County Voice

News

Council's new website goes live

The Council has completely revamped its website to make it more accessible to the public – and it’s now live.

Each public service organisation needs to ensure that its website meets the requirements of the Equalities Act and have accessible websites by September 2020. Making a website accessible means that it can be used by people with impaired vision, motor difficulties, learning disabilities, deafness or impaired hearing.

Councillor Richard Mainon, Cabinet Lead Member for Corporate Services and Strategic Direction, said: “We hope people like out new look website and find the new look site a lot easier to navigate and find the information they need.

“We are always looking at ways of improving our online services and this latest change in law has given us a great opportunity to revamp our website, making sure it fully complies with accessibility guidelines.

“We have been testing the site with the Disability Access Centre and have passed their accessibility tests. We have also introduced some minor changes in response to feedback from the public and we would like to thank people for taking the time to get in touch.

“It has a very different look and feel from the existing website.  It has a clear and simple design; it should be easier to read in terms of font, colours and contrast and the language should be easy to understand.  It has also been designed so that it can be used on as many digital devices as possible.

“Our website is one of the key platforms for the Council to provide advice and information to the public and is available twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year. 

“The Council is focussing on providing more services online and allowing customers to access a wide range of information about council services, as well as registering requests, making payments and getting involved in consultations.  

The new-look website is available by visiting: http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/. 

Have you got a story to share and work in one of the following roles?

Have you got a story to share and work in one of the following roles?

  • Work as part of a learning disabilities team
  • Mental health worker
  • Social worker
  • Dementia worker
  • Substance misuse worker
  • Home help
  • Someone that works with and helps children

Then we would like to hear from you!

The Workforce Development team are working in connection with the We Care Campaign Team and Careers Wales to develop digital case studies/ videos focussing on a day in the life of you and your chosen career path.

The short videos will be used by Careers Wales in Schools and Colleges to promote Health and Social Care Careers and by the We Care Campaign during Campaign weeks on social media and the We Care Website.

If you would like to get involved please contact Samantha O’Mara via email at samantha.O’Mara@denbighshire.gov.uk or telephone 01824 706610 / 07920294117.

Rural residents urged to apply for funding for improved broadband speeds

Rural residents and businesses in Denbighshire are being urged to apply for funding towards the cost of installing gigabit broadband.

The Welsh and UK governments are now working together on the Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme which covers part of the costs of installing new gigabit-capable internet connections.

Under the new partnership £7,000 is available for small-to-medium sized businesses and up to £3,000 is available for residential premises.

Gigabit-capable broadband connections offer the fastest and most reliable speeds available, and the scheme is open to rural premises with broadband speeds of less than 100Mbps.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for the Economy, said: “This scheme will help ensure more people and businesses have access to reliable broadband speeds. I urge all those Denbighshire residents in rural locations without decent broadband to check to see if they are eligible for these vouchers.

“Connecting communities is a priority for the Council and improved internet connections ensure our communities have access to goods and services and helps the county’s businesses provide services online.

“It is possible for residents or community groups to work together on applications and the Council is working to advise and assist them with their applications.”         

You can contact the Council via communitydevelopment@denbighshire.gov.uk and to check eligibility visit: https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/

Update on Denbighshire Registration Service

Services provided by Denbighshire Registration Service have resumed, with some changes to how ceremonies are undertaken to allow social distancing guidelines to be followed.

For Register Office ceremonies, only two witnesses are able to attend, with no other guests.  For venue ceremonies, people are asked to contact the venue and ensure they will be open on the day of the ceremony and check any revised rules they may have, including the number of guests permitted, which must be by invitation only.

Anyone wishing to make a new booking for 2020, can do so by contacting the office on 01824 708100.

Notice of marriage / civil partnership appointments are available on a case by case basis.  Priority will be given to those couples with ceremonies booked for 2020. Anyone who has already made a booking may contact Denbighshire Registration Service by emailing ceremonies@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Birth registration appointments are available now, strictly by appointment only. Please call 01824 708100 to make an appointment. 

Copy certificates can only be ordered over the telephone by calling 01824 708100.

