Redeveloped Prestatyn playground opens with seaside theme

Central Beach play area has reopened this week following a period of redevelopment by Denbighshire County Council.

The Council’s Streetscene department managed the project after securing grant funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Transitional Fund.

Work has seen a new seaside theme roll into the site that is near Prestatyn beach, alongside the installation of accessible and sensory play equipment that is designed to allow children of all abilities play together.

The new look play area is designed to provide a modern update with dynamic, exciting and varied play. It provides physical and cognitive play types and a lot of variety to ensure children learn and grow as well as explore different types of physical activity.

KOMPAN carried out the redevelopment of the play area after being briefed by Council officers who were keen to acknowledge the seaside surroundings at the site.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “It’s fantastic to see this play area back open for children to enjoy and I would encourage local and visiting families to stop by and take in the new amazing seaside themed site that sits next to Prestatyn’s beach.”

Working Denbighshire’s Jobs Fair comes to Rhyl in February

Jobseekers across Denbighshire are invited to join the Working Denbighshire Jobs Fair on Wednesday, 25 February, from 10am to 2pm at the 1891 Bar & Restaurant, Rhyl Pavilion.

Held in partnership with Job Centre Plus, this free event will bring together a diverse mix of local and national employers who are actively recruiting for a wide range of roles across multiple sectors.

Building on the success of previous fairs — which have welcomed over 40–50 employers and attracted hundreds of attendees — this February’s accessible event continues Working Denbighshire’s commitment to breaking down barriers to employment and connecting people with real opportunities close to home.

Attendees can expect to meet employers representing sectors such as hospitality and leisure, health and social care, armed forces, manufacturing and more, reflecting the varied workforce needs across the region. Organisations such as the Royal Navy, North Wales Police, Haven, and a wide mix of local employers offering both entry‑level and experienced career pathways will be in attendance.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said:

“Our Jobs Fair is all about creating access to opportunities for local people.

“We’re delighted to welcome a range of employers who are actively looking for candidates, and we encourage residents to come along, explore what’s available, and chat directly with organisations ready to hire.”

Melanie Evans, Principal Manager, Strategic Employment, said:

“Our job fair is a fantastic chance for residents to meet employers face-to-face and discover what’s happening across key sectors in Denbighshire. It gives them the opportunity to spark future-changing conversations, build their confidence, and show people the variety of careers available right here in our county.”

The event is free and open to everyone, including jobseekers, career changers, young people exploring options, and anyone interested in training or employment support available through Working Denbighshire.

For more information and updates, visit working.denbighshire.gov.uk or follow Working Denbighshire on social media.

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 is part funded by UK Government.

‘Treeific’ pupils plant hope for local nature

Pupils at Ysgol y Faenol in Bodelwyddan have put in a ‘treeific’ effort to provide new habitats for local nature at their school ground.

Pupils have joined together with Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity and Countryside Service team members to plant over 1,000 trees of varied species at the school.

This work is funded by the UK Government through the 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund which has granted Denbighshire County Council £278,600 for nature recovery works across the county.

Rolling up their sleeves, pupils have been busy planting hedgerows and standard trees at Ysgol y Faenol.

Standard size trees planted include alder, sessile oak, rowan, hazel, silver birch, bird cherry, guelder rose and elder.

The children also planted wayfaring trees, which have an interesting history for the pupils to learn along with facts about the other species. Wayfaring trees were named in the 1500s after been noticed on the routes between Wiltshire and London. If you see a wayfaring tree, you are said to be on or near a path.

Over 1,100 smaller trees of different varieties planted at the school will also create hedgerows and woodland that will help pupils learn more about the habitat benefits to local nature as they develop and mature.

The trees planted to create these areas included wild pear that will provide a food source for birds and mammals and its flowers a haven for local pollinators. Also planted by the pupils is dogwood, the leaves of which are eaten by the caterpillars of some moths, including the case-bearer moth.

The habitat creation at Ysgol y Faenol will not only give the pupils an area to learn about local nature but will also contribute locally to the absorption of carbon emissions thanks to extra trees in the ground.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “We are really grateful to all the Ysgol y Faenol pupils for their brilliant help towards shaping this great new area to support local nature to and to also benefit the wellbeing and learning of all pupils current and future.”

Company and conversation sessions to be held in collaboration with talking points

Three of Denbighshire’s Libraries are set to host a set of 'Company and Conversation' sessions in conjunction with the Talking Points service.

The free sessions will be held at Corwen, Rhyl and Ruthin libraries throughout February and March, alongside the regular talking points sessions, which are held in a different Denbighshire library each day of the week.

The sessions are facilitated by Making Sense.

As well as offering the regular advice and guidance information, these special talking points sessions will offer the chance for citizens to take a stroll down memory lane and allow interaction with ‘reminiscence boxes’.

The boxes feature a collection of memory boxes and bags, which hold nostalgic items that residents can interact with. Most of the items are from the 1950’s era.

Reminiscence box contents (Image credit, Making Sense)

Alongside the boxes, tea and cake will be supplied, as well as the opportunity to create through a number of arts and craft mediums.

Arts and crafts (Image credit, Making Sense)

The sessions will be held in:

• Rhyl library - February 10^th, 17^th and March 10^th, 24^th.
• Corwen library – February 18^th, 25^th and March 4^th, 11^th,18^th
• Ruthin library – February 10^th, 17^th and March 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th

All sessions will run from 10am – 12pm.

Councillor Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care said:

“These sessions are a brilliant opportunity for residents to pop down to the library, have a chat, enjoy a cup of tea and possibly take a trip down memory lane.

They’re creative and fun, and I’m sure they will bring real value to everyone who takes part. I’d like to thank all of the partners involved, including our Library Service, for hosting these sessions and creating welcoming, enjoyable opportunities that bring people in our communities together.”

Tenants move into new energy-efficient homes in Denbigh

Tenants have now moved into their new homes at the Llwyn Eirin development in Denbigh, following the completion of 22 high-quality, energy-efficient council houses.

All 22 homes have been successfully allocated, with a strong emphasis on supporting local people, helping to ensure affordable housing is provided for local communities.

New tenants have praised both the homes and the support they received during the allocation process.

One resident said: “The housing officer has been very supportive in helping us. These properties are amazing and are beautiful inside.”

Another added: “Thank you for our beautiful new home. We are going to benefit so much. The long wait was worth it and being kept informed along the way as well.”

A community event is currently being planned to give new residents the opportunity to meet one another and begin building connections.

The Llwyn Eirin homes have been built to the highly energy-efficient Passivhaus standard, offering excellent insulation and significantly reduced energy use. The properties are fitted with solar panels and ground-source heat pumps, meaning they do not require a gas supply. This will help lower household energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and support the Council’s commitment to tackling climate change.

The development has been supported by Welsh Government funding through its Innovative Housing Programme, enabling Denbighshire County Council to work with Creating Enterprise on this modern and sustainable approach to housebuilding.

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said:

“It’s fantastic to see tenants moving into these new homes at Llwyn Eirin. This development shows our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable housing for local people while also delivering homes that are fit for the future. These energy-efficient properties will help residents keep energy costs down while supporting our wider environmental ambitions.”

The Llwyn Eirin development forms part of Denbighshire County Council’s Affordable Housing Programme, which is delivering new council homes across the county to meet local need.

Contractors appointed for Ruthin projects

The council have successfully appointed a contractor for the impending public realm improvement works to Ruthin town.

In 2023, the UK Government confirmed their intention to provide £10.95 million of grant funding for 10 capital projects aimed at protecting Ruthin’s unique heritage, wellbeing, and rural communities.

