Essentials Mag February 2020 Rossett/Marford/Gresford

February 2020

Your monthly local community magazine

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www.essentialsmag.co.uk Delivered by hand to 4,400 homes and businesses in Rossett, Marford, Gresford, Pulford, Burton, Golly, Eccleston and surrounding area

Welcome... to your latest edition of EssentialsMAG There’s a bit of a ‘waste reduction’ theme going on in this edition. We’ve all seen the headlines about the environmental problems caused by our current levels of consumption and waste, which as we know are unsustainable. Read our simple ten-step guide to show you how to cut down on your gas and electricity usage at home. Making a few small changes can have a big impact on the amount of energy consumed and save you money too.

If you’re looking for a way to impress your loved one this Valentine’s, try baking them our shortbread heart biscuits - this month’s delicious recipe kindly supplied by Lewis’s Farm Shop in Eyton.

And finally, don’t forget our community information comes from you! So do keep sending us your stories and events to help us spread the word about local news in the area.

All the best, Vicky Heathfield

Cover Image: Valentine’s Day 14th February

March Deadlines: Editorial - 14 February Advertising - 21 February

We’ve got the local area covered!

Delivered by hand to 4,400 homes and businesses - more than any other magazine in our area.

Copies of this magazine can be picked-up at the following locations: Co-op, Chester Road, Rossett LL12 0HW Co-op, Marford Hill, Marford LL12 8SL Newsagents, Chester Road, Gresford LL12 8NE You can also read our magazines online at: www.essentialsmag.co.uk @EssentialsMagWrexham @EssentialsMAG1

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EssentialsMAG is published by Essentials Mag Limited. The views expressed in articles and advertisements published in this edition of EssentialsMAG do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Editorial - vicky@essentialsmag.co.uk Advertising - advertising@essentialsmag.co.uk

The reproduction of any material is forbidden without the written permission consent of the publishers. Whilst every effort is taken to ensure accuracy in the publication, we cannot accept any responsibility for any error or omissions that may have occurred, or any consequence arising from use of this publication. All facts and figures are correct at time of going to press.

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Spark Joy in Your Life

By EssentialsMAG motivation contributor SASHA KENNEY Congratulations, you’ve survived January!

Still, winter and the short days are not quite over yet. Winter months can feel long and dull, so here are a few tips on how to keep your spirits up, spice up the days and bring authentic joy into your life.

Listen to your heart’s desires A good starting point is to reflect on the question: ‘When do I feel most alive?’

When you’ve figured that out, see if you can treat yourself and do that exact thing.

Choose happiness Some people chase happiness and other people choose it. Be the one that chooses it.

Set a positive goal to let today be more enjoyable than you thought it was going to be.

Laugh Do you know that saying: ‘blessed are they who are able to laugh at themselves, for they will never cease to be amused.’ There is something great about not taking ourselves too seriously.

Love someone People who give time and attention to their most important relationships experience more happiness. Think about who you would like to spend more time with and have more fun with them.

Practice gratitude Say out loud three things you are grateful for every day. Gratitude is often referred to as the shortcut to joy. The more grateful you are, the happier you feel.

Or as simply as the Spice Girls put in their ‘Spice Up Your Life’ song: When you're feelin' sad and low; We will take you where you gotta go.

Smilin', dancin', everything is free; All you need is positivity!

Spice up your life ;o) EssentialsMAG motivation contributor is Sasha Kenney, Wellbeing Coach, World Record holder, business owner and Motivational Speaker. sasha@fitphilosophy.co.uk

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Messy Play - First Tuesday of the month.

Give your little one the opportunity to learn whilst being messy, and we’ll clean up the mess!

Breakfast Playtime sessions Third Tuesday of the month. Come an enjoy your breakfast whilst the children play.

