Pause in demolition of Queen’s Buildings in Rhyl

Demolition works on the Queen’s Buildings in Rhyl are currently on hold whilst the contractors work with structural engineers to determine how to ensure the safe demolition of the remaining buildings.

The Council appointed contractors Wye Valley Demolition in January and since then the demolition work has been progressing well with just over half of the work completed. So far 57 -61 Queens Street, the former Savoy Hotel, Bistro and the garages have been demolished and the next planned stages include the Market Hall, the former Fusion night club, Queens Hotel and other associated buildings.

The Queen’s Buildings is a key catalyst project within the councils wider Rhyl Regeneration programme which is part funded by Welsh Governments Transforming Towns programme.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for the Economy, said: “The demolition is progressing well with more than half the buildings on site now demolished. This short pause in the demolition is to ensure public safety and the safety of operatives within the Queens Theatre and arcade who are currently removing the asbestos that was discovered within those buildings.

‘It is great to see such a large scale project progressing in Rhyl and the new market hall and event space planned for the site will play a vital role in revitalising Rhyl town centre and wider Denbighshire economy.”

‘The project is already providing career opportunities for people within the community. So far four, six month apprenticeships have been secured as part of the demolition contract, along with additional work experience placements for local people via the Council’s Working Denbighshire project.”

Artist’s impressions of the planned mixed use scheme for the site, which includes residential apartments and more commercial space as well as the market hall and event space, have recently been installed around the site to show people about the ambitious plans to redevelop the site.

For the most up to date information about projects involved in the Rhyl regeneration programme, please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/rhyl-regeneration.

All photo credits: Bryn at BCPHOTOWALES

Rare flower blooms thanks to wildflower project

A project committed to enhancing Denbighshire’s biodiversity is breathing new life into a decling flower.

Last year the Council identified 21 sites including highway verges, footpath edges, cycleways and amenity grasslands, to be managed to create wildflower meadows.

Now as part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to enhancing biodiversity across the county, there are nearly 60 sites included into its Wildflower Project. This equates to 30 football pitches worth of Denbighshire grassland managed as native wildflower meadows.

This week the officers leading the project have recorded a nationally declining species on the Prestatyn Beach Road West site.

The plant is called Hound’s Tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) and was previously only recorded in Denbighshire 18 times within the last 116 years.

Also on a site near Stryd y Brython site, officers have found a common spotted orchid which has been added to the growing list of wildflowers supported by the project.

“All of the sites are managed in line with Plantlife’s Managing Grassland Road Verges guidelines which sees the grass cutting at these sites prohibited between March and August each year, giving wildflowers enough time to grow, flower, and set seed.

“We used a cut and collect regime to reduce soil fertility and provide the wildflowers with the best conditions possible. It is great to see the wildflower project really helping biodiversity bloom in Denbighshire, especially with the news of the rare species found in Prestatyn.”

To find out more about the wildflower meadows across Denbighshire visit the link below

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/environmental-health/climate-and-ecological-change/wildflower-meadow-project.aspx

Extra CCTV at Botanical Gardens

Additional CCTV equipment is now live at Rhyl’s Botanical Gardens following recent reports of anti-social behaviour in the area.

The Council has already taken measures to improve security on site to stamp out anti-social behaviour at the gardens.

The Council commissioned the service of a local security company to patrol the area and lock the gates at 9pm, reopening at 8am the following morning.

To support the continuing work to halt anti-social behaviour at the gardens, the existing CCTV system has received an upgrade which is fully operational.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We are pleased to confirm that nine additional CCTV security cameras have now been installed in the Botanical Gardens Park in Rhyl. In addition to this the council have commissioned a security company to open and close the park gates which has been very well received by the local community with their engaging and helpful approach.

“We hope that these measures will resolve the anti-social behaviour problems we have been experiencing in the park recently. The additional cameras will provide greater coverage of the park including coverage of areas previously not accessible by the existing cameras.”

Councillor Mark Young, Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, added: “The council will continue to work with North Wales Police and the Friends of the Botanical Gardens volunteer group to tackle the issue of anti-social behaviour in the park.”