This funding has been awarded exclusively for successful projects included in Clwyd West and cannot be directed to other projects.

Undertaken by OBR Construction, the proposed works to St Peter’s Square and Cae Ddol will look to widen the scope for hosting events, revitalise historical buildings and landmarks to support local identity, and promote pride of place by boosting the image of the town.

The St. Peter’s Square public realm improvement works are scheduled to start on site from mid-March 2026, and will be carried out through a phased approach, with the project temporarily paused in July to allow Gwŷl Rhuthun to take place safely and without disruption.

All construction activity will stop for the duration of the festival, and the site will be secured throughout this period. Once the festival concludes, construction works will resume as planned.

Work at Cae Ddol to introduce an active travel route and pump track will begin at a later date once the rugby season finishes in April, minimising disruption to regular users of the grounds.

As a part of the agreement, OBR Construction will provide a business liaison officer to support businesses with any porterage services required during the project.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said:

“Whilst this project is an exciting development to Ruthin that will look to revitalise the square and Cae Ddol, we are aware that residents and business owners will be affected whilst the work is carried out.

“Throughout both projects, OBR Construction and the council will work closely with the community, providing regular updates on progress and notify of any temporary impacts. Advance notices will be issued to ensure residents, businesses, and visitors are aware of temporary changes to access and traffic management during the construction phase.

"As we prepare for upcoming works in the area, we are asking all businesses and residents that have not completed an Access Needs Survey, to do so. Responses are essential in helping us understand what access businesses and residents will need once the works begin.

“By completing the survey, you will help us to ensure maintained access to properties and premises, allow us to plan and support appropriate routes and minimise disruption during construction”.

If you have not completed the survey yet or if you require further information about the schemes, please contact the project team: corporateprogramme@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Turf-cutting ceremony marks start of works on new community hub

A turf-cutting ceremony was recently held to mark the start of works to construct a new community hub and extension at Ysgol Bro Elwern.

The £2.7 million project is partly funded by the Welsh Government through its Welsh ;Language Capital and Universal Primary Free School Meals grant to provide a new classroom and state of the art kitchen for the primary school, whilst the community hub is funded by the UK Government as part of grant funding for 10 capital projects aimed at protecting Ruthin’s unique heritage, wellbeing and rural communities.

Attending the ceremony were representatives from Denbighshire County Council, pupils and staff from Ysgol Bro Elwern, local members and representatives of the Community Council alongside staff from SWG Construction who are undertaking the works.

The project is set to benefit the pupils at Ysgol Bro Elwern as it will deliver a new classroom, kitchen and ancillary spaces and access to an onsite hall space.

The Community hub itself will include a large hall and meeting space to provide improved facilities for social engagements for the local community and will be managed by the Community Council.  Cylch Meithrin will be relocated into the Community Hub.  The facility will also be used by the school, local community groups and the Post Office.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said:

“The turf-cutting ceremony is a significant milestone to an important project that will make a real difference to the pupils of Ysgol Bro Elwern as well as the community in Gwyddelwern. The project will not only provide new state of the art facilities for one of our schools, but it will also provide a vital community hub for the community.

“I would like to thank the local member, Councillor Hugh Evans, and the Community Council for their commitment throughout this process and Denbighshire County Council are excited to support the project as it progresses”.

Riverside Park development begins

Work is set to commence to help improve and develop health and wellbeing along Llangollen’s Riverside Park.

Funded by Shared Prosperity Transitional Year Funding the work starting Monday February 2, will be coordinated by Denbighshire County Council’s Streetscene department.

The development of the area follows previous improvement work at the park during the last few years which has seen initiatives including a 9-hole bespoke mini golf and play equipment added to the site.

Streetscene is working to further enhance the park for local residents and visitors to enjoy.

The project will see the replacement of an existing ramp from Aldi Car Park to the Skatepark/MUGA area to improve the accessibility of this area to wheelchair users and others with greater accessibility needs, and the installation of two further ramped paths to improve accessibility around the park.

Fencing will be added next to the old children’s play area to make this section more secure, and an additional access gate will be installed on the river side of the park.

An outdoor gym will also be installed which will include seven items of equipment to enable users to exercise with a view over the river. In addition to this, two accessible picnic benches will be installed in this area with concrete bases to enable easy access by wheelchair.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “We are pleased to be able to continue making improvements along this great area at Llangollen through this funding Streetscene has been able to access. This work will enhance other areas that have already been improved at Riverside Park to further raise the profile of this important part of the town for both the enjoyment of residents and those visiting Llangollen."

Denbighshire’s Council agrees extension to Corporate Plan

Denbighshire's full Council today (Tuesday, 27 January) agreed the proposal for its current Corporate Plan, The Denbighshire We Want, to be extended by one year to 2028.

This change will allow the next elected Cabinet and Council, following the May 2027 local government elections, the opportunity to develop their own five-year Corporate Plan for the period 2028–2033.

This has been done by the Council to strengthen the ability for the new Council to shape a plan that reflects its priorities and vision, strengthening councillor ownership of the Corporate Plan and its delivery.

The Corporate Plan is a key strategic document that enables the Council to meet its statutory duties under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and the Equalities Act 2010.

The change agreed today is supported by the ongoing delivery of detailed strategies such as the Climate and Nature Strategy, Digital Strategy, Economic Strategy, and Workforce Strategy.

Cllr Julie Matthews, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy, Equalities and Strategic Assets said, “This proposal gives the next Cabinet and Council the time and space to develop a Corporate Plan that truly reflects their priorities, while ensuring continuity and stability for our residents.”

Garden subscription renewal goes live

Denbighshire gardeners who use the garden waste subscription service can renew their collection from today (January 12)

Renewal for 2026 to 2027 is now open to make sure there is time for everyone to sign up before the new service period starts from April 1.

The Council is encouraging residents who are subscribing for the first time also take advantage of this sign-up period from today (April 1) to take full advantage of the 12-month service.

Residents are encouraged to renew their collection service online using the link below:

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/bins-and-recycling/garden-waste.aspx

The two weekly garden waste service offers residents a convenient, cost-effective means of dealing with their garden waste and makes a significant contribution towards meeting statutory recycling targets.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “Today’s the day to renew or sign up for the 12 months garden waste collection service. I would urge residents to do this at their earliest convenience to account for the delivery time of any new containers and to and to take advantage of the full 12-month service.

Residents can check whether they have a live subscription on the bin collection dates page of the website or find out further information on the service here

Applications for commuted sums are now open!

Applications are now open for funding to help improve open spaces and play areas across Denbighshire.

Funding totalling £101,064.42 is available to support local projects.

The funding comes from commuted sums, which are payments made by developers when it is not possible to provide outdoor open space as part of a new development. These funds are set aside to enhance parks, play areas and other open spaces, usually within the same town or community where the development took place. In some cases, the money can also be used to benefit nearby communities within Denbighshire.

A range of organisations can apply for funding, including:

• City, town and community councils
• Community and voluntary groups
• Charities
• Public sector organisations
• Amateur sports clubs
• Denbighshire County Council

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities said:

“Commuted sums funding plays an important role in helping us protect and enhance open spaces and play areas across Denbighshire. This investment helps ensure that local communities continue to benefit from safe, welcoming and well-maintained spaces that support wellbeing, play and community life. I would encourage eligible organisations to consider applying and to take advantage of this opportunity to make a positive difference in their local area.”

The funding closes for applications on 20 April 2026. Further information and application forms is available online here: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/commutedsums.

The amount of funding available, and in which areas is listed below:

Garden waste subscription renewal now live

Denbighshire gardeners who use the garden waste service can now renew their subscription.