The above two TOTS sessions run in term time 9:30 - 11:00am and commence on 5th November. £4 per session, including a snack for the children. Memorial Hall, off High Street, Gresford LL12 8PS. Tots must be accompanied by a Parent/Carer at all sessions. gresfordplaygroup@hotmail.co.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Tel: 07523 398880 (term time). www.gresfordplaygrouponline.co.uk CHARITY NO: 1180659

Essentials Mag Mailbox

Cwtch Ceramics is coming to Rossett Dear Vicky, Here is a little update about Cwtch Ceramics moving from Ty Pawb to Chester Road, Rossett and what we will have there for all our customers - Firstly, we hope to open our new shop in first week of March. The new shop will still be Cwtch Ceramics with the same amazing choice of ceramics to paint, but with the added bonus of more clay hand-building events and pottery throwing on the wheel.

We will be serving fabulous deli food, freshly ground coffee and lovely speciality teas.

There will also be a great range of juices and flavoured milk drinks. Homemade cakes and desserts will also be part of our menu to eat in or take out. We will have a few cosy corners where you can just sit, relax and read the paper as you enjoy your drink.

The children’s play area will be safe, fun and colourful... there will also be a fully equipped baby changing facility with nappies, wipes, potties and wipe down changing mats. Oh... and we have free car parking too at the front and rear of the shop!

We have lots more planned, and all will be revealed in the next few weeks!

Jules Roberts, Cwtch Ceramics, Chester Road, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0HW

Gresford Fish Bar Dear Vicky, My name is Rezza Noori and I would like to tell your readers about Gresford Fish Bar which will open very soon. We are currently renovating our new premises behind the old Post Office on Chester Road in Gresford (on the corner of Newtown) and will be opening our doors this Spring.

We are currently working on our menu and hope to be serving the good people of Gresford not just fabulous fish and chips, but also a range of vegetarian and vegan options too. Please follow our progress and more details on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Gresford-FISH-BAR Rezza Noori, Gresford Fish Bar, 23 Chester Road Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8NB

If you have a comment about any local news/information please email: vicky@essentialsmag.co.uk

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10 Simple Steps to Save Gas and Electricity at Home With a big chunk of family budgets being spent on energy bills, it makes sense to look for ways to reduce the amount of gas and electricity you use. Here are 10 simple energy saving tips that will help you save gas and electricity at home Don’t boil water in a pan Use your kettle, and then pour it into the pan – it uses far less energy than heating from cold, and just use enough water to cover what you’re cooking.

Opt for a shower, not a bath According to the Energy Saving Trust, if everyone in a family of four swapped one bath a week for a five-minute shower, it could save up to £20 a year on their gas bill.

And if you spend a minute less in the shower, then you could save an additional £7 per person every year.

Remember your just-boiled kettle How many times have you boiled the kettle and walked away, only to come back five minutes later to boil it again? Another good way to save energy is to only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need.

Wash at 30 Today’s washing detergents are very effective at 30 degrees, so try to avoid washing laundry on a higher setting. Wait until you have a full load too – that saves on water as well as energy. Use an eco-wash setting if you can.

Compare energy suppliers Don’t sit back accept what you’re paying for your energy. Dig out your latest energy bill and visit a price comparison website such as www.uswitch.com and shop around for the best money-saving deals.

Turn down your thermostat Turning your heating down by just one degree could save up to £80 a year. Also, check whether heat could be leaving your home through gaps. Seal cracks in floors and skirting boards, line your letterbox and block an unused chimney to reduce your heating bills by up to £35 a year. Thick curtains, draught excluders or draughtproofing kits will help keep the heat in.

Use energy-saving light bulbs Changing all your light bulbs to LED bulbs could cut your energy usage by 20%.

Make life easy for your fridge Clean around the back, as dusty coils can make it work harder. Don’t overfill your fridge and try not to leave the door open.

Be smart about the washing up You can save around £25 a year by washing up in a bowl rather than using a running tap. If you use a dishwasher, fill it completely before you put it on.

Monitor your usage Installing a Smart Meter lets you track your consumption with accurate and real time information. Keeping a watchful eye on your consumption levels can help you decide if and when you have to change the way you use energy.