Death registration appointments will only be completed over the phone. Please call 01824 708100 to make an appointment.

Citizens Advice Denbighshire

Do you know anyone – or are you supporting anyone – who needs to apply for settled status?

Citizens Advice Denbighshire are supporting the County's residents to access the EU Citizens Rights Service, funded by the Welsh Government, where individuals and families resident in Wales can have access to free, impartial and confidential information, guidance, and advice on settled status applications and access to in-depth, specialist help on social welfare issues.

This service supports EU, EEA and Swiss citizens with settled, pre-settled status applications and also offers access to wider advice services, including specialist advice.

The deadline for citizens to apply for settled status is fast approaching – applications must be submitted no later than 30 June 2021, and applicants must be UK residents by 31 December 2020.

To speak to an adviser or to book an appointment with our EU Citizens Rights team, please call 0300 3309 059 between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Climate change plan for Council decision making

The Council will meet to discuss making climate change a guiding principle in its decision making process.

Last year the Council declared a climate change and ecological emergency which included a commitment to make the authority net carbon zero by 2030, enhance biodiversity across the county and call on the Welsh and UK governments to provide assistance and resources to enable the Council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Full Council is set to vote in October 13 on amending its constitution so all decisions made ‘have regard to tackling climate and ecological change’ after the recommendation was approved by the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee at a meeting on September 9.

Councillor Graham Timms, the Council’s Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Working Group Chair, said: “By having regard for tackling climate and ecological change in decision making we hope to limit the Council’s impact on further exacerbating climate and ecological change and to maximise opportunities to make a positive contribution.  

“If the recommendation is approved we believe we will be the first Council in Wales to take such a step and this shows the commitment the Council has made to tackling the climate change and ecological emergency.”

Councillor Brian Jones the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said:

“Protecting the environment is a priority for the Council and during lockdown work has continued on ensuring the Council is reducing its carbon footprint and increasing biodiversity in the county.

“We have already achieved a lot, we have reduced carbon emissions from our buildings and fleet by 15 per cent since 2017, the Council now only uses renewable electricity for its own buildings after switching to a renewable only energy provider for its schools, leisure centres, libraries, council offices and depots and we are over halfway to reaching our target of planting 18,000 trees by 2022.

“Our Climate and Ecological Change Strategy and Action Plan to get the Council to net carbon zero and ecologically positive by 2030 which we engaged with the public on earlier this year will be ready early next year. We intend to consult with the public on the draft strategy in the autumn.”

Denbighshire Community Development Workshops

Interactive web-based workshops to discuss your community development plans and aspirations with the DCC Community Development team and others.

From September 2020 we will be hosting web-based community development workshops to discuss community project ideas and developments across the county.

We would like to tailor the sessions to suit your community priorities, offering information and guidance on specific topics of interest to you. We would also like to facilitate networks of interest, allowing those across the county working on similar projects to share ideas and best practice.

We will use online video calling software to facilitate the workshop, which are anticipated to be 1.5hrs long and structured to include:

  • key considerations/advice regarding the theme discussed;
  • examples of best practice;
  • and an open discussion or Q&A session with theme experts.

If you would be interested in attending a web-based workshop of this nature, please complete the questionnaire below to help us tailor the workshops appropriately:

Questionnaire link

Work continues on East Rhyl defence works

The next phase of work is due to start on a £27million flood defence scheme in Rhyl in October.

The East Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme will protect 1,650 properties in East Rhyl and is funded through the Welsh Government, as well as part funding by Denbighshire County Council.

Work started on site in April and is on target to be completed by December 2022.

Material including large rock will continue to be delivered to the site to enable the construction of the rock armour revetment, which will commence in October.

The revetment is expected to take around eight months to build.

Cllr Brian Jones, the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said:  “This scheme will significantly reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses and offer peace of mind to residents impacted by the floods in 2013.

“Work is progressing well and by the end of August, preliminary works will start on forming the first of three permanent beach access points.

“Contractor Balfour Beatty has been able carry on with the work as planned, whilst fully adhering to the Welsh Government’s coronavirus regulations and guidance, since work started in April.

