Young people and families invited to free community day in Corwen this May half term

Families and young people in Corwen are being invited to enjoy a free youth-led community day during the May half term, bringing together local organisations, sports clubs and community groups for a fun-filled day of activities and support.

The event will take place on:

• Friday, 29 May
• 10am – 3pm
• Corwen Sports Pavilion, Green Lane LL21 0DN

and has been planned in partnership with Families First, Flying Start, Denbighshire Play Rangers, South Denbighshire Community Partnership, Denbighshire Leisure Limited and Corwen Town Council.

A wide range of free activities will be available throughout the day, including tennis, football, cricket and bowling sessions delivered by local clubs. Little Learning Company will also be running arts and crafts activities, while Drosi Bikes will be offering bike maintenance sessions. Healthy food and drinks will be provided by Families First.

The event aims to bring families together, encourage young people to become involved in opportunities within their local community, and help residents find out more about the services and support available in the area.

Activities for families and younger children will run throughout the morning and early afternoon. From 1pm – 3pm, the focus will turn towards young people aged 11+, giving them the opportunity to meet local youth workers, learn more about their local youth club and discover the activities and support available to them.

Councillor Diane King, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said: 

“We are really pleased to be supporting this fantastic community event in Corwen during the half term holidays.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for families and young people to come together, try new activities, meet local organisations and find out more about the support and opportunities available within their community.

“I’d encourage anyone in the area to come along and enjoy what promises to be a fun, welcoming and engaging day for all ages.”

If you would like to know more about our Youth Services and what they can provide for our young people, please visit our website.

First set of classroom extensions completed at Rhuddlan school

The first set of classroom extensions at Ysgol y Castell in Rhuddlan have recently been completed on schedule.

Classroom after the new extension.

This first step has seen the completion of extensions on the first two classrooms, which are now in use by the pupils.

Work has now commenced with the strip out of the next two classrooms, ready for those to be extended.

The extensions will provide 16 square metres of addition 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.

All external works such as creating access to the playground, the external render of all four classrooms, installation of solar panels and upgrades to the school hall will be completed by Winter 2026.

This project is being delivered by BrynBuild Ltd.

It is 65% match funded by the Welsh Government, through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, with the remaining 35% of funding primarily coming from a developer’s contribution provided by the Tirionfa housing development in Rhuddlan.

Extended classroom.

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

“I am delighted to see that the first phase of this project has now complete, and that the first two classrooms of this project are now in use by the pupils.

This is a long-awaited scheme, which is bringing updated facilities and much needed additional space for four classrooms at the school.”

Sara Tate, Headteacher at Ysgol y Castell said:

“We are delighted with the completion of the first phase of our new classroom extensions. The additional space and modern design have created brighter, more welcoming learning areas that are already enhancing day-to-day teaching and learning for both pupils and staff.

We look forward to the continued transformation, ensuring the very best opportunities for all pupils at Ysgol y Castell.”

Catering service recognised for school menu provision

Denbighshire Catering Service has achieved a Certificate of Compliance from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) for its new 3-week school menu which started after the Easter holidays.

The service ensures all menus are balanced, analysed, and approved in line with the Healthy Eating in schools (Nutritional Standards and Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2013.

In preparation for updated Welsh Government Regulations taking effect on 31st October 2026, the service is proactively introducing several healthy changes.

These include:

• Overhaling the menu to provide a wide range of home-cooked dishes.
• Reducing dessert offerings from five days a week down to two, with fruit-based options.
• Replacing desserts on the other three days with Fruit Wedges and locally sourced Llaeth y Llan Yoghurt.
• Introducing 50/50 bread for all sandwiches.

The School Catering Service was recently recognised as the best performing catering service at The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) awards earlier this year.

This recognition, from The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) is based upon comparisons with other school meals services from across the UK. It takes into account aspects such as paid and free meal uptakes, staff training, service performance and management of the service.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said: “We are grateful to our catering staff for achieving this recognition through their continuing work to provide a better healthier menu to support our county pupils through their daily education.

“The catering service also remains committed to providing value for money in terms of the quality of food given to pupils across our schools”.

All Primary school pupils in Denbighshire are entitled to a free school meal and eligible parents, specifically those in receipt of certain benefits, are encouraged to officially apply for Free School Meals, as this application also grants access to the Student Essentials Grant.

For more information, parents can view the new primary menus on the Denbighshire School Meals website.

Libraries shine a light on dementia support during Dementia Action Week

Denbighshire Libraries are helping to raise awareness of dementia and the support available during Dementia Action Week 2026, taking place from 18 – 24 May.

This year, the library service has been working alongside Making Sense to promote a unique collection of memory boxes, available to borrow free of charge from local libraries.

The themed memory boxes are filled with handling objects and familiar items from across the decades, designed to spark conversation, unlock memories and encourage reminiscence. From a nostalgic trip to the cinema with the 1950s cinema box and its traditional usherette tray, to memories of school days, seaside holidays, sheds, DIY projects and workplaces of the past, the collections offer meaningful opportunities for connection and conversation.

Memory boxes

The memory boxes are ideal for use in care homes, community groups and reminiscence sessions, while libraries also offer smaller memory bags for one-to-one use, alongside jigsaws designed to support relaxation and mental stimulation.

Cinema box

Denbighshire Libraries also provide access to the Reading Well for Dementia collection, which recommends books and digital resources for people living with dementia, as well as information and support for families, friends and carers. The collection includes personal stories, practical advice and age-appropriate books for children.

Residents are being encouraged to attend a special event at St Asaph Library on Monday 18 May at 2.30pm, where Making Sense will officially launch a new promotional video showcasing the Memory Boxes project.

Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy refreshments, explore the collections and find out more about the support and resources available locally for people living with dementia and those who care for them.

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

“Dementia affects many families and communities across Denbighshire, and it is important that people know help and support is available. These wonderful Memory Boxes offer a simple but powerful way to spark memories, encourage conversation and support wellbeing.

“I would encourage anyone interested to come along to the event at St Asaph Library on 18 May to discover the resources available and learn more about the fantastic partnership work taking place across the county.”

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

“Living with dementia can present daily challenges not only for individuals, but also for families, friends, and carers. Initiatives such as the Memory Boxes provide comfort, connection and opportunities for meaningful interaction, helping people to feel valued and supported.

“It is fantastic to see organisations across Denbighshire working together to raise awareness and create dementia-friendly communities. The support available through our libraries offers an important lifeline, and I would encourage residents to explore the resources and advice on offer during Dementia Action Week.”

The memory box collections and promotional video have been developed by Making Sense in partnership with local care homes and libraries, with funding support from the DVSC Dementia Aware Grants programme.

Volunteers refurbish signs at popular Rhyl nature reserve

Denbighshire County Council’s countryside team alongside volunteers have been hard at work to refurbish signs at Brickfield ponds nature reserve.

Working alongside Nature for Health they worked to improve the interpretation signs across the reserve that were previously in disrepair.

Nature for Health is a collaborative project that engages with individuals and communities to promote how access to nature can improve health and wellbeing.

The programme welcomes people of all abilities to get involved with conservation and take part in a range of activities.

Brickfield Nature Reserve was supported by the Nature for Health Programme which was funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

Timber framing sessions were organised at the Willow Collective to construct the frame and legs for the refurbished map of Brickfields Pond.

Volunteers also sanded and painted the signs at the workshop on the nature reserve before placing them back up on the site.

Emlyn Jones, Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Service said:

“I’d like to thank our countryside team and the volunteers for their hard work in replacing the signs at Brickfields ponds nature reserve.

“Brickfields ponds is a popular nature reserve in the county and the volunteers and staff have made a real positive difference for the community who visit the site.”

Sold-out piano recital a success for historic house

Nantclwyd y Dre historic house and gardens recently welcomed a full house for a memorable afternoon of music, as world-renowned pianist Janusz Piotrowicz delivered a sold-out recital within the intimate surroundings of the treasured heritage site.

The special performance, held recently proved a resounding success, with audience members enjoying an exceptional programme of pieces, surrounded by the unique setting of the historic house, steeped in nearly 600 years of history.

Celebrated as a “Master Poet of the Piano”, Janusz Piotrowicz captivated guests with his expressive artistry and technical brilliance throughout a programme featuring works by Liszt, Scarlatti, Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov.

The recital marks an exciting moment for Nantclwyd y Dre, showcasing the house’s potential as a venue for cultural events and performances.

Kate Thomson, Nantclwyd y Dre Site Manager said:

“We have been truly thrilled to host Mr. Piotrowicz’s recital. The audience couldn’t speak highly enough of his performance, and we hope this will be the first of many similar events to come that will offer new experiences at Nantclwyd y Dre and keep its longstanding tradition as a place of creativity alive.”

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

“We would like to thank everyone who attended and supported the recital, as well as the Historic Houses organisation who made this performance possible.

“Nantclwyd y Dre boast significant historic value and it’s important that we remember and celebrate the history that is on our doorstep. These events provide an alternative way to enjoy the house, and we hope that we can host similar events in the future”.

Nantclwyd y Dre is open for visitors to explore its fascinating history and beautiful gardens between 10.30am - 4.30pm (last entry at 3.30pm) every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from April to September (admission fees apply). The historic also offers general hire options year-round and is open to working with artists and performers to deliver future events collaboratively.

For further information about visiting or future events, please contact the Denbighshire Heritage Service via heritage@denbighshire.gov.uk

Council consult on new parking and road layout changes to Llangollen

Denbighshire County Council are consulting on a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce new ‘super short stay’ parking and other road layout changes to Llangollen town centre.

Traffic regulation orders (TROs) are legal documents which are necessary for making changes to traffic and parking restrictions such as double yellow lines and one-way streets.

The council are proposing the following changes to Llangollen town centre:

• Market Street: Remove two parking spaces nearest the junction with Castle Street. Replace one of the taxi rank spaces with a parking space. This parking will be free of charge. Between the hours of 9am and 5pm the parking space will have a maximum stay of 1 hour, and no return to the same space within 2 hours.
• Hill Street (outside Rani’s Kitchen): Introduce new, legally enforceable, short stay parking to enable "pop and shop" parking. This parking will be free of charge. Between the hours of 9am and 5pm the parking spaces will have a maximum stay of 1 hour, and no return to the same space within 2 hours.
• Willow Street: Introduce double yellow lines to the left-hand side of the road for the entire length of the road. Introduce additional double yellow lines on a short section of the right-hand side of the road outside the youth club.

The new ‘short stay’ parking will be free of charge, in line with existing similar spaces elsewhere in the town centre. However, they will be enforced by Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) between the hours of 9am and 5pm to ensure they are used correctly.

Denbighshire County Council hopes that by introducing the proposed changes in Market Street, Hall Square and Willow Street it will improve traffic flow and maintain pedestrian access by reducing inconsiderate parking in these areas.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said:

“Llangollen is an historically important town in the south of Denbighshire. In addition to being popular with tourists and day-trippers, Llangollen is a 'hub' town which serves a large network of villages and other rural communities locally. We hope that with these changes, the town centre will be safer and more accessible to visitors travelling by foot or by car.

“It’s also important to note that with these proposed changes, there will be no net loss of parking in the town centre and there will be no impact on marked disabled badge (blue badge) spaces. There will also be no impact on bus stops or bus stop locations as a result of these proposed changes.”

For more information on the proposed changes:

• View the consultation online by visiting denbighshire.gov.uk/consultations
• Copies of the proposals will be available to view in Llangollen Library during usual library opening hours between 13 May and 3 June 2026

The closing date for all feedback is Wednesday 3 June 2026.

Election of new Chair and Vice Chair of the Council

Newly elected Chair Cllr Bobby Feeley & Vice Chair Cllr Peter Scott

The Council has elected a new Chair and Vice Chair for the 2026/27 term.

During the Annual Meeting of the County Council, which was held at County Hall, Ruthin, Councillor Bobby Feeley was elected as Chair and Councillor Peter Scott as Vice Chair of the authority for the next municipal year.

Speaking as the new Chair of the Council, Councillor Bobby Feeley congratulated Councillor Arwel Roberts, the former Chair on his   successful fundraising for his chosen charities and wished him the best for the future.

Reflecting on his time as Chair, Councillor Arwel Roberts said:

“It has been a great pleasure to be Chairman of Denbighshire County Council for the year 2025/26.