For more information visit: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk

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Pack Your Bags for a Great Adventure...

By EssentialsMAG travel contributor Anita Kelsey at DELMAR WORLD in Gresford

Canada in the Winter I appreciate that we are all starting to look forward to daffodil buds pushing through the frost to hail the beginning of Spring but, having just returned from an amazing visit to the Canadian Rockies, I felt I had to share the experience before we put Winter behind us and turn our faces to the sunshine.

The Canadian Rockies in Winter is a spectacular sight - frozen lakes, crisp white snow and cosy log fires make it an ideal romantic break.

Calgary is the gateway airport and whilst the city is worth seeing, the best part at this time of year is the Rockies, some 90 miles away, where the stunning town of Banff nestles amongst snowy mountains. With accommodation ranging from simple chalets to the 5-star Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, there is plenty of choice. Bars and restaurants line Banff Avenue with their welcoming wine bar-style menus and relaxed atmospheres.

Regardless of whether you ski or not, there is so much to experience in this winter wonderland. A walk through Johnston Canyon (with ice cleats strapped to my shoes) was a leisurely but invigorating experience. It took around 30 minutes to reach the lower falls and a further - rather more energetic - 30 minutes to get to the upper falls. A hot chocolate break is mandatory after such exertion!

You can book a 90-minute snowshoe walk from Lake Louise (one of the most photographed places in the Rockies). The gondola ride to the top of the mountain has breath-taking views and our guide was informative and interesting as she regaled us with tales of avalanche control and mountain wildlife.

Learning to ski or snowboard is easy in Banff or Lake Louise. Ski Big 3 can organise group or individual lessons on nursery slopes just to help you get familiar with moving on the snow and then, after that, just practise and enjoy! A great way of easing the inevitable aches of the day is to plunge into Banff Upper Hot Springs. This soothing natural pool is fed from Sulphur Mountain and reaches around 40 degrees.

Food and drink is a major feature and there are many special and delicious delights to be had. For a hearty big breakfast try The Keg (inside the Caribou Lodge) or The Poppy Brasserie with a full-service buffet including a Pancake station (with unlimited maple syrup of course!) and a smoothie bar for a more healthy approach. The Banff Avenue Brewing Company is great for high quality beers and massive portions of pub food.

Another must-visit is The Park Distillery, renowned for their own specialist Vodka and Gin: pair either of these with their rotisserie speciality and you have a winner!

Castello Ristorante in the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is highly recommended - the lobster ravioli and arancini was to die for!

For a delicious fondue experience try Walliser Stube, a speciality restaurant in The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel.

This restaurant is well-established and full of character. If you have not tried fondue before - or remember it as being ‘the thing’

“FROZEN LAKES, CRISP WHITE SNOW AND COSY LOG FIRES”

in the seventies - it is time to try their amazing Mushroom and Shallot fondue with truffle, followed by the Toblerone fondue for dessert! Add a shot of Frangelico for extra heavenly moments!

Other random but equally exciting must-do’s include dog sledding. This a really fabulous experience and if, like me, you are crazy about dogs, you will want to choose a company who respect and treat their animals well such as Snowy Owl Tours - a family-run business that operates a professional and safe service.

If you want a longer experience, travel through the Icefield Parkway into Jasper where you can board The Canadian Train to Vancouver. This overnight journey will keep you warm, cosy and well fed on board and then, when you wake up in your snug cabin, you will be in Vancouver - a bustling scenic, friendly city on the Pacific coast.

I could go on...and on...and on…but maybe another time!

Delmar World are leading travel experts in Worldwide tailor-made holidays & cruises. For details contact: Tel: 01978 853885, www.delmarworld.com 54-56 Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8NE Now also in Heswall, Tel: 0151 363 6115

Time Difference: -7 hours Currency: Canadian Dollars Flying Time: 9 hours Top Tips: Take the transfer coach from Calgary to Banff rather than drive. It is a regular service geared up for icy weather.