“In response to requests from beach users, the contractor has been able to provide access to be the beach at weekends from Marine Drive, near Old Golf Road and we would like to thank residents for their understanding while work is being carried out.”

A site haul road has been created using the existing promenade between East Parade and Splash Point and a temporary stone track between Splash Point and Garford Road car park.

A stone ramp has been formed at Splash Point to allow access to the beach for the heavy machinery that will be required to carry out the work while a visitor centre has been set up at the site compound and members of the public are welcome to drop by to discuss the scheme with the public liaison officer.

Information about the project can also be found at https://www.eastrhylcoast.co.uk/

 

Social distancing reminders in Denbighshire a sign of the times

A series of signs have been placed across Denbighshire, as part of a visual reminder for people to continue to social distance when they’re visiting town centres.

The signs have been placed in town centres and form part of a wider campaign to encourage more people to visit town centres safely.

In June, the Council set up a Task Group had been set up to support town centre businesses during and after the re-opening of shops, working jointly with business associations and local communities. The Council also has teams out and about in our main town centres, monitoring compliance with safety guidelines, as well as offering practical support to businesses, such as signage or posters.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, who is also the Cabinet Lead Member for the Economy, said: “For more than three months, town centres - the heart of many of our communities - stood still and quiet, with businesses closed and visitors and locals alike asked to stay at home and away from others until things became better. 

“The easing of restrictions on town centre businesses has been a step in the right direction and the Council has worked closely with the business associations and communities across Denbighshire to ensure the re-introduction of services has been as smooth as possible.

“The signage is one of a number of initiatives that have been introduced in town centres.  Teams of staff from the Council have also been working in town centres, liaising with businesses and listening to their feedback.  They have also been able to identify what works well and whether there were any localised issued that needed addressing.

“The messages around social distancing are equally as relevant as they were at the beginning of our work and we would like to thank the communities of Denbighshire for supporting this essential work”.

Shielding

Since the start of lockdown, the Council, with the support of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, has proactively contacted more than 6,000 shielded people and residents aged 70 or over who have been isolating, to offer advice and support to ensure they can access the supplies and services they need whilst remaining at home.

This has included referrals to community groups, local charities and council services for tailored help including grocery shopping, medication collection, telephone befriending and basic care needs assessments.

The Council ended these calls when shielding restrictions were lifted last month.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, the Council’s Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “The last few months have been very difficult for those who have been shielding and isolating. We have been in touch with more than 6,000 people, and have been in regular contact with a majority of those. 

“The feedback from residents has been very positive with many telling us how appreciative they were of the calls.

“Over 80 staff from across the Council have been involved, with many officers quickly adapting to working in a completely different way.

“I would like to thank staff for their dedication and hard work during this process; my thanks also goes to our external partners including Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) and the British Red Cross for their contribution.

“We are reminding residents they should continue to follow Welsh Government advice and that they are not required to change how they have been dealing with coronavirus.”

Residents can still use the community resource list at http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/community-resources for contact details and web addresses of local shops willing to deliver supplies, and where to go for local and national help and support. If they need additional support, please contact the Council.

Residents can also access information, advice and assistance which includes our Telephone Befriending Service by contacting Single Point of Access on 0300 456 100.

Should Welsh Government introduce a second lockdown, the Council will be in touch with residents who are advised by the Chief Medical Officer for Wales to shield again. 

Recycling and Waste

Dee Valley pop up recycling and waste collection service to resume

The Council is informing residents in the Dee Valley of the re-introduction of the Saturday waste and recycling pop-up service in Llangollen and Corwen.

The service, which enables local residents to dispose of excess waste, garden waste, additional residual household waste and some oversized items, has now resumed.

It was stopped due to coronavirus restrictions, as the Council could not safely continue the service due to the on-going need for social distancing measures.

The Council has been reviewing the position constantly, and with more staff returning to work due to the lifting of the shielding restrictions, the service can now continue.

There are a number of temporary changes to the service and local householders will be required to pre-book a slot and must attend at their chosen time. 

