Community turns out to support famous bird colony

Community members have flown in their support this year for an under-threat bird.

Denbighshire Countryside Services, the North Wales Little Tern Group and other volunteers are currently looking after the 2025 intake at the Little Terns Colony at Gronant Dunes.

The site welcomes the birds all the way from the west coast of Africa. A 3.5km perimeter fence and three kilometres electric fence is in place along the beach area to protect the birds from ground predation. These will be removed at the end of the season to ensure a no trace policy on the area which is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Last year saw 166 breeding pairs recorded and a total of 158 fledglings at the colony, a slight increase on the number of young seen during the 2023 season.

The visitors centre and bird hide at the colony have enabled people to watch the birds from a safe distance.

This season the colony has received two visits from pupils at Ysgol Y Llys, one from the Prestatyn Running Club and a Prestatyn Walking Festival visit to the site.

North Denbighshire Coastal Ranger Claudia Smith explained: “Its been great to have this local support for the colony this season. Everyone has been so supportive an enthusiastic while here on site wanting to hear about the work we carry out to protect these brilliant little birds.

“The colony is a really important asset here in Denbighshire and Wales for giving the Little Terns a fighting future to thrive and survive, to have great local support such as this helps highlight how much the site contributes to protecting these birds.”

Progress at cinema, and new name announced

 As Merlin Cinemas breathe new life into the currently-closed cinema in Rhyl, they have confirmed that it will reopen under the new name of Strand Cinema, subject to completing lease arrangements with Denbighshire County Council.

While work is already underway behind the scenes, the exact reopening date is still a work-in-progress. Plans are moving ahead, but the team is holding off on promising a specific opening date just yet. 

“It’s an exciting project, and we’d love to be open in time for the autumn slate of films,” added Geoff Greaves, Managing Director at Merlin Cinemas, “but it’s important to us that we get this right and not rush things. We should have a good idea of an expected opening date soon.”

Strand Cinema Rhyl will operate alongside its sister cinema in Prestatyn, Scala Cinema which is already part of the Merlin Cinemas group of independent cinemas. 

Leader of Denbighshire County Council, Councillor Jason McLellan said, “It’s so exciting to see another business on the verge of opening on the prom in Rhyl. Following the huge success of the opening of Queen’s Market, this will be another attraction for residents and visitors alike and will be part of the catalyst for regeneration in our seaside town. We’re so pleased that Merlin Cinemas have stepped in and this further demonstrates confidence from the private sector in Rhyl’s future. When Strand Cinema opens, I urge residents to support it as well as other leisure facilities in the town – we need everyone to be backing our businesses to ensure their continued success.”

Merlin Cinemas began its journey 35 years ago with a single screen in Penzance in Cornwall, and now operates over 20 cinemas across the UK. Known for saving and restoring historic and modern venues alike, Merlin is committed to keeping cinema-going affordable, accessible, and magical for local communities.

Keep an eye on their website and social media for updates about opening and recruitment merlincinemas.co.uk

Pupil finishes Primary School without missing a single day

Ysgol Esgob Morgan Year 6 pupil, Renesmai, has managed to achieve 100% attendance throughout her entire primary school journey, from Reception at nearby St Asaph VP all the way up to Year 6 at Ysgol Esgob Morgan.

Tim Redgrave (Headteacher), Renesmai (Pupil), Councillor Diane King (Lead Member for Education, Children and Families), Geraint Davies (Head of Education at Denbighshire County Council).

This remarkable record is a testament to Renesmai’s commitment to her education and to the dedication of her mum Olivia. Despite living six miles away from school, Olivia ensured Renesmai was in class every single day. Even during the bus strikes, she cycled to school with both Renesmai and her younger sister in a trailer on the back of her bike, in all weather conditions.

Tim Redgrave, Headteacher, said:

“We are incredibly proud of Renesmai. Her attitude to all aspects of school life are second to none. She will have a go at anything and everything and give her all in doing so. I fully recognise that not all children are able to achieve 100% attendance—many face medical or personal challenges, and we always approach those with care and understanding.

However, that shouldn’t stop us from celebrating when a pupil accomplishes something truly exceptional like this.”

In Wales, maintaining full attendance across all years of primary school is rare. The average primary school attendance rate for 2023 – 2024 in an average of 92.1% and around 1 in 4 pupils were persistently absent—meaning they missed at least 10% of school sessions. That makes Renesmai’s perfect record even more exceptional.

Mr Redgrave added:

“What Renesmai, and her mum have shown is the power of perseverance, consistency, and the value of education. It’s a brilliant example of resilience that we’re proud to recognise.”

To mark this milestone, she had a visit and received a certificate from the Geraint Davies, Head of Education at Denbighshire County Council and Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, who said:

“This is a remarkable and rare achievement, which is a testament to Renesmai and her family’s dedication and commitment to learning.

I’d like to congratulate them on this amazing achievement.”

Summer Wellbeing event set to be hosted in Rhyl

An informal drop-in session is to be hosted by the Council's Homeless Prevention team at the Ask Centre in Rhyl on the 7^th of August, with the aim to promote some of the vital support and services on offer for Denbighshire residents.

There will be a number of organisations and support services attending throughout the day, including Denbighshire County Council’s support services and other services that cover the topics of Homelessness, Mental Health, Rhyl West Youth Services, Intuitive thinking skills for addiction and Adult Social Care.

There will also be an opportunity for a number of citizens who have been, or are still being supported by services to share their stories with the community, illustrating the real life stories of the people who have accessed community facing services.

Running from 10:30am-2:00pm, the event will give the public the chance to meet face to face with services, whether they need their assistance now, or in the future.

As well as highlighting the services available, there will also be a free raffle ticket for each citizen attending and refreshments will be available. A crafts stall will also be set up in conjunction with the STEP Project and Salvation Army.

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

“This is a brilliant opportunity for people to come along and learn about the support that is available to them and hear about the experiences of people who have received help and support from services in Denbighshire.

Some people may be looking for support, but may not be too sure where to go or how to find it. This event will hopefully help point those people towards the right support service.

As well as the number of services available to chat to on the day, there is also a free raffle ticket for each attendee.”

Help grown for rare butterfly

A new generation of an under threat tree is getting ready to help support a rare butterfly.

Denbighshire County Councils Biodiversity team has nurtured a large crop of wych elms at the Local Provenance Tree Nursery, St Asaph.

Wych Elms are under threat from Dutch elms disease, with many mature trees cut down due to its impact, reducing the growth and spread of younger trees.

Over 1,800 wych elm trees have been grown at the site by the team from seeds collected at Loggerheads Country Park last year to help the tree resurge in Denbighshire. These will be eventually planted out at the Green Gates Nature Reserve development next to the tree nursery.

This work and other projects at the site to protect local tree and wildflower species is funded by Welsh Government through the Local Places for Nature grant as part of the Council’s work with the Local Nature Partnership.

Wych elms are an important larval food-plant of the rare White-Letter Hairstreak Butterfly, which was recorded at Loggerheads some years back but has since remained scarce  across Denbighshire.