British Citizens require an Eta visa to enter Canada www.canada.ca Thermal underwear is essential - even if it is a romantic break!

BRHS - Burton Rossett Horticultural Society Gardening News

By EssentialsMAG gardening contributor CAROL EDWARDS This time of the year is just the start of the growing season, we cannot do everything even though we would like to, but some things are possible. For example, we can begin to think about any changes we are hoping to introduce into our gardens. Our attempt at having a small wildflower meadow which we started last year is not doing very well, as only one plant has appeared and this appears to be the Poppy seeds I added to the mix! However, I have decided to add some compost and reseed in the hope that this will sort it out, so watch this space!

If you order seeds and plants from catalogues or on-line now is a good time to start, the catalogues have lovely colourful pictures too which always cheer me up on a foggy cold day. If you have a cold frame it is possible to sow early carrots, radish and beetroot seeds, also if you grow early potatoes you can start them off or chit them on a windowsill indoors, I find an egg-box useful for this as it keeps them upright.

When the ground is not frozen you can plant bare root roses and some shrubs such as viburnum, witch hazel or wintersweet, and bulbs too, lilies and alliums are suitable and will flower in the early summer.

Indoors herbs such as Basil can be started off in pots on the windowsill, fresh herbs are tasty and expensive to buy in the supermarket so try growing your own.

Our last talk was by Jill Cawthray and showed us how to plan our gardens and was very interesting, she featured lots of grasses which are some of my BRHS Burton and Rossett Horticultural Society favourite plants, they give texture and movement and the slugs don’t eat them, in my garden we are plagued by them, so I grow plants that don’t get eaten such as penstemons and heathers otherwise it is a total waste of time!

So, enjoy your gardens when the weather permits, Spring is on its way and will soon be here.

WOLLERTON: A GARDEN YEAR A talk by Head Gardener of Wollerton Old Hall, Phil Smith, looking at the garden throughout the seasons and the work to get it open for the public.

Wed. 26th February 2020 7.30pm at St. Peter’s School, Chapel Lane, Rossett £1 for Members and £2 for Non-Members including tea and biscuits. Full details at www.brhs.org.uk

Information provided by: www.brhs.org.uk

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Restaurant Review Bollicini

By EssentialsMAG food critic SALLY ANGLESEA Restaurant: Bollicini Address: Rufus Court, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ Contact: Tel: 01244 329 932 / www.bollicini.co.uk Cost for three course meal, for two people, without drinks: £60 - £75 Italian is a language I have always wanted to learn - it‘s so sexy and passionate and allows you to make eccentric hand gestures without being questioned. I have discovered, however, that by simply stating an array of pasta types whilst wildly gesticulating and intermittently shouting ‘ayyy’, you can convince people of your Italian speaking ability. As long as they’re not Italian. Or particularly intelligent.

Tucked away down a cobbled side street, Bollicini in Chester is one Italian restaurant that seems to naturally project authenticity.

My friend, Claudia, and I were met with a charming welcome as we arrived on a busy Friday evening. Nadia, our attentive and friendly waitress, was quick to bring us their concise and classy cocktail list, featuring the Italian Aperitif Classico, Negroni, and Bollicini’s own Limoncello-based creation: ‘Sophia Loren’. Despite being tempted, we decided to swerve these more complex creations, in favour of two large G&Ts, and after spending an unacceptable period of time deliberating over calamari or caprese, we finally made our decision...

Calamari. It had to be done. If you are an avid reader of my restaurant reviews (hi, Mum) you may have noticed that this particular squid on the block is one I struggle to resist -

and when it’s on offer in an Italian joint, well, I simply must partake.

Bollicini aren’t making waves in terms of innovation when it comes to the crispy classic but they are doing it very well.

A hearty mound of crisp, black pepper studded squid rings was served alongside a fresh green salad and a tangy tartare sauce.