Slots can be booked online at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recycling.

Customers are required to bring their booking reference number with them, along with proof of address, as the service is only available to Denbighshire residents.  Anyone attending without a booking will not be allowed to use the service.

There will be 24 x 20 minute slots available between 9am and 11am.

The next slots are:

Saturday, September 19 – Corwen, Green Lane Car Park

Saturday, September 26– Llangollen Pavilion

Saturday, October 3– Corwen, Green Lane Car Park

Time slots will be reviewed after reviewing waste volumes and throughput to maximise the number of slots we can offer and the Council will continue to release slots on a four weekly basis, after reviewing the service. 

The service will operate on its historical alternating cycle as long as it is safe to do so, at Cowen on the first and third Saturday morning of every month, and at Llangollen on the second and fourth Saturday morning of every month.

Cllr Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “We would like to thank residents in the Dee Valley for their patience and understanding and to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“The coronavirus restrictions were put in place to protect people’s health and safety and now with more staff returning to work, we can reintroduce the services in Llangollen and Corwen safely.

“We will review the service on a weekly basis to ensure we optimise the service through this phased re-opening.”

There are a number of temporary changes to the service:

There will be no additional green waste service on the first and third Saturdays in Llangollen, but this will be kept under review.

Additional signage and traffic management will be in place to help direct customers, and enable social distancing rules to be followed.

Initially, the pop-up waste service in Llangollen will be situated on the actual Pavilion site, not the car par below.  This enables us to manage social distancing, prevents congestion, and frees up car park spaces at a busy time of year for the town.  Signage will be in place from the car park entrance to direct residents, and this information will be provision to anyone who requests at slot at the time of booking.

In order to allow as many residents as possible to use the service, we will not accept twin axle trailers at this time.  Households with such large quantities of waste should book a visit to one of the 3 HWRC permanent sites. We are now accepting all trailers at our permanent sites (a permit is still required). We are advising customers to bring no more that around 1100 litre of waste in any one visit (the equivalent volume of a Ford Focus with the seats down.) so that we have enough capacity on our vehicles to accept the waste.

Initially we will be unable to accept soft furnishings such as textile covered sofas and mattresses, but we do hope to expand the service soon.

Residents are also asked not to attend the site if they are self-isolating and/or showing Covid19 Symptoms.

Residents are not required to wear a face covering as the service is outdoors and the two meter rule will be strictly enforced. 

Libraries and One Stop Shops

Welcome back to the Library!

You can now visit all the Libraries and One Stop Shops in Denbighshire again – by appointment only so that we can ensure the safety of customers and staff. Contact your local library by phone to arrange an appointment to come in to browse and choose books, to use the computers and printing or to get help with Council services or make payments. The library layout will look a bit different so that we can keep everyone safe, the appointment will be time-limited – but the warm welcome will be just the same as ever and we’re looking forward to seeing you.

Order and Collect

If you do not wish to visit the library, you can order books over the phone or online and have an appointment to come to collect them. The Home Library Service also offers a service direct to your home. Call the library for more information or to order.

Digital Library

The Library Service has continued to provide a service to the local community throughout the lockdown, even though the buildings were closed. The Digital Library has been very popular with hundreds of readers downloading e-books and e-audiobooks form Borrowbox and magazines from RBDigital – in both English and Welsh. Many have also used the new PressReader service giving access to thousands of newspapers from across the world, and used Ancestry free from home. This can all be found on the Council website www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries and you can join online too.

Our Bookstart team has been holding a Rhymetime on Facebook Live each week since late March and posting videos of songs rhymes and stories on YouTube regularly. Families with children aged 0-3 can collect a free Bookstart pack from their local library too.

Summer Reading Challenge

Children aged 4-12 have been doing the Summer Reading Challenge online this year at http://www.sillysquad.org.uk/, and by collecting a pack and books from their local library. The theme is Silly Squad – and the challenge runs to the end of September.

How to contact us and further information

www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries @DenbsLibs Denbighshire Libraries on Facebook

Ruthin One Stop Shop

Ruthin One Stop Shop is now open, for pre-booked appointments only, for all local residents needing advice and support to access council services following lockdown / shielding restrictions being lifted by the Welsh Government.