“I am extremely proud that a significant amount has been collected for both good causes, and I would like to thank the councillors for supporting the events organised to raise the money.

 “No Chairman can please everyone, but I have tried to follow the example of many chairs in the past and do my best by following the county motto of ‘We join to do good’”.

During his time in office, Councillor Arwel Roberts raised £6,000 for his chosen charities namely Fund for All (Cyfle I Bawb) and St Kentigern’s.

During the meeting, Councillor Arwel Roberts was thanked for his service as Chair.

As it was the first full council meeting since the passing of Councillor Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones, tributes were paid by the Political Group leaders and all present in the Council Chamber observed a period of silent reflection in memory of Councillor Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones and gratitude for her distinguished service.

Newly elected Chair Cllr Bobby Feeley with former Chair Cllr Arwel Roberts

New funding support gives hope for rare bird

Protection of a rare bird in Denbighshire and the surrounding area is set to continue this year.

A new funding opportunity will enable the Clwydian and Dee Valley National Landscape to build on a project to protect Curlews which started in 2023. This project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme. It is being delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government.

Curlew Connection Wales, a project delivered jointly by the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley National Landscape, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, will draw to a close at the end of March as the three year funding finishes.

Since being a part of Curlew Connections the National Landscapes team has helped strengthen conditions needed for curlew recovery in Denbighshire and North East Wales by improving habitat management, enhancing monitoring and data collection, increasing local capacity for ecological action and building strong, trust-based relationships with farmers.

Curlew recovery requires long-term effort, with measurable results taking several years to appear.

At the same time, the farming landscape in Wales is changing, with the Sustainable Farming Scheme and the development of Ffermio Bro approaches within Designated Landscapes presenting new opportunities to integrate conservation into future land management.

With this in mind, Bannau Brycheiniog and the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley recently submitted a follow‑on bid — and have now received confirmation of success. The new Curlew Landscape Wales project, will build directly on the lessons learned so far.

The project will expand curlew conservation across key landscapes, continue supporting farmers, and create more ways for the public to get involved, while helping shape long‑term mechanisms that support farmer‑led conservation well beyond 2029.

Emlyn Jones, Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services said: “The work delivered through Curlew Connections Wales has shown what can be achieved when farmers, communities and conservation partners come together with a shared purpose. Curlews are an irreplaceable part of our natural and cultural heritage, and although the challenges they face are significant, this project has given them real hope for survival.

“This new funding will allow us to build on strong foundations that have been built to protect curlews and take forward the long‑term action needed to secure their future."

Denbighshire employers invited to participate in a new inclusive employers pilot

Employers across Denbighshire are being given the opportunity to take part in a new, fully funded initiative, designed to help businesses attract, recruit and retain a wider range of talent.

Working Denbighshire has now launched its Inclusive Employers Trailblazer Pilot, funded by the Welsh Government, to support local businesses in building more inclusive and sustainable workplaces. The main aim of this employer support is to help reduce economic inactivity within Denbighshire.

The Pilot offers a practical, hands-on opportunity for a small number of employers to receive tailored support from a professional hiring specialist. The aim is to help businesses strengthen their recruitment and onboarding practices while making opportunities more accessible to individuals who may currently face barriers to employment, including people with disabilities, health conditions or caring responsibilities.

This new initiative comes at a time when many employers are facing ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining the right people. By adopting more inclusive approaches, businesses can access a broader and often underutilised talent pool, improve staff retention, and reduce recruitment costs.

Participating employers will receive: 

• Practical guidance on inclusive recruitment and selection
• Tailored support and resources to attract and hire a more diverse range of candidates
• Advice on supporting employees with additional needs
• Tools that can be embedded into day-to-day operations
• Recognition as a certified Working Denbighshire Inclusive Employer

In addition to supporting individual businesses, the programme aims to strengthen the local economy by helping more residents into sustainable employment.

Denbighshire is one of only three local authorities selected to take part in the wider Welsh Government Trailblazer programme, which focuses on tackling economic inactivity and testing new and innovative approaches to workforce inclusion.

Strategic Employment Service Manager, Melanie Evans, at Working Denbighshire, part of Denbighshire County Council, said:

"This Pilot is about more than recruitment, it is about creating a stronger, fairer local economy. By supporting employers to become more inclusive, we can help raise living standards, improve health and wellbeing, reduce child poverty, and create opportunities from which everyone in Denbighshire can benefit. This is a real opportunity for local businesses to be part of meaningful, long-term change."

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

“We're helping Denbighshire businesses hire local people who've been held back by disability, health issues, or caring duties. It's a win-win - employers fill jobs with motivated people, and residents get the support and opportunity they need to succeed at work.”

A total of 20 employers will be supported through the Pilot, with the first cohort limited to just five places. This initial group will begin on Monday, 1 June 2026.

Local employers interested in taking part are encouraged to register their interest by contacting the Project Manager, Dawn Johnson, via dawn.johnson@denbighshire.gov.uk by Friday, 29 May 2026.

Libraries invite residents to step back in time this Local and Community History Month

Residents across Denbighshire are being encouraged to discover the rich history of their communities this May as libraries across the county celebrate Local and Community History Month with a range of free events, activities and resources.

From exploring fascinating archive collections to trying out local history-themed family activities, there are plenty of opportunities for people of all ages to uncover stories from the past through their local library.

Throughout May, North East Wales Archives will be hosting a series of ‘Ask the Archivist’ sessions, offering residents the chance to find out more about archive collections and how to access them.

Sessions will take place at:

• Rhyl Library on Tuesday 12 May from 10am to 12pm; and at
• Corwen Library on Monday 18 May from 10am to 12pm.

Families can also enjoy a special ‘Little Time Travellers’ event at Denbigh Library on Friday 29 May from 12pm to 2pm, featuring local history-themed crafts, games and dressing up activities.

Meanwhile, visitors to Rhuddlan Library can explore a new display created by Rhuddlan Local History Society, looking at the impact of the General Strike of May 1926 on the local community.

Rhyl Library will also be marking its 40th birthday on 21 May, inviting residents to discover how libraries have changed since the 1980s and how they continue to support communities today.

The library has recently installed a new Digital Microfilm Scanner, purchased through the National Library of Wales Small Grants Scheme. The scanner provides access to Rhyl Library’s unique collection of local newspapers on microfilm, including the Rhyl Record from 1856 to 1922 and the Rhyl Journal from 1922 to 2007.

Digital Microfilm Scanner

These historic newspapers offer a fascinating glimpse into everyday life in the local area and how national and regional events shaped communities over the years. The new scanner allows customers to view and print high-quality digital images from the collection. Residents can find out more at special drop-in events on Friday 22 May and Friday 29 May from 10am to 12pm.

Library members can also access family history resources including Ancestry.com and Find My Past free of charge on library computers.

Another popular resource available through libraries is BFI Replay, a free video-on-demand service featuring thousands of digitised films and television programmes from the BFI National Archive and regional film archives across the UK. Highlights include historic footage of pupils leaving Christchurch School in Rhyl in 1902 and circus elephants walking through Denbigh after arriving by train in 1960.

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

“Local libraries are much more than places to borrow books — they are gateways to the stories, memories and history that have shaped our communities. Local and Community History Month is a wonderful opportunity for residents of all ages to explore the amazing resources available in our libraries, discover something new about where they live, and enjoy some fantastic free activities along the way.

“Whether you are researching your family history, exploring old newspapers, speaking with archivists or simply enjoying historic films and photographs, there is something for everyone to enjoy. We would encourage residents to visit their local library this May and take a step back into the past.”

For more information about events and activities taking place in Denbighshire libraries, visit: Denbighshire Libraries⁠.

Wildflower week blooms into action this month

Have you ever wanted to learn how wildflowers benefit both humans and animals? 

A whole host of wildflower facts will be on offer for residents across the county this half term as Wildflower Week returns once again.

During the week there are planned wildflower meadow walks across Denbighshire to help understand the importance of the habitat for supporting species of wildflowers, providing food for insects and pollinators and in turn giving a source of food for larger animals to survive on.

It’s a chance to also see how the meadows benefit county communities by helping to cool the land for example and acting as a deterrent against flooding.

Other events during the week will look at the animals which need the meadows to survive, such as swifts, bats, and moths.

And there’s an opportunity to learn how local provenance is helping meadows survive by the chance to visit the Council’s Tree Nursery at St Asaph.

Established in 2019, Denbighshire County Council’s Wildflower Meadow Project currently includes approximately 60 acres of native wildflower habitat helping and protecting local nature and supporting community wellbeing across the county.

It has also been funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Places for Nature programme.

During the 2025 season several of the wildflower meadows saw a resurgence in orchid species growing for the first time across the county.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “Our Biodiversity Team is really looking forward to helping people of all ages learn more about this important project and the benefits it brings to both nature and our communities.

“We have lost almost 97 per cent of wildflower meadows across the UK since the 1930s, so this work is vital in helping to restore habitats that have been severely impacted over time. As wildflowers return, they bring greater diversity and colour for communities to enjoy, while providing essential support for pollinators that play a crucial role in putting food on our tables.

“This week of events is a great opportunity to learn more about why these habitats matter, and I would encourage anyone living near the featured meadows to join the walks and see first-hand just how much they contribute to both nature and local wellbeing.”

Please check the Council’s social media for the latest event timetables and information.

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link to book.

For further information, please email biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk

Foster Care Fortnight begins in Denbighshire

Foster Care Fortnight, which is an annual two-week nationwide spotlight on fostering, has kicked off once again this year, running from the 11^th-24^th of May.

Foster carers in Denbighshire make a real difference to the lives of children and young people, helping many of them to stay and thrive within their local community, providing brighter futures for them.

This year’s theme “This is fostering”, shines a light on those real, everyday moments that makes fostering so powerful.

The Foster Wales Denbighshire team at Denbighshire County Council are celebrating the fortnight with a range of events for foster families and prospective foster carers across the county.

Throughout the 14-day campaign, a variety of activities have been planned, including events and days out for Denbighshire foster families, as well as opportunities to meet the team out and about in the Community.

These drop-in sessions give people the chance to find out more about fostering and have an informal chat with the team. These include a Fostering Information Drop-In Session at Prestatyn Library on 12 May 2 – 4pm and and Online Information Session on 13 May 12pm – 1.30pm.

Rhiain Morrlle, Rhiain Morrlle, Head of Children’s Services said:

“I always look forward to these two weeks in May where we get to celebrate the work of our amazing foster carers here in Denbighshire.

We have a great schedule lined up once again this year, and are taking part in The Fostering Network’s Foster Care Fortnight North Wales walk also.

We have recently updated our package of assistive policies for foster carers who foster through the local authority, and we’d love to hear from anyone who is considering taking the next rewarding step to making a massive impact on a young person’s life.”

The link for the online information sessions can be found here: Information events - foster wales

For more information about fostering with Foster Wales Denbighshire, please go to: https://denbighshire.fosterwales.gov.wales/

Improvement work planned for Llangollen Cemetery

Llangollen Cemetery will undergo a period of infrastructure improvements this month.

Denbighshire County Council’s Streetscene has secured UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding alongside capital funding to carry out infrastructure improvement work at the site.

Currently vehicular access to the cemetery is only possible by traffic driving through the adjacent housing estate, which is narrow and difficult to navigate, this has resulted in some complaints being received from residents in recent years.

To address this issue and improve accessibility to the cemetery, it is proposed to create a new vehicular access at the bottom of the site which will be accessed via Vicarage Road.

This improvement will not only facilitate easier access for visitors but will enable funeral directors to access the site without disturbing neighbouring residents as well as providing onsite parking at the cemetery.

Additionally, adjoining land located to the south of the site, which has in recent years been used for grazing has always been earmarked for future burial provision when required.

This project will support the development of the infrastructure on this plot of land for increased burial provision. There will also be some minor landscaping completed including tree planting in some areas around the car park to enhance the appearance of the site along with improvements to aid biodiversity such as installation of bat and bird boxes.

Paul Jackson, Head of Highways & Environmental Services, said: “This project will help massively improve the infrastructure at Llangollen Cemetery to provide a more dignified and respectful service to local families going forward.”