Renewal for 2026 to 2027 is now open to make sure there is time for everyone to sign up before the new service period starts from April 1.

The Council is encouraging residents who are subscribing for the first time also take advantage of this sign-up period to take full advantage of the 12-month service.

Residents are encouraged to renew their collection service online using the link below:

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/bins-and-recycling/garden-waste.aspx

The two weekly garden waste service offers residents a convenient, cost-effective means of dealing with their garden waste and makes a significant contribution towards meeting statutory recycling targets.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “Today’s the day to renew or sign up for the 12 months garden waste collection service. I would urge residents to do this at their earliest convenience to account for the delivery time of any new containers and to and to take advantage of the full 12-month service.

Residents can check whether they have a live subscription on the bin collection dates page of the website or find out further information on the service here

Restoring the Past, Building the Future: Nantclwyd y Dre

Ruthin is a town is steeped in history. Razed to the ground by Owain Glyndwr in the year 1400, the historic feel of the town as we know it today comes in large part from the timber-framed vernacular style of architecture which was used during the town’s reconstruction.

Among the charming streets and historic frontages sits an important piece of Ruthin’s built heritage. Originally built in 1435 as a weaver’s hall house, Nantclwyd y Dre boasts nearly 600 years of local history and is one of the oldest timber-framed townhouses in Wales open to the public.

Now managed by the Denbighshire Heritage Service, visitors to Nantclwyd y Dre historic house and gardens can relive the house’s fascinating past through immersive soundscapes, interiors and exhibits that give a captivating insight into what life was like for the families that lived there.

In 2023, funding was granted to restore parts of the site as the UK Government confirmed their intention to provide £10.95 million of grant funding for 10 capital projects aimed at protecting Ruthin’s unique heritage, wellbeing, and rural communities.

This funding, known as the Local Regeneration Fund (LRF), was awarded exclusively for successful projects included in Clwyd West and cannot be directed to other projects.

As one of the successful projects, £667,000 was allocated to redevelop some currently unused parts of the house in need of some repair to preserve this important piece of local heritage for generations to come, create new opportunities for the attraction to improve its future sustainability and make some exciting additions to the visitor experience.

Construction works began in October, focussing on bringing the largely unused west wing of the property back to life. This section of the house will become a small holiday let, designed and furnished in keeping with the historic nature of the building, and see improved facilities on the first floor with a dedicated space for the weekly volunteers who are a critical and valued part of the day-to-day workings at Nantclwyd.

However, before the works could begin, one set of longstanding residents needed to be taking into consideration. Denbighshire County Council consulted with ecologists to ensure that the planned developments would not disturb the resident protected bat maternity roost, which houses a significant number of the Pipistrelle and Lesser-Horseshoe population in Wales. Contractors were given specialist training, and a large bat shelter was installed in the garden, giving the winged residents an additional space to thrive.

The planned improvements will also make the kitchen area more suitable for event catering, and the summerhouse will be restored to its former glory for visitors to enjoy during the summer months, also serving as an additional space for the ceremonies taking place at the historic house such as weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.

Undertaken by B&W builders & decorators alongside TACP Architects, the project is expected to be completed by April 2026. A more sustainable approach to the improvement works has also been implemented through using wool to insulate the building rather than the more widely used oil-based insulation which emits higher carbon emissions and isn’t renewable.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said:

“The beginning of these improvement works to Nantclwyd y Dre serves as a major milestone in securing the future of such a prominent historical site that sits at the heart of Ruthin. 

“Nantclwyd is as a great visitor attraction and community hub for our dedicated volunteers, and we are looking forward to seeing the newly developed spaces being enjoyed and used by visitors.

“The wellbeing of the bat population will remain as a priority whilst the works are being carried out, and we will be in continuous communications with the ecologists throughout the completion of the works”.

Career change for St Asaph man helps build continued support for frontline service

A career change with help from a council scheme has inspired a St Asaph man into stepping forward to help make a difference for local Denbighshire communities and the county environment.

County Voice sat down recently with Waste and Recycling Relief Team Leader Owen Lokier to find out how a decision to jump career tracks has helped gather knowledge and experience in the service on a professional and personal level.

Owen said: “Originally I was an engineer; I worked in the steel industry as a fabricator and welder and just basically fancied a change in career

“In January 2022 I saw an advert for the Working Denbighshire scheme for refuse collectors, so I decided I’d go and give that a shot. I started that in the January, it was a three-month scheme based in Ruthin, and off the back of that I ended up landing a full-time contract with the council as a refuse loader. The Working Denbighshire scheme was definitely a positive for this.”

Operating as a loader for 12 months, an opportunity came for Owen to expand his skills in the service.

“My line manager gave me the opportunity to drive our smaller cage vehicles a couple of days a week. This was mainly driving up to the farms, rural areas. It was based in the south, from Trefnant all the way down to Llangollen, it gave me an insight into the driving side of the service. “

The wheels of progression in the service did not stop there for Owen as spurred on by operating the smaller class of vehicle, he decided to go and do the class two LGV licence through a Welsh Government backed scheme.

“This gave me the opportunity to progress into the role of a full time driver that came available. So, I had worked my way with Working Denbighshire’s help to a grade two loader, to a grade four driving a smaller cage vehicle and then with my LGV licence I became a grade five.

“That was where I was up to until we came to Denbigh in June 2024, I was what you would call a floater at the site, I’d cover lads on sickness and one of the benefits to that was I was able to learn a lot of different rounds across the county which gave me s lot of knowledge.

“It came with its challenges as one day you could be doing something and the next day something completely different, but I liked the variety of it and also working with different teams.”

Getting to meet a lot of the service workforce helped Owen into a position to use his experience to support the service even stronger as in November 2024 he alongside another colleague was successful in applying for two relief team leader posts that help cover sickness and annual leave management from the office.

Waste and Recycling staff can also access training opportunities and whilst carrying out his current role, Owen is also working towards more qualifications with the support of Cambrian Training.

He explained: “I enrolled on a Level 3 Diploma for Sustainable Recycling Activities (Supervisory) course which I’m currently studying for. I’m hoping to progress as well from this to a level 4 NVQ to keep working my way up.

“Bev from Cambrian is very helpful, she understands that learners have different ways of learning, I like to have a bit freer rein doing the coursework, we meet once a month and I will go away and try to do a lot of it in my own time.”

Changing careers to make a difference to the local environment by helping residents with their recycling and waste, also means a lot more time engaging with county communities according to Owen.

He said: “I enjoy working outdoors and I enjoy engaging with the public which is quite a big one because you do have some positive and also some negative engagement, but I always try to turn the negatives into a positive.

“One thing I’ve always said is refuse collectors they are a part of the council that everyone in the public sees every week of their lives.

“If someone’s’ got a problem with the pavements, with the roads, we do hear that and we always try to turn it into a positive and a lot of positives do come out of it, especially around this time of year at Christmas and New Year when you look at the lads and how grateful the public are for them being out there in all weathers 52 weeks of the year.

“Also, for the elder community the refuse collectors might be the only person bar the postman that they may see in the week, so when I was on the rounds I’d try to take a couple of minutes just to say hello, how are you. That goes a long way for them as well.

He added: “Overall, as a career it’s great, it’s working outdoors, good for the environment as well.”

And what is Owen’s advice to someone who is considering a track change into the service?

He said: “I think the council is a great authority to work for. You get out of it what you put in. So, if you show you’re enthusiastic, flexible and willing to help others out that’s a great help. Teamwork, that’s a massive factor in this line of work…just don’t stop, show the willingness to learn and keep having your goals.”