To book an appointment at Ruthin please telephone 01824 706004. For information about all our services please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk or phone the main Council number 01824 706000.

Free newspapers and magazines!!

DID YOU KNOW …. that you can have free access to newspapers and magazines, from 120 countries around the world, 24/7. The publications are available in full text, on the day of publication and look just like the printed edition. They can be viewed online through a web browser, or via the Press Reader app on a smart phone or tablet.

  •  Install the PressReader IOS or android app on your smartphone or visit http://www.pressreader.com/
  • Sign-in – select ‘Libraries and Groups’ and search for Denbighshire Libraries
  • Enter your library card number
  • Set up your account by entering your email address and password.

If you don’t have a library card, then it is easy to join online - just click on ‘Join the Library’ from this link - https://wales.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/denbighshire_en/

Tourism

Tourism Recovery

The Tourism Team have been looking at ways to build confidence in the tourism sector and local communities over the past few months.

The work includes:

  • Producing a series of blogs highlighting good news stories and suggesting alternative places to visit
  • Offering a free tourism leaflet distribution service enabling businesses to order free leaflets
  • Engaging regularly with local businesses and offering advice & guidance
  • Engaging with colleagues across Denbighshire to ensure consistent and up to date messages are communicated

If you have any questions, suggestions or would like any help or advice, then please contact the Tourism Team – tourism@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Would you like to learn more about the area?

The Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador Scheme provides people with training about Denbighshire’s tourism offer to create a baseline knowledge about the area’s natural and cultural resources, in order to improve the overall visitor and local experience.

A series of 11 interactive online training modules with quizzes have been produced on various themes including walking, cycling, history, arts, AONB, coast and food tourism. There are 3 levels of awards – bronze, silver and gold, depending on the amount of modules completed.

It’s free, flexible, informative and fun and it’s open to everyone!  Please visit our website for further information.

The project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

Keep posted on tourism news!

Launch of new video

North East Wales have launched a new video on how to visit Denbighshire's City and towns in a safe manner so that you can all enjoy its history, adventure, culture, walks, beaches, local shops & restaurants.

Working Denbighshire

How can Working Denbighshire help you?

The Working Denbighshire team are here to support you into work and/or better employment.

Why not give them a follow on social media.

  • Facebook - Sir Ddinbych yn Gweithio/ Working Denbighshire
  • Twitter - Working Denbighshire @WrkDenbighshire

 You can also have a look at their video which will help give you a flavour of what they do.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Why do we coppice?

As you walk around Loggerheads Country Park you may notice some areas where the trees have been cleared. This is a traditional woodland management practice called Coppicing. Coppicing is the practice of cutting down trees of a certain age and species such as Hazel to promote strong regeneration. This also promotes the growth of the ground flora in the same area. The timber created by clearing the trees is then used around the park to build fences, restore path edging and create charcoal.

Volunteers making charcoal
Coppice after trees have been cleared

Coppicing does not only benefit the trees and flowers but also the birds, small mammals and insects such as butterflies. With the increased sunlight reaching the woodland floor, wild flowers such as Wood Anemone and Dog Violets thrive. These intern attract insects such as butterflies and bees which help to pollinate the surrounding trees and shrubs. With the increase of insects and fruit baring trees and shrubs the population of birds and small mammals increase as well. The boost to the woodland that coppicing brings is felt all the way from the smallest mouse and bird right up to the grand oaks and large mammals.

Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)
Dog Violet (Viola riviniana)

Coppicing is conducted in a rotation so that there is always trees of varying ages throughout a woodland. This helps the woodland to thrive and makes it more resilient to pests and diseases. Coppicing has been conducted for hundreds if not thousands of years and thus native woodlands have evolved to benefit from the practice. It is one of many woodland management practices that ensure our woodlands flourish and live on for future generations to enjoy.

Countryside Services

Pebble painting workshops held in Denbighshire

More than 100 people have taken part in a series of pebble painting workshops.