This butterfly needs the unopened flower buds of the wych elm for food to survive.

Sam Brown, Tree Nursery Assistant, explained: “We are really pleased we have been able to grow nearly 2,000 wych elms here at the nursery as the future of the tree has been threatened by Dutch elms disease and a reluctance to replant the tree.

“Not only that this tree goes hand in hand with putting food out there for an extremely rare butterfly and having this number that will be planted out on the Green Gates Nature Reserve will go a long way to encouraging White-Letter Hairstreaks to turn their decline around.

“The butterflies only need young wych elms that are old enough to flower to provide them with food and this first crop we have will be perfect for meeting this requirement.”

“Its so important to reverse the loss of trees and habitats by climate change and human action. The wych elm is a perfect as plants and trees all play their part in providing a vital food source for insects and animals. The less and less there are in Denbighshire, the more at risk our local nature becomes.”

Denbighshire joins World Health Organisation’s Age-friendly Global Network

Denbighshire County Council, in partnership with the Ageing Well Denbighshire Network has recently had its application approved to join the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Network for Age-friendly Communities.

This membership allows access to information sharing and networking with a global community and support from a global network who are committed to fostering age-friendly environments.

The application was put together by the partners of Ageing Well Denbighshire and was informed by feedback from older people across Denbighshire.

Denbighshire County Council, and partners in the Ageing Well Network, Age Connects, have also been recognised by the Centre for Ageing Better as age friendly employers.

Signing the Age-friendly Employer Pledge earlier this year solidifies the Council’s stance on its older people policy and their values and rights.

Ann Lloyd, Head of Service for Adult Social Care and Homelessness said:

“I am thrilled that we have had our application approved and want to thank everyone involved for their contribution, this has truly been partnership working at its best. As a member of the Global Network of Age-friendly communities we can learn and share experiences with other members right across the world and bring that learning into Denbighshire.

I would like to encourage other employers in Denbighshire to sign up for the Age-Friendly Employer pledge, recognising the skills, experience and knowledge older people can bring to the workplace.”

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

“Everybody deserves to grow older in a community that is inclusive, understanding, and supportive, and that’s what makes the work of our Ageing Well in Denbighshire Network so invaluable.

Being accepted into the WHO’s Global Network of Age-friendly Communities is an incredible achievement for Denbighshire and its partners. It reflects our shared commitment to making sure that as we age, we can live well, stay connected, and feel valued in our communities.

This would not have been possible without the sheer dedication of the Chair, Vice-Chair, and everyone involved across our partner organisations. This achievement is only the beginning, and together, as a strong network, we will continue to deliver on our ambitions set out in our WHO-approved action plan.”

Summer holiday plans for Llangollen Countryside parking

Council officers will be monitoring parking at Llangollen’s Horseshoe falls and the surrounding area this summer holiday.

Denbighshire County Council is urging visitors to the hotspot to park responsibly this holiday and look to plan ahead to visit other nearby attractions that are available across the Dee Valley if this area is busy.

A number of preparations have already been made to manage an increase in visitors:

•  Extra countryside rangers will be on site to manage the area and provide support and information for visitors.
• Civil enforcement officers will also monitor the site and surrounding area, especially at predicated peak busy time.
• Fencing has been installed at the Horseshoe Falls car park entrance to stop parking on the grass verges which can obstruct other traffic.
• Awareness signs are prominent at the site advising drivers to park responsibly.
• The Council will also liaise with partners including North Wales Police to monitor any increased traffic issues at the site

Councillor Alan James, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “We do want visitors to enjoy Horseshoe Falls and the surrounding areas but would strongly urge them that parking restrictions are important for both road safety and ensuring there is a fair turnover of parking spaces. Drivers need to be aware that while visiting, anyone not complying with parking restrictions risk receiving a Penalty Charge Notice from our civil enforcement officers.

“Our rangers are on site at Horseshoe Falls to provide advice and guidance to visitors coming to the site and I would ask that the public also respect the important role they are there to carry out.

“Please plan your day in advance and make sure you have other options planned for visiting and parking if you cannot stop at your first choice of venue as the Dee Valley has plenty of attractions to visit.

Rhuddlan school set to receive classroom space upgrades

Ysgol y Castell in Rhuddlan is set to receive extra space upgrades in four of its existing classrooms as well as energy improvement works to the site, thanks to recently approved plans.

Ysgol y Castell, Rhuddlan

The extension of four classrooms and initial energy improvement works will be undertaken in the first phase of the project, which is set to commence this summer.

Further energy reduction works are planned for the second phase of work.

The extension will provide 16 square metres of additional classroom space in all four of the classrooms, producing a total extension of 64 square metres for pupil use and will see updated learning facilities added at the same time.

Classroom spaces

The construction contract has been awarded to Brynbuild, with the work scheduled to commence on site this Summer.

The first phase is set to be completed in Winter 2026.

Sara Tate, Headteacher at Ysgol y Castell said:

“We’re excited that the extension is getting started. This project reflects our commitment to providing the very best for our pupils, both now and in the future.

The additional space will support our growing school community and enhance the learning environment for generations to come.”

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

“I’m delighted that funding has been approved for this long-awaited scheme, which will provide the additional space and updated facilities much needed by the school.

Due to the school’s proximity to the Scheduled Ancient Monument site, the required archaeological works will also provide a unique opportunity for pupils to learn more about the history of the local area.”

The first phase of this project is 65% match funded by the Welsh Government, through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

The remaining 35% of funding has primarily come from a developer’s contribution provided by the Tirionfa housing development in Rhuddlan.

Pupils have voices heard at School Council Forums

Held over two days, 19 School Councils attended events, workshops, and Denbighshire County Council’s Chamber for this year’s School Council Forums, presenting the work that their individual School Councils have been undertaking throughout the school year.

Pupils in the Chamber with Cllr Arwel Roberts (Chair of the Council) and Cllr Diane King (Lead Member for Education) and Rocio Cifuentes (Children’s Commissioner for Wales).

Held at Denbigh High, 14 schools attended the Primary School Council Forum, with School Council representatives from Ysgol Christchurch, Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Ysgol Gymraeg Henllan and Ysgol Clawdd Offa schools presenting their work.

The Secondary School Council Forum was held at County Hall in Ruthin, with a chance for pupils from Rhyl High School, Ysgol Dinas Bran, St Brigids, Denbigh High School and Prestatyn High school to visit the County Council Chamber and meet and ask questions to County Council Chair, Councillor Arwel Roberts, and Lead Member for Children, Communities and Families, Councillor Diane King.

The pupils shared the fantastic work they have been doing over the school year, and got to learn about the democratic process at the Council, the chamber microphone system, as well as the electronic voting system.

Pupils learning about the voting system and Chamber microphones.

Rocio Cifuentes, Children’s Commissioner for Wales and Sophie Williams held presentations on both days discussing children’s rights.