Brickfield’s best for birds

A Rhyl nature reserve is providing a haven for all varieties of birds according to an experienced local birdwatcher.

For well over a decade, Alex Humphreys Jones, originally from St Asaph, has been tracking the comings and goings of bird species at Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve. Managed by Denbighshire’s Countryside Service, Alex has found the site to be a haven for over 100 different species during his visits the reserve.

County Voice sat down with Alex to find out his visits to Brickfield and how work by countryside rangers and volunteers has helped create a great environment for some notable feathered guests.

Is birdwatching one of your hobbies, if so what do you enjoy about it?

Birdwatching is a huge passion of mine and it plays a part in my life every day. I enjoy birdwatching on a local, national and worldwide scale. This is a hobby that has taken me across the country and around the world. Birdwatching comes with its various levels of difficulty from identifying a species to finding your own rarity and I enjoy all aspects.  

How many years and how often do you come down to Brickfield Pond?

I have been coming down to the Brickfield Pond since 2013 after identifying the site as a thriving area for birds and wildlife. It's also an easy site to access and fits around my work commitments where I can incidentally come down and walk around all within 30 minutes. I aim to get down at least a couple of times a week but this can vary on season. 

Have you noticed an increase in species numbers, if so from when?

I use an online bird recording app called BirdTrack which is a free platform for birdwatchers in Britain to log their sightings. BirdTrack helps form a list and produces tables and graphs with my bird data. Since visiting the Brickfield ponds, I have recorded 112 different bird species with 4 new species seen in 2025 (the first new species for me since 2022).

How many have you recorded for 2025 and what's the most notable ones you have seen at the site?

This year (2025), I have recorded 78 species at the Brickfield Pond with Goshawk, Woodcock, Spotted Flycatcher and Red Kite being notable for the site. Back in June, the Brickfield Pond hosted a Black-crowned Night Heron which proved to be the first record of this species in North Wales since 1993. 

The Brickfield Pond is essential for many waterbird species such as Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Goosander and Tufted Duck, however it is just as important for migrant birds on passage. It has been known to be one of the first sites to record Sand Martin in North Wales in Spring and remarkably record 4 Yellow-browed Warblers (a scarce North Wales vagrant) from Siberia over the last 10 years in autumn. Cetti's Warbler use to be absent from North Wales, however the Brickfield Pond was one of the first sites to record one in Denbighshire and in recent years, it is believed that they have colonised and bred. 

Over the years, I have found some notable records locally such as Firecrest (Dec 2015), Waxwings (Dec 2016), Slavonian Grebe (Nov 2018), 3 Yellow-browed Warblers (2016, 2018, 2019) and a long-staying Iceland Gull (Jan-Apr 2021). 

Lastly – what’s your favourite bird species?

This is a really difficult question as there are so many species to choose from however, I particularly like a group of birds otherwise known as hirundines/swifts. In Britain, we know them as Swallows, House Martins and Swifts - all known for their vast migrations and their powerful, acrobatic flight. 

Countryside ranger Vitor Evora, who helps manage Brickfield Pond, said: “It’s great to know that people like Alex are getting so much enjoyment out of the reserve and even better to see that the site is really giving a helping hand to all kinds of bird species through the seasons.

“We’ve worked hard to develop the site both for visitors and wildlife, and we hope that bird numbers will continue to be strong, providing a great place for birdwatchers young and old to visit.”

Advice for residents – what to do before, during and after flooding

Denbighshire County Council is reminding residents to stay alert and take practical steps to protect themselves, their homes, and their communities in the event of flooding during the winter season.

County Voice has prepared a rundown of advice to help residents be on the front foot against the impact of any flooding across Denbighshire.

As we see more storms hit the county, flooding can happen quickly and with little warning. Being prepared before, during and after a flood can make a significant difference to safety and recovery after the event.

To prepare for potential flooding you can:

• Check your flood risk: Visit the Natural Resources Wales long-term flood risk maps to see if your property is in a flood risk area.
• Sign up for warnings: If you are at risk, sign up for automated flood warnings to get alerts as soon as possible.
• Review your insurance: Ensure your home and contents insurance includes flood cover. The Government and insurers’ initiative Flood Re can help make flood insurance more affordable.
• Make a personal flood plan: Include key contact details, insurance information, and a checklist of emergency actions. Store it safely in a waterproof folder.
• Prepare a flood kit: Include warm, waterproof clothing, medication, a torch, important documents, and essential supplies in case you need to evacuate.
• Consider protection products: Purchase sandbags or flood boards to block doorways and airbricks.

If flooding does happen following adverse weather and there is a flooded road or a blocked ditch in your area, let the Council know and we will take action to bring the problem under control.

Natural Resources Wales are responsible for issues involving coasts and major rivers. Welsh Water are responsible for sewers. Denbighshire County Council are responsible for surface water and small water courses.
For issues involving major rivers, please contact Natural Resources Wales on 0300 065 3000.
Please see this link below for details of major rivers
For flooding affecting sewers, including combined foul and surface water sewers , please contact Welsh Water on 0800 085 3968 or
For flooding to property or highways, contact Denbighshire County Council on 01824 706000.

Concerns over flooding in your area can also be made to Floodline on 0345 988 1188

If you live in a flood risk area and feel you would like to have a few sandbags at home to keep as a precaution to use in the event of a flood, you can buy sandbags from hardware or DIY stores. There are also other bespoke systems available to protect doorways and air bricks.

The Council does not provide sandbags to individual properties when there is a flood. Instead, we use sandbags mainly to protect groups of residents, for example by diverting the path of flowing water, and directing it towards gullies and manholes. This enables us to protect whole streets, whereas giving out sandbags to individual householders in a street would be a far less effective use of resources.

Communities can also work together to help local residents become more resilient to flooding.

Dyserth Flood Support Community Group was set up after historic flooding on Waterfall Road. The Council provided flood barriers through help from a Welsh Government grant, the funding criteria of which being they could only provide to a community group. Denbighshire County Council provided additional barriers in 2025.

Advice in setting up a local community flood action group is available from The National Flood Forum or contact Paul Owen on 01824 706872 / paul.owen@denbighshire.gov.uk

When a flood happens don't try to walk or drive through flood water. Six inches of fast flowing water can knock you off your feet, and two feet of water will float your car. There are a number of practical things you can do to help prevent damage to your home, including:

• Turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies
• Put plugs in sinks and weigh them down with heavy objects; plug water inlet pipes with towels or cloths, and disconnect any equipment that uses water, such as your washing machine. These steps will help to stop water from coming into the property
• Try to avoid contact with flood water if possible, because it may be contaminated
• Do not leave your home or enter flood water unless you are directly instructed to do so by the emergency services

Councillor Barry Mellor, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways and the Environment, said: “We will always work very closely with our partner agencies to do all we can to minimise the impact of any flooding events that occur across the county. We want our residents to stay safe and I would ask them to follow this important advice to prepare for potential flooding and if it does flood in your area please follow any information issued by us, Natural Resources Wales or the emergency services and also ask people to keep an eye on the weather forecasts, the media and social media for the latest advice and information”.

You can follow us on Facebook  to get updates during a flood event

For further information visit our flood advice web page.

Ever wondered where your Council tax goes?

Many people think that Council tax pays for everything that a local authority delivers, however, the money collected from residents annually only accounts for 26% of total Council spending.

The majority of funding (62%) comes in the form of a ‘Revenue Support Grant’ from Welsh Government, while the remaining 12% comes from business rates which is a property tax that businesses pay to help fund local services. You can find out more about how the Council is funded on our website.