The Council’s Countryside Service, via the Welsh Government ENRaW project, artist Tim Pugh, with assistance from James Davies MP and members of the community, held three days of pebble painting workshops at Coed Y Morfa and Parc Pendre Prestatyn, and Brickfield Pond, Rhyl.

These were a continuation of the efforts of the community on the Prestatyn/Dyserth Way snake and Brickfield Pond snake.

Some pebbles were brought from the original snakes and included in the art works, and many more were made on the day by the avid artists. 

Councillor Tony Thomas, the Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “These sessions provided a fantastic opportunity for families to take part in a fun and engaging activity.

“Families were able to enjoy a safe outdoor environment and have fun painting rocks in the sun and with the help of Tim Pugh, creating beautiful snake like art works. All sessions were full, and all families were appreciative of the summer holiday activity.

“These pebble snakes have helped bring the community together as well as show support for the NHS and key workers. As a Council we are proud to have been able to host these sessions to support the great work being undertaken in the community.”

The pebbles at the Prestatyn are still in place while pebbles at Brickfield Pond will be installed in the car park at Morrisons’ Rhyl branch.

The Health and Wellbeing Value of Allotments

Allotments are found throughout the country, and provide opportunities for people to grow their own produce on a leased plot of land in a community space. These are important green spaces, enhancing the local environment, providing a source of food, bringing communities together, are an educational tool, and have many health and wellbeing benefits. Allotments grew in popularity throughout the 20th Century, and have seen a resurgence in popularity due to an increased public interest in sustainability and self-sufficiency.

We have eight allotment sites within communities across the county. The newest of these sites is the Geufron in Rhyl. This was opened as part of the Enabling Natural Resources and Wellbeing (ENRAW) project, an initiative to improve access to nature and promote health and wellbeing along the North Wales coast through a corridor of urban green spaces. Denbighshire’s allotments are as follows:

  • The Morfa, Prestatyn
  • Glas Meadows, Denbigh
  • Greenfield Road, Ruthin
  • Fron Bache, Llangollen
  • Uwch y Dre, Corwen
  • Crescent Road, Rhyl
  • Ffordd Las, Rhyl
  • The Geufron, Rhyl
    The new Geufron Allotments in Rhyl

    Allotments promote an active lifestyle through the manual work required in looking after an allotment, and can be an effective form of exercise. In addition, allotments promote mental wellbeing through access to the outdoors, providing people with an activity to focus on and take pride in, and offering new social opportunities within the local community. Taking up an allotment is increasingly recommended by healthcare professionals to alleviate a range of mental and physical health issues. This is particularly important in urban areas with limited access to green space, with many residents not having their own garden.

    These spaces encourage local residents to grow their own produce, whilst learning new gardening skills. A healthy diet is encouraged through producing their own fruit and vegetables, which is particularly important for households who may struggle to afford healthy produce. This in turn promotes a healthy lifestyle and promotes wellbeing. Allotments also reduce plot holders’ reliance on supermarkets and help them move towards self-sufficiency and a more sustainable way of living, as well as increasing awareness of the importance of local produce.

    The Ffordd Las allotments in Rhyl

    Allotments are known for bringing people from across the community together, of all ages and backgrounds. Gardening can be an icebreaker as it provides a common interest for people to connect over, and can alleviate social isolation. Allotment groups are becoming increasingly popular. In Denbighshire, Prestatyn Community Allotment Group provides gardening opportunities for those who do not have a plot, and is a social opportunity for local people. There are plans for a new initiative in Rhyl through the ENRAW project to provide allotment spaces for Syrian refugee families, where they can grow their own produce and share gardening skills. At the Corwen allotments, a number of volunteer sessions brought volunteers from across the county together to tidy up the allotments and repair a dry-stone wall on the site. In Denbigh, there are plans for a community orchard alongside the allotments, and Vale of Clwyd Mind run weekly gardening sessions. Through these sessions, the Council is providing educational opportunities in rural skills, which can be shared and passed down to the next generation.