“We and the Police will have access to the cameras and will be monitoring the system should any issues occur in the future”

Report illegal sale of underage products to Crimestoppers

Residents and businesses across Wales who think that someone has purchased or sold age restricted products to an underaged person can now report is anonymously to Crimestoppers.

Trading Standards Wales and the charity Crimestoppers have joined forces to provide a service that enables members of the public to anonymously provide valuable information to help keep communities safe and healthy.

It is the latest issue that the two organisations are working on to encourage members of the public to provide information on concerns they might have, 100% anonymously.

Aged restricted products include:

• Alcohol
• Tobacco products including cigarettes, tobacco, cigarette papers and cigars
• E-cigarettes
• Fireworks
• Knives, knife blades, open edged razor blades, axes
• Glue, aerosols, domestic cleaning fluids, dry cleaning fluids, paint strippers and thinners

Helen Picton, Chair of Trading Standards Wales, said: "We're delighted to be working with Crimestoppers and giving members of the public a way to report these crimes anonymously.

"Aged restricted products have a minimum age of purchase as they are considered to be harmful to children and teenagers.

"Not only is the sale of these products a crime, but they also harm the welfare of our children and disrupts communities."

If you think that someone has purchased or sold age restricted products to an underaged person then report it to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit http://crimestoppers-uk.org and tell them what you know. Your information can help keep communities across Wales safe.

Libraries open up for browsing again

Local people in Denbighshire can now visit their local library to browse, choose and return books without an appointment.

They will still need to make an appointment to use a library computer, book a study space and to access One Stop Shop services by phoning their local library.

Libraries are a safe place to visit with plenty of room for social distancing, limited numbers of people in at any time, and hand and equipment sanitiser available.

The popular Order and Collect service will continue and the Home Library Service is making deliveries of books to anyone who is unable to visit their local library – please call the library or visit the website to find out more about this service.

Borrowers are asked to return any books they have on loan by dropping them off at the library.

All the books currently on loan are being automatically renewed and people will not be fined even if they’ve had the books for months.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Our libraries have continued to provide an excellent service to local residents throughout the pandemic, and I am delighted that people will now be able to call in to their local library to browse and borrow books without an appointment. I would like to thank library staff for their hard work and commitment in providing a vital service, and to encourage people to visit their local library to discover for themselves the books and services available there.”

Residents are reminded that they can join the library, order books and download e-books, e-audiobooks, magazines and newspapers free by visiting www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries

Denbighshire Tourism Ambassadors

We’re pleased to announce, the 12^th module of the Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador scheme is now live. The new module is called ‘Sustainable Tourism in Denbighshire’ and includes sections on:

• What is sustainable tourism?
• Creating a sustainable destination
• Who are responsible visitors?
• Responsible visitors: staying safe
• Responsible visitors: giving something back
• Authentic visitor experiences
• Protecting the climate and environment
• Access for all

The Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador course provides people with FREE training to learn and appreciate more about the area. There are 12 online training modules to choose from on a variety of themes including walking, cycling, history, arts, towns, welsh language, AONB, World Heritage Site, coast and food tourism.

Watch our short film highlighting the course here.

Tourism Leaflets

Would you like to offer free leaflets to your customers that highlight our towns, countryside and cycling routes?

Just fill out the online form and leave the rest to us.

 

 

New tourism marketing resources launched

A suite of professional tourism-related marketing resources for businesses to use has been launched. This includes a communications toolkit with 5 key messages to encourage a safe and responsible travel ethos:

• Denbighshire is a safe and welcoming place to visit
• Plan, prepare and pre-book to ensure a positive visitor experience
• Travel responsibly by becoming a responsible visitor
• Denbighshire has a diverse tourism offer for all ages and interests
• Learn and appreciate more about the area by becoming a Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador

A suite of social media graphics based around the 5 key messages have been produced for businesses and Ambassadors to download and use as well as a bank of professional images to promote the area.

This work forms part of Denbighshire’s Destination Management Plan.

Please email tourism@denbighshire.gov.uk if you would like access to these resources.

Keep posted on tourism news!

Sign up to our regular newsletters - denbighshire.gov.uk/business-sign-up-for-tourism

Follow us on social media by following ‘North East Wales’ on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Visit northeastwales.wales

How Working Denbighshire can help Veterans

Low Carbon Travel in Denbighshire

As we reflect on Bike week (May 30^th - June 5^th), Clean Air day (June 17^th) and a local school Climate Change protest which have all taken place this month, it’s a great time to be thinking about how we can all travel in a more carbon-friendly way.