So where does your Council tax actually go? We’ve produced an infographic based on a Band D property council tax bill to help give a clear explanation of how council tax payments are used to fund the range of services for residents in the county. While this infographic gives a picture of how the money is shared between different services, understanding what residents gets for that money is really important.

As you can see, the majority of council tax spending goes towards protecting the most vulnerable in our society, with 66% spent on schools and education and adult and children’s social care.

With Education accounting for 36.7%, it means that Denbighshire can educate approximately 16,500 pupils in 44 primary schools, 2 all-through schools, 2 special schools, 6 secondary schools and 1 pupil referral unit across the county, with approximately 780 teachers delivering this education

Still in the field of education, school transport accounts for 2.9% for which the Council transports approximately 2,871 learners safely to schools throughout the county. In total, there are 650 school bus and taxi trips every school day.

Meanwhile, adult and children’s social care accounts for 29.8% of Council tax spending. For this, in 2024-2025, an average of 668 members of staff had over 25,000 contacts with the most vulnerable children and adults and provided a package of care and support where necessary giving these residents the opportunity to exercise choice, voice and control over their lives.

In other service areas, 1.9% goes towards public protection and environmental health and the Council’s teams inspects approximately 720 restaurants, cafes and take aways every year to ensure they’re operating safely for the residents of Denbighshire.

Emptying bins and recycling accounts for 1.8% of your council tax bill, which equates to £32.89 per year (based on a Band D property). That involves collecting around 73,000 containers from over 47,000 households every week across the county.

For 1.8% of council tax, we maintain 1,419km of carriageways (excluding trunk roads), 601 highway bridges and culverts, 302 retaining walls and 26,000 gullies. And for 0.8%, we maintain 11,763 street lights and 1,547 illuminated signs and bollards throughout the county.

Other services residents may not be aware that are delivered by the Council are the Countryside and Heritage Services. With 1.1% of council tax going to the countryside service, the teams manage over 80 sites and more than 1,200 hectares of public green for both recreation and conservation. These range from the Country Parks of Loggerheads and Moel Famau, the county tree nursery at St. Asaph, Brickfield Pond in Rhyl, Prestatyn Dyserth Way, Llantysilio Green in the Dee Valley and numerous smaller amenity community spaces across the county.

While the heritage service accounts for 0.9% of Council tax spending and for this, the service preserves and promotes the county’s unique history, caring for important historic sites including Ruthin Gaol, Plas Newydd, Nantclwyd Y Dre, Rhyl Museum (based in the library) and a large collection store. This work ensures Denbighshire’s rich history remains accessible for education, wellbeing, and enjoyment.

Planning and economic development accounts for 0.7% of Council tax spending and for that the Local Planning Authority processes around 1,000 planning applications each year alongside 10-20 appeals and 50-100 pre-application enquiries. We also respond to over 500 planning compliance cases.

Libraries account for 0.5% of Council tax spending and in 24-25, Libraries delivered 514 Bookstart sessions to nearly 6,500 children for this money. It also lent  2,869 audiobooks to 1,028 library members on Borrowbox (part of the Digital Offer) and printed over 56,000 pages on public access printers.

Not all Council tax collected pays for council services, 2.5% goes towards the Fire service to contribute to the funding of fire protection and prevention across the county.

Councillor Delyth Jones, Lead Member for Finance at Denbighshire County Council said, “I am pleased to see the production and release of this infographic information. It will, I hope, provide residents with the context they need in order to understand how their council tax payments are used to support the breadth of services delivered by the Council.

“In what is a continuing financially challenging climate, I think it’s important to be open and clear about the costs and the pressures. It’s also important to emphasise that many of the aspects of expenditure are, quite rightly, aimed towards the legal requirement to provide Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, and Education etc. These are the areas that support the most vulnerable in our society.”

Lost habitats are back to breathe life into nature

Nature’s been given a helping hand in Denbighshire for the last six years thanks to a project working to restore lost habitats.

Our Wildflower Meadows Project which started in 2019, aims to restore and increase this habitat in the county as since the 1930s. The UK has lost 97% of its meadow land, with Wales in particular having less than 1% left. This loss has impacted heavily on nature and communities.

The project is also part of our wider Bee Friendly campaign aimed at supporting the recovery of bees and other pollinators across the county

Our meadows are usually left uncut between March and August, except a small border mown around each site, allowing the flowers to set seed, and ensures that the meadow provides the greatest benefit to wildlife.

Cut and collect is carried out at the sites to help to lower the richness of the soil, and create the low-nutrient ground that our native wildflowers and grasses need to thrive.

Grass and wildflower seeds collected from areas around the county have been used to enhance our meadows. Some of the seeds have also been grown on at our tree nursery to produce plug plants. Only using local seeds ensure the plants which then grow are genetically suited to Denbighshire and will be the most beneficial to biodiversity in the area.

Here County Voice takes a look back at some of the project highlights that have benefitted both plant and wildlife across Denbighshire.

During 2021 the Biodiversity team recorded a nationally declining species on the Prestatyn Beach Road West site.

Hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) and was previously only recorded in Denbighshire 18 times within the last 116 years.

Seeds were taken from the site to the Council’s tree nursery and thanks to the effort of the staff, new plants germinated for planting on other coastal meadow sites to help expand its range in Denbighshire.

In 2021 Bithynian Vetch, a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae grew on a single project site managed by the Biodiversity team. Since 2019, this was the only place in Wales it was recorded growing in the wild.

During June staff collected a small number of seeds from the Bithynian Vetch. These were taken back to the Council’s tree nursery at St Asaph to be grown on site to help boost the plants dwindling numbers.

An innovative organic method was carried out as well in 2021 to help control the length of grass in a Denbigh meadow.

The site was treated with locally sourced Yellow Rattle seeds. Yellow rattle is a parasitic plant, tapping in to the roots of grasses and other neighbouring plants and stealing their nutrients. This reduces the dominance of grasses within a meadow, allowing more native wildflowers to take hold.

During the 2022 season the Biodiversity team inspected the site and found a reduction in grass length and an increase in wildflowers.  The successful trial meant more food for pollinating insects and their predators

‘Bee Friendly’ really came into its own in 2023 after the Biodiversity team found a new resident at a Ruthin meadow.

A female Tawny mining bee was found resting in a nest on the site. The spring flying bee with dense orange and red hair feed from a variety of flowers which make wildflower meadows the perfect area to locate to.

Tawny mining bees are usually seen from March to June and are common throughout south and central Britain. This showed how designated sites are providing support for local nature to flourish as well by providing plants for pollinators and grass for insect food.

The team also discovered during this season pyramidal orchids at two coastal sites at Prestatyn which was recorded as a first.

And last year a pyramidal orchid was discovered inland at a meadow in Ruthin indicating the network of meadows were really starting to help nature fightback.

This year extra bee orchids were discovered at a meadow in Denbigh which shows the meadows  are working as a combined highway for plants, insects and animals to move across the county, increasing biodiversity as they go.

Orchid produce seeds which are incredibly small (also known as dust seeds). These seeds must come in contact with a special type of mycorrhizal fungi that will help the orchid seed germinate and aid it in its early growth. Each orchid tends to have a particular mycorrhizal fungi that it partners with, so unless the soil conditions are right for the fungi, orchids won’t grow. The resurgence of orchid shows the project in 2025 is heading in the right direction, and the meadows are continuing their journey to recovery.

County EV charging network sparks millions of greener miles

Millions of greener miles of support have been provided by Denbighshire County Council’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network since the first chargers came online.

This Wales Climate Week we take a look back at the impact the growth of the council’s charging network has had on providing a greener public mode of transport for residents and visitors.