    Dry-stone walling with volunteers at the Corwen allotments

    The green spaces provided by allotments are vital in urban areas, where such spaces are hard to come by due to pressures to build more housing and reduce garden sizes. Allotments therefore provide havens for wildlife in Denbighshire’s towns. Plants grown in the allotments, and grass banks surrounding them, are an important habitat for insect pollinators. This in turn benefits birds and small mammals. These green spaces allow the migration of wildlife across urban areas. Therefore, urban green spaces can have an impact on biodiversity on a large scale. In the Prestatyn allotments, a solitary bee box has been installed to provide a nesting habitat, and has been a success, showing that insect life can thrive in these spaces. Urban green spaces such as these are vital places for local people to enjoy wildlife and the outdoors, especially for those who have difficulty travelling out of urban areas into the countryside, which further boosts health and wellbeing.

    The solitary bee box at the Prestatyn allotments

    The Council aims to increase awareness of the health and wellbeing benefits of allotments through the promotion of its allotment sites, and working with community groups. Denbighshire hopes that the popularity of allotments will continue to grow in order to promote healthy lifestyles in urban areas.

    For more information on our allotments, contact claudia.smith@denbighshire.gov.uk.

    Education

    Sanitary products made available to pupils during lockdown

    The Council has been ensuring sanitary products have been available to schools and pupils during lockdown.

    With support from the Period Dignity in Schools Grant from Welsh Government, the Council has been ensuring eco-friendly sanitary products have been available in 55 schools in Denbighshire during lockdown as well as donating excess supplies to local food banks when schools closed in March.

    Staff working for the TRAC 11-24 project have also been working with key agencies within the Council as well as Barnardo’s, Team Around The Family and schools to identify young people who may be impacted by period poverty during COVID-19 and the summer break and 352 packages containing eco-friendly sanitary products have been sent directly to homes. 

    Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement said: “The Council has been able, with the support of Welsh Government, to ensure sanitary products have been available during lockdown. This was coordinated and managed by staff within the TRAC project and I would like to thank them for their huge effort to get products packaged, labelled and sent out before schools broke up for the summer break.

    “The Council is now looking at securing home deliveries for these products through to March next year. This will ensure period poverty will not be a barrier to young people being able to access school for their education as well as providing a discreet service.”

    TRAC 11-24 is supported by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government and offers personalised support to young people who are disengaging from education or at risk of becoming NEET (not in engagement, education, or training).

    Our Staff . Working Differently

    Edd Sopp: Assistant Ranger

    My role is Assistant Ranger for the AONB, I am based out of Loggerheads Country Park and help to look after the Clwydian Range from Prestatyn in the north to Llandegla in the south.

    Normally in the spring myself and the rest of the team are busy getting our sites ready for Easter and the summer months with the help of our volunteers, and conducting some of our important ecological surveys such as Black Grouse Counts. However, all that was put on hold when we went into lockdown at the end of March. The decision was made to close Loggerheads and Moel Famau Country Parks and from that point on my role started to evolve. At first we concentrated on preparing sites for lockdown, putting up signage to inform visitors and local people of the situation and carrying out any checks to ensure the parks were closed as safely as possible. We had to stop carrying out certain jobs as they were not safe to be conducted while lone working but it was interesting to experience the country parks when they were empty, at times it was really eerie walking around the usually packed Loggerheads and Moel Famau when they were devoid of people. There were some days when I could count the number of people I saw on one hand. The wildlife seemed to thrive having the country parks to themselves, most mornings the grey wagtails and black caps were down by the river catching flies and the elusive dipper was a regular on the fast flowing sections of the river.

    The big change to my Role came when England started to relax their lockdown rules. We found our sites were getting busier and busier even though Wales was still in full lockdown. We had to start patrolling Moel Famau on a regular basis and helping advise visitors of the lockdown regulations and liaising with North Wales Police. We had great support from North Wales Police who were always on the end of the phone if we needed assistance and provided regular patrols past the carparks. Normally I work on a weekend rota with the rest of the Ranger team, this involves being around Loggerheads and Moel Famau checking the sites, engaging with the public and keeping on top of litter. However, during lockdown, the weekends were spent patrolling our sites, checking signage and monitoring on how many people were parking up trying to access our closed sites. This evolved over lockdown into spending core hours at Moel Famau advising people of the relevant regulations and explaining the different lockdown rules to people who had travelled from away to visit the country park. At the weekends we averaged between 50 and 60 cars turned away from Moel Famau each day, towards the end of lockdown this increased to nearly 100.