Ysgol Llanrhaeadr

Perhaps you have an EV vehicle already or are thinking about getting one? Or maybe you are keen to use your bike or walk more for the short journeys we all do most frequently, such as that trip to the local shop or the school run. As a council we have plans to encourage local carbon travel within the authority for our staff and residents.

For residents, the Council has been carrying out an active travel public consultation in relation to existing and potential active travel routes in the authority. All local authorities in Wales have a statutory duty, under the terms of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, to produce these maps and they must be updated and re-submitted every 3 years.

The first stage of the consultation is now complete and we received a large amount of feedback from residents earlier this year. The draft maps have been produced and the final stage of the consultation will take place later this summer. This will be a 12-week statutory consultation exercise that will run between August and October 2021. During this phase the final (existing and potential) maps will be available online to our residents to view. The responses to the statutory consultation will then be collated and submitted to Welsh Government, along with the final existing and proposed maps, in November 2021.

We are also looking to support the uptake of electric vehicles across Denbighshire by delivering a pilot project which aims to install Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Points in 8 Public Car Parks across the County. This project is intended to provide EV Charging Points both on key routes and destination car parks in the county and also to trial the provision of Charging Points near some residential areas to provide an option for residents without off road charging options where they live. The areas identified for this first Phase are Llangollen, Ruthin, Denbigh, St Asaph, Rhyl and Prestatyn.    

This is a new undertaking for the Council so we intend to learn more about this new technology during this pilot Phase 1 project. The project is still under development but it is hoped that the EV Charging Points will be up and running by Spring 2022.

Currently Electric Vehicle ownership in Denbighshire is low (according to Transport of Wales statistics around 200 electric vehicles were registered in the County at the end of 2020) but it is expected to grow over the next few years as we move towards 2030 and the Government ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles. However, feedback is that people need to be confident they can charge their vehicle when they are out and about before they make the transition to buying an electric vehicle. With a lack of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure also considered as one of the major barriers to people making the transition to EV Ownership this is a vital project if we are to succeed in creating a low carbon future.

As a Council, we declared a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency in July 2019 and subsequently the Council formally adopted the Climate and Ecological Change Strategy in February 2021, which can be viewed on our website.

In our baseline year (2019/20) for this strategy, the council’s Fleet contributed to 14% of DCC carbon emissions and our aim is to reduce that by 60% by 31 March 2030. Our plans to help us achieve that goal include continuing to replace any current council vehicles with EV via our ‘electric vehicle (EV) first’ replacement policy and our hope is to replace 30 fossil-fuelled vehicles with EV during 2021/22 to contribute to reducing emissions and improving air quality.

We are also looking to increase our corporate and public EV infrastructure. Corporately we already have 14 chargers at DCC sites for our 11 existing electric vehicles and plan to provide more charging infrastructure at Council properties going forward.

Further information will be made available for all of these low carbon projects as they develop via the Council’s website and via social media.

Bird Surveys

Rangers from the Council’s Countryside Service have been working in partnership with staff and volunteers from the RSPB to carry out a series of bird surveys across some of the key countryside sites in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The surveys are a great way to gather baseline data about what birds are living in the areas we manage and what their distribution is. This information will help us plan up-coming habitat management and allow us to be more strategic in how we approach the work.

Baseline data is really important as it can highlight potentially sensitive areas and also areas that are of less concern. Continued surveying also allows us to evaluate the success of projects as any beneficial impacts will have a positive impact on bird numbers and distribution.

In order cover a larger area, we split into pairs and each pair had a section of the country park to focus on. As a Ranger I’m usually so busy that I don’t have the time to stop and take in the fantastic surroundings in which I work. The bird survey gave me a very welcome opportunity to visit some of the quieter areas and take the time to enjoy the beauty of the place.

Bird surveys can be very weather dependant, especially at Moel Famau Country Park. Luckily for us the conditions on the day were favourable and sightings included Red Kite, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Peregrine Falcon and lots of Meadow Pippets, among others.