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

“In Denbighshire, we envision communities where young people are actively involved in the decisions that shape their lives.

It is vital that they have safe and open spaces to share experiences, and influence policymaking on issues that matter. Events like the School Council forums help pupils to learn about the democratic processes that impact their day to day lives.

I’d like to thank all of the schools who attended this year’s forums, and for the work they have carried out in their respective schools this year.”

Rocio Cifuentes, Children’s Commissioner for Wales said:

“'Having a say in decisions is a right under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and a key pillar of a Children's Rights Approach.

I was delighted to attend the forums to meet young people and to find out about the ways they've been exercising that right in their schools and communities.”

Solar power efficiency boost for Rhyl school

Additional solar power infrastructure is improving energy efficiency at a Rhyl School.

Work has been finished at Rhyl High School which will see extra PV panels on the building’s roof helping reduce reliance from national grid energy, long term costs and carbon emissions from the site.

It’s all part of Denbighshire County Council’s Energy Team’s continuing work to drive down energy use and costs at buildings run by the local authority.

The team has managed projects across Council owned buildings including schools, to help improve building energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and also usage costs over the longer term.

They first assessed Rhyl High School to find out which areas of energy use could be improved to increase efficiency.

Supported by the Council’s Education and Children’s Services, the work saw the existing 40kw solar PV system on the roof of the school increased to a 95kw solar PV system.

The new PV panels alongside the existing ones will help harness energy from the sun to power the site, taking pressure off the local grid system and improving the reduction of carbon emissions on site.

Every Kilowatt generated by the PV panels and used by the school will save around 22 pence.

The additional solar PV array will save Rhyl High School an estimated 42,320kWh, over 10 tonnes of carbon emissions and over £11,749.00 annually in reduced energy costs, paying back what has been invested in a short space of time.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Our Energy team is extremely grateful to Rhyl High School for allowing us to carry out this additional work to help the school lower energy usage and reduce long term costs and at the same time create a more pleasant environment for learning and wellbeing to support both pupils and staff.

“This is an important piece of work that supports our continuing drive to lower energy usage and costs and reduce carbon footprints across our building estate and it’s fantastic to see the school and our Energy Team working together to achieve this.”

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said: “This work will help Rhyl High’s overall energy usage, and is a step forward in increasing the renewable energy capacity in our educational buildings.

This installation is a collaborative effort between our Education and Energy team, who are working in tandem to help reduce long term energy costs and emissions simultaneously.”

Projects planned to help health for all

An accessible children’s play area and Wellbeing Walking Trail are set to come to Lower Denbigh.

Denbighshire County Council’s Streetscene department is breathing life into two new projects for the area after successfully securing grant funding via the Public Recreational Open Space Commuted Sums.

The first project will look to deliver an accessible play area in Lower Park Children’s Play Area, Denbigh.

Its aim is to purchase and install inclusive play and sensory play equipment, introduce accessible, inclusive and sensory children’s play equipment in an established play area, to benefit children of all ages and abilities.

The second project will develop a Wellbeing Walking Trail across Lower Denbigh and into Central Denbigh.

It will see the purchase and installation of friendship seating benches with information plaques in strategic locations to create a wellbeing walking trail in Denbigh, to benefit all members of the public.

Both projects are also designed to improve the visitor experience at a key locations, central to Denbighshire and encourage people to take pride in their green spaces, improve understanding of the biodiversity and conservation value of these areas and deliver accessibility for all ages.

Work is expected to start on the Wellbeing Walking Trail in the next couple of weeks and the Lower Park Play Area Improvement Scheme will commence this September.

Street Scene Area Coordinator Neil Jones said: “We are really pleased to be accepted for this funding as these two projects will really support the communities of Lower Denbigh and help the health and wellbeing of all ages.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Environment and Transport added: “These are two fantastic projects for Denbigh and the surrounding area and are great for supporting the health of residents of all ages alongside highlighting the amazing biodiversity that surrounds the communities.”

Countryside visitors asked to play their part in reducing wildfire risk

Visitors to the Denbighshire countryside are being asked to play their part in reducing the risk of wildfires in the County.

Considering the recent dry weather, Denbighshire County Council and Clwydian Range and Dee Valley are issuing advice on how to prevent wildfires from spreading when out in the Countryside.

To ensure everyone's safety and preserve our beautiful landscape, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape are urging all visitors and campers at popular sites like Moel Famau, Loggerheads, and Horseshoe Falls to swap their barbecues for picnics.

The use of barbecues, camping stoves, or campfires on these moorland areas carries an extreme fire risk and is strictly forbidden.

The Council’s countryside rangers alongside North Wales Fire and Rescue service will be visiting key sites over the summer to directly inform visitors about the potential dangers of barbeques and countryside fires.

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

"We want every visitor to fully experience the beauty of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, however, our moorlands are incredibly vulnerable right now due to the warm weather recently.

"By making the simple choice to enjoy a picnic and leaving open flames at home, visitors are playing an essential role in keeping our sites safe and enjoyable for all.

“The impact of moorland wildfires goes far beyond the immediate flames. It can leave our landscape scarred for years, release harmful carbon and in the most extreme cases endanger human life.

“I’d like to acknowledge the hard work of our dedicated Clwydian Range and Dee Valley rangers, who are actively deploying fire risk signs and engaging with visitors to highlight these dangers”.

Watch a short video to find out what to avoid:

Nursery pours in help for aquatic nature

Work is underway to pour protection for water loving wild plants.

Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity team is turning their hand to plants of a different kind for a new project at the Council Tree Nursery at St Asaph.

The site currently grows thousands of trees and wildflowers all sourced locally from the county to go back into boosting Denbighshire’s nature. This project is funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project.

Inside the nursery brooklime is currently growing in containers filled with water for a project that is spearheading a push to boost local aquatic plants in ponds across the county.

Brooklime is ideal for ponds as it can improve water quality and can provide useful egg laying habitat for species such as newts, as well as offering other biodiversity boosts.  

Similarly, outside the nursery in two developed ponds, common water crowfoot is also growing. This plant also offers oxygenation and shelter, forming part of a thriving ecosystem.

Biodiversity Officer Evie Challinor explained: “Aquatic plants play just as an important role for protecting local nature as our wildflowers in the county do. We’ve started growing the brooklime inside the nursery with a view to producing enough local provenance, native material for us to do enhancement planting into ponds that might need a helping hand.”

“We are also looking to track down any ponds with good populations of native plants that we can potentially collect from, so any folks with ponds of their own, with non-planted up aquatic plants are of interest to the team.

She added: “Carrying out this work we are equally happy to have contacts for people who want advice on their ponds as we are looking to build a collaborative network so that people can exchange best practices.”

Anyone interested in supporting this project or finding out more can email Evie at biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk

Expansion of the Care and Support Team and Reablement Care service

Denbighshire County Council is excited to be expanding its Care and Support Team in Adult Social Care by recruiting 9 new Care and Support Workers, who will work across the county.

