Sustainable Development Fund

The Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) was established in 2001 to support innovative, sustainable projects in Wales’s five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and the good news is we have been awarded another year of funding from the Welsh Government.  The Fund supports the development of living and working more sustainably in association with enhancing natural beauty, wildlife, culture, landscape, land use and community within the context of the goals and sustainable development principles in the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Lots of different people can apply for funding:

• community, voluntary and partnership groups
• community councils
• the private sector and individuals (for projects in the wider public interest)

The fund supports projects which will:

• conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB, including the built environment
• promote sustainable forms of social and economic development
• promote the economic and social well-being of local communities
• promote quiet enjoyment of the AONB

Examples might include sustainable schools projects such as the management of grounds for wildlife or energy, waste, and traffic reduction initiatives; sustainable transport projects to reduce car use and improve health; enhancement of village open spaces for local use and wildlife; restoration of historic features such as a village pond, community orchard or traditional boundaries; training programmes to safeguard traditional skills such as hedge laying, stone walling, conservation management.

The Sustainability Development Fund offers project grants, management grants to support staff costs or development grants to act as a catalyst for new action or partnerships and can provide up to 50% of the total project cost.

Want to know more?

Contact Ceri Lloyd, Sustainable Development Officer on 01824 712748 or e-mail ceri.lloyd@denbighshire.gov.uk

Last year for European seabird project

This summer will sadly mark the end of the EU LIFE+ Nature Little Tern Recovery Project. The 5-year project, with the RSPB being the lead member, involved 11 partners and covered 20 key breeding sites right across the UK. It has allowed Denbighshire Countryside Service to make significant improvements to the Little Tern colony at Gronant, with funding contributing to purchase of equipment and providing an extra member of staff. The project has provided a platform for sharing of ideas across the country and encouraged innovation when overcoming the issues that affect this rare seabird. Over the period of the project a trend of steep decline in the UK population of Little Tern has at least stabilised but we still have lots of work to do until we reach a point of recovery.

Image credit:  Michael Steciuk

Fortunately, Denbighshire has become one of the best places to see this rare seabird at close quarters. Gronant became the largest Little Tern colony, for the very first time, in the UK and Ireland in 2017. The total of 161 breeding pairs contributes to over 10% of the UK population and we have good success rates when it comes to adults rearing young. This has greatly been due to the efforts of Countryside staff, other organisations and volunteers over the years. We are always looking for more volunteers to help our efforts in ensuring little terns can still be seen in the future. Please contact the Brickfields Pond office on 01824 708313 for more information. You could even join the North Wales Little Tern Group, a volunteer group that provides significant support towards our work at Gronant.

Ghosts of Corwen

With 2018 being Visit Wales’ year of discovery, school children from Ysgol Caer Drewyn, Corwen have created a short film that celebrates their landscape and local legends.

The project was put together by Denbighshire Arts, Countryside and Heritage Services and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty who employed artist Rob Spaull to work with the children.

Following discussions about what was special about their area the children developed their own story board and became budding film directors, camera crew and actors. The film features the area’s Celtic connections and the spectacular Iron Age Hillfort of Caer Drewyn and Pen y Pigyn woodland with its association to Owain Glyndwr.

Charlotte Davies, teacher at Ysgol Caer Drewyn said: ‘The children thoroughly enjoyed their experience, they learned about their local area, developed new skills and were inspired by the project’.

Year 3 and 4 children said that they particularly enjoyed learning about the camera angels, going on the steam train, enjoyed using the editing software on the computer and creating the special effects.

Councillor Hugh Jones, Chair of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB Joint Committee said: "Corwen is located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which recognises the area as having a landscape of international importance, similar to the Great Barrier Reef. It is really inspiring to see the local children engaged with and enthusiastic about their landscape."

To view the short film click here, or why not visit Corwen by train this summer and visit Caer Drewyn and Penypigyn this summer, walks to these sites can be downloaded from the website.

The project would like to thank Jude Wood and Claire Sandland for their contributions to the film and the Llangollen Heritage Railway, Arts Council for Wales, and Natural Resources Wales for their support.

AONB Guides

Congratulations to the newly qualified Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB Guides.

This is the fourth year that the AONB has brought people together from in and around the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley to learn about the special qualities of this outstanding landscape.

The AONB Guide Course is for those who want to learn more about the culture, heritage, biodiversity and working landscape of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley – so that they can pass this on to others as ambassadors for the area as well as enrich their own understanding of the protected landscape.

During the course the guides have visited archaeological sites with Fiona Gale, County Archaeologist, and explored the Alyn Valley with Ecologist Joel Walley and John Morris – the Ranger for Loggerheads. They have been out at 5 o’ clock in the morning to watch black grouse and learn about moorland management and have been to the livestock market in Ruthin to talk to farmers.  They have also been learning some key Welsh phrases. 

These are the things that make up the special landscape of this area.

Six guides completed the course this year and a presentation event was held at County Hall Mold.

Here are the guides with AONB Partnership Chairman Andy Worthington. Llongyfarchiadau mawr i chi gyd.

Dark Skies

In 2016, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB set about exploring the opportunities to improve the quality of its dark skies and attain appropriate designation by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). A feasibility study identified that Dark Sky Community Status would be the most viable option at present.  The AONB’s Joint Committee approved to pursue with accreditation in February 2018.  We have secured £10,000 from the Welsh Government towards the application process and have programmed a series of Dark Sky events as part of our Out and About programme.  Look out for the above logo.  The application could take up to 18 months to complete. 

A copy of the feasibility study is available on the AONB’s website.

'Outstanding' Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB Volunteer

John Roberts has won the ‘Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB Volunteer Award’ for this year.

