatty.

The free event saw an opportunity for unemployed people, and those looking for a career change, to gain access to local and employment options, as well as hear about the various training and apprenticeships opportunities that are open for applications.

The team organised a quiet hour during the event for those who may appreciate a quieter atmosphere.

The Council’s Working Denbighshire service aims to coordinate support that helps people into work by removing barriers. Working with local businesses and organisations, the Working Denbighshire programme is committed to supporting people who live in Denbighshire to get into the world of work and/or further their skills with free training.

Melanie Evans, Principal Manager, Strategic Employment, said: "We are thrilled with another great turnout at our latest Jobs Fair. It is a testament to the hard work of our team and the commitment of local services and businesses to support our community.

“Events like these not only connect job seekers with potential employers but also empower individuals to take the next step in their careers."

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation added: “The success of the Jobs Fair highlights the importance of collaboration between local organisations and the Council. By providing a platform for high quality training and employment opportunities, we are helping to break down barriers and create a brighter future for the residents of Denbighshire."

To keep up to date with events and find out more about Working Denbighshire visit our website.  

Working Denbighshire is part funded through the Welsh Government Communities for Work Plus Programme which supports those most disadvantaged in the labour market to overcome the barriers preventing them from gaining employment.

Working Denbighshire has received £3,529,632 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

High flying support helps swing in decarbonisation work at Denbigh Leisure Centre

A huge energy saving project which saw boilers old and new take to Denbigh skies has been completed.

Significant work has been carried out to reduce energy usage and cut back carbon emissions at Denbigh Leisure Centre which provided a sky wise spectacle for local residents due to the scale of the operation.

The Council’s Energy Team managed their biggest project to date to tackle energy efficiency and lower costs at the site run by Denbighshire Leisure Limited and owned by the Council with dual use by the High School for their curriculum.

The team has managed a number of projects across Council buildings, including leisure centres to improve building energy efficiency and also reduce emissions and usage costs over the longer term.

This work is part of the Council’s drive to address the climate and nature emergency declared in 2019 and reduce its own carbon footprint.

The Energy Team swung into action to tackle the first phase of work at Denbigh Leisure Centre, saw the installation of solar PV panels on the roof of the building.

This PV array it the first of a possible two to be installed and is 18.7Kw. It is funded by the Council’s Climate Change budget, generating a total of 15,545kWh per year and saving just over four tonnes of carbon renewable energy.

Each Kilowatt generated and used by the building will save around 30 pence. Installing this capacity not only reduces substantial carbon it also reduces strain on the local grid infrastructure.

Further stages of work at Denbigh Leisure Centre saw the replacement of the outdated and inefficient pool heating system to include heat recovery and improved atmospheric controls, a second PV array and LED lighting.

To tackle the sheer size of this project the old boilers were lifted out of the leisure centre roof by crane to awaiting vehicles at the front of the building. This crane was also used to lift in the replacement environmental control heat recovery unit.

Martyn Smith, Property Energy and Carbon Manager, said: “This is an extensive project at the leisure centre with work ongoing to bring different energy technology together to help lower energy use and costs at the site. The new, lower output, boilers and heat recovery, along with reduced costs from the solar PV system and LED lighting will have a significant effect on reducing energy bills. We are grateful to the local users of the site and Denbighshire Leisure Limited for supporting us while we carry out this work.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion said: “This project will help the leisure centre not only provide a better environment for physical activities for users and reduce carbon but also support the site in reducing ongoing energy costs.

“We are committed to reducing our buildings carbon emissions and thank the Energy Team for their proactive work and the excellent engagement and support from Denbighshire Leisure Limited and the staff at Denbighshire Leisure Centre.”

Below is a time-lapse of the removal of the old boilers.

Its FUNGI time!

You might think that nature starts to sleep as the nights draw in and the weather turns colder. But damp and cool weather is perfect for waking up our fun-gi friends. You might start to notice a multitude of mushrooms while walking around the county and be fascinated at how different and diverse that they can be. The presence of mushrooms and other fungi is very beneficial to wildlife and biodiversity, they can also be a good sign that an ecosystem (a connected community of different species) is healthy.

Mushrooms on a log at Coed Pen-y-Pigyn, Corwen

Fungi are not plants

It used to be thought that fungi were a type of plant because they have a similar lifecycle. However, they are now defined as their own separate biological kingdom, in the same way that animals and plants are also within their own biological kingdoms.

What do Fungi do?