The highlight of the day for me was seeing two Cuckoos – at two o’clock! You couldn’t make it up.

Further bird surveys are planned and if you would like to be involved, please contact the centre at Loggerheads on: loggerheads.countrypark@denbighshire.gov.uk

Saul Burton (Ranger)

Do your bit to help stamp out wildfires

Residents and businesses are being asked to take extra care this summer to avoid accidental wildfires.

“The recent dry weather has left many of the County’s moorland areas tinder dry and at higher risk to wildfires” said DCC Moorland Officer, Graham Berry. “A number of wildfires have already happened across Wales in the last month, including several within the Dee Valley. Wildfires at this time of year are incredibly damaging to wildlife and distressing to local communities and farmers.”

The Council and Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB are asking people to think twice about having a fire following another damaging wildfire on Llantysilio Mountain, burning over 100 acres of moorland in early June. Fire and Rescue Services across Wales responded to 2,253 grass fires in 2020, which saw an increase in the number of fires caused accidentally by 20%.

If you are planning a day out to the countryside, please do your bit to help eliminate the risk of wildfire by not having BBQ’s or campfires and bring a nice picnic instead. AONB Area Manager David Shiel said “we are excited to welcome visitors back to the countryside as Corona virus restrictions are slowly lifted, but we ask that visitors act responsibly and help us keep the AONB a safe and clean place for everyone to enjoy.”

               BBQ Damage at Bwlch y Groes, Llantysilio

If you have to have a fire, make sure you:

• Choose a day when conditions are suitable and less likely for fire to spread.
• Notify North Wales Fire & Rescue Service control room first on 01931 522006.
• Inform neighbouring land owners.
• Prepare the fire site to reduce risk of fire spreading.
• Have enough people and equipment to control the fire.
• Make sure the fire is out at the end of the day, it is illegal to leave a fire unattended.
• Check the next day to ensure it has not reignited.

Remember - If are out enjoying the countryside and you come across any suspicious activity, please call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or ring 101. In an emergency, always call 999.

New venture Drosi Bikes

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund is very pleased to support a new and exciting venture in Drosi Bikes Community Interest Company.

Drosi Bikes CIC seeks to address the lack of diversity in the cycling community and to offer accessible solutions to climate change. They do this by providing access to cycling education, support and equipment to empower more people to choose bikes instead of cars for everyday journeys.

Amongst other things the Sustainable Development Fund has supported Drosi Bikes to set up a Community Bike Workshop in Llangollen. The workshop aims to:

• promote bikes and e-bikes as a sustainable, low cost and low impact option for travel
• promote the circular economy and reduce waste going to landfill
• upskill, educate and empower underrepresented groups
• create an inclusive and accessible cycling community encouraging interaction and exploration of the local area

The Community Bike Workshop has all of the tools and information needed in order to achieve its two main purposes: repair, recycle and store discarded bikes and to run DIY workshops for members of the local community to learn about bike maintenance and the circular economy by using the tools and expertise to maintain their bikes and through access to information and volunteer opportunities. In addition to these, the workshop will be used to run cycle training classes and will have a small space dedicated to promoting other local community enterprises, particularly those focussing on environmental awareness.

Drosi Bikes also have an outreach programme holding pop-up bike repair workshops (Doctor Bikes) held in towns and villages across the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley and beyond and the first Doctor Bike workshop was recently held in Eryrs. These workshops are a prime opportunity to promote bikes and e-bikes as a low impact mode of travel.

To follow the good work of Drosi Bikes follow them via:

• Facebook: @drosibikes 
• Website: http://www.drosibikes.org/ 

Our new site in Llangollen - Wenffrwd Nature Reserve

A former landfill site at Wenffrwd on the outskirts of Llangollen has taken on a new lease of life.

The Council and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team have worked together with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and European Rural Development Fund, to create a new nature reserve - or pocket park - on the former landfill site at Wenffrwd – just outside Llangollen.

Visitors are now able to use a small car park at the nature reserve and explore the new site by following the 0.5 miles of new surfaced path which winds through a variety of habitats and offers views of the River Dee and across the valley.