Flying Start childcare applications now open

Applications for Flying Start childcare provisions in eligible postcodes have now opened this week.

Flying Start childcare provides up to twelve and a half hours of funded childcare during school term time at a registered childcare setting.

The provision is currently available at partner playgroups, Cylchoedd Mudiad Meithrin or Day Nurseries from Monday to Friday during school term time.

This round of applications is for parents and carers who have children born between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024. It is important to note that birthdays which do not fit this date range are not eligible for this round of applications. Applications for Flying Start childcare are available at different times during the year and is done in rounds based on children’s ages.

Flying Start childcare is available for families who are within eligible postcodes.

To check if a postcode is in the Flying Start programme, go to: https://flyingstart.denbighshire.gov.uk/Home/Index?culture=en-GB

The closing date for applications for this round is the 19^th of June.

Rhiain Morrlle, Head of Children’s Services said:

“This provision is there to help families with their childcare needs during term time.

We would like to invite parents and carers who have children born between the dates for this application to apply, and our team will be in touch to process your application once submitted.

There are a number of rounds of applications at different times during the year, so please keep an eye on our website for the next round.”

For more information please visit: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/childcare-and-parenting/families-first-and-flying-start/flying-start-childcare.aspx

Thousands of illegal cigarettes seized by council’s trading standards team

Following previous successful operations to crack down on the sale of illegal cigarettes, Denbighshire County Council’s trading standard officers along with the Trading Standards Wales Regional Tobacco Team and North Wales Police conducted further visits to premises across the County.

Three premises were targeted following successful test purchases of illegal cigarettes.

Across the visits officers seized over 12,000 illegal cigarettes and 6.7 kilograms of hand rolling tobacco in two premises’, resulting in the temporary closure of one with the agreement of the owner.

During the search these items were discovered concealed in a variety of ways. Illegal tobacco and cigarettes were found in purpose built hidden compartments and false walls that were secured by electromagnets.

Emlyn Jones Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Service said:

“This is another example of the great work that our trading standards officers are doing to take illegal products such as these off the shelves. The items seized were counterfeit and carry serious safety and health issues to those people buying and using them.

“The products have not been safety tested, and the cigarettes pose a real fire safety risk as they do not have the safety burn ring. From a health point of view, the contents of the tobacco are unknown, and they could potentially have harmful levels of illegal chemicals far beyond the normal risks of genuine authorised tobacco products.

“Our residents play a vital role in identifying areas and persons of interest, which help our trading standard officers to investigate and get illegal tobacco, vapes and other products out of the community”.

Businesses can get in touch with Denbighshire’s Trading Standards Team for advice on illegal cigarette, tobacco and vaping products on Denbighshire’s website.

New immersive sensory classroom provision opens at St Asaph school

Ysgol Glan Clwyd has recently completed work on its new immersive sensory classroom, which will be used to support ALN (additional learning needs) pupils.

The new room features three projectors, which project scenes onto three walls in the room, creating an immersive experience for users.

New immersive sensory room

LED light bars run along the top of the room, projecting the appropriate corresponding colour, adding to the immersive experience within the new classroom.

This new classroom has the ability to create interactive and engaging environments, which can be tailored to the unique needs of students, bringing a unique offering to the ALN provision at Ysgol Glan Clwyd.

Work on the project began during the February half-term, with alterations to the existing room including light blocking where needed and the removal of an adjoining door to another room. The room was then painted, and electrical work, installation of the projectors and the sound system was completed.

Built in scenes

The room is located in the Encil area, which is the behavioural support and ALN provision area of the school.

There is the ability to input custom scenes onto the walls, with roughly 20 built in scenes available at the moment.

The room will be used for one-to-one support but can also support small group sessions.

Additional training is now underway for staff to be able to expand the use of the classroom further.

Built in scene

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

“This will be a brilliant asset to the ALN team at Ysgol Glan Clwyd, and this new immersive classroom will be a great asset for the students also.

The work on this project began during the February half-term, and it’s great to see that this classroom is now complete, and ready to be used.”

Sian Alwen, Headteacher at Ysgol Glan Clwyd said:

“Ensuring that we provide the most progressive ALN support to our pupils is a priority for us. With the strong and dedicated teaching team here, a resource like this room offers specialist provision that will help smaller groups of pupils and individuals to overcome challenges.

We are extremely fortunate to have received this provision and are confident that many pupils will feel the benefit soon.”

Denbighshire County Council re-design taxi plates and badges

The council are currently in the process of transferring taxi license plates and driver badges to a new supplier.

During the process Denbighshire have also taken the opportunity to re-design the taxi plates and badges.

Denbighshire County Council will be rolling out a new taxi driver badge and vehicle plating system over the coming weeks.

As the council moves to this new production system over the next year, residents may notice some differences in the layout and design of taxi driver badges, vehicle plates and door stickers. This is a normal part of the phased changeover process.

Vehicles will continue to display the current plate design until the next renewal, whereas new to fleet and renewals due from the middle of April onwards will begin receiving the new layout.

Emlyn Jones, Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Service said:

“We would like to notify taxi businesses and service users of the changes we are making to the taxi licensing plates and driver badges. We appreciate their patience whilst these changes are being made”.

Council engages with Rhyl businesses on major regeneration projects

Following Cabinet approval by Denbighshire County Council, work on UK Government–funded Local Regeneration projects in Rhyl town centre will progress to the pre-construction phase, with a programme of engagement activities set to begin with local businesses and residents.

Council officers and project teams have begun meeting with businesses based in Rhyl town centre to discuss the proposed regeneration scheme in greater detail as design work continues to develop.

Engagement will focus on key operational considerations, including deliveries, access and waste management, with the aim of minimising disruption and carefully managing impacts throughout the construction phase. Feedback from businesses and residents will help inform detailed planning and ensure that day-to-day operations are taken into account.

The regeneration projects aim to transform the area surrounding Rhyl’s Clock Tower into a more pedestrian-friendly space. Plans also include comprehensive repaving across the town centre, the introduction of additional seating, and enhanced green infrastructure to create a more welcoming, accessible and attractive environment for residents, visitors and businesses.

Tony Ward, Corporate Director for Economy and Environment at Denbighshire County Council said:

“These projects form part of wider regeneration work being undertaken in Rhyl which has already seen the delivery of coastal defences, an improved and more accessible promenade, a new fully accessible children’s play park, as well as the opening of Queen’s Market. The next phase of works forms part of the vision of reconnecting Rhyl town centre with the promenade and the beach.

“Projects such as these aim to generate renewed energy and confidence in Rhyl and are a catalyst for change. We really appreciate the patience of residents and businesses while these changes take place, and we hope that everyone can see the positive impact this work is having on the town.”

Famous bird colony ready to receive arrivals

A colony protecting an under-threat bird is standing by to accept this year’s arrivals from Africa.

Denbighshire Countryside Services , the North Wales Little Tern Group and other volunteers have finished the setting up of the Gronant Dunes Little Terns Colony.

The famous site has welcomed the birds all the way from the west coast of Africa for over two decade and is now ready to support the animals and also help educate interested visitors to the area.

The groups looking after the colony have put up a 3.5km perimeter fence and also three kilometres of electric fence along the beach area to protect the birds from ground predation. Both fences will be taken down 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).

Once again, the Tern Shack Visitors Centre and nearby hide are ready to help people watch the colony from a safe distance.

In 2025 the colony saw 95 breeding pairs recorded and a total of 103 fledglings at the site. The colony average of 1.08 fledglings per breeding pair.

Little Tern Wardens also worked last year with the British Trust for Ornithology to ring several of the birds to keep track of them in the future. They helped ring 59 chicks with British Trust for Ornithology (metal rings, and a further nine were also ringed with colour rings.

Senior Countryside Ranger Jim Kilpatrick said: “The team here at Gronant has already seen signs of these fantastic birds arriving and we are ready to protect and support them throughout this breeding season. None of what we do here would be possible without also the support of all the brilliant volunteers who help us look after the Little Terns.

He added: “Our wardens are now operating at the colony from the visitors’ centre. As well as protecting the birds they  will be available to talk to visitors to the site and also collect information about this year’s colony.”

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire County Council's Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: “For over two decades Countryside teams alongside volunteers have worked extremely hard to protect this site to make the colony a real area of importance for protecting future populations of the Little Terns. Everyone involved with looking after the Little Terns  can be immensely proud of what they do to maintain this bustling colony on Gronant Dunes.”

Latest Riverside Park developments completed

Work to help improve and develop health and wellbeing along Llangollen’s Riverside Park has been completed.

Funded by Shared Prosperity Transitional Year Funding the work was coordinated by Denbighshire County Council’s Streetscene department.

This latest development of the area follows previous work by other council teams at the park over the last few years which has seen initiatives such as 9-hole bespoke mini golf and play equipment added to the site.

Streetscene has carried out this latest phase of work to further enhance the park for local residents and visitors to enjoy.

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

Work has also seen fencing added next to the old children’s play area to better secure this section, and an additional access gate was installed on the river side of the park.

The project has added an outdoor gym to the site which has seven items of equipment to enable users to exercise with a view over the river. In addition to this, two accessible picnic benches have been installed in this area with concrete bases to enable easy access by wheelchair.

Paul Jackson, Head of Highways & Environmental Services, said: “We are really pleased to complete this work at Llangollen’s Riverside Park thanks to the funding Streetscene has been able to access.

“This latest development will further enhance other areas that have already been improved at Riverside Park to increase the profile of this important part of the town for both the enjoyment of residents and those visiting Llangollen."

Bodelwyddan pupils build hope for nature

Bodelwyddan primary school pupils have dug deep to create a new nature habitat on their school grounds.

Ysgol Y Faenol pupils recently linked up with Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity team to create a wildflower meadow at the school.

The children have already extended a helping hand for nature at the school this year by planting over 1,000 trees on the school grounds.

They also helped build a living willow dome on site which provides a sustainable structure resource for further green woodworking activities with the students and habitat for insects and birds and a natural area to promote learning about nature for the school.

Now rolling up their sleeves, pupils helped plant over 100 wildflowers to create the new meadow to support pollinators and provide another outdoor education area to learn about nature at the school. Species planted included field scabious, red campion, selfheal, oxeye daisy, cat's-ear, wild carrot, bird's-foot trefoil and knapweed,

The plants came both from the Council’s tree nursery at St Asaph and the Woodland Skills Centre at Bodfari.

Biodiversity Officer, Ellie Wainwright, said: “We enjoyed being back at Ysgol y Faenol following working with the pupils to plant all the trees and the fun we had with them creating the willow dome. They and the staff are really passionate about supporting nature and this latest project to create the meadow will help create a fantastic habitat for all animals and plants around the school grounds.

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire County Council’s Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: It’s brilliant that these children have had the opportunity to learn about all the benefits creating a  wildflower meadow can deliver through our Biodiversity team and well done to them all for digging deep to help plant such an important asset for supporting their local nature.”

Rhyl secondary pupils extend support for local nature

Secondary school pupils have helped extend a helping hand for nature on their school ground.

Christ the Word pupils recently joined with staff from Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity team to help enhance a wildflower meadow that was created last April.

The work follows recent development of hedgerow and woodland areas at the school with the support of pupils. 260 metres of hedgerow and 14 standard trees were planted to help increase biodiversity and the tree canopy at the school to support nature’s recovery and provide an educational wellbeing outdoor area for youngsters.

Pupils and Biodiversity officers worked together to add 200 plants to the meadow which will help provide a great food source for pollinators such as bees.

Species planted included: oxeye daisy, self-heal, red campion, field scabious, fox glove, wild carrot, meadow buttercup, cat’s-ear, and knapweed.

The plants that have boosted help for nature around the school came both from the Council’s tree nursery at St Asaph and the Woodland Skills Centre at Bodfari.

Biodiversity Officer, Ellie Wainwright, said: “It was great to return to Christ the Word as the children and staff are so enthusiastic for supporting the local nature around their school grounds. Increasing the diversity of wildflowers in this meadow will enhance the support this meadow gives, providing a sanctuary for local wildlife to thrive and survive in. Developing the meadow will also give current and future pupils a fantastic place to study nature on the doorstep of their own school.”