This forms part of Denbighshire’s aim to ensure a sustainable Social Care Service for the future and helps mitigate some of the financial pressures the Council faces.

Following a successful first recruitment campaign earlier this year where 7 Reablement Support Workers were recruited, the Council are looking for further staff to join the friendly and supportive teams.

The new staff will support people who need a hand to regain the skills to do everyday activities like washing, cooking meals, dressing and moving about the home and going out.

There are a number of reasons why people may need this support, like following a period of illness or a hospital stay. This support can last for as little as one or two weeks but can be offered for up to six weeks if it is needed. In addition to this the team can also offer longer term domiciliary support when this is needed.

Darylanne, a Senior Care and Support Worker at the Council said:

“Our teams support those who need a helping hand after a period away from the home in the hospital, or maybe after an illness.

Members of the team have access to a work vehicle as standard while working and therefore do not have to use their personal vehicle as they travel from location to location. Comprehensive training is provided and there is a lot of support for staff to support them in their role.”

Ann Lloyd, Head of Service for Adult Social Care & Homelessness Service said:

“After the success of the expansion earlier in the year, we are now looking to add 9 more workers to our team.

Our teams care for people up and down the County every day in their own homes, meaning residents can live comfortably in their own homes for longer.

This expansion helps us achieve our wider social care aims and will bring more care to residents in their own homes.”

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

“Our teams are there for our residents who have just arrived home from hospital or treatment and need a support package whilst they adjust back into day-to-day life.

This support helps make that transition a little easier, with our team on hand to help residents relearn the skills needed, right in the comfort of their own home.

Our team do an amazing job throughout the whole County, and I am looking forward to welcoming more Care and Support Workers into our team.”

To find out more about these exciting job opportunities and working in Social Care please visit our work for us website here.

Council’s countryside service host Prestatyn nature walks

The Council’s countryside team will be hosting a series of walks around Prestatyn’s Morfa Nature Park.

The guided walks taking place at the park will be an informal consultation with residents which will offer the opportunity to learn more about the 60-acre space located in the centre of Prestatyn, as well as the recent funding it’s received from the UK Government.

In 2025, UK Government confirmed their intention to provide just under £20 million of grant funding for seven capital projects to improve pride of place and natural environment in Rhyl, Prestatyn and Denbigh.

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

The project at Prestatyn Morfa Nature Park will look to improve the accessibility of the site by creating a network of accessible routes for both pedestrians and cyclist throughout the woodland and wetland area. The introduction of the raised boardwalk will allow visitors to appreciate the beauty of the wetland without disturbing it.

Other aspects of the project will see the entire wetland boundaries secured to allow the area to be managed through conservation grazing by belted galloway cattle.

The cattle will graze the more dominant growing vegetation which will prevent the wetlands from becoming overgrown by scrub and promote biodiversity, which will ensure an abundance of habitat for small mammals, nesting birds, pollinators and a wide range of invertebrate species.

The dates and times for the nature walks are as follows:

• 3pm – 4pm – Thursday 17 July
• 6pm – 7pm – Thursday 17 July
• 10am – 11am – Friday 18 July
• 1pm – 2pm – Friday 18 July

Meeting Point: Coed Y Morfa Car Park (Grid ref: SJ 058 823), Post Code LL19 8AJ.

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

“These walks will provide a fantastic opportunity for families and nature lovers to get closer to the outdoors in a space that is situated in the heart of Prestatyn and learn more about the wetland.

“The funding for this project to improve the accessibility of the site will ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy the nature park in the future”.

To receive updates on the progression of Pride of Place and Natural Environment projects in Rhyl, Prestatyn and Denbigh sign up to the newsletter.

For more information on UK Government funded projects please visit our website.

Visit Wales Hidden Gem Awards for Ruthin Gaol and Nantclwyd y Dre

Two of Denbighshire’s popular heritage attractions, Ruthin Gaol and Nantclwyd y Dre have each received a 2025 ‘Hidden Gem’ award.

Awarded annually by Visit Wales, the ‘Hidden Gem’ scheme celebrates destinations that might fall outside of the normal tourist spots, but which are well worth a slight detour to visit, thanks to the memorable visits they offer.

Offering a unique Victorian prison experience, Ruthin Gaol provides visitors with an exploration of life behind bars in the 19th century, discovering stories of infamous inmates such as the Welsh Houdini, Coch Bach y Bala, while visitors to Nantclwyd y Dre can step through over 500 years of history, from the medieval to WWII eras, and wander in its beautifully kept gardens.

Filled with interactive trails and activities that allow visitors of all ages to discover the stories they have to tell, the unique histories both each attraction is brought to life through audio guided tours, fascinating exhibitions, and immersive soundscapes.

Carly Davies, Heritage Lead Officer, said:

“We are incredibly proud that Ruthin Gaol and Nantclwyd y Dre have been awarded Hidden Gem status for another year. We are always looking for new and exciting ways to bring the history of our historic attractions to life, so it is wonderful to receive this recognition from Visit Wales.”

Cuncillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage, added:

"It is fantastic that Ruthin Gaol and Nantclwyd y Dre have been recognised as Hidden Gems by Visit Wales. These sites offer visitors an authentic, engaging journey into our local heritage and play a vital role in sharing Denbighshire’s unique stories.

“Ruthin is a town steeped in history, and we hope that these recent awards will reinforce what a destination it is for locals and visitors to the area to explore”.

For more information about Ruthin Gaol and Nantclwyd y Dre, including opening times and upcoming events, please visit our website contact the team via heritage@denbighshrie.gov.uk.

Exploring the outdoors and improving wellbeing, one step at a time

Young people in Denbighshire are being encouraged to join a new series of free wellbeing walks, designed to help connect with others, get outside, and feel better, all while discovering some of the county’s most beautiful walking routes.

Run by the Barod team at Working Denbighshire, in partnership with Ramblers Cymru, the weekly walks offer a friendly, informal way for 18 to 25-year-olds to boost their physical and mental health while exploring nature in good company.

The sessions are fully supported by Barod and Ramblers Cymru staff, who lead walks along a range of local trails and help participants pick up useful outdoor skills, such as navigation. Routes will be decided by the group attending each week, it’s not just a stroll through Rhyl, but a chance plan exciting routes further afield.

The programme also helps tackle loneliness and social isolation, something many young people face, particularly if they’re spending a lot of time alone or stuck indoors.

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

“This partnership project is a fantastic example of how we can work together to support young people in a meaningful, inclusive way. It’s not just about walking, it’s about connection, confidence, and wellbeing. I’d really encourage any young person who’s feeling a bit stuck or isolated to give it a go.”

The walks are open to any Denbighshire residents aged 18 to 25, regardless of fitness level or background. There’s no pressure to talk about work or job hunting, but informal conversations can sometimes open doors to new opportunities, or help people feel ready to explore their next steps when the time is right.

Tina Foulkes, Working Denbighshire Manager, said:

“We recognise the positive impact that being outdoors can have on mental wellbeing, and walks should provide a safe and supportive environment for young people to thrive.

