NSPCC Dyserth

As I write this we are experiencing some very hot weather. It may continue for a while so why not take advantage of your local charity shop and select yourself some swim-wear, shorts, a sunhat or even a pair of flippers; the shop is a treasure trove of bargain summer goods.

Most of our volunteers have now attended training sessions at H.Q. Prestatyn. We have learned about safeguarding, health and safety, how to better communicate, connect and collaborate and much more.

Please join our team, we are always in need of volunteers for “As and when” slots or regular 3 hour morning or afternoon slots; call Jenny Christian on 07796 973 152.

We are getting an increasing number of people parking on our NSPCC car park who are just shopping in the High Street. During shop hours we really need this space for donors bringing goods to donate, many of which are heavy and bulky; NSPCC shoppers need this space too for their cars, Please respect our space, thank you.

Thanks to all supporters, you are plentiful and amazing. Cathie Cornish.

Sefydliad y Merched (SyM)

As always Dyserth WI enjoyed an excellent speaker in June. Rachel Williamson came along to tell us all about the history and development of the Post Office Box toppers that can be spotted in many sites across Rhyl and Prestatyn and beyond. Our next talk, in July, will be all about the history of Ruthin Gaol. We then have a summer break until September when our speaker will be Sue Evan who will be talking about Doll’s Houses.

Many of us had a wonderful morning being shown around Mostyn Hall followed by an enjoyable lunch at Abakhan.

Our Walking and Craft Groups continue to be popular. Our Walking Group meets weekly for walks in a variety places. The walk always ends up with tea and cake of course.

In June our crafters had great fun creating tiny figures from foam clay and in July they will be making carrying cases for the mugs members bring along to each meeting.

Although our Singing Group is having a temporary break, we have started to have a communal singsong at the end of the meeting. Great care is taken to make it an uplifting/amusing song of course.

Dyserth W.I. continues to offer fun and friendship to any woman living in and around Dyserth including Trelawnyd, Rhyl, Rhuddlan and Prestatyn. We meet at 7.00 p.m. on the second Friday of every month [except August]

If you want to keep up with our activities, then find us on Facebook. Just type in Dyserth WI to see pictures and articles about past events and outings. If you are interested in joining Dyserth WI or want to find out more please contact our President, Linda on reesowen.lro@gmail.com or our Secretary Ann on hughesann059@gmail.com

J is for Juveniles in June and July.

Isn’t it just great seeing all the brand new young birds in the garden, the place seems to be full of bright yellow Blue Tits and very clean looking Great Tits, unlike the parent birds who look like they've been dragged through a Blackthorn hedge forwards and backwards!

There are Robin youngsters flitting about the garden, they hatched in a nest against the garden wall amongst greenery. We also have a nest full of Wren chicks in a small nest box I fitted into the top of the Arbor; it’s taken three years for something to show an interest and very rewarding that it has been chosen, especially as the diligent male Wren has to build around six nests within his territory before “Madame” Wren chooses the one she wants, and she chose this one……cool.

I’m sure many of us will have had our feeders adorned with Great Spotted Woodpeckers filling their beaks with the content of fat balls or suet cake and taking it back to the nest full of chicks, even better if you are lucky enough to have them return with the fledglings once they leave the nest hole, they are the ones with a bright red cap, the male adult has a red patch on the back of his head whereas the female has no red on her head at all.

Of course House Sparrows are continually congregating around our tree which has various feeders hanging from it, with their fluttering wings meaning “feed me now!!”

It is also great to get into the surrounding hills and moors when the weather allows; something I really look forward to is going out looking for creatures you won’t find in your garden, particularly during June and July; juvenile Cuckoos.

These amazing birds have been brought up from the egg which was deposited by the female Cuckoo a few weeks previously and on our local upland areas, it is the Meadow Pipit that bears the brunt of Cuckoo activity.

These super diligent Meadow Pipit host parents feed this youngster until he or she is about six times their size, continuing well after it leaves the nest on the ground and following it about within a short distance from the nest for about a week or two. Watching the feeding process is captivating as the Cuckoo seems ever demanding, attracting the adult's attention with wing flapping and showing its huge red gaping mouth as the target area, the Pipit shoves the food (usually a caterpillar, worm or moth) deep into the mouth and once the beak is empty, the Cuckoo seems to urge the Pipit to “go and get some more!” even pushing its large beak towards them, A purely functional process designed to get the young Cuckoo fattened up for its epic journey that the adults have already made to Africa. The Cuckoo is a what’s known as a brood parasite, not loved by all but I think they are an essential symbol of Spring and photographing them is so rewarding. After 2 weeks they leave the parent without ceremony and migrate and with a lot of luck, return the following year to carry on the cycle

……Dave Parry.

Time to smile

Regular readers of this column will know I love a smile and can often see humour in the most simple everyday situations.

Well it has happened again: We had taken a week off and went to stay in the wonderful Bulkeley Hotel standing on the Menai Straits. We went into their very smart restaurant to treat ourselves to the first evening meal but I had to excuse myself needing the loo before our meal. Off I trotted and was duly washing my hands when I accidentally put my hand in front of the strong jet of water coming from the hot tap.

I was wearing very light cavalry twills and to my horror got them soaked all down the front. I looked like a very serious case of incontinence. My predicament was how to get through the hotel reception area and up to our room on the third floor to change without a. being seen and b. causing my wife waiting at our table. I could not walk through to our table to explain.

I don't think I have ever changed my trousers so quickly! And had to make embarrassing explanations to my dear wife. As the song said, “Always look on the bright side of life”.

Our members still meet up during the summer months at various venues just to keep in touch and we recommence our regular 2025/2026 Autumn and Winter programme at the Dyserth Community Hall 7th October with yet another interesting programme of speakers.

Do get in touch if you would like to join us.

Dyserth Community Centre, Cwm Road, Dyserth, LL18 8BD

Michael Corfe Secretary DTMCG 01745 585110