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire County Council’s Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: It’s great that these children have had the opportunity to learn about all the benefits a wildflower meadow can bring through our Biodiversity team and well done to them all for rolling up their sleeves to help develop and improve such an important asset for supporting their local nature.”

Youngsters encouraged to snap meadow moments

Denbighshire’s school pupils are encouraged once again to take part in a competition to capture photos of the county’s wildflower meadows near them.

This week the Council has relaunched for 2026 the Schools Wildflower Meadow Photography Competition as the season this year begins to bloom.

Back in 2019, Denbighshire County Council declared a climate and nature emergency with the aim to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.

One of the first actions was to start managing some of the Council’s grassland for wildflower meadow creation across the county. The aim of the project is to restore and increase the amount of habitat available throughout the county for pollinators and wildlife.

This project also brings many benefits or ‘ecosystem services’ to residents in the county, such as reduced flooding, improved air quality, and air cooling.

Youngsters are encouraged to take time to explore and notice what they find interesting about their chosen wildflower meadow, school meadow or community nature reserve site and capture it with a photograph and some chosen words. The Council’s meadows can be spotted thanks to a bee friendly logo on each site or using the online mapping available on the council’s website (via the competition details).

Photos can be of the whole site or of a tiny part such as an insect, flower or grass species, it’s up to the photographer to pick their favoured subject to make the best photograph. Each entrant needs to write something about their photo or find a quote that compliments the photo.

Winning entries will be printed up to A2 size and put on the walls outside the council chamber in Russell House, Rhyl .

Winners will receive a selection of environmental books for their school, and a smaller version of the image will be available for the winner to put up at home or school. This year the school with the most entries will also win a selection of books. All winners will receive a visit from our Council Chair and colleagues to present the books and prints.

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire County Council's Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said:  “We know our pupils have a fantastic understanding of how climate change is impacting their lives through meeting and chatting to them. They all have brilliant ideas and carry out a lot of good work themselves. Many pupils have helped us in creating wildflower meadows across Denbighshire.

“We want to open the floor to them to see how they view meadow life through the lens by taking part in this competition and we are looking forward to seeing the results.”

For more information on how to enter the competition please visit this link

The competition is open until 14 August 2026.

Pupils extend support for nature at school grounds

Primary school pupils have created a new habitat area at their school to extend a helping hand to local nature.

Forty Ysgol Llanfair DC pupils, from year three, four, five and six, recently rolled up their sleeves to create a new wildflower meadow at the school.

The new development follows work at the school by pupils, Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity team and North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT) that saw around 90 metres of mainly hornbeam hedge planted on site to help benefit of the UK's largest finch, the Hawfinch.

A small woodland was also planted on the site, alongside 12 fruit trees and a small coppice coop. Altogether, this work created habitats containing 624 new trees around its grounds.

Ysgol Llanfair DC’s new wildflower meadow has been created using the whole green area around the school carpark.

Pupils with the help of the Council’s Biodiversity team planted 300 plants which will help provide a source of food for insects such as bees. These included field scabious, red campion, selfheal, Oxeye daisy, Cat's-ear, wild carrot, bird's-foot trefoil, foxglove, knapweed, meadow buttercup and meadow vetchling.

The plants came both from the Council’s tree nursery at St Asaph and the Woodland Skills Centre at Bodfari.

Biodiversity Officer, Ellie Wainwright, said: “It was great to be back at Ysgol Llanfair DC as the pupils and staff are so passionate about supporting local nature. The enthusiasm of the pupils to create this new wildflower meadow was brilliant and thanks to their hard work this habitat along with the woodland and hedge areas we created before will really provide a sanctuary for nature here that the children can also learn from.”

Headteacher, Geraint Rowe, said: "The partnership that the school has developed with the Biodiversity Team at Denbighshire is one which is enriching the habitats of the school grounds along with giving the children great active opportunities to have a positive impact on enhancing the biodiversity and nature. This along with other partnerships will create a legacy for the environment and pupils appreciation on how they can make a difference. We will look forward to seeing the flowers bloom."

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire County Council’s Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: It’s great that these children have had the opportunity to learn about all the benefits a wildflower meadow can bring through our Biodiversity team and well done to them all for rolling up their sleeves to help plant such an important asset for supporting their local nature.

Innovative work to enhance Denbighshire Digital connectivity

Innovative plans are in motion to enhance mobile network coverage across Denbighshire.

Denbighshire County Council’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) team are working on a project to utilise local authority assets to help boost mobile network reach around the county.

The Open Access Agreement work will allow the Council to make selected assets, mostly street lighting columns, available for the installation of small-cell mobile technology to enhance coverage.

ICT officers recently presented this work to the Council’s Democratic Services Committee.

The small cells assist with increasing capacity without major infrastructure needed. Once installed they have the capacity to improve digital connectivity for residents and businesses, offering more reliable access to the internet.

Following signing of an agreement, a mobile network operator will determine if locating their small cells on council assets would support boosting their network.

The Council would retain full control over which of its assets may be used for small‑cell deployment to make sure installation meets all technical, safety and operational standards.

Any development of the small cell technology is cost neutral to the Council, mobile network operators will pay an agreed annual fee for the location of the small cells on assets.

Each Open Access Agreement will operate for a 15‑year initial term, providing stability for operators considering investment while offering long‑term clarity for the Council. Operators would be responsible for all costs associated with surveys, power supply, installation, maintenance and the eventual removal of equipment. They will be also required to hold appropriate insurance, including public and employer liability cover, and to indemnify the Council against any damage or loss arising from their equipment or activities.

Helen Vaughan-Evans, Head of Corporate Support Service: Performance, Digital & Assets, said:  “This innovative work really has the potential to support our residents and businesses across Denbighshire. By allowing this technology onto our assets we can help boost digital connectivity for all which is so critical to the way we now live.

“Installing small cell technology into our towns has the benefits of helping existing businesses connect better and also encouraging more business investment in the area. Where operators choose to deploy equipment on rural assets, this infrastructure can also help improve connectivity for residents who have historically experienced more limited access helping to progress a minimum digital living standard across our County.”

Prestatyn playground to undergo upgrade

Work has begun on the upgrade of Sea Road Playground, Prestatyn.

Denbighshire County Council’s Streetscene department is managing the project after securing funds from the Welsh Government All Wales Play Opportunities Grant.

The upgrade of the Sea Road, Prestatyn site has been prioritised due to concerns raised in respect of the surfacing and also the age and condition of the play equipment.

This period of work will aim to replace the entirety of the rubber safety surfacing, whilst also providing an opportunity for the introduction of new more modern accessible play equipment. The contract for this work has been awarded to Proludic.

Paul Jackson, Head of Highways & Environmental Services, said:  “Following completion, this upgrade will provide children with more modern facilities at this location, whilst also accommodating more inclusive and accessible equipment for youngsters with additional needs.”

Can you spot these wildflowers in Denbighshire? 🌼

As the weather gets warmer our county wildflower meadows are starting to spring to life.

Back in 2019, Denbighshire County Council declared a climate and nature emergency with the aim to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.

One of the first actions was to start managing some of the Council’s grassland for wildflower meadow creation across the county. The aim of the project is to restore and increase the amount of habitat available throughout the county for pollinators and wildlife.

This project also brings many benefits or ‘ecosystem services’ to residents in the county, such as reduced flooding, improved air quality, and air cooling.

Here’s a guide to the flowers you could spot by visiting our meadows across Denbighshire which are recognised by our Bee Friendly signage

May wildflowers

Bird's Foot Trefoil

Visiting our wildflower meadows in May you will find bird's foot trefoil in bloom. Bees and other pollinators love it as it is very rich in nectar and is the larval food source for some of our favourite butterflies - Common Blue, Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak.

Red Clover

Have you spotted red clover at our wildflower meadows during May? This lovely little wildflower is rich in pollen and provides an essential food source for bees - in the past it was known as "bee bread". It's not just our pollinators that enjoy this little flower, cows love it too!

Red Campion

Red Campion is visible across our wildflower meadows during May. This woodland wildflower can grow to almost 1m high and attracts bees and butterflies to its deep pink flowers by opening the petals during the day. Where to find it: Shady areas such as hedge banks, woodlands, woodland edges and rural roads.

June wildflowers

Bee Orchid (Ophrys Apifera)

Have you spotted the bee orchid in any of our wildflower meadows this month? These little orchids are the masters of deception! The flower not only looks like a resting bee but it is also slightly hairy and even produces a scent similar to a female bee – all to attract the attention of a passing male bee.

Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor)

Yellow rattle is managing the height of our wildflower meadows this month. This little wildflower is great for wildflower meadows! As a hemi-parasite it restricts the growth of grasses by feeding off their nutrients and weakening them. By weakening the more aggressive grasses, the more delicate wildflowers are able establish themselves.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

The Foxglove is blooming in June around our meadows, one of most recognisable wildflowers which splashes our woodlands edges and rural roadsides with bright pink bell-shaped flowers. According to Plantlife a single 'glove' can produce a million seeds!

July wildflowers

Field scabious (Knautia arvensis)

The purple–blue flowers of Field scabious are great for attracting our native bees, moths and butterflies. It’s also an essential food source for some of our most vulnerable species such as the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk moth and the Marsh Fritillary butterfly.

Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)

July brings the common knapweed into bloom across our meadows. A standout wildflower with bright pink thistle-like flowers. Common knapweed is one of our top pollinator friendly wildflowers. It provides a great source of quality nectar for bees, butterflies and beetles. Later in the season its seeds provide a sought after food source for a variety of our native bird species.

Meadow Crane's-bill (Geranium pratense)

Meadows crane’s bill is our most wide spread Geranium wildflower provides a splash of blue/violet in early summer and can last for a number of months at our wildflower meadows. In the autumn months the leaves change from green to a deep red prolonging this amazing wildflowers visual impact – it’s no wonder it has become a favourite in many cottage gardens!

Oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare)

A resilient flower, look for oxeye daisies in our wildflower meadows. Oxeye daisy flowers from May to September.

Have you met our fabulous Bookstart Team? ❤

They run free, weekly, bilingual rhyme times for babies and toddlers in all our libraries. It’s never too soon to start sharing books and rhymes with your baby and you will find a great selection of books for all ages in our libraries.

Our libraries are free to join; books are free to borrow and there are no late charges!

The rhyme times are a great way to build up your confidence sharing books and rhymes with your little one, and a brilliant way to meet other new parents.

Please book your free rhyme time place here 👇🏼

https://bookwhen.com/denbighshire-bookstart

Natural wonders inspire active nature career

A love of animals from a young age and an inspiration from a teacher who supported nature in the Galapagos has helped shape a career that now protects and preserves Denbighshire’s biodiversity.

Ellie Wainwright is part of the Council’s Biodiversity Team who are hard at work all year supporting existing nature in the county, establishing new habitats to help local wildlife thrive and survive, and helping educate all ages towards what they can do to protect their own biodiversity.

County Voice sat down with Ellie to find out the inspiration that has carried her through a career full of experiences helping nature across the UK.

Ellie said: “I grew up near a lake in a small town in Northamptonshire. Seasonally the baby frogs would come up through our garden in late summer, after leaving the lake, and I have memories of me and my brother going out and making frog hotels and handling them.

“So, I’ve always loved animals, but I had no idea what I wanted to do as a job until I reached sixth form. I did Human Biology as one of my A-levels and amazingly one of my teachers happened to be a conservationist.

“He’d worked for Operation Wallacea in the Galapagos Islands which is a really cool organisation running biodiversity research expeditions all over the world, I believe he was researching turtles. That was the first time I realised that you could do this as a career, I decided that’s what I wanted to do and started looking into universities that offered ecology and conservation courses.”

To support the career, she’d set her eyes on, Ellie swiftly set about volunteering at the weekends as well with the local Wildlife Trust group to her home to gain valuable experience whilst working in one of their woodlands.

Using her volunteer experience, she embarked on a wildlife conservation degree at the University of Kent.

Ellie explained: “It was a really good course, where I learnt a lot about conservation theory. My favourite modules were probably Evolutionary Biology and Genetics, and Behaviour Change. A lot of the lectures used examples from tropical ecosystems as a lot of my lecturers had lived abroad and done work with species in Madagascar, Mauritius, and Borneo.

“Although we did have one lecturer who did a lot of work with UK reptile and amphibian species, which is more closely related to my work now.”