“We also understand that not everyone has access to suitable walking gear or footwear, especially for more rural trails, so we’re working to help remove those barriers by providing suitable kit for anyone who needs it to take part. It’s about building confidence and community.”

Olivia Evans from Ramblers Cymru said: 'I'm really excited about this partnership with Working Denbighshire and the Barod programme.

It's the perfect combination of teams to provide young people with access to the outdoors. With big goals of getting some groups into the mountains, there's no telling where these walks could lead!”

The wellbeing walks take place every Thursday at 3:30pm, starting at Rhyl Library, with transport and kit support available where needed.

There’s no need to book, and those attending are advised to dress for the weather. Friends are also welcome to join.

For more information, residents can call 01745 331438 / 07342 070635 or visit the Working Denbighshire website. 

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

Working Denbighshire is part funded by UK Government.

Nantclwyd y Dre’s National Garden Scheme Open Day Draws Crowds

Scott Kelly & Stephen Lacey

Nantclwyd y Dre’s annual National Garden Scheme open day has once again enjoyed a strong turnout.

Attended by garden lovers from across North Wales and beyond keen to explore the historic house’s extensive formal and wild gardens, amongst this year’s visitors was renowned gardener and writer Stephen Lacey.

The former presenter of BBC’s ‘Garden World’ praised the gardens which are cared for by dedicated volunteers as “very impressive” and noting how they are “full of colour and really well cared for”.

Alongside the seasonal blooms and iconic rose arch which has come back magnificently after being removed a few years ago to accommodate some repairs to the adjacent walls, visitors to this year’s open day enjoyed taking in the new heritage fruit trees, tours with Heritage Gardener Scott, and the new for 2025 medicinal plant garden trail.

Scott Kelly, Head Gardener at Nantclwyd y Dre, said:

“Stephen’s visit added a special highlight to the day, and his complimentary words were great to hear. We’re lucky to have a dedicated team of garden volunteers who make a huge difference to the gardens all year round and it’s lovely to have their hard work recognised by such an esteemed figure within the gardening world.”

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

“Our volunteers are a crucial part of the team, and we are incredibly proud of them. Their commitment and enthusiasm help bring Nantclwyd y Dre gardens to life is commendable and it’s fantastic to hear such positive comments from Stephen Lacey.  

“Overall, it was a hugely successful day celebrating horticulture and heritage at the historic house and gardens”.

Nantclwyd y Dre’s gardens can be visited as part of its normal opening hours (Thursday-Saturday, 10:30am-4.30pm, last entry at 3.30pm). Admission applies. Please visit the website to plan your visit.

Reablement Care service and Care and Support Team to expand within Denbighshire

Denbighshire County Council is excited to be expanding its Care and Support Team in Adult Social Care by recruiting 9 new Care and Support Workers, who will work across the county.

This forms part of Denbighshire’s aim to ensure a sustainable Social Care Service for the future and helps mitigate some of the financial pressures the Council faces.

Following a successful first recruitment campaign earlier this year where 7 Reablement Support Workers were recruited, the Council are looking for further staff to join the friendly and supportive teams.

The new staff will support people who need a hand to regain the skills to do everyday activities like washing, cooking meals, dressing and moving about the home and going out.

There are a number of reasons why people may need this support, like following a period of illness or a hospital stay. This support can last for as little as one or two weeks but can be offered for up to six weeks if it is needed. In addition to this, the team can also offer longer term domiciliary support when this is needed.

Darylanne, a Senior Care and Support Worker at the Council said:

“Our teams support those who need a helping hand after a period away from the home in the hospital, or maybe after an illness.

Members of the team have access to a work vehicle as standard while working and therefore do not have to use their personal vehicle as they travel from location to location. Comprehensive training is provided and there is a lot of support for staff to support them in their role.”

Ann Lloyd, Head of Service for Adult Social Care & Homelessness Service said:

“After the success of the expansion earlier in the year, we are now looking to add 9 more Care and Support workers to our team.

Our teams care for people up and down the County every day in their own homes, meaning residents can live comfortably in their own homes for longer.

This expansion helps us achieve our wider social care aims and will bring more care to residents in their own homes."

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

“Our teams are there for our residents who have just arrived home from hospital or treatment and need a support package whilst they adjust back into day-to-day life.

This support helps make that transition a little easier, with our team on hand to help residents relearn the skills needed, right in the comfort of their own home.

Our team do an amazing job throughout the whole County, and I am looking forward to welcoming more Care and Support Workers into our team.”

To find out more about these exciting job opportunities and working in Social Care please visit our work for us website here.

Queen’s Market set to host exciting events for opening weekend

To celebrate its grand opening on Thursday 10^th July, the new Queen’s Market in Rhyl will be hosting a packed weekend of free to attend events and entertainment, running from the opening day on Thursday 10^th July to Sunday 13^th.

Queen's Market from above

The Market will be open from 10am-10pm every night for the opening weekend, with vendors showcasing their delicious food and drink all weekend long.

Vendor stalls

Featuring a variety of free entertainment offerings throughout the weekend, opening night will host a night of music, which will feature Mike Andrew as Robbie Williams and spotlight local artists Sarah Price and Marney Bailey from 7pm.

On Friday evening, the music will continue with live performances from talented local singers Jess Pallett, Joseph Leo, and Chris Fletcher from 7pm.

Bar area

Moving onto the weekend, Saturday will see Tabitha as Whitney, and will feature a rendition of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits from 8pm followed by a second set of Soul and Motown hits.

Rounding off the opening weekend events, a family friendly disco will be hosted on the Sunday, featuring DJ Paul Maffia, and will run from 2pm until 5pm.

The Market will also be showing the Wimbledon Finals throughout the weekend.

The new development includes 16 individual food and retail units, a double-sided bar and a large events space. The outside area of the Market will see a raised and covered decking area, which will allow space for visitors to dine outdoors.

Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government said:

“Benefitting from around £6.5m worth of Welsh Government support through Transforming Towns funding, I am pleased to see the development of Queen's Market, a key site in the redevelopment of Rhyl town centre.

This lively new space offers a range of retail and food outlets, an events area and outdoor dining. It will create jobs, increase visitors, and breathe new life into the town centre.”

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

“Beginning on opening day, there is a stellar line up of free events and entertainment set up for the opening weekend at the Queen’s Market.

The site has been an integral feature of Rhyl since 1902, and we are so excited for its latest chapter, and to open the Market doors to the public.”

Andrew Burnett, Director at Midland Events (Rhyl) Ltd said:

“We are really pleased with what is on offer for the opening weekend. We have a good variety of free and exciting entertainment, which will compliment what our vendors have to offer.

We can’t wait to open the doors on the 10th and invite the public to celebrate the opening weekend with us.”

For updates on the Queen’s Market, please follow Queen’s Market Rhyl on social media.

The Queen’s Market project has received funding from the Welsh Government, largely through its Transforming Towns Programme.

The project has received funding from UK Government’s SPF funding.