The county network sparked into life in June 2021 with rapid chargers at Prestatyn and has since grown with more charging facilities provided at Rhyl, St Asaph, Denbigh, Ruthin, Corwen and Llangollen.

Bringing the network online is part of the council’s continuing work to reduce the county’s carbon footprint and support those drivers who want to transition to electric vehicles but may not have the facilities to charge at home.

Other electric fleet vehicle initiatives are also involved in the council’s goal to reduce carbon emissions, such as the electric powered Ruthin and Denbigh Flecsi bus services.

Since coming online in 2021, the chargers have supported EV drivers by providing 46,200 individual charging sessions to support lower emission public traveling.

That’s the equivalent of 1,100,000 kilowatt hours consumed which would keep 367 Tesla Model 3 cars doing an average of 12,000 miles a year, charged up for the full 12 months. The amount of delivered kilowatt hours would also keep your local supermarket powered up for a full year.

Converting the charging into miles, the EV charging network across Denbighshire has delivered over three million miles for electric powered driving. That’s over 130 trips right around the earth and 950 times hopping on a flight from London to New York. And for a single EV owner, that number of miles generated by the network would keep you driving for well over 250 years.

The UK Government’s 99 percent uptime mandate for public EV charging ports was also introduced last year to make sure EV chargers are constantly working well for drivers who use them. The council’s network is currently running above this target at 99.95 percent.

Work on the additional charging network for a few sites has been supported by grant funding via the UK Government’s Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). Chargers at Corwen’s Green Lane were funded by the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The creation of this charging network was an important step in our commitment to help our residents who want to move over to electric vehicles but don’t have the facility or off-road parking to do so. The provision of this network will help more to do so.

“We know also that it is helping local businesses as well who have electric vehicles in their fleet and also those with town premises as more EV users are discovering these locations and visiting local establishments and attractions while charging their vehicles along our network locations.

“With a continuing increase in electric vehicle use it has been important to get this infrastructure in place, not only for the users but also to support tackling climate change impact on our county by helping to reduce carbon emissions on the regions roads.”

Financial help towards school uniform and free school meals

There is financial help available towards the cost of a school uniform and free school meals.

Further information on whether you are eligible can be found on the poster below.

To apply visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/benefits or scan the QR code.

Road maintenance update for February

Our Highways department undertake maintenance schemes across the county.

We are responsible for the maintenance and repair of 1,400 kilometres of Denbighshire roads. Our teams carry out a regular programme of works to maintain and improve our roads, which ranges from the repair of potholes right up to resurfacing schemes.

Roads may need to be closed for us to carry out the patching, drainage and other supporting works.

February's strategic Highways work is listed below:

Dates of work may be subject to change due to the weather or other external factors.

For all roadwork information across Denbighshire roads including other Council services and utility companies please visit this link for further information.

Update on Coronation Gardens Changing Room Facility

Denbighshire County Council is looking for a partner organisation to manage and operate the Changing Room building facility in Coronation Gardens Rhyl.

The facility will be necessarily made available to all sports organizations operating at the Gardens site.

The successful interested party will be wholly responsible for the upkeep of the building, opening and closing the facility as well as taking bookings in a suitable manner by phone or email.

It is envisaged that the successful interested party will enter into a lease arrangement with the Council as the landlord with defined responsibilities for repair together with management obligations.

Interested parties should send an email to:property.services@denbighshire.gov.uk which should be clearly titled “Coronation Gardens Changing facility“ by (December 24)

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A well-run, high performing Council

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes. 

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A greener Denbighshire

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes.

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A learning and growing Denbighshire

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes.

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A healthier and happier, caring Denbighshire

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes.

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A prosperous Denbighshire

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes.

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A Denbighshire of quality housing that meets people's needs

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes:

Avian Influenza update from Denbighshire County Council

Denbighshire County Council is advising poultry and game birds owners to be aware of the potential risk of avian influenza (bird flu).

The risk of the avian influenza virus increases during the winter due to migration of waterfowl and gulls and is a highly contagious viral transmitted from bird to bird or through the environment.

The disease can affect the respiratory, digestive or nervous system of many species of birds, and common signs include a loss of appetite, swollen heads and respiratory problems which can lead to death.

Following an increased number of reported cases in Wales, from today (Thursday November 13), it will be a legal requirement for all keepers of 50 or more birds of any species to house them to reduce the spread and stop the virus.

Mandatory housing will also apply to flocks of less than 50 birds of any species if eggs or poultry products are sold or given away, due to the increased risk of disease transmission associated with trading or giving away poultry products.

The new compulsory housing measures will be incorporated into the existing Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) introduced in January. 

Denbighshire County Council would like to remind anyone who keeps poultry or game birds, including those with fewer than 50 birds, that it is a requirement to provide details of their flocks to the Poultry Register.

This will ensure that they can be contacted immediately in an avian disease outbreak so that they can take action to protect their birds at the earliest opportunity.

Poultry keepers should inspect their birds regularly for signs of the disease and separate birds that are showing signs of being affected. Any suspected cases of avian influenza should be reported immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

To report and dispose of dead birds, please call DEFRA on 03459 335577 or to register your poultry  click here  or call the GB Poultry Register Helpline, on 0800 634 1112.

For more information, please visit the link below:

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/licences-permits-and-trading-standards/trading-standards/bird-flu-hpai-virus.aspx

Young people urged to claim their savings

Many young adults in Denbighshire could have an average of £2,200 waiting for them in their unclaimed Child Trust Fund account.

Child Trust Funds were introduced by the UK Government in 2005. Accounts were opened for almost 6 million children born in the UK between 1st September 2002 and 2nd January 2011.

Nearly half of Child Trust Funds in Wales remain unclaimed. According to the Share Foundation, around 1240 accounts are still unclaimed in Denbighshire.

Young people aged 16 or over can take control of their own Child Trust Fund, although the funds can only be withdrawn once they turn 18. Families can continue to pay up to £9,000 a year tax-free into a Child Trust Fund until the account matures. The money stays in the account until the child withdraws or reinvests it into another account. If a parent or guardian could not set up an account for their child, the government opened a savings account on the child’s behalf.

Every 16-year-old is sent information about finding their Child Trust Fund from HMRC with their National Insurance letter. Anyone unsure about their situation should check with their bank or building society. Alternatively, young adults and parents can also search on www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds to find out where their Child Trust Fund account is held.

Councillor Delyth Jones, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets said:

“I strongly encourage all eligible young people to check their accounts and claim what is rightfully theirs. The investment could be placed into an adult ISA or put towards their education, housing or driving lessons.

I would urge young people to use the online tool to track it down or, for parents of teenagers, to speak to them to ensure they’re aware of their Child Trust Fund. It could make a real difference to their future particularly at a time when finances are tight.”

The Child Trust Fund scheme closed in January 2011 and was replaced with Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISA).

For more information on Child Trust Funds, visit www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds. Alternatively, visit https://www.meiccymru.org/do-you-have-money-hiding-in-a-child-trust-fund/, text 07943 114449 or call 080880 23456.

Discovering Denbighshire

Looking to discover more of Denbighshire?

Why not take inspiration from our walking and cycling maps for new ideas of places to visit.

For more inspiration on activities in and around Denbighshire visit - https://www.northeastwales.wales/  

Fancy learning something new?

The Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador scheme is a free, online training course to enhance your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the Denbighshire tourism offer.

There are 14 modules to choose from on a variety of themes including walking, cycling, food, arts, coast, history and sustainable tourism.

Watch our short film highlighting the course.

Visit www.ambassador.wales and get started today!