Between her second and third year for professional practice experience, Ellie spent time adding elements of Zoology to her learning by working with Durrel Wildlife Conservation Trust at Jersey Zoo.

She said: “I worked as a placement student/trainee zookeeper, in the bird department for five months and for the rest I was on the mammal department and that was really fun. It was fascinating learning about all the different species and how they keep and breed them for different conservation projects around the world.”

Finishing University, Ellie found herself making her first steps into the landscape of Denbighshire to discover the county’s nature.

She explained: “I applied for a job as an assistant countryside ranger with the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB which was three days a week post. I moved up to live in a house share in Wrexham and very quickly the role was expanded to five days a week.

“I worked with the Nature for Health Project which is such a nice project for engaging with people outdoors to help their physical and mental health. I always tried to bring biodiversity into this work as much as I could. As well as activities such as mindfulness and arts and crafts, I also tried to get people to get involved in things like bat surveys.”

After working with Nature for Health, Ellie became a permanent ranger with the AONB working outdoors around the Llangollen and Dee Valley areas, during which she tackled the difficult period of monitoring sites such as the Horseshoe Falls during the Covid Pandemic and the many introduced regulations the public had to follow.

Through all of this, volunteering was still providing new challenges and discoveries for Ellie, which helped her move further forward into the biodiversity career she carried out today for Denbighshire County Council.

She said: “I’d been doing a lot of volunteer wildlife surveys around my post over the years I was there; I’d been going out with the Clwyd Bat Group and the North Wales Mammal Group. As well as helping with great crested newt surveys with the Wrexham rangers at one of their sites and through work as well.”

Linking in with the North Wales Mammal Group allowed her to take part in studying the Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat using safe and humane bat trapping methods to look at how they migrate.

“It was great because there were some very knowledgeable people running it. You'd get to identify the bats close up which was fascinating, I learnt a lot. At one point I was releasing a tiny Pipistrelle bat, who had clearly got quite warm on my hands and didn't want to leave.”

Through this experience Ellie moved into an assistant biodiversity officer role for Flintshire County Council.

Ellie added: “I learnt a lot there, it’s very different from Denbighshire as there are more urban areas… I got really involved with their wildflower project and was able to carry out a lot more nature and wildlife surveys in that role, which was great experience.”  

Stepping into her current role as biodiversity officer, it’s evident that the passion for protecting nature is burning bright.

She explained: “I love getting out on surveys and seeing these species that we are trying to save and create more habitat for. It really focuses you on why you are doing this role and for me…its so good for my own mental health

“Every time I see a frog; I get really happy. The first time I saw a sand lizard, I was ecstatic. I've seen my first dormouse as well in this job.

“The Wildflower Project is fantastic; it's one of the best conservation projects I think that any local authority can do. A simple change to the way the council manages it’s grassland areas, can result in such a big payoff for wildlife.

“I think it's made a real difference across the county, we've converted all 1820km of the rural road verge network to long grass/wildflower habitat over the summer. As well as over 60 acres of urban verges and greenspaces to wildflower meadow and they've all improved in species diversity.

Ellie added: “Because we’ve been carrying out wildflower surveys on the sites every growing season since the project began in 2020, we can definitively say that all of the urban sites have increased in plant species diversity – some quite significantly! I love feeling like I’m making a difference for biodiversity and seeing positive impacts from our work. It makes me feel like I am I am doing my part to address the biodiversity crisis and the climate change crisis.”

Currently keeping Ellie and her colleagues busy is the creation of the 70-acre Green Gates Nature Reserve which already contains the successful local provenance tree and wildflower nursery the Biodiversity Team have helped establish.

Ellie explained: “It's been a while in the making, but I think we’ve created a really valuable habitat for wildlife. You walk around the site now and it’s buzzing with life, we've spotted kingfishers, we've had eels in the stream. I see kestrels and buzzards hunting over the rough grassland, and we've seen three grass snakes this summer.

“We've installed over 20 ponds on site, all of which are starting to green up. Now we've had different aquatic plant species starting to pop through, and we've recorded frogspawn and some smooth newts in a couple of the brand-new ones as well. We have recorded great crested newts on site before, and we expect this will be a really important site for them going forward.”

Thousands of trees grown from seeds sourced locally by Ellie and the Biodiversity Team have also been planted out on the site, and preparations are underway for hopefully two or more new special residents at the reserve next year.

She added: “We’ve been working in the background on the Denbighshire Beaver Project, to assess if it would be feasible and learn about the species. I was very lucky and got to go to Bavaria with the North Wales Wildlife Trust and the Beaver Trust to see beaver habitats in person. It was fascinating to learn about all the different ways that they manage beavers in Bavaria since they were reintroduced in the 1960’s, and what could be applied now that they are back in Britain. Now, we're a lot closer to releasing them into the enclosure on site.

The team are currently working on a licence application to home the beavers in the created enclosure and all being well would look to bring the new residents in after summer 2026.

With so much experienced in nature and wildlife so far in her career, Ellie’s hopeful that more people will follow in her footsteps to provide the help our environment needs.

She said: “Anyone who wants to get into the conservation field, I would say you pretty much have to have a degree nowadays. So doing some sort of formal education is a good idea. And… volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. You just want to get experience doing as much as possible and you want to try as much as possible so you know exactly what you want to go into in this field.

“I did three years of practical conservation work which is brilliant if you want to get stuck in and you want to see the difference you're making as you do it on the ground. There are so many different paths that you can take. Try all of them, do a little bit of each and see what you like.”

Catering cook creates memories for Clawdd Offa pupils

A Prestatyn cook is stirring up a school dining hall filled with healthy food, a dash of learning and many bowls full of smiles and laughter.

Cooking up 30 years of experience in the catering world this year, Carol McWilliams is busy creating tasty delights for the pupils of Ysgol Clawdd Offa.

County Voice dropped into the kitchen at the school to find out what inspirations are in Carol’s recipe book for progressing in catering and to find out the secret ingredients for a happy food fulfilled school of pupils.

Born in Manchester, Carol with her family moved to Rhyl when she was seven years old and 20 years ago she moved over to Prestatyn.

She said: “I did catering in college, I’d always worked in cafes part time. I worked in the Russel café in Rhyl, liked it, went to catering college at Coleg Llandrillo, did a course on hotel keeping and catering which is everything from making beds to cleaning toilets, right the way through to running a hotel.

“The Catering course covered all aspects of catering from cooking to waiting on and at that time I did prefer waiting on. After college I went to work down south to High Wycombe in a large conference centre, waiting on there."

The lure of home life soon tempted Carol back for a new slice of career and she travelled back to North Wales to work for a while for McDonalds to continue honing her trade.

Carol said: “Then I heard about school catering, went for it and I’ve been in this profession ever since… I’ve been 30 years in the service now and I love it."

Rewinding the school cooking timer to the start, Carol began at Ysgol Tremerchion looking after 60 pupils which she admits was a great training ground to get used to timings for preparing, cooking and serving the food for the children.

She then moved on to making sure the children of Ysgol Bryn Hedydd, Rhyl, were well fed and happy through the school terms for 17 years before moving to Ysgol y Llys and then arriving at Ysgol Clawdd Offa in 2017.

Looking back, Carol explained: “It’s a great way to start off and then you progress to a bigger school because you are given that opportunity here. The bosses are great, they encourage you into getting additional qualifications and if you want to move up and progress, you have that opportunity to move to a bigger school.”

Catering in schools also cooks up a good work life balance dish according to Carol for anyone with busy families be it humans or a loving home of animals.  

She said: “It's just a great place to work, especially if you've got a family, not many people who work in catering can say they are off every school holiday. I get up early to feed all the animals because I’ve got four dogs, two birds, two snakes, two rabbits, crested gecko, tortoise, bearded dragon… I feed all those first!

“Then I have a coffee and I’m set for work and in for eight o’clock, I do all my morning food safety checks, set up the kitchen ready, looking at the menu, seeing what’s on for today, looking at what I can prep for tomorrow as well.”

Standing in the beating heart beat of the school kitchen facilities, Carol demonstrates how forward thinking her role is by showing how the prep is done for the day after’s lasagna on the menu with just the fresh sauce to do to go on top.

Thanks to the efforts of Carol and her team there’s always a feast of choice on offer to suit all young appetites each day as well as the main dish delights.

She explained: “There’s always a choice, there’s the two hot main courses, jacket potatoes with a choice of fillings and a selection of sandwiches. We also cater and prepare a selection of meals for the children with allergens, intolerances and special care needs to make sure they are catered for.”

The busy prep and cooking of catering is all worth it though as Carol admits seeing the children smile and laugh at lunchtimes lights up the catering team’s day.

“The Pupils are great, no two days are the same, every day we have a laugh at something they’ve either said or done but its always with them not at them… they are fabulous.”

Throughout the year at school the pupils have themed learning and Carol and her team have put their own thoughts and ideas together to carry the education and the fun into the school dining hall.

“We do theme days, we have one a month, we’ve just done the Chinese New Year in cooperation with one of the school's teachers, she very kindly brought in some Chinese decorations for me to use, I had some at home, so we decorated the serving counter to make it more fun for the pupils.

“On the menu that day we had chicken chow mein and spring rolls, along with chicken curry and rice and for dessert we did a golden crispy cake as well, it was lovely. The pupils loved it, especially seeing the counter decorated it makes it more special for them.”

Working in the school catering service also gives Carol and her colleagues the chance to input into how the daily school menus are designed across Denbighshire.

She explained: “The management team create the menu, we are due to change to a new 3-week menu starting from Easter. They work with the cooks and discuss what goes well and what changes can be made and take feedback on board before the nutritional content is then balanced and analised in line with Welsh Government Healthy Eating in School regulations. We’ve just been informed the new menu has gained Gold Accreditation approval from Welsh Local Government Association.”

To support healthy eating, along with all the main course choices, the catering team offers a selection of fruit, yoghurt and salad to go with the sandwiches and jacket potatoes. 

With the kitchen full of tempting smells, the big question is, what’s the dish of the day for Clawdd Offa pupils?

Smiling, Carol said: “They love the curry here, they love katsu curry because it’s a chicken goujon with a homemade katsu curry sauce and rice - it's lovely, very simple to make but really tasty and the pupils love it."

That’s something Year 6 pupil Ralph can confirm and who admits he’s a big fan of Carol and her team’s skills…especially when he’s hungry.

Ralph, a big fan of the catering team, let County Voice know: “The katsu curry, I love that. The staff are really nice as well, instead of making it a boring dinner they make it, so you are excited actually to go.”

Going back to the school cook’s 30 years of experience in the catering field and still cooking up delights for many youngsters, what’s Carol’s advice to anyone wanting to follow in her footsteps and develop with the support of the Catering Service.

Taking a second to think in her kitchen, Carol put forward: “It’s just having the love for people and food…and it’s having that passion to feed school children a choice of healthy, nutritious meals and encouraging them to try new things.“

Make your own mini meadow to help local nature

Did you know that it’s easy to give a helping hand to nature from your own back garden?

Preparations are in full swing for our 2026 Wildflower Meadows Project season. The project started in 2019 and includes approximately 70 acres of native wildflower habitat supporting local nature and also helping community wellbeing across the county. It has also been funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Places for Nature funding.

Residents can visit our meadows which are marked with the Bee Friendly sign, but those who want to do their bit from their home can also create their own mini meadow to support nature on their doorstep.

The first step is to decide the best place for your meadow on your garden area. Pick an area that isn’t too shady and where you are ok with leaving the grass long. You can pick the whole garden or just a patch and just simply let your chosen area grow.

During April, it’s the best time to make the decision to let your mini meadow grow as it is. Remember it takes time for a meadow to develop and it’s important to let it develop to see what it will produce.

Wildflowers that will thrive best in your meadow space are oxeye daisies, black knapweed and red campion.

Movement in your meadow will start appearing late May as the wildflowers begin to grow. As June arrives the actual flower can start to appear through your meadow.

July is when your mini meadow will be at full strength supporting nature, it’s a great time to do a bug hunt through your area to see which insects are enjoying your creation.

As well as looking at what wildflowers you have blooming in your meadow, remember to look at all the different grasses. While we often focus on planting wildflowers for pollinators, many native grasses as just as important for caterpillars of butterflies and moth species.