 Pictured is the Chair of the AONB Joint Committee, Councillor Hugh Jones, presenting John Roberts with the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB Volunteer Award

John, has been an active member of the AONB Partnership and the former Joint Advisory Committee for a number of years and his contribution to the AONB has been above and beyond the original role that he was appointed for, nothing is ever too much trouble, and when his advice is sought John is always there, wise and steadfast!

John is passionate about the outdoors and walking and is Secretary of Flintshire Rambling Association Footpaths Committee. John strives to ensure Rights of Ways are maintained and managed for walkers and represented the Ramblers Association on the former JAC Committee. John often proof reads publications for the AONB which is valued. John has also been a prominent founder member of the ‘Friends of the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB’ and is the Secretary and Editor of the ‘Friends’ of newsletter which helps to raise understanding and awareness of the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB, and this has assisted to its success of having almost 200 members. John is also a member of ‘Our Picturesque Landscape Steering Group Committee’.

John, lives with his wife in Sychdyn, nr Mold and is a keen sports man and has played cricket and football and is a season ticket holder for Wrexham FC. John even helped out with bowling events at Plas Newydd, Llangollen, on behalf of the AONB.

It is apparent for anyone to see that John has a real devotion to the AONB and will assist at any level to try and secure its future.

AONB Officer Howard Sutcliffe said that “I am delighted that John has won the award of ‘Volunteer of the Year’, John is both supportive and reliable and always has an easy happy and friendly manner and has been a truly positive influence for the AONB.

Councillor Hugh Jones, Chair of the AONB Joint Committee who presented John with the Award said that “On behalf of the AONB Partnership and Team I would like to thank John for his diligent work for the AONB, we are very grateful to him”.

Calls to protect and enhance Ruabon Moor

A campaign aimed at protecting the heather moorland in parts of south Denbighshire has been launched.

The Sustainable Access campaign aims to prevent further damage to the moorland, which is being eroded due to an increase in use.

Over recent years the area of moorland around Llandegla and Eglwyseg is being used as a popular route into Llangollen.  As a result the paths and animal tracks are being damaged and the heather moorland is degrading. This has an impact on wildlife in the area, particularly ground nesting birds.

Now the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team and Ride North Wales, in partnership with Oneplanet Adventure who run the mountain bike centre at Coed Llandegla are launching a campaign, which encourages cyclists and other users to stick to official routes.

The campaign includes videos highlighting some of the problems caused, a series of social media activity aimed at cyclists and other countryside users,

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment, said: “The stunning countryside and unique terrain attracts thousands of people every year. This campaign is asking them to stick to the Trail Users Code and follow the designated official routes. We want to protect this unique landscape and prevent any further damage to the paths, the heather moorland and the wildlife that has made the moorland their home.

“This landscape is unique, but it is also fragile. That is why the AONB and its partners have been working to protect this unique location, but need the public’s help too.

“We appeal for people to be considerate of the countryside and work together to protect it for future generations”.

For further information, please visit: http://www.ridenorthwales.co.uk/ or http://www.beiciogogleddcymru.co.uk/  

Amateur archaeologists win the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Annual Award

Every year the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) select an individual or group whose contribution to the landscape and communities of the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB have been outstanding.

This year’s award has been awarded to Clwydian Range Archaeology Group - CRAG

The group arose from the AONB’s Heather & Hillforts project a few years ago, and they have excavated  an area on the northern flanks of Moel Arthur, which revealed some interesting ‘finds’ from the Bronze Age.

They are an enthusiastic bunch of amateur archaeologists, led until recently by two or three people rather more qualified. Their total membership is about 30 including active members and supporters.

Last year, however, they lost the services of two of their leaders, which would have made continuing the dig impossible.

However, they applied successfully for a Heritage Lottery Grant, and have received support from the AONB Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) and with the funding they appointed  a professional archaeologist to train a few of them in the techniques of excavating ancient sites, as well as the most important procedure of recording their daily work and any discoveries they make.

They have held an Open day at Loggerheads, and more recently held an exhibition in the Gallery at Loggerheads.

Numerous walkers on the National Trail have stopped to ask questions, and are given a short talk by one of the team, this in turn stimulates interest in the hillforts which is good publicity for our AONB.

The AONB award is not the only award the group has won. At the end of 2017 they travelled to London to receive the Marsh Archaeology Community Award. However I am sure this award means more to the group as it is from the local area and after all they are named after a part of our very special AONB. Congratulations to CRAGs!

Crag members being presented with the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Award by the Chair of the Joint Committee Councillor Hugh Jones (Deputy Leader for Wrexham County Borough Council) at County Hall, Mold.

From the left, Pat Daley, Wendy Whitby, Councillor Hugh Jones, Keith Lowery, Karen Lowery

Take the Lead Campaign

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) will be working with partners to launch the second year of the Take the Lead campaign over the Easter holidays. The campaign aims to target visitors and local residents who walk their dogs in the countryside to keep their dogs on leads when walking on land with grazing animals.

The campaign will promote responsible dog walking through social media, press releases, short films and events at popular walking sites in the AONB such as Moel Famau County Park, Penycloddiau and Dinas Brân. The campaign will aim to engage with dog walkers to educate them on the consequences of dog worrying and attacks on livestock, which can cause horrific, often fatal, injuries to the livestock and can result in a court destruction order for the pet dog. 

The first words AONB Rangers often hear at the scene of a dog worrying incident is that the dog has never done it before but unfortunately by then it is too late. The campaign will be asking owners not to take a chance and to keep their dogs on leads. 

For more information please call Loggerheads Country Park 01824 71 2747.