Fungi play a vital part in nature and humans have been relying on them for food and medicine for many years. Fungi play a vital role in breaking down materials, such as turning deadwood into nutrients that can be absorbed by trees or other plants. Many fungi also have symbiotic relationships with trees (a relationship which benefits both species) where they provide nutrients to the tree and the tree supports them in return. It is thought that life on earth would not exist if we didn’t have fungal species – they are that important!

Fungi and Climate Change

Fungi has a part to play in the fight against climate change (due to the impact of humans producing too much atmospheric carbon). Fungi are known to be carbon stores, so the more mushrooms the more carbon is stored away. Some species of fungi that live underground have the potential to store gigatons (a billion tons) of carbon dioxide every year.

How can I support fungi?

• You could keep a wild or nature area in a damp patch in your garden
• You could photograph any mushrooms you see when visiting any of our county nature areas or wildflower meadows over the autumn
• Take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch 
• Admire the fungi you find in nature but don’t pick it, it is working hard to support nature exactly where it is.

Butter Waxcap found on one of our wildflower meadow sites

Mushroom on grassland

A Parrot Waxcap hiding on Caer Drewyn

Safety First

There are many species of mushrooms and without in-depth identification experience it can be very difficult to tell harmful fungi from edible fungi. Therefore, it is always recommended to never eat wild mushrooms unless you have had training or are accompanied by an experienced fungi forager or mycologist.

For more information  

To find out how we are working to reduce our carbon emissions and support nature recovery in the county please visit our Climate and Ecological Change on our website.

Rhyl nature reserve recognised at national awards

A Rhyl nature reserve has been recognised for its contribution to supporting local nature.

Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve was honoured at the recent Wales in Bloom 2024 awards ceremony at Abergavenny.

Denbighshire Countryside Services and volunteers supported by Nature for Health have worked to improve the site both for nature and for the enjoyment of the local community.

Ongoing development work has seen a new community orchard and pond opened up, improvements to the walkways, removal of dead trees and the tidying up of the viewpoints around the main waters.

Areas have also been improved around the nature reserve to encourage more water voles to make their home at the site.

Rangers and volunteers work together regularly to learn countryside crafts such as traditional hedge laying on the site to help also improve habits for nature.

Entering for the first time, Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve has been classed as Level 4 ‘Thriving’ under the Royal Horticulture Society and Wales in Bloom It’s Your Neighbourhood awards 2023. This area of Wales in Bloom is a scheme for volunteer-led community gardening groups which are focused on cleaning up and greening up their local area. 

Countryside Ranger Vitor Evora explained: “We are really proud that the work of our volunteers alongside our team at Brickfield Pond has been recognised, especially with all the projects we have worked on here recently. It’s a really great spot for nature and a lovely community site for Rhyl which we hope to keep on improving into the future.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Council Biodiversity Champion, said: “The volunteers and staff have made a real positive difference to Brickfield Pond thanks to their dedicated work to improving biodiversity and the surroundings for the community. It’s fantastic that they have received this recognition for all their hard work.”

Denbighshire bird colony continues seasonal support for Little Terns

Foraging fires up nature’s healthy benefits

A foraging event at a Rhyl nature reserve has fired up knowledge on the human benefits the site can provide.

The Council’s Countryside Service works alongside Nature for Health to help people enjoy the outdoors for physical and mental wellbeing through undertaking physical activities outside.

Nature for Health is a collaborative project that works together with individuals and communities to highlight the role access to nature can have in improving health and wellbeing. The Nature for Health Programme has received funding from the UK Government.

A group guided by Leah Apostolou from the organisation Living Wild toured Bruton Park nature reserve to learn how to forage plants and fruit at the site that can benefit their own health.

Covering the paths on the site to also help their physical wellbeing, the group learned about how fruits on the site including blackberries, apples and sloe berries can be used to support the fermentation of a health natural drink.

They also discovered that rosehip, hawthorn berries and pinecones can be used to help create fire cider, which was their task to make in the outdoors following the foraging around Bruton Park

Mixing their choice of ingredients in a jar with apple cider vinegar the group created their own fire cider drink which is said to provide natural benefits to the immune system using the foraged items that the nature reserve provided.