August is a great time for your mini meadow as you will spot a slow change in what is flowering, with earlier species going to seed, and later species beginning to flower. Species that you might notice flowering at the end of the summer include black knapweed and yarrow, both of which are great for pollinators visiting your garden.

During August its also time to monitor when you need to cut your mini meadow. If you still have plenty of blooms you could leave it to September. You can also vary the cutting times across the year or the different parts of your own meadow depending on the size to make it more diverse for nature support. Cutting will help remove nutrients from the ground giving the wildflowers in the area the best chance to thrive.

Don’t forget to remove all the cuttings once their seeds have dropped and they have dried. A good tip as well is to keep your compost area as far away as your mini meadow to stop excess nutrients leaking back into the area and impacting on the growth of the wildflowers.

As September moves forward, it’s time to give your mini meadow a well-earned rest. You can leave the next cut until April or carry out several cuts to maintain the area if the winter weather stays mild. Before you shut down your mini meadow, take stock of what you have seen come through this season and the insects visiting the site as a record going forward for the next chapter of your own meadow.

Special storybook celebrates work to help rare bird

A special book is helping preserve a tale of important farming support for an under-threat bird.

For the past two years, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape has been part of “Curlew Connections Wales,” a Curlew Recovery Wales partnership project working alongside Bannau Brycheiniog and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).

The initiative formed part of the wider Gylfinir Cymru programme, an all-Wales partnership dedicated to supporting breeding Curlew populations across the country, including in Denbighshire.

Funding from the Welsh Government through the Heritage Lottery Fund is coming to a close for the project but the National Landscapes team will carry on working to protect the rare bird in their area.

Since running the programme has helped strengthen conditions needed for curlew recovery by improving habitat management, enhancing monitoring and data collection, increasing local capacity for ecological action and building strong, trust-based relationships with farmers.

To mark the huge community support given to the project, project staff worked with author Peter Evans to provide a timeless capture of the work and dedication seen to give hope to the curlew.

A book called Sali and the Call of the Curlew has been published which charts the seasonal journey of the curlew on farmland from the perspective of a little girl called Sali and her farmer Taid. Sali follows Pegi the curlew, who returns each Spring to the farm and both their journeys to the next breeding season.

Local Curlew and People Officer Sam Kenyon created the background to the story from her experiences and author and volunteer to the project Peter Evans brought her thoughts to life with help from pupils at Ysgol Caer Drewyn,Ysgol y Waun and Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, alongside storyteller Fiona Collins.

The book shows the plight of the curlew but with her Taid’s help, Sali finds out how small changes can make a big difference, and the pair set out to try to make sure more chicks survive the breeding season on the farm.

Primary school children from Ysgol Bro Elwern and Ysgol Betws Gwerful Goch also helped bring the storybook to life by colouring the illustrations created from collaged paper by talented Community Engagement Officer Jillian Howe.

The book is also designed to be accessible for those with Dyslexia thanks to the font used to tell the tale.

Receiving an official launch at Llangollen primary school Ysgol Gymraeg Y Gwernant with the support of Denbighshire County Council Chairman Cllr Arwel Roberts, English and Welsh copies will be made available to Denbighshire libraries and schools that have helped support the project over the last two years.

Local Curlew and People Officer Sam Kenyon, who has led the project for the past two seasons, explained the book is a celebration of the hard work from everyone who gave a supporting hand to helping the curlews and engaged with the wider programme over the two years.

“We wanted to do something special to celebrate the end of the project, especially following the amazing support we have had from the farmers, volunteers, schoolchildren and others who have played their part to give this bird a chance in our area. I’m so proud of the support that the farming community gave to our work, and I hope this tale highlights the commitment many can and do give to help the curlew.”

“For 2025, thanks to everyone’s combined efforts six chicks made it to fledging which was a boost to the local curlew population. It’s fitting we can celebrate the efforts by all the communities involved by leaving this book for the younger community members to read and learn how they and our rural communities can make a difference for the curlew.

“It’s humbling how everyone has come together to help the project, and I want to thank Peter and the school pupils for marking what a real positive journey this has been. But rest assured, the National Landscape won’t stop in the efforts needed to look after this amazing, rare bird and work will carry on as we move into the future to provide help to the iconic curlew.”

Josh’s Journey

Due to a relationship break down, Josh, who is 34, found himself seeking the Council’s homelessness team’s help at the start of last year. In February of 2025 Josh was placed in temporary accommodation and was assigned a homeless support practitioner.

Josh

“I was homeless at the start of last year. I had been in homeless before and was placed in temporary accommodation previously, but I wasn’t in the right mindset previously to try and sort out my wider situation.

I was only in there briefly this time. I was asking everyone, trying to find a flat of my own. I eventually found one and moved out of temporary accommodation quite quickly.”

A month later, Josh had found himself privately rented accommodation to live in and was looking to write the chapter in his story.

“Whilst I was in temporary accommodation, my homeless support practitioner mentioned the intuitive thinking skills courses to me.

I was a little sceptical about doing the courses at first, but I didn’t realise until I sat them, that really, I had nothing to lose, and everything to gain from giving them a go.

I started the courses in April and March. I did the skills to life course first, which I really enjoyed and learned a lot from.

It teaches you how to deal with your own mindset, and how you think about problems. I used to really struggle with my confidence and doubt myself all the time.

They asked me at the start of the course what I would like to improve on, and so I put down work on my confidence.”

Josh then went on to take the Information, advice and guidance course, and dove deeper into his learning.

“I went on to do the Information, advice and guidance course, which taught me some more technical aspects. I would be put in other people's shoes, and I learned how to help those who may be more vulnerable.

I learned how to help others who may be in circumstances such as homelessness or maybe struggle with substance misuse.”

In early summer, Josh was offered an ambassador placement with the Intuitive Thinking team, with the hopes of that scheme then leading to a permanent job within the team itself.

“I was really buzzing as that was the placement I wanted the most out of the ones that were offered to me. I learned to give speeches and administer training by shadowing members of the team. That helped my confidence so much, standing up and speaking in front of people. I was terrified at first, but it got easier and easier over time.

I was about two months into my placement with the team when I got offered a job in the energy sector which I felt I just couldn't turn down.

The skills I learned during the courses I took, and my placement have given me so much confidence in my new role. This job is so different from what I’ve done previously, and these new skills have given me the confidence to go and try something new. That’s the main take away for me.

I was very much set in my ways of staying in my comfort zone before I did these courses. I would just do what I’d always done, but ultimately, I kept getting the same results. I feel like I spent years at a standstill really.

Since I’ve sat these courses, I’ve never felt better in my life. It sounds crazy to say that a course can change that, but I learned why I am thinking things and how to deal with those thoughts.”

Josh has chosen more positive ways to ways to pass the time.

“I have chosen more healthy options in life now, I struggled with boredom when I got sober about four years ago, I needed different outlets.

I started playing golf and going to the gym. I am now a member at Rhyl Golf Club.”

Josh has now graduated from the Intuitive thinking courses, with a number of certificates under his belt, and is enjoying his new role in the energy sector.

“I think these courses would benefit everyone; you don’t have to be in a bad position to take it. You can’t lose anything from learning from this course, as long as you are invested in it, you’re going to benefit from it.

People have said that they can see a change in my confidence. From where I was in February,  to where I am now, it feels like two different people. I felt lost and had no hope really. It taught me to think differently and rationally think about situations. It has helped me to gain the focus and drive to get what I want.

It was like a snowball effect, as soon as I decided to start helping myself, things got gradually better.”

Nursery nurtures new knowledge for Prestatyn volunteer

A growing band of community volunteers are finding their nature knowledge is blooming thanks to supporting a project designed to help local biodiversity.

The Council’s local provenance tree nursery at St Asaph is not just growing trees and plants found across Denbighshire, but also a strong community of volunteers who are nurturing new skills and knowledge thanks to visiting the site.

Janet Davidson, of Prestatyn, joined the community in June last year due to the strong social wellbeing aspect and flexibility that volunteering provides at the tree nursery.

She said: “I was new in the area, and I was looking for a volunteer activity that suited my personality as I’m not terribly a people person. I’ve always had an interest in horticulture and so this was ideal really. The times that are available for volunteers suited my needs so it all just seemed like a win-win really.

“It’s also really flexible so if you can’t make it one week, it’s very very easy going. “You get to do a variety of things which really does suit me. “

Becoming a member of the nursery’s community of volunteers has opened the door to new skills and knowledge for Janet who comes from a food manufacturing background.

“It’s like the use that trees are put to, the types, the varieties. For instance, I hadn’t appreciated the different terrains the two native oaks required. We have opportunities to learn each week here. There’s always something like learning about the black poplars, the challenges the team has tracking and making sure everything is traceable… that’s particularly interesting.”

The community of volunteers at the nursery are also bringing their own career skills to the site which is giving staff the chance to work with them to really shape the future of the nursery, explained Janet.

“Some elements are transposable from different industries, so traceability between food and trees, there are large chunks of it that are applicable. It all provides the team here another resource to bounce ideas around.

Turning to the new friends made at the tree nursery since last June, Janet added: “They are a very friendly bunch of people here and you feel it has a really good purpose to it and feels like it’s worthwhile.

“There’s usually a different crowd as not everyone can make it every week, you don’t know who is going to be here, but you know everybody that might be. That’s really good from a social point of view.  There’s a real good diverse group of people that come and I think it’s better for that.”

Since blooming into life, the community of volunteers has become a staple fixture at the nursery grounds and they all enjoy rolling up their sleeves with the staff to make a difference for local biodiversity, Janet explained.

“Anything here is really a team effort. It’s not about individuals; it is about just chipping away, getting the stuff either in the pots or out of the pots or there’s quite a bit of maintenance stuff that you need to be prepared to do if you are here.

“You can’t expect to be planting oak trees every week, but when you do it’s a privilege, it is quite satisfying, I think it’s rewarding just turning up here. The team will direct us to what the week's activities are, and you just crack on then, and it is also nice and informal, and I really like that.”

Janet added: “Coming here you just feel better for it, I recommend it really, it’s no strings attached as well so you can come and do your thing and have a really nice time and then go and come next week and not have any stress associated with it.”

If you would like to volunteer at the tree nursery, please email with your details biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk

Restoring the Past, Building the Future: Nantclwyd y Dre

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brickfield’s best for birds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lastly – what’s your favourite bird species?

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

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

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

Rhyl award winner grows hope for nature

An award winning young passionate supporter of nature is giving a helping hand to growing a stronger future for Denbighshire’s plants and trees.

Ellie Hughes, of Rhyl, is one of a growing band of people joining a community of volunteers at the Council’s local provenance tree nursery at St Asaph.

Driven by a passion for all things nature, Ellie can be easily spotted at nature reserves across the north of the county, rolling up her sleeves to help countryside rangers with seasonal nature tasks.

And with her love of the outdoors taking her to the tree nursery community, Ellie was also recently honoured by receiving the Bionet, the Nature Partnership for North East Wales Young Person award for 2025 for her dedication to helping her local nature.

County Voice caught up with Ellie whilst she was volunteering at the tree nursery to find out a little bit about her award-winning drive to support nature on her doorstep.

Ellie who studied at Coleg Cambria Northop and Coleg Llysfasi, joined the tree nursery community of volunteers in March last year and has become a regular each week, fitting it in alongside volunteering through Nature for Health to also help out on Denbighshire Countryside Service sites.

Remembering how she first came to find the nursery, Ellie said: “It was close by, and I was in college at the time and Wednesdays were my day off, my dad said why don’t you go there to volunteer.”

The tree nursery which grows local provenance trees and wildflowers from seed collected across the county provides a chance to develop new skills and learn more about nature due to it being situated on the Green Gates nature reserve which covers 70 acres of land.

Ellie explained: “I enjoy being outside helping nature and the healthy side of being outside.  I like meeting the other volunteers and helping out here as it is a nature reserve and working in the poly tunnels and been with the trees all the time. “I’ve seen a robin come into the tunnels; I saw a grey squirrel the other day as well outside.”

Thanks to the support of staff on site and volunteer community, Ellie admits that coming to the tree nursery has also helped her learn and develop new skills.