It has also received funding from UK Government through the Pride of Place & Natural Environment: Rhyl, Prestatyn & Denbigh Programme.

The project is also funded by Denbighshire County Council.

Update on St Peter’s Square Public Realm Improvements

Denbighshire County Council share an update on the public realm improvements to St Peter’s Square in Ruthin.

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.

The proposed works will look to widen the scope for hosting events and revitalising historical buildings and landmarks to support local identity, whilst also promoting pride of place and boosting the image of the town.

The Council can confirm that its planned public realm improvement works to St Peter’s Square in Ruthin, which is due to start in spring 2026, will not impact the Gwŷl Rhuthun taking place, or Cadw’s Open Doors event in 2026.

Following discussions with the Festival Committee and other stakeholders, the Council has listened to concerns regarding potential delays to the scheme and the impact this could have on Gwŷl Rhuthun and Open Doors in particular.

In response, the Council is actively developing a construction schedule that prioritises flexibility and minimises disruption.

To ensure events can go ahead smoothly and without obstruction, the Council is proposing that works to the side roads surrounding the square be completed first, with the main improvement works to St. Peter’s Square itself scheduled to begin only after Gwŷl Rhuthun from July 2026 onwards.

Pedestrian access will also remain open to locations taking part in Open Doors in September 2026.

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

 "We recognise how vital Gwŷl Rhuthun and other events in Ruthin are to local businesses and the wider community, both culturally and economically. They generate significant footfall and revenue for the town, and we are committed to doing all we can to support their continued success."

“This commitment to Gwŷl Rhuthun is part of the Council’s wider efforts to support local businesses throughout the construction phase of the scheme and a series of measures are currently being developed to help reduce any impact from the construction works”.

For more information on the project visit our website.

Council raise flag to mark NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day 2025

To mark NHS, Social Care and Frontline Staff Day, Denbighshire County Council is raising a special flag at its offices at County Hall in Ruthin.

At a flag raising ceremony held on the 4^th of July, the flag was hoisted high to recognise the contribution of NHS, social care and frontline staff.

July 5^th is the national day of thanks to show gratitude to all frontline staff and critical workers.

Councillor Arwel Roberts, Chair of the Council said:

“Raising this flag shows our county-wide appreciation of the staff who work tirelessly to help those who need it most.

It is a real honour to be recognising those who deliver essential frontline services each and every day to some of the most vulnerable in our communities here in Denbighshire.

Rain or shine, these amazing people are there for our residents, so today we turn up for them, to show our thanks and appreciation for their amazing work.”

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

“This flag raising event is a visible symbol of our deep respect and appreciation for our frontline staff and the invaluable work they do across Denbighshire every single day.

We raise this flag high and proud as a gesture of gratitude to those who help and support those up and down our county.”

Major road maintenance programme schemes revealed

Denbighshire County Council has announced which road areas will benefit from a major Welsh Government funded road maintenance programme.

This work across 57 locations in the county will be spread over two years will be funded by a Welsh Government Local Government Borrowing Initiative (LGBI) to enable the programme to start.

The programme identified schemes for both 2025/26 and 2026/27 based on the total allocation of £4,780,699 for the two-year period from the Welsh Government.

Denbighshire County Council will be targeting this funding at improving the surface condition of carriageways on the identified sections of the county’s road network during this programme of work.

This work will see significant investment planned at A525 Nany Y Garth pass, A547 Abergele Road near Rhuddlan and Ty Newydd road in Rhyl to improve road surfaces.

The full list of road areas for work which will include resurfacing of the carriageways and associated works such as sweeping and drainage is.

• Betws Gwerfil Goch – Minfordd junction to Tyddyn Bach
• Betws Gwerfil Goch – Tyddyn Bach to village
• Bodfari – A541 junction to Glascoed Junction
• Bontuchel – Bontuchel to Ysgeibion junction
• Bryneglwys - A5104 (A494 junction to Tan y Bidwal)
• Carrog - B5437 Railway Line to A5t junction
• Clawddnewydd - B5105 Pool Park to Bryn Moel
• Denbigh - Townsend lights to Love Lane junction
• Denbigh – A543 Ruthin Road (Clwyd Avenue junction to Myddleton Park roundabout)
• Denbigh – Lon Llewelyn (A543 junction to B5382 junction)
• Derwen - Park Lodge junction to Sarnat Gwyn junction
• Dyserth - Dincolyn junction to Mia Hall County Boundary
• Dyserth – Thomas Avenue
• Eryrys - B5430 junction to Pant y Gwylanod
• Hendrerwydd – Plas Coch Bach junction to Plas Isaf
• Henllan – Dolben Hall to county boundary
• Henllan - Gypsy Lane, Henllan Road
• Llandegla - A542 junction to Crown crossroads
• Llandegla - A542 Dafarn Dywyrch to Ponderosa
• Llandrillo - B4401 Llandrillo Road
• Llandyrnog - B5429 roundabout to Groes Efa crossroads
• Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd - A525 Wrexham Road (village to The Nook)
• Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd – Lane from Pentre Coch to Cae Gwyn
• Llangollen – A542 Abbey Road (Oakleigh to Llangollen bridge junction)
• Llangollen – Oak Street
• Llanrhaeadr – Talyrnau Cottage to A525 junction
• Melin y Wig - Haffotty Newydd to Pen y Bryniau
• Nantglyn - School Road from Frongoed to County Boundary
• Peniel - Tan Y Garth to Rhewl Valley
• Pentrecelyn – A525 Nant y Garth
• Pentrecelyn - Derwen Llanerch junction to Llidiart Fawr junction
• Pentredwr - Pentredwr from A542 to The White Hart
• Prestatyn – Bishopswood Road
• Prestatyn – Ffordd Isa (Junction with Ffordd Penrhwylfa)
• Prestatyn – Ffordd Las
• Prestatyn – Gronant Road (Rural section to housing development)
• Prestatyn – Gronant Road (Urban)
• Prion – B4501 junction to Tan y Garth
• Prion – Pen y Groes to Llewesog Lodge
• Prion – Prion Isaf to village
• Prion – Ty Cerrig to Rhewl Valley junction
• Rhuallt – Llys y Delyn to Bryn Mawr
• Rhuddlan – Abergele Straights (KFC roundabout to Borth roundabout)
• Rhyl – Derwen Drive
• Rhyl – Gamlin Street
• Rhyl – H bridge
• Rhyl – Tynewydd Road (Coast Road including Railway bridge)
• Ruthin – Church Walks
• Ruthin – Mwrog Street (A494 roundabout to the Church)
• Ruthin – Wynnstay Road
• St Asaph - Ashley Court
• St Asaph – Sarn Lane
• St Asaph – The Roe (opposite the Talardy)
• St Asaph – Upper Denbigh Road (HM Stanley to Bryn Asaph Cottages)
• St Asaph – Wigfair Road
• Tremeirchion - Glyn Ganol to Cefn Du

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We are fully aware that the condition of Denbighshire’s road network is an issue that comes up regularly from our residents and we are extremely grateful to have this additional Welsh Government funding to allow us to do more over this programme to tackle improving routes across the county.