More areas to receive Flying Start assistance in Denbighshire

Further areas within Denbighshire are now set to receive assistance through the Flying Start childcare scheme.

The expanded areas now cover Rhyl, Prestatyn, Meliden, Rhuddlan, Dyserth, Denbigh, Corwen, Llangollen, Llandrillo, Llanfair DC and are applicable to families who have a child who turned 2 years old between 1^st September 2024 and 31st August 2025.

This expansion means that families in the new areas will be eligible for up to 12 ½ hours of funded childcare per week during term time. With more settings offering funded Flying Start Childcare, and new postcodes being added regularly, families are encouraged to check their postcode using the postcode checker on the website.

Denbighshire Flying Start is a Welsh Government funded programme. The aim of the programme is to help children to have the best possible start in life for their future growth and development.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said:

“This latest expansion of the Flying Start scheme will mean that more Denbighshire families can now get access to the free childcare provision. This assistance is a massive help for parents and families.

Residents in the newly expanded areas can check if their postcode is eligible through the postcode checker.”

For more information please visit our website. 

Highlighting Denbighshire's main towns

Our Tourism Team have been highlighting each of our main towns in their North-East Wales blog.

You can find out more in their blog

The council's trading standards team warn residents of potential scams this Christmas

The festive period poses an increased risk of being caught out by scams. The council’s trading standards team share some useful tips to avoid getting scammed this Christmas. 

🎄Social media

Fake social media accounts can copy genuine retailer accounts, with posts from these accounts often including links to fake websites. If goods are ordered it is likely that you will not receive them.

When shopping online always search for a website directly through a browser and check that the website contains all the contact details of the seller and a contact address.

🎄Fake websites

Fraudsters can create websites that look identical to genuine reputable websites.

It can be hard to spot a fake website. Get Safe Online has a checker tool which allows you to check if a website is likely to be legitimate or a scam before you visit it. For more information visit - https://www.getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite/

🎄Delivery scams

Delivery scams are very common. Often you will receive a text, or email advising a parcel couldn’t be delivered for some reason and you are directed to use a link to pay a fee to reschedule delivery.

These scams give criminals access to personal and financial information.

Never click on links in delivery texts or emails, if you are expecting a parcel - track it and contact the delivery company through their genuine website.

If you get a scam email forward it to the National Security Cyber Centre report@phishing.gov.uk.

If you get a scam text message forward it to 7726, it will go to your phone provider, and they’ll investigate the matter further.  

🎄 Cheap prices

If prices seem too good to be true, they often are.

Goods that are advertised cheaper than those in reputable shops may be counterfeit that have not been through necessary safety checks.

🎄Holiday scams

During the Christmas/New Year period people often start looking to book holidays.

Fraudsters advertise fake holidays, accommodation and websites in an attempt to steal your money.

🎄Ticket fraud

Ticket fraud happens when you buy tickets from an official looking website however the tickets turn out to be fake or never arrive.

When purchasing tickets online, always try and use a credit card or PayPal - Do not buy tickets through direct money transfer.

Only make purchases from sites encrypted for payments - Look for the padlock in the address bar and make sure the website begins with ‘https’.

🎄Loan fee scams

Loan fee fraud occurs where consumers are conned into paying a fee for a loan. The Financial Conduct Authority state that this fee is usually between £25 and £450 but once the fee is paid consumers never receive the loan.

🎄Loan sharks

Christmas can be an expensive time but be aware of loan sharks. These are illegal money lenders who often charge very high rates of interest.

They operate within our communities often taking advantage of vulnerable people. Illegal money lending is a criminal offence. For more information - https://stoploansharkswales.co.uk/

Further useful information can be found below:

Get Safe Online resource hub - https://www.getsafeonline.org/

Scams can be reported to Citizens Advice Consumer Service - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/reporting-a-scam/ or they can be contacted by telephone 0808 223 1133. Welsh language line: 0808 223 1144.

Enjoying Denbighshire’s Natural Landscape safely

Advice on how to enjoy the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape and Loggerheads Country Park Safely

The first week of January has been particularly busy on Moelfamau and in Loggerheads Country Park and in advance of the forthcoming weather warning and Storm Goretti, the council is asking anyone who is planning a visit to take extra care.

The Highways Team and Countryside Rangers are working incredibly hard to keep roads, car parks and paths safe and look after the wildlife and landscape we all enjoy. Please treat them with kindness and respect — they’re out in all conditions to keep things running smoothly for visitors to enjoy.

Here are a few reminders for a safe and considerate visit:

⚠️ Stick to open paths and follow all safety signage.

🚧 Pay close attention to road closure signs — they’re there to protect you.

❄️ Be mindful of snowy and icy conditions which can make surfaces and paths slippery.

🧥 Wear appropriate clothing and prepare for your visit, especially in severe weather.

🚗 Please park considerately if you’re visiting by car. Avoid blocking driveways or narrowing roads for local residents and emergency services.

🐾 Keep dogs under close control.

Advice about dealing with extreme weather conditions

There’s a range of information and advice on Denbighshire County Council’s website. You’ll find out which roads we grit, where you can find your nearest salt bin as well as general advice about driving in wintry conditions and how to make your home safe in cold weather conditions. And for information and updates about the weather warnings, take a look at the Met Office’s web pages.

We want everyone to enjoy the beauty of our natural spaces — safely, responsibly, and respectfully. 💚

Thank you for doing your part! 👋

Did you know that 1.9% of Council Tax spending goes towards public protection and environmental health?

1.9% of Council Tax spending goes towards public protection and environmental health and as part of this, the Council inspects approximately 720 restaurants, cafes and take aways every year to ensure that these premises are operating safely for the residents of Denbighshire.

In addition, the Council responds to over 1,200 requests a year relating for housing and pollution.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know that 29.8% of Council Tax spending goes towards adult and children’s social care?

29.8% of Council Tax spending goes towards adult and children’s social care. And with 36.7% going to schools and education, this means that over 66% of your Council Tax goes towards protecting the most vulnerable in society.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Working Denbighshire has its own section on our website?

Working Denbighshire has a section on the Council's website. Working Denbighshire is here to help residents aged 16 and over who might be struggling or worrying about money. Whether you’re looking for work or need support to get back on your feet, we’re here to guide you towards a better future. Why not have a look on our website.

Did you know that street lighting accounts for 0.8% of Council Tax spending?

Street lighting accounts for 0.8% of Council Tax spending.

For that, the Council maintains 11,763 street lights and 1,547 illuminated signs and bollards throughout the county.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know that school transport accounts for 2.9% of Council Tax spending?

School transport accounts for 2.9% of Council Tax spending and for that the Council transports approximately 2,871 learners safely to 75 schools throughout the county.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Denbighshire Youth Service

That Denbighshire Youth Service is open to everyone aged 11 to 25 years. They offer social activities and opportunities to develop interests as well as help and support for anyone that needs it. To find a youth club near you or for help and support for children and young people, please visit our website.

Working Denbighshire offers free, weekly wellbeing sessions

Working Denbighshire offers free, weekly wellbeing sessions across the county - from drop-ins and wellness walks to youth support and confidence-building activities. They're open to all Denbighshire residents aged 16+, and they’re completely free! Check out the latest timetable and events here. 

Did you know the Council’s Licensing Team have launched their new service standards.

The Council’s Licensing Team have launched their new service standards. It explains what you can expect when applying for licences, during inspections and enforcement, and how to get in contact or provide feedback. For more information visit our website.