Huw Rees, Countryside and Heritage Services Manager, said: “It’s hard to imagine now that this whole mound of land is the result of several decades of tipping household waste from the Llangollen area” 

Up to 75,000 tonnes were dumped each year until it stopped receiving rubbish in the 1980s, although the transfer station was available for the local population until 2008. Since then, nature has done an excellent job at reclaiming the site, with lush wildflower meadows providing food for pollinators, and thick bramble offering safe areas for birds to nest and forage. Visitors can now enjoy views over the Dee Valley from the sunny meadow, as well as the cool shade of the woodland on a hot day.

Further work is planned this year, as we continue to work on creating links from this site to the canal and back to the Health Centre in Llangollen along the old railway line.

Dogs in the Countryside

With the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and the increase in visitor numbers into the country parks, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB was able to run it’s ‘Take the Lead’ campaign over the half term week at Moel Famau. The campaign encourages responsible dog walking in the countryside, by keeping dogs on leads around livestock and cleaning up all dog poo and taking it home if no bins are available.

The campaign emphasises that not only is it important to keep dogs on lead around livestock to prevent grazing animals being attacked, but there could also be ground nesting birds around, it’s important these birds are not disturbed, especially during the spring and summer months. Leaving your dog’s poo in a field where livestock graze can spread disease that can harm the animals. Bagged poo left hanging on trees or in a field are not only unsightly but also poses a risk to wildlife and grazing animals who can consume the plastic or get caught up in it.

The campaign has proven to be successful over the years, with this year being exceptionally important due to many puppies bought during lockdown being introduced to the countryside for the first time. The country park is a large open area of heathland, over 2000 acres with grazing sheep, lots of wildlife and other visitors. Many dogs are calm and focused when walking their usual local walk, however they can become distracted and behave differently when in a new environment where their sense of smell and chase instinct are easily stimulated. Although most dogs are not kept as pets, all dogs were originally bred to do a specific job and as such still have instinctive behaviour traits, their chasing and hunting instincts can still be present.

Staff were on site to promote the dogs on lead campaign meeting many visiting dog owners and offered free dog poo bags and leads to ensure all dogs were being walked responsibly in an area where livestock and ground nesting birds are present. As well as promoting responsible dog walking around livestock, staff were able to advise dog walkers about planning ahead before setting out on walks, being aware of heatstroke in dogs, offering information on different walk and other safety tips that they should be aware of, including checking dogs for ticks - owners should check for pea sized parasites when grooming after walking through heathland and grassy areas. Staff spoke to many new dog owners who had brought a puppy during the lockdown period, they were interested and thankful for the advice and freebies!

Launch of Dark Night Skies consultation

A public consultation has been launched on ‘Planning for Dark Night Skies: Supplementary Planning Guidance for lighting in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.

The Council in partnership with Flintshire County Council, Wrexham County Borough Council and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are seeking views on a draft Supplementary Planning Guidance note (SPG) for lighting in the AONB.

The SPG will provide advice and guidance for developers and others on good lighting design in the AONB.

The AONB is designated as a landscape of national importance and the primary purpose is to conserve and enhance its natural beauty.

One of the recognised special qualities of the AONB is its tranquil nature, which includes the opportunity to experience dark night skies. The AONB has some of the darkest skies in Wales and the draft SPG seeks to conserve and enhance this special quality by providing guidance for developers and others on dark sky friendly lighting design.

When approved by each of the Local Planning Authorities the SPG will be a material planning consideration in determining planning applications and appeals.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Chair of the AONB Joint Committee, said: “The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB is one of Wales’ most cherished landscapes. The area enjoys some of the darkest skies in Wales and provides opportunities to experience the wonders of a dark night sky.

“The SPG will help to conserve and enhance this special quality by raising awareness of the issue and promoting dark sky friendly lighting design.  We want to know what you think, and I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation process and to have their say on the draft SPG before the deadline on August 9.”

The three Local Planning Authorities and the AONB are keen to hear from a wide range of statutory and non-statutory organisations, town and community councils, voluntary groups and the general public as well as local planning consultants and agents.

Comments should be forwarded to Denbighshire County Council who are coordinating the consultation on behalf of the three Local Planning Authorities and the AONB.