“Our Highways officers have worked hard to produce this programme to support our road network in the county and it will really help improve the driving experience for both residents and visitors to Denbighshire.”

He added: “The Council will publish more information on when these areas will undergo this work through our social media channels and local press, and I would urge all to keep an eye out. I’d also like to thank residents for their support and patience for when we start on the schemes in the list.”

Great progress on hydrotherapy project at Rhyl school

Work on the Hydrotherapy pool project at Ysgol Tir Morfa in Rhyl is seeing rapid progress, with the landmark project set to be completed in the Autumn.

Hydrotherapy Pool, Ysgol Tir Morfa

The project, which has been designed by the Council’s in-house architecture team, and started earlier in the year, will bring a state-of-the-art Hydrotherapy provision to the school, the first of its kind in Denbighshire.

Equipped with a 19ft specialised Hydrotherapy Pool, the new facility will be situated within the school grounds in a standalone building.

The main core structure has now been completed, with work now focusing on the roof and insulation. The pool itself will be installed later in the summer.

Once complete, the building will feature energy efficient insulation and solar panels, helping the facility reduce its carbon footprint and reduce energy costs simultaneously. The building will also be heated through underfloor heating.

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

“I am really enthused to see how much progress this project has made.

This will be the first of its kind in Denbighshire and will bring a really valued provision to the school and wider area.

The work is progressing quickly, and I am looking forward to seeing it open in the Autumn.”

Susan Roberts, Headteacher at Ysgol Tir Morfa said:

“We are really excited to see how much progress has been made on the development of our Hydrotherapy Pool.

The pupils at Ysgol Tir Morfa are excited to be able to have access to this wonderful hydrotherapy facility which will offer them a range of fantastic opportunities, supporting their physical and well-being development.”

This project is being funded by the school through their fundraising activities, in addition to Welsh Government Additional Learning Needs grant funding.

Event held to celebrate new CCTV Partnership

Held during Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness week, the event in Rhyl Town Hall celebrated the official launch of the new CCTV partnership.

Compromising of Denbighshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council, North Wales Police and the town councils of Denbigh, Prestatyn, Rhuddlan and Rhyl, the partnership aims to make Denbighshire streets safer through upgrading existing aged public space CCTV cameras.

Securing £278,000 from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund to buy several Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) and static cameras to place in Rhuddlan, Prestatyn and Rhyl, and a further two deployable cameras to provide a temporary option in areas that demonstrate a higher rate of antisocial behaviour. The new partnership will also benefit from an award-winning 24-hour reactive monitoring system through a central CCTV control room based in Conwy which will link directly to North Wales Police.

For Rhyl West this supports the partnership initiative Project Renew that has been running since summer 2024. The addition of the new CCTV cameras will contribute to halting reoccurring crime and building resilience within the community.

A spokesperson for the Town Council’s said:

“The introduction of further CCTV provision is a great benefit to our communities and will serve as a powerful tool in deterring criminal activity, enhancing public safety, and providing critical evidence for investigations. The new partnership is a great example of Local County, Town and Community Councils working collaboratively to make the local community a safer place”.

Central area Superintendent Lee Boycott said:

“I welcome the additional investment into CCTV provision in our local towns. Not only is it an invaluable tool in fighting crime and keeping our communities safe, but it can also be a crucial evidential resource when bringing offenders to justice”.

Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented:

“CCTV has a crucial role to play in fighting crime and I support local authorities and community councils across North Wales in their efforts to ensure coverage right across their communities in partnership with North Wales Police.

“CCTV can help our neighbourhood policing teams through identifying criminals and providing evidence, and it can also help provide reassurance to local residents and to our local businesses, thereby hopefully boosting our town centre economies.

“With all this in mind, it’s very positive to see the investment in Denbighshire is making an increasing in CCTV provision in Rhyl, Prestatyn, Rhuddlan and Denbigh and I applaud them for their efforts. I look forward to seeing the difference that this increased provision makes for the people of the area.”

Cllr Geoff Stewart, Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood, Environment & Regulatory Services, said:

“I’m delighted that we have been awarded the contract to manage the CCTV monitoring service for the Denbighshire CCTV Partnership.

“We’re very proud of our state-of-the-art CCTV service. Operating since 2018 from our secure purpose-built monitoring suite in Colwyn Bay, it’s an award-winning service that meets the highest international standards.

“I think it makes sense that our closest neighbours benefit from this investment, and I look forward to working together to provide reassurance to residents, businesses and visitors across both counties.”

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities and Chair of the Denbighshire CCTV Partnership, said:

“The development of this partnership is something to really look forward to. We’d like to thank members who are involved in this partnership for their support through this process and are looking forward to continuing to work alongside them to make our communities safer.

“Part of Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness week is to highlight the concerns of our citizens and anti-social behaviour on our streets and we know that CCTV plays an important part in acting as a deterrent in criminal activity.

“We hope to see the Partnership grow further and become more proactive across the County in the coming years so that CCTV makes a positive contribution to the local community.”

For more information on the CCTV project please visit our website.

Denbighshire initiative wins top industry award

A ground-breaking community wellbeing initiative has won the ‘Engaging Tenants in Environmental Initiatives/Projects’ category at the TPAS Cymru Good Practice Awards 2025.

The initiative was delivered in partnership by Denbighshire County Council’s Community Resilience Team,  Actif Gogledd Cymru, Grwp Cynefin and the Council’s Countryside Services. 

The national awards were held in Cardiff on 25 June, and this new category recognised a landlord, organisation or community group which has successfully engaged Tenants or Residents in initiatives which benefit the environment, globally or locally.

The winning project, Thriving Partnerships, Transforming Communities, is a great example of how a sense of place, community-led collaboration can drive meaningful change. Through strong partnerships and engagement with tenants and the community in both Clawdd Poncen and Upper Denbigh, the initiative successfully tackled physical inactivity, social isolation, and health inequalities.

Feeding back about the winning entry, the judges said:

“This one really stood out. Choosing areas like Upper Denbigh and Clawdd Poncen, which face high deprivation, showed a strong commitment to inclusion. From youth groups to social housing tenants, everyone had a voice, and it was obvious they were being heard.”

“You can see and feel the transformation. Underused fields are now orchards, pump tracks, benches, and fit trails designed with residents. There’s reduced antisocial behaviour, and people are taking ownership of their spaces. Really good case study on community engagement.”

 “…the KPIs - the plan, how they've delievered and finally the application reflects the true transformation. I really liked it.”

Nerys Price-Jones, Director  of People, Grŵp Cynefin, said: "The project showcases the power of collaboration and community-led action in creating greener, more connected spaces.

 “The award is a testament to the passion, creativity and commitment of our staff and partners. They are projects that are making a real difference to our communities and environment."

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

“I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in this fantastic project for their well-deserved recogintion in winning the TPAS Cymru award.