She said: “I’ve learned many, I learnt how to sow seeds, to make things to help with the growing…. the tree planting out in the fields, I think I helped plant about a thousand. I get to know people, know what they do, what they do as a job, it’s quite cool. I get to learn from their own skills as well when they help me.

And what’s her words to anyone who maybe be interested in having a go at learning down at the tree nursery?

She added: “I’d say go for it; it’s a great opportunity learn great skills to maybe get a future job in work like this. The staff are both very nice, they are great to talk to, show me new skills and they help me understand more about what they do here.”

Sam Brown Tree Nursery Assistant said: “Ellie is such a joy to have down here and she amazes us each week with her commitment to helping out, learning new skills and developing her knowledge on our local nature in Denbighshire.

“She’s a big part of the fantastic community of volunteers we have at the tree nursery, and we are so proud of her for winning the Bionet Young Persons award as her passion for helping the project and what we have outdoors is just inspirational.”

If you would like to volunteer at the tree nursery please email with your details biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk

Supercharge your spring food routine

Spring is the perfect time for a fresh start – and that starts with food. That’s why Denbighshire County Council is partnering with Wales Recycles to help households supercharge their spring meals. With a few simple changes, you can save time, cut your food bill and help Wales move from 2nd to 1st in the world for recycling.

We’re really close! To reach the top spot, Wales only needs to recycle 5% more food waste – that’s the equivalent of each of us recycling just one extra banana peel a week. Small action. Big impact

The cost of binning good food

Food waste still makes up around a quarter of the average rubbish bin in Wales, and most of it could have been eaten. For a household of four, that around £84 a month thrown away.

It’s often good, nutritious food too – fruit, vegetables, potatoes, fruit, and meat like chicken – the very foods that help keep us healthy.

When almost 80% of us are worried about the cost of food and 55% of us say we’re concerned about eating well, throwing good food in the bin simply doesn’t make sense.

A smarter way to cook: Prep it. Flex it. Recycle it.

This spring, it’s all about cooking smart by making food stretch further, and Wales Recycles has a simple formular for busy lives.

Prep it – Set aside a little time to cook a simple base dish, supercharged with what you’ve already got in the fridge and cupboard. You’ll save money, boost the goodness and stop good food going to waste.

Flex it – Serve it in different ways across the week to save time, satisfy picky eaters and keep things interesting.

Recycle it – Any veggie stalks, bones or inedible bits? Straight into the food caddy to be turned into renewable energy – helping power Wales to No.1. Just one caddy full of food waste could power a typical home for an hour.

It’s a no-brainer formular that helps you eat well, save money and make life easier on busy days.

Ready to get started? Here are three easy springtime recipes to help you prep it, flex it and recycle it.

Visit Wales Recycles to discover more ways to supercharge your meals, and you could also be in with the chance of winning an awesome Welsh adventure.

Citrus Chicken (or Chickpea) Protein Pot - Fresh, zesty and perfect for spring

This bright, flavour-packed dish is perfect for busy spring weeks when you want something lighter without spending hours in the kitchen.

Prep it: Start with a simple base of onion and garlic, gently fried until soft. Add chicken thighs or breasts (or chickpeas for a plant-based option) and cook until lightly golden. Stir through lemon or orange zest and juice, a splash of stock and herbs like thyme or oregano, then let it simmer until tender and juicy.

Supercharge it with whatever veg you’ve got to hand - peppers, courgette, spinach, spring greens or peas - to boosting the goodness and make the dish stretch further.

Flex it: With rice or couscous and a dollop of yogurt on day one, spoon it through pasta with some of the cooking juices the next, then shred it into wraps or pittas with salad for a quick lunch.

Recycle it: And remember, citrus peel, onion skins and any veg trimmings go straight into your food caddy to be turned into renewable energy.

Speedy Supercharged Stir Fry – fresh, flexible and ready in minutes

This quick, colourful stir fry is made for busy evenings when time is tight but you still want something fresh and nourishing.

Prep it: Heat a little oil in a large pan or wok, fry sliced onion and garlic, then add your protein of choice and cook until golden. Stir through soy sauce, a splash of stock or water, a squeeze of citrus or rice vinegar, and a little ginger or chilli if you like.

Supercharge it: With whatever vegetables need using up - broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, sugarsnap peas or spring greens!

Flex it: Serve it with noodles for a speedy midweek dinner, spoon it over rice or grains for easy meal-prep lunches, or wrap it in lettuce cups or tortillas for something lighter.

Recycle it: Any bones, stalks or inedible peelings? Into the food caddy – not the bin.

Spring Veg Traybake – seasonal, colourful and made to last

This easy traybake is a true spring staple.

Prep it: Chop a mix of seasonal veg such as new potatoes, carrots, red onion, peppers and broccoli. Toss with olive oil, garlic and herbs, then roast until golden and tender.

Supercharge it: with whenever veg you have on hand – courgette, mushrooms, tomatoes or your protein of choice – chickpeas, halloumi, chicken, tofu or sausages.

Flex it: Enjoy it warm straight from the oven, pile leftovers into wraps or sandwiches the next day, or top with a fried egg for a quick lunch later in the week.

Recycle it: And as always, peelings, herb stalks and any inedible bits belong in your food caddy – helping turn your leftovers into clean, green energy.

Nursery nurtures new bed for wildflower support

A new bed full of support for local wildflowers is taking shape at our Tree Nursery in St Asaph.

Thanks to the Tree Nursery community of volunteers, a new space has been created outside the growing tunnels to help the site’s local provenance work.

Volunteers have planted out excess plants that have been grown from seeds collected across Denbighshire into a newly prepared bed. 

Once the plants go to seed, the seeds will be collected and stored appropriately ready for planting the season after.

Keegan Blazey, Tree Nursery Officer said: “We have a brilliant community of volunteers here at the tree nursery, it’s great to help them learn new skills and we also learn through them thanks to the different walks of life experience they bring in each week.

“Francesca who is one of our student volunteers, really got stuck in to help create this bed which will give us a really great source of seeds right on the site to help us continue to protect and grow our local nature going forward.”

A big helping hand to guide small seed growth

Small seedlings are being given a helping hand by our band of tree nursery volunteers this week.

The tree nursery volunteer community have been helping staff at the St Asaph site with ‘pricking out’ field maples. They have been carefully moving the tiny seedlings from a shared tray into individual modules to give them more room to develop roots and foliage. By replanting them they are also helping prevent weak growth and disease for the seedlings.

By transplanting them into Root Trainers, which have vertical ridges that encourage the roots to grow downwards and prevent pot bound circular growth. The trainers also allow the roots to be ‘air pruned’ at the base, encouraging lateral branching and fast healthy establishment.

Eventually when fully grown these field maples will provide food through their leaves for many species of moth and their flowers will give an important source of pollen for bees. The tree’s fruits also provide a source of food for small mammals.

If you would like to learn skills such as this and make new friends, you can volunteer at the tree nursery on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To join or for further information email biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk

Do you know how to apply to put your name down on the housing register?

Do you know what SARTH stands for?

SARTH stands for ‘Single Access Route to Housing’.

This is where, if you want to be included on the Housing Register, you will only have to make one application. Instead of applying to different housing associations separately, you complete one application that is shared across all those landlords who are part of the scheme.

The SARTH is shared by all social housing providers in Denbighshire including:

• Denbighshire County Council
• Denbighshire Housing
• Grŵp Cynefin
• ClwydAlyn
• North Wales Housing and Wales and West Housing
• ADRA
• Cartrefi Conwy

Once you have made an application to go on the Housing Register, your housing need is then assessed and you’re placed in a priority band, helping ensure homes are allocated in a fair and transparent way to those who need them most.

All the information you need to know about the scheme, and how to apply, is on our website.

A month of collaboration and positive impact for Working Denbighshire

February saw Working Denbighshire deliver significant activity across national, local, and community settings, helping to widen opportunities for residents.

Working Denbighshire joined partners at the All‑Wales Trailblazer Event, bringing together the three Trailblazer pilot areas of Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire, and Neath Port Talbot. The event provided a platform to explore emerging practice, discuss the support being delivered to people with complex and multiple barriers, and highlight the innovation taking place across the three regions.

Working Denbighshire also welcomed journalists from The Guardian as part of the newspaper’s ongoing national project, Against The Tide, an in‑depth series exploring the experiences of young people growing up in coastal towns across the UK.

Rhyl is one of the communities featured in the project, and the visit focused on both the challenges faced by local young people and the community‑led work opening up new opportunities. As part of their visit, journalists attended one of Working Denbighshire’s Baking and Pizza sessions, delivered in collaboration with Use Your Loaf Training Bakery.

The session offered an environment where participants could build confidence, learn practical skills, and take part in meaningful activities. It provided The Guardian with an insight into the day‑to‑day experiences of young people engaging with Working Denbighshire’s services, including some of the barriers they face and the community partnerships helping them move forward.

The visit demonstrated how coordinated, person‑centred support is helping residents gain confidence, connect with others, and take steps toward a brighter future.

February also saw the delivery of a highly successful Working Denbighshire Jobs Fair at 1891 in Rhyl, bringing together over 520 residents and more than 50 business exhibitors.

The event connected jobseekers with employers and training providers across a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, retail, construction, care, and public services. Attendees were able to meet recruiters directly, ask questions about live vacancies, and access on‑the‑spot support from Working Denbighshire staff.

The strong turnout resulted in many residents securing follow‑up interviews or signing up to the service for additional support to help move them closer to employment. The positive response from both employers and participants reflects the growing momentum of Working Denbighshire’s employability work and its commitment to creating real, practical opportunities for local people.

Melanie Evans, Principal Manager, Strategic Employment, said:

“The activities throughout February reinforced the importance of locally driven employment support that is collaborative and grounded in the needs of our residents. The insights gained through these events all show how vital this work is. As we move forward, these experiences will help shape how we continue to support people with complex barriers into opportunities.”

Together, these high‑profile engagements showcase one of Working Denbighshire’s most vibrant and productive months which demonstrates the increasing demand for its services.

Working Denbighshire will continue to collaborate with partners and communities to provide support for individuals seeking employment, training, and personal development opportunities.

To stay informed about upcoming events, training opportunities and support available, visit our website.

Working Denbighshire is part‑funded through the Welsh Government Communities for Work Plus Programme.

Council to engage with Rhyl businesses as project progresses

Following cabinet approval for the UK Government funded Local Regeneration projects to move into the pre-construction phase, the council will now engage with Rhyl town centre businesses and residents to further develop the design work for the project.

Following the Easter period, the council will begin a programme of engagement with local businesses to discuss the proposed scheme in more detail.

These discussions will focus on key operational matters, including deliveries and waste management, to ensure that potential disruption is minimised and impacts are carefully managed throughout the construction phase.

The projects aim to transform the area surrounding the Clock Tower into a pedestrian-friendly space, by making it more attractive, accessible and better connected to the promenade.

For more information on the project click here.

2026 Dates for free caravan weight check and security advice

Denbighshire and Conwy Trading Standards are offering free caravan and campervan weighing and advice sessions.

Residents who are going on in holiday in a touring or motor caravan can make sure that they are not overloading their vehicle or caravan and putting themselves at risk.

The free caravan weighing and advice sessions are available for Denbighshire and Conwy residents, and for those in other local authority areas if they can travel to the location.

This is an advice session, and no action will be taken if overloading or other issues are found, but we will work with you to reduce the load. Council officers will be accompanied by an officer from North Wales Police Community Safety section who will provide practical security advice to keep your car and caravan secure.

The free weight checks will take place at the weighbridge on the A525 between Rhuddlan and St Asaph on the following dates and times:

• Friday 22/05 – 10am-3pm
• Friday 17/07 – 10am-3pm
• Friday 28/08 – 10am-3pm

Appointments are not necessary for these sessions and residents are welcome to attend any of the listed sessions and find out if they’re within the legal weights for their vehicles.

The weighbridge can be found on the Rhuddlan to St Asaph A525 road, approximately three quarters of a mile from Rhuddlan, located in the layby, there will be signs indicating the weighbridge is in operation.

If you have any questions regarding the above please contact either Denbighshire Trading Standards section on tradingstandards@denbighshire.gov.uk or visit their Facebook page, likewise contact Conwy Trading Standards on trading.standards@conwy.gov.uk.-

St Peter's Square Programme of Works

Over the coming months, a series of carefully planned works will be carried out to complete the St. Peter’s Square public realm improvement scheme. The following table provides an overview of the planned phases of work, including where and when each section will take place.