Downloading eBooks, audiobooks, newspapers etc

You can download eBooks, audiobooks, digital magazines and newspapers for free using the Borrowbox app? All you need is your library card and PIN. Not a library member? It’s free to join online www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries

Did you know that Denbighshire Heritage Service accounts for 0.9% of Council Tax spending?

Denbighshire Heritage Service accounts for 0.9% of Council Tax spending. For that it preserves and promotes the county’s unique history, caring for important historic sites, including Ruthin Gaol, Plas Newydd, Nantclwyd Y Dre, Rhyl Museum (based in the library) and a large collection store.

This ensures Denbighshire’s rich history remains accessible for education, wellbeing, and enjoyment.

Through our attractions, events, and learning programmes, we support local pride, cultural tourism, and the economy while protecting heritage for future generations.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know that Planning and economic development accounts for 0.7% of Council Tax spending?

Planning and economic development accounts for 0.7% of Council Tax spending.

The Local Planning Authority processes around 1,000 planning applications per year alongside 10-20 appeals and 50-100 pre-application enquiries.

The Authority also respond to over 500 planning compliance cases.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know you can watch live and recorded video webcasts of Council committee meetings?

You can watch live and recorded video webcasts of Council committee meetings at any time.

All the related papers are also available for you to see including the agendas and decisions made.

If you want to know more about what’s happening in the Council, look at the calendar of meetings to find out what’s going on.

Did you know that 1.1% of Council Tax spending goes towards Countryside Services?

1.1% of Council Tax spending goes towards Countryside Services and for that, the service manages over 80 countryside sites and over 1,200 hectares of public green, for both recreation and conservation.

These range from the Country Parks of Loggerheads and Moel Famau, the County Tree Nursery at St. Asaph, Brickfields Pond in Rhyl, Prestatyn Dyserth Way, Llantysilio Green in the Dee Valley and numerous smaller amenity community spaces across the County.

The Service has specialist team covering Ecology and Trees throughout the County, the National Landscape designation, recreation and rights of way, organises nature for health walks and events and manages the Countryside Centre at Loggerheads and catering at Plas Newydd.   

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Council Tax only accounts for 25% of total Council funding

Council Tax only accounts for 25% of total Council funding. When you pay your annual Council Tax bill, 1.8% of that pays for waste and recycling collections - the equivalent of £32.89 per year (based on a Band D property council tax of £1,799.48 per year). Most of Council Tax spending goes towards the most vulnerable in society - schools and education is the biggest expenditure accounting for 36.7% while adult and social care accounts for 29.8%. Find out more on our website

Did you know that all primary

All primary aged children are eligible for free school meals through the Universal Primary Free School Meals scheme? This is a Welsh Government initiative which has been set up to help with the rising costs-of-living. You can find out more information on the Council's website.

Did you know that single use vapes are being banned in Wales from 1 June?

Single use vapes have been banned in Wales since 1 June.

The ban includes vapes containing nicotine, non-nicotine, CBD and other health/vitamin devices, and the Council’s Trading Standards team is encouraging Denbighshire businesses to switch to reusable products before the ban comes into place.

You can find out more on our website.

Did you know?

Schools and education accounts for 36.7% of Council Tax spending, and social care accounts for 29.8% which means that over 66% of your Council Tax goes towards protecting the most vulnerable in society.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website.

Part of Council Tax spending goes towards the Fire Service?

Part of Council Tax spending goes towards the Fire Service.

Not all Council Tax collected pays for council services, 2.5% goes towards the Fire service. To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website.

Did you know that roads and infrastructure accounts for 1.8% of Council Tax spending?

Roads and infrastructure accounts for 1.8% of Council Tax spending.

Within that, the service is responsible for 1,419km of carriageways (excluding trunk roads), 601 highway bridges and culverts, 302 retaining walls and 26,000 gullies.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know that 1.8% of Council Tax spending goes on emptying bins and recycling?

Emptying bins and recycling accounts for 1.8% of your Council Tax bill, which equates to £32.89 per year (based on a Band D property).

For that, the Council collects approximately 73,000 containers from over 47,000 households every week across the county.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Bionet Conference Marvellous Meadows

Are you curious about native meadows and grasslands? Do you own or manage land and want to boost nature recovery and climate resilience?
If so, this year’s Bionet Conference: Marvellous Meadows is made for you.

Join us for a full day dedicated to these remarkable habitats—what they are, why they matter, and how to manage them for maximum impact. We’ll dive into their vital role in supporting wildlife, explore how they strengthen climate resilience, and share real-world case studies showcasing effective management techniques.

Alongside inspiring presentations and networking opportunities, the event features interactive exhibitor stands and our annual Bionet Awards Ceremony.

📅 Thursday 5th February 2026
📍 Venue Cymru, Llandudno

To book a space please head over to the Eventbrite page -  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/marvellous-meadows-dolydd-diddorol-tickets-1975790457445?aff=oddtdtcreator

Former North Wales Hospital information event

The council are encouraging Denbigh residents to attend one of two information events to discuss impending demolition work on site which is required prior to any re-development works can start. 

A Section 80 Notice has been issued that must be supplied to the council at least six weeks’ before demolition can begin. Jones Bros, who have been contracted by the council to carry out the demolition works, and the council are hosting an information event to provide information about the demolition works.

Attendees at the event will also have the opportunity to discuss the wider scheme with representatives from Jones Bros, Denbighshire County Council and Ambition North Wales.

The event details are below:

📍 Eirianfa community centre, Denbigh.

🗓️ Tuesday, 3 February between 1:30pm-4:30pm and Wednesday, 4 February between 9:30am-12:30pm.

A further evening engagement session will be arranged for late February.

Snowdrop walks at Nantclwyd y Dre

Come and explore the historic gardens of Nantclwyd y Dre in Ruthin as the snowdrops begin to bloom!

Organised by the heritage team, visitors can tour the garden with the on-site gardener and enjoy a tea or coffee. No booking is required.

📆Friday 6 and 13 February

⏰1pm – 3pm

*Garden admission fees apply

Working Denbighshire’s Jobs Fair comes to Rhyl in February

Jobseekers across Denbighshire are invited to join the Working Denbighshire Jobs Fair on Wednesday, 25 February, from 10am to 2pm at the 1891 Bar & Restaurant, Rhyl Pavilion.

Held in partnership with Job Centre Plus, this free event will bring together a diverse mix of local and national employers who are actively recruiting for a wide range of roles across multiple sectors.

Building on the success of previous fairs — which have welcomed over 40–50 employers and attracted hundreds of attendees — this February’s accessible event continues Working Denbighshire’s commitment to breaking down barriers to employment and connecting people with real opportunities close to home.

Attendees can expect to meet employers representing sectors such as hospitality and leisure, health and social care, armed forces, manufacturing and more, reflecting the varied workforce needs across the region. Organisations such as the Royal Navy, North Wales Police, Haven, and a wide mix of local employers offering both entry‑level and experienced career pathways will be in attendance.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said:

“Our Jobs Fair is all about creating access to opportunities for local people.

“We’re delighted to welcome a range of employers who are actively looking for candidates, and we encourage residents to come along, explore what’s available, and chat directly with organisations ready to hire.”

Melanie Evans, Principal Manager, Strategic Employment, said:

“Our job fair is a fantastic chance for residents to meet employers face-to-face and discover what’s happening across key sectors in Denbighshire. It gives them the opportunity to spark future-changing conversations, build their confidence, and show people the variety of careers available right here in our county.”

The event is free and open to everyone, including jobseekers, career changers, young people exploring options, and anyone interested in training or employment support available through Working Denbighshire.

For more information and updates, visit working.denbighshire.gov.uk or follow Working Denbighshire on social media.

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 is part funded by UK Government.