    Now we have reopened it is great to welcome people back to the country parks and see them enjoying the sites that I have been lucky enough to be enjoying throughout lockdown.

    Archives

    Unlocking the archives after Covid-19

    North East Wales Archives are set to re-open their Hawarden and Ruthin offices to the public in September.

    They are planning a phased re-opening, with safety measures in place, to help ensure that search-rooms are a safe space for all.

    From 15 September 2020, Hawarden branch will be open on Tuesdays – 10am - 4.30pm (with a lunchtime closure between 12.45pm and 1.45pm).

    From 18 September 2020, Ruthin branch will be open on Fridays – 10am - 4.30pm (with a lunchtime closure between 12.45pm and 1.45pm).

    A strict booking system is in place and people will need to book their visit at least 72 hours in advance. Please book for either a morning or an afternoon session, to enable as many researchers as possible to access the archives during our phased reopening.

    All documents must be ordered in advance of the visit, up to a maximum of 10 items, which will be ready to view when people arrive. Please visit the website www.newa.wales for details and to use the online catalogues. People will also need to sign up for an Archives Card, details are on the website.

    To book a visit, please use our new website http://www.newa.wales/.  Alternatively, you can e-mail them at archives@newa.wales

    The teams are looking forward to welcoming their researchers back to North East Wales Archives.

    Features

    New crane at Rhyl Harbour increases capacity

    A new crane has been installed at Rhyl Harbour increasing the size of vessels that can use the facility.

    The Council has purchased the slipway hoist, built by Wise Handling, which has a lifting capacity of 20 tonnes and can lift both pleasure and commercial vessels, increasing the previous capacity from 12 tonnes.

    The four-legged hoist, which is 5.5metres tall, is set on wheels and is able to move vessels from the storage area to the slipway to allow access to the water.

    Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill the Council’s Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “There has already been significant investment in the harbour area of Rhyl and this new slipway hoist is a fantastic addition which has increased the capacity significantly. The harbour can now cater for the demand we have been getting from larger vessels and we hope to attract a wide variety of new customers to the storage facility at Rhyl Harbour.”

    Promoting social media accounts

    Did you know that we have Facebook and Twitter accounts that bring you the latest news in Welsh?

    If the answer is "no", then this is exactly our intention with a campaign that we're running to promote our Welsh-language social media accounts.

    In order to encourage the public to follow our Welsh language accounts we have been working on a scheme to make it easier for the public to discover them.

    On a weekly basis we post a message on our English corporate Facebook and Twitter accounts that informs the public that we have a Welsh equivalent page, as well as a link to that page. We are doing something similar to also promote our website. A message is also included on our Customer Contact Centre telephone line informing our customers about the Welsh medium website. We have seen an increase in the number of people following our Welsh-language social accounts as well as the Welsh language website as a result of the regular messages.

    To receive our latest news through the medium of Welsh follow:- @CyngorSirDdinbych on Facebook and Twitter and www.sirddinbych.gov.uk to access our website in Welsh.

    Blogs

    North East Wales

    Why not sign up to receive the North East Wales blog. The latest post talks about exploring Welsh creativity at Ruthin Craft Centre.

     

    North East Wales Archives

    At North East Wales Archives, they hold an extensive collection of school records, including school log books. These are sometimes overlooked by researchers, as they tend not to include the names of individual pupils and are thought to be too ‘general’. However, they are a fantastic source for discovering fascinating facts about the lives of children and teachers in the past, and social history generally. Bridget Thomas, Archive Assistant at Hawarden branch, looks at some of the things you can find out from school log books.

    You can find out more about this and other subjects by signing up to receive their regular blog updates.

    Working Denbighshire

    Working Denbighshire have a blog - why not follow them?

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