Denbighshire Countryside Ranger Sasha Taylor who accompanied the group said: “It was amazing to see how many edible fruits and flowers the site supports. Leah’s knowledge meant that we were also able to identify and collect previously overlooked plant species and components which provide a whole host of health benefits. This included the roots of the wood avens plant which boast anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent and diaphoretic properties”

“Having Leah’s expertise on site allowed us to safely collect a range of medicinal plants and fruits. The foraged materials were then used to make individual fire cider tonics tailored to each persons preferred benefits. Tonics such as these can be an excellent alternative to standard vitamin tablets as they contain a host of synergistic substances which can help the body to absorb and process vitamins more effectively. Taking the time to mindfully collect the plants as we walked around the site also allowed us to take advantage of the mental and physical health benefits of being out in nature”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “Getting outdoors and experiencing our fantastic environments across the county is so important for helping physical and mental health and we are grateful for Nature for Health for providing this fantastic opportunity for learning more about the plants all around us in these important areas for nature and local communities.”

1920’s life showcased at recent North East Wales Archives event

At an event held recently at the North East Wales Archives in Ruthin, locals were invited to turn back the clock and discover what life was like in 1920’s North East Wales.

The free event showcased some of the best of the Archives’ collections including photographs, records related to the Women’s Peace Petition, newspapers and other records focussing on life in the 1920s.

There was an opportunity for attendees to get crafty with local artist, Rachel Evans, who has been working with the archives to create an art project for children based on local archival collections.

A guest photographer also showcased their services, allowing attendees to take away one-of-a-kind portraits developed in just 5 minutes, using the only street box camera in Wales.

The event also gave the team a chance to talk about the Creative Archives project. The project, funded via the National Lottery Heritage development grant funding, will enable the service to further develop plans for moving to a new archive centre in Mold and delivery of an activity programme.

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage said:

“This event allowed residents to take a step back and be immersed in the history of their local area.

Residents got to see some of the best of our archives collections from 100 years ago.”

Sarah Roberts, Archivist at North East Wales Archives said:

“We had over 170 people through our doors to celebrate the annual open doors event in Ruthin, it was wonderful to see so many people discovering the stories from our collections.”

Stay safe at Halloween

With Halloween just around the corner we want everyone to enjoy, but it’s important to stay safe!

Here are a few tips for you to stay safe this Halloween:

• Young children should always go trick or treating with an appropriate adult
• Look carefully before crossing the road
• Plan your route and let people know where you are
• Make sure you stay in areas that are well lit with streetlamps and take a torch with you
• Never go into a stranger’s house or talk to strangers on the street
• Please respect residents who choose not to take part
• Be careful not to frighten vulnerable people, especially older people
• Ensure you are always visible; it may be a good idea to wear reflective tape on your clothes/costume so that you are seen by motorists

‘Beautiful’ Rhyl Council homes build foundations for strong community

Council tenants are building a strong community at a newly finished Rhyl housing development.

Denbighshire Housing recently held an event for Llys Elizabeth tenants to help them meet their new neighbours and also chat to staff about their new homes at the former tax office.

Tenants got together in the grounds of their new homes to have a go at willow weaving, take part in boccia games against each other and also talk to a Community Navigator to learn about suitable community support if needed.

Llys Elizabeth is designed for people aged 55 and over. The development at the site has seen the creation of a total of 12 new homes comprising eight two-bedroom apartments and 4 one-bedroom apartments which are situated in the building. Each home is designed to offer high levels of energy efficiency to support the new tenants with the cost of living and help the Council and Wales achieve its targets of lowering carbon emissions.

The new Rhyl homes are part of the Council’s continuing commitment to tackling accommodation waiting times by addressing the need for more social housing provision in the county.

‘Absolutely beautiful’ was how Sandra Williams described her and her husband Alan’s new apartment home at Llys Elizabeth while enjoying meeting her new neighbours at the Denbighshire Housing event.

She said: “It's really lovely, I can't fault it at all. It’s been like winning the lottery really, we have got such a beautiful place. It’s really beautiful, they (Denbighshire Housing) have all been very attentive and I can’t say anything bad.

Councillor Rhys Thomas, the Council's Lead Member for Housing and Communities, attended the event to meet the new tenants and also took a tour around one of the apartments.

He said: “I'm very impressed with those buildings, I'm impressed as to how spacious the one we saw there was, the two bedroom one and the large kitchen and dining area combined, so very, very nice.

“I've also talked to some of the residents here as well. They’ve been in here for about three weeks and they are very, very happy. One said at the moment they saw it, they wanted to move in straight away.

“There are some nice open areas depending on people’s interests. Although they are in apartments, if they want to do some gardening and other things they obviously can. Its all on flat ground, people can walk from here to the promenade, they can walk into town and it’s on a bus route, so it’s a win-win.”