“The success of the Actif Denbighshire project is rooted in partnership, highlighted by the two Actif co-ordinators for each area being employed by different organisations, reflecting trust, and an understanding of the unique strengths of each community.

“We’re thrilled to have won and proud to showcase the power of community-led transformation.

“This success celebrates the project’s innovative model as one that could be replicated in other communities across Wales.”

You can read more about the project in the June issue of County Voice.

Project Partners:

• Denbighshire County Council – Housing, Youth Services, Community Resilience, Countryside Services
• Actif Gogledd Cymru
• Grŵp Cynefin Hwb Dinbych
• Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape – Nature for Health Programme
• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) Public Health Team
• Denbighshire Leisure Ltd. (DLL) Community Sport Team

These projects were funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund via Actif Gogledd Cymru and the Nature for Health programme.

Video Highlights:

Clawdd Poncen Project
Upper Denbigh Project

‘Beeutiful’ find at Denbigh wildflower meadow

An orchid is busy ‘beeing’ strongly deceptive thanks to a supportive biodiversity project.

Bee Orchids have been found to be multiplying  at a county wildflower meadow at Denbigh for the first time by Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity team

The new orchids were discovered by the team during a survey of local meadows in the area to assess how species were faring during this growing season.

Our Wildflower Meadows Project helps and protects local nature and supports community wellbeing across the county. This project is funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project.

During the 2024 season 297 different wildflower species were recorded across these sites and a total of 5,269 individual wildflowers were logged overall, far outnumbering species found on more regularly mown grassland.

A number of the wildflower meadows also saw a resurgence in orchid species growing for the first time across the county.

And this resurgence of orchids is continuing in 2025 thanks to the work of the project.

Liam Blazey, Senior Biodiversity Officer said: “We discovered the extra bee orchids at a meadow in Denbigh recently, these small orchids actually look like a resting bee, are slightly hairy and even produce a smell similar to a female bee, giving it the perfect deception to attract male bees for pollination at this meadow!

“Not only that it’s also great for attracting a range of butterflies and moths which will really help boost the activity of this meadow as well.

“We are finding that orchids are continuing to resurge across all of our meadows again for 2025, we’ve also located a lot of pyramidal orchids across our sites and common spotted orchids have been found by the team in Bodelwyddan.”

“Pyramidal orchids were only previously found at coastal sites in 2023, however last year we found one at Ruthin and now we have found more inland which shows the meadows we have are working as a combined highway for insects and animals across the county to help repopulate these sites by carrying seeds from one to the other.”

“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, we won’t get the orchids. Seeing these little plants on site indicates that we are heading in the right direction, and the meadows are continuing their journey to recovery.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “This is a fantastic find at the Denbigh site as it shows that as our meadows mature they are becoming crucial in providing support for nature that has struggled due to the impact of climate change.

“As more wildflowers such as the orchids return to sites they will help to add diversity and colour across our sites for the community to enjoy, along with the pollinators at risk who help put food on our tables.”

Grant now open to help with school costs

Denbighshire County Council is urging eligible parents and guardians not to miss out on the Welsh Government School Essentials Grant, which could be worth up to £200. The grant is now open for applications for the 2025-2026 school year.

The School Essentials Grant can help with costs of school uniform including footwear, sports kit and equipment for after school activities, school activities like learning a musical instrument or classroom essentials, including pens, pencils, and bags as well as laptops and computers. The grant can also go towards the cost of uniforms for wider activities like scouts and guides and equipment for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Children of families on lower incomes who receive a qualifying benefit can claim £125 per year to help with school costs. This includes all learners in reception or year 1 to 11 (except year 7). Because of the extra cost families might face when their children start secondary school, £200 is available for eligible pupils going into year 7.

Geraint Davies, Head of Education, Denbighshire County Council said:

“The School Essentials Grant helps to reduce the financial burden placed on families when buying school uniform and equipment, enabling children to attend school and take part in activities at the same level as their peers.

Even if your child already receives Universal Primary Free School Meals, you still need to apply for the School Essentials Grant. 

It’s really important that parents and guardians of children going from year 6 to 7 apply for Free School Meals and the Schools Essential Grant as transitional protection will end for these children. We know that a guaranteed healthy meal each day can aid concentration and learning in the classroom and improve health and wellbeing.”

The window to apply for funding for this year opens on 1 July and closes on 31 May 2026. Families that are eligible for Free School Meals, as well as the School Essentials Grant, may use the same online application form to apply for both. Denbighshire County Council is proactively contacting households to inform them if they are eligible. Anyone who has already applied, doesn’t need to apply again.

If your child goes to a school in Denbighshire, you can apply online for a grant by visiting www.denbighshire.gov.uk/school-essentials-grant.

Help shape Rhyl’s future – Have your say

Big changes are coming to Rhyl, with £20 million of regeneration funding set to be invested over the next 10 years. The Rhyl Neighbourhood Board has been set up to lead this exciting work, bringing together local residents, businesses, visitors, voluntary groups and community voices to shape a bold new vision for the town.

They would be grateful to receive your views.

Click on the link to complete a short survey >>> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ourRhyl

The 2025 ‘Story Garden’ Summer Reading Challenge

Denbighshire Libraries are inviting families across Denbighshire to take part in The Reading Agency’s 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging children to explore the magical connection between storytelling and the natural world with this year’s theme: Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors.

The Summer Reading Challenge invites children aged 4–11 to visit their local library, discover new books, and enjoy a summer filled with fun, imagination, and outdoor inspiration.

Featuring beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Dapo Adeola, Story Garden offers young readers a world of stories, creatures, and nature-based adventures. Children can collect free activity packs, take part in nature-themed events, and borrow specially selected books — all designed to keep them curious, active, and engaged with reading over the summer holidays.

Deborah Owen, Principal Librarian for Denbighshire County Council said:

“We’re really excited to welcome children and families back for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. It’s a brilliant way to spark a love of reading while encouraging young minds to explore nature and creativity. We can’t wait to see our library transformed into a Story Garden this summer!”

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage at Denbighshire County Council, said:

“The Summer Reading Challenge is a wonderful way to inspire children to read for pleasure while celebrating the beauty of the natural world. Our libraries play a vital role in supporting literacy and creativity, and this year’s Story Garden theme brings all of that together in an exciting and imaginative way. I’d encourage families across Denbighshire to join in and make the most of everything their local library has to offer this summer.”

Now in its 26th year, the Summer Reading Challenge is delivered in partnership with public libraries and is completely free to join. In 2024, the Challenge reached nearly 600,000 children and inspired over 100,000 new library memberships across the UK.

To find out how to join in the fun visit your local library or go to www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk.

@readingagency

#SummerReadingChallenge #StoryGarden

Road maintenance update for July

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.

July’s strategic Highways work is listed below:

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Our Highways teams are constantly working all year around to support and maintain the routes we have across the county. We would like to thank residents for their patience this month as we carry out this important work.”

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.