Traffic management systems and road closures are inevitable and will only be implemented where necessary to protect the public and Contractor’s workforce. Road closures during the Ruthin festival will be managed by the Contractor’s traffic management sub-contractors to ensure a co-ordinated approach.

All dates are indicative* and may be subject to change due to weather or programme adjustments, but every effort will be made to minimise disruption throughout the construction period.

Surfacing works are then planned to take place from 9 – 18 November 2026*.

Phase 1 - Well Street and area behind and around The Old Courthouse

Phase 2 - Castle Street

Phase 3 - St. Peter’s Square – East and West side around square and Market Street

Phase 4 - St. Peter’s Square – North side of square and junctions with roads off square

All resurfacing works are currently planned to be completed at night to minimise disruption.

Throughout the project, pedestrian access will be managed, temporary ramps will be provided for accessibility, clear signage and secure barriers will be in place. Any issues can be relayed to either the Public Liaison Officer RuthinEnquiries@obrconstruction.com or the Project Team corporateprogrammeoffice@denbighshire.gov.uk. 

We appreciate your patience and co-operation during the construction phase of this project.

Get inspired - things to do in Denbighshire!

Looking for some inspiration on the best things to do in Denbighshire and plan your next adventure. Read the latest blogs on the North East Wales website.

Senedd Election 2026

Wales will be divided into 16 new constituencies for the Senedd election on 7 May 2026. Each of the new constituencies will have six Members, making a total of 96 Members elected to the Senedd.

Residents in Denbighshire will be voting in one of three constituencies:

✅ Clwyd (covers most of the county)
✅ Bangor Conwy Môn
✅ Gwynedd Maldwyn

You can find your new constituency on the Senedd Cymru website by typing your postcode into the map.

Please remember, counts won’t take place in Denbighshire this year so to follow results live, check the relevant council's page:

🔹 Clwyd 👉 www.facebook.com/FlintshireCC
🔹 Bangor Conwy Môn 👉 www.facebook.com/ConwyCBC
🔹 Gwynedd Maldwyn 👉 www.facebook.com/CyngorGwyneddCouncil

Anyone aged 16 or over on 7 May 2026 who live in Wales, are eligible to vote in the upcoming Senedd election. Here are five key facts about the Senedd:

1. Wales has its own parliament – the Senedd. The Senedd passes laws about all sorts of things which affect your daily life in Wales.
2. Things like hospitals and GPs, housing, schools and education, road and rail transport, farming, culture, the environment and the Welsh language are all decided by the Senedd.
3. On 7 May 2026 residents in Wales will have one vote to choose the party or independent candidate they want to represent their area in the Senedd.
4. The Members of the Senedd which are elected in May 2026 have the power to make decisions that impact everyone in Wales.
5. You can find out everything you need to know about the Senedd election on vote.wales

More areas to receive Flying Start assistance in Denbighshire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information please visit our website. 

Prestatyn Traffic Trial Preparation Works

From 13 April, Denbighshire County Council will begin a trial to make Bridge Road in Prestatyn two ways to see if it helps to alleviate congestion in the area.

The trial was requested following feedback the council received in recent consultations with the public, as part of the public realm improvement project on Prestatyn High Street.

Ahead of the trial, preparation works will take place on Saturday and Sunday (11 & 12 April). This will include:

• Bagging lights and signs that are not needed during the trial.
• Changing road markings, amending the signals remotely and erecting directional signs for the trial.
• Bridge Road will be closed from 8am on 11 April and will re-open once works are complete, this may be as late as 11pm on Sunday 12 April.
• A diversion will be in place for the weekend whilst the preparatory works takes place.
• The out-bound traffic from the bottom of the High Street exiting by the mini-roundabout will be directed up lower High Street on to Penisardre Road.
• On Sunday 12 April, there will be a lane closure on Ffordd Pendyffryn to Bridge Road (approximately 4pm – 9pm) to blank out the signs with a cherry picker.  During this time there will be a one-way diversion in place.

For more information on the traffic trial click here.

Registering Visitor Accommodation in Wales

New Registration Law for Visitor Accommodation in Wales: Webinars Announced to Help Providers Prepare

Anyone taking bookings for overnight stays in Wales — from casual hosts to large hotel operators — will be required to register their accommodation with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) when the register launches this autumn.

The forthcoming Welsh Government legislation means that all providers offering visitor accommodation, whether a single spare room, a holiday cottage, a B&B, or a full‑service hotel, will need to complete a formal registration process. The requirement applies regardless of whether guests stay for one night or several weeks.

The new visitor accommodation registration scheme will launch in autumn 2026. Ahead of this, the WRA is encouraging hosts and businesses to sign up for updates so they can receive reminders, guidance, and the latest information as the registration date approaches. The registration process is completely free of charge and all providers must register, even if the Visitor Levy is not ultimately introduced in the county. Any who fail to register may face penalties.

Webinars to Support Hosts and Booking Platforms

To help prepare the sector, the Welsh Revenue Authority is offering a series of free webinars aimed at visitor accommodation providers and booking platforms and tourism bodies. These sessions will provide the latest updates on the new registration requirements as well as clear, practical guidance on how accommodation providers can comply. There will also be a question and answer session with WRA experts.

Webinar Dates

English-language sessions:

• Tuesday 24 March 2026, 11am–12pm
• Tuesday 24 March 2026, 6pm–7pm

Welsh-language session:

• Thursday 26 March 2026, 11am–12pm

How to Register for a Webinar

You can register for a webinar on the following link - https://www.gov.wales/welsh-revenue-authority/training-events

For further information and to sign up for notifications about the new registration scheme, visit https://registervisitoraccommodation.service.gov.wales/email-signup

Fancy becoming a Tourism Ambassador?

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

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

Watch our short film highlighting the course.

Visit www.ambassador.wales and get started today!

Discovering Denbighshire

Looking to discover more of Denbighshire?

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

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

Help with energy costs from Citizens Advice Denbighshire

Are you struggling with energy costs? Citizens Advice Denbighshire can help.

Their Fuel-Sense project continues to support people in Rhyl and Prestatyn, and they still have Fuel-Sense warmth packs available for anyone who needs them.

The packs include practical energy-saving items like LED bulbs, draught excluders, shower timers and more – completely free.

If you or someone you support could benefit, please get in touch on 01745 346785 or visit the Denbighshire Citizens Advice website for more information.

Ruthin St Peter’s Square Public Realm Improvements

In 2023, the UK Government confirmed their intention to provide £10.95 million of grant funding for ten capital projects aimed at protecting Ruthin’s unique heritage, wellbeing, and rural communities. This funding has been awarded exclusively for successful projects included in Clwyd West and cannot be directed to other projects.

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

The Contractor will begin by setting up their site compound from 9^th February 2026. The works will then commence with minor works and surveys from 23^rd February, and preparations will be made for the works area ahead of the material deliveries in March. To help the Contractor set up smoothly and avoid any delays or potential damage to vehicles, we kindly ask that the area of the public car park at Park Road (highlighted on the image below as the Contractor's Compound) is kept clear of vehicles before 9^th February 2026. 

Pedestrian access across all public rights of way will be maintained at all times, and half of the car park closest to Texaco petrol station will remain open for residents and public parking.

We understand that works in the town centre can be inconvenient, and the Contractor will ensure disruption is kept to a minimum at all times. The works will be carried out in phases so that only small areas are affected at any one time. Details of each phase will be confirmed as soon as possible, and notice will be provided to all residents and businesses in the affected areas a week prior to the works commencing. Works will be carried out between 8:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday. If work is needed outside of these hours, we will again provide advance notice.

Throughout the project, pedestrian access will be managed, temporary ramps will be provided for accessibility, clear signage and secure barriers will be in place. Access to properties and businesses will be managed, with assistance available if required.

A dedicated Business/Public Liaison Officer will be available throughout the works to help with queries and access arrangements, and they can be contacted via e-mail: RuthinEnquiries@OBRConstruction.com.

Thank you very much in advance for your patience and understanding while these improvements are carried out. We look forward to delivering a completed scheme that will benefit residents, businesses and visitors to Ruthin. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us: RuthinEnquiries@OBRConstruction.com or corporateprogrammeoffice@denbighshire.gov.uk

Financial help towards school uniform and free school meals

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

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

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

Did you know that you only have to apply once to be included on the housing register?

SARTH stands for ‘Single Access Route to Housing’. This is where, if you want to be included on the Housing Register, you will only have to make one application. Instead of applying to different housing associations separately, you complete one application that is shared across all those landlords who are part of the scheme. The SARTH is shared by all social housing providers in Denbighshire. Once you have made an application to go on the Housing Register, your housing need is then assessed and you’re placed in a priority band, helping ensure homes are allocated in a fair and transparent way to those who need them most.

All the information you need to know about the scheme, and how to apply, is on our website.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Part of Council Tax spending goes towards the Fire Service?

Part of Council Tax spending goes towards the Fire Service.

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

Working Denbighshire has its own section on our website?

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

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

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

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

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

Did you know?

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

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

Downloading eBooks, audiobooks, newspapers etc

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

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

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

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

You can find out more on our website.

Did you know that 64% of the Council's budget goes on education, schools and social care?

Did you know that 64% of the Council's budget goes on education, schools and social care? A further 14% is committed to things like the Wales wide national scheme for Council Tax benefit and the levy we have to pay to the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority which then only leaves 22% left for all other Council services including emptying bins and recycling, planning and public protection, protecting heritage attractions, transporting pupils to school.

You can learn more about where the budget goes on the news pages.

Did you know that all primary

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

Denbighshire Youth Service

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

Council Tax only accounts for 25% of total Council funding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Authority also respond to over 500 planning compliance cases.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Working Denbighshire offers free, weekly wellbeing sessions

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

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

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

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

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

Street lighting accounts for 0.8% of Council Tax spending.

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

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

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

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

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

Denbighshire Wildflower Week: Oak

Come and learn about how our Tree Nursery is protecting wildflowers and trees as the wise old oak on May 28 as part of Denbighshire Wildflower Week. Book on the tour here - http://bit.ly/4eF8lGz

And here’s Tree Nursery assistant Sam with more

Wildflower Week: Tree Nursery

We will be holding a guided tour around our Tree Nursery as part of our annual Denbighshire Wildflower Week on May 28. Here’s Tree Nursery Assistant Sam with more about what you can find on the day. You can book on the tour using the link below

http://bit.ly/4eF8lGz

Wildflower Week 2026

Our Wildflower Week 2026 starts on May 25 and here’s Biodiversity Officer Ellie to give you an insight into what’s in store – have a watch.

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link

Marine Litter group

Denbighshire County Council’s Flood Risk Team and volunteers have together collected over 30 bags of litter from beach areas along the Prestatyn coastline.

A number of litter picks have taken place this year to tackle the impact of marine litter in the area which can block up waterways and drainage, stopping the flow of water, leading to higher risks of localised flooding further upstream.

Taking litter off the beach can also provide stronger support for natural defences such as shorelines, dunes and seagrass beds as they are able to better maintain their natural function as defences against the sea

Watch this clip for more.

Registering Visitor Accommodation in Wales

Anyone taking bookings for overnight stays in Wales — from casual hosts to large hotel operators — will be required to register their accommodation with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) when the register launches this autumn.

The forthcoming Welsh Government legislation means that all providers offering visitor accommodation, whether a single spare room, a holiday cottage, a B&B, or a full‑service hotel, will need to complete a formal registration process. The requirement applies regardless of whether guests stay for one night or several weeks.

For further information and to sign up for notifications about the new registration scheme, click on this link.

Moth Trapping

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link 

Swift Walks

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link 

Tree Nursery Tour

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link 

Bat Night

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link 

Guided Wildflower Walk: Rhuddlan

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link 

Guided Wildflower Walk: Ruthin

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link 

Guided Wildflower Walk: Denbigh

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link 

Guided Wildflower Walk: Corwen

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link 

Guided Wildflower Walk: Rhyl

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link 

Guided Wildflower Walk: Prestatyn

If you are interested in attending any of the events please click on this link