Comments should be submitted by 5.00pm on 9 August 2021 using one of the following methods:

• by e-mail to: clwydianrangeaonb@denbighshire.gov.uk
• via the Denbighshire Consultation Portal, or in writing to Huw Rees, Countryside and Heritage Services Manager, Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, PO BOX 62, Ruthin LL15 9AZ

Any queries relating to the draft SPG or the consultation can be directed to the following contacts at each of the Local Planning Authorities:

• Denbighshire: planningpolicy@denbighshire.gov.uk phone: 01824 706916
• Flintshire: developmentplans@flintshire.gov.uk phone: 01352 703213
• Wrexham: planning_policy@wrexham.gov.uk phone: 01978 298994
• AONB Partnership: clwydianrangeaonb@denbighshire.gov.uk  phone: 01824 712735

The document can be viewed on the Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham or AONB websites and hard copies are available for inspection at Denbighshire’s public libraries. 

Gronant's Little Tern Colony

The Council's Countryside Service manages Gronant Dunes, on the border of Denbighshire and Flintshire. Gronant, together with its satellite colony at Point of Ayr, is Wales’ only breeding colony of little terns¹. The colony is the second largest in the UK, and one of the most successful, with Denbighshire having managed the colony since 2005.

With the help of volunteers from North Wales Little Tern Group, staff from Denbighshire Countryside Service and Keep Wales tidy constructed over 3km of electric fencing over shingle nesting habitat in April. Its purpose is to protect nests from predators, as well as disturbance from visitors. Three Little Tern Wardens are based at the colony throughout the season, and work shifts to ensure a daily staff presence. Their role involves protecting the little terns from predators, maintaining the electric fencing and marking and recording nests. Denbighshire have been working with two licenced bird ringers, with over 35 years’ experience of working with little terns. The ringers are collecting valuable data which will build a more in-depth understanding of these birds. For instance, ringing at Gronant helped to discover the oldest known little tern, at 25 years old²!

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, there were concerns over how Denbighshire would be able to manage the little tern colony, who were unable to employ Little Tern Wardens or work with volunteers as lockdown hit. Throughout the 2020 season, Gronant was managed by a small number of Denbighshire staff. Despite best efforts, many nests were lost to unusually high tides, with many more lost to predation. However, this year, the colony has gone from strength to strength, with the latest count recording 198 nests, and an estimated 380 adult birds present on the 3^rd of June. This is a significant proportion of the UK population, believed to be around 1450². Denbighshire were able to recruit the Little Tern Wardens once again, who, with the help of North Wales Little Tern Group, are keeping a watchful eye over the colony. Although public engagement is still limited, the colony can still be seen from a safe distance by visitors, outside of the fenced-off area. Recent improvements to the boardwalk and paths on the site has created better access, encouraging more visitors to come and enjoy Gronant and its bird life.

High tides at the end of May were a cause for concern, but there was only minimal damage to fencing and no nests were lost. There are hopes that the 2021 season will be as successful as 2019, which was one of the best to date, with 162 breeding pairs and 206 fledglings recorded³. Denbighshire Countryside Service will continue to manage the little tern colony over the summer, until the chicks have fledged and the birds return to Africa for the winter.

If you would like further information about the Little Terns at Gronant, then please contact Claudia at claudia.smith@denbighshire.gov.uk.

We've also got some facts for you as well, namely:

• The breeding season starts in May, and continues until early August.
• Breeding pairs construct nests out of scrapes in the shingle.
• Male and female adults both take turns to incubate the nest, although males spend proportionally more time fishing, while females spend more time at the nest.
• Chicks typically take 10-21 days to fledge from hatching.
• Chicks are fed predominantly on a diet of sand eels.
• Adult little terns protect their young by mobbing any predators which get too close.
• Common predators include kestrel, peregrine falcon, crow and fox.
• As well as little terns, shingle provides nesting habitat for oystercatcher and ringed plover.
• In August, little terns travel thousands of miles to West Africa, where they spend the winter, and then travel back to the UK to breed in May.

.References

1. JNCC: our work https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/little-tern-sternula-albifrons/#distributionabundance
2. BTO Bird Facts: Little Tern https://app.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob6240.htm
3. 2019 Little Tern Report

You are invited to help begin shaping the Council’s future priorities

The Council is beginning to work on developing a new Corporate Plan, and would like you to get involved and have your say.

To take part and have your say, please visit https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/596 to complete the online survey and/or sign up for the online focus groups.

The Council has to produce a new Corporate Plan every five years. This plan gives the Council focus and helps all of our services to work together, to plan and achieve specific goals that will help to make Denbighshire a better place to live, work and visit, for everyone.

The current Corporate Plan started in 2017 following a consultation exercise called The County Conversation and will finish in 2022.

From the consultation, residents and the Council identified priorities for Housing, Young People, Connected Communities, Resilient Communities and the Environment.

The Council is now keen to continue the County Conversation and ask you what the priorities should be for the next five years.

To help with this, the Council is launching a survey and running some online focus groups.

The Continuing the County Conversation survey will be live online from May 24 to July 31 2021, with paper copies being distributed to home library service users or available to collect and return from libraries from June 1 to July 31 2021.

The online focus groups will be hosted on Microsoft Teams in June and July.

To take part and have your say, please visit https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/596 to complete the online survey and/or sign up for the online focus groups.

Dee Valley Picturesque Bus service to improve access to key destinations in the Dee Valley

Just a reminder about the new bus service that has been launched in the Dee Valley to provide access to some of the key destinations in this beautiful and historic landscape.

The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus service is a circular route which will run every Saturday until October 2021, and will link Llangollen and the surrounding villages to popular local attractions including Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wenffrwd Nature Reserve, Horseshoe Falls, Valle Crucis Abbey, Plas Newydd Historic House and the Horseshoe Pass.

It is hoped that this new service will enable people to visit these key locations without the need of a car and reduce the need for parking spaces, making it easier for those without their own vehicle to access these places, and helping to reduce congestion at some of the busiest sites in the Dee Valley. The service will also provide both visitors and local residents the opportunity to explore the wider area.

The service has been made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, and delivered in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Our Picturesque Landscape project, a landscape partnership scheme which is working to conserve and improve access to the inspiring landscapes of the Dee Valley and Pontcysllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.

The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus Service 199 will operate Saturdays only until Saturday 30^th October 2021. For the full timetable and ticket prices for the Picturesque Bus service please see Denbighshire bus timetable webpage or pick up a leaflet from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.

Housing development named after Denbigh plum

A new energy-efficient housing development in Denbigh has been named after one the town’s most ancient products.

Denbighshire Housing is building 18 two-bedroom and 4 four-bedroom semi-detached houses for social rent for the Council on land above Tan y Sgubor, Denbigh, the first new council homes to be designed and built for the Denbighshire area in 30 years.

The development will be named Llwyn Eirin (Plum Grove) to celebrate the registration of the Vale of Clwyd Denbigh Plum as a protected food name with Protected Designation of Origin.

The Denbigh plum is a truly ancient fruit, said to be cultivated by Carmelite monks in the town as early as the 13^th Century. 

The Vale has a long history of fruit production, boasting well over 200 orchards at its peak. 

It was considered appropriate, then, to reflect the town’s fruity heritage in the new development’s name. 

Specimens of the Denbigh Plum tree will be planted in the development, to help the fruit tree thrive once more in its native environment.

The low carbon homes, which will be built and certified to the energy-efficient Passivhaus standard, are part of the Council’s target to provide 170 more council houses by 2022.

The frames and walls for the new houses are being made off site in North Wales by Creating Enterprise, a subsidiary of Cartrefi Conwy, using the Beattie Passive Build system and the main contractor for the development is Brenig Construction.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire’s lead member for Housing and Communities, said: “Naming this fantastic new development after one of Denbigh’s oldest products is a way of honouring the town and helps increase biodiversity in the county which is a priority for the Council.

“Work is progressing well on site and, once completed, these homes will help meet the housing needs of residents by providing quality homes that are affordable as well as offering the highest levels of insulation to maximise energy efficiency to minimise carbon emissions to reduce household bills and protect future generations by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.  With this development we are honouring the past, supporting the present and protecting the future residents of Denbighshire.”

The Welsh Government has provided funding through its Innovative Housing Programme to enable the Council and Creating Enterprise to work together on this new way of building homes.

The houses will have solar panels on the roofs and will use pumps to transfer natural heat from under the ground to keep them warm so they won’t need a gas supply.

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