The batter was crisp and well-seasoned, if not slightly over-salted at points; and the squid itself was soft, and fresh. As I say, it won’t be going down in my personal culinary history as a most memorable calamari experience, but as far as hefty helpings of crispy coated, succulent squid go, it was pretty darn delicious.

The salmon tartare was a less traditional choice but proved itself to be a wise one.

Rosy chunks of raw salmon were held within a light mustard dressing. Delicate flecks of fragrant, fresh dill and vibrant bursts of crunchy, sweet red pepper added both flavour and texture to the dish, whilst a cheffy smear of creamy wholegrain mustard sauce was the perfect accompaniment to the mellow fish. The crisp crostini it was served alongside was the most Italian element of the dish, but despite the starter’s deviation from traditional Italian flavours, it was a beautifully conceived dish that was executed with simplicity and flair.

For more foodie fanaticism and photos, follow Sally on Instagram: @gingernutsaboutfood

Bollicini Review Ratings: FOOD: 8/10 SERVICE: 8/10 ATMOSPHERE: 9/10 OVERALL: 25/30

Bollicini speaks my language. Or perhaps they were just reciting names of different pastas...who knows. The point is, this chic restaurant in the heart of Chester is producing plates of passion that will momentarily have you lost in daydreams of sun kissed olive trees and seaside spaghetti.

Bold, fresh flavours delivered authentically and without complication - Bollicini captures the essence of Italy and serves it up to you with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of Parmigiano Reggiano.

For full details of our three-course extravaganza, including a risotto that had me questioning every assumption I’d ever made about truffle with shellfish, head over to essentialsmag.co.uk.

In the meantime, well, all that’s really left to say is... ‘spaghetti tagliatelle penne orecchiette, ayyy. Capisce?’

For more delicious detail, read the full restaurant review at: www.essentialsmag.co.uk/restaurantreview

EssentialsMAG Tasty Recipe

Lewis’s Farm Shop Shortbread Hearts INGREDIENTS

MAKES 18 BISCUITS

200g unsalted butter 100g caster sugar 300g plain flour

TO DECORATE 300g royal icing sugar Red and pink sprinkles You will need a heart shaped cookie cutter

METHOD Preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / gas mark 4.

Grease a baking tray and line it with non-stick baking paper.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer or wooden spoon. Sift the flour into the bowl and gently mix all the ingredients together.

Once the ingredients are thoroughly combined, use your hands to form a soft ball of dough. Refrigerate the dough for 15 minutes before gently rolling it out on a lightly floured surface.

Cut out biscuits using a heart-shaped cookie cutter and place them on the baking tray. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Allow to cool on a wire rack before decorating the shortbread with icing (mix the royal icing sugar with water to form a paste) and sprinkles.

Trying out our recipe?

Share your photos with us on Facebook @EssentialsMag Wrexham

This delicious recipe was kindly supplied by Lewis’s Farm Shop.

Make Valentine’s Day extra special with these melt-in-the-mouth Shortbread Hearts. Debbie Jones shares this easy recipe from the kitchen of Lewis’s Farm Shop where she and her fellow bakers expertly produce delicious sweet and savoury treats!

Lewis’s Farm Shop, Brook Cottage, Eyton, Wrexham LL13 0SW T: 01978 780852 www.lewisfarmshop.com

Gresford Trust Newsdesk

By Jenny Dutton Margaret Heaton, was Highly Commended at the 2019 Marjorie Dykins OBE Memorial Volunteer Awards presentation at the AVOW Christmas reception held at Glyndwr University. The certificates were presented on behalf of AVOW by the Mayor, Rob Walsh and the High Sheriff of Clwyd, Stephanie Catherall. Trustees are very grateful for Margaret’s support, advice and expertise, over forty years.

Congratulations Margaret.

Gresford Community Council and the Trust are in discussions with Wrexham Council about the flooding along Clapper Lane, which affects pedestrians and drivers alike.

WCBC is responsible for highway drainage and the Trust has asked to have the problem, first raised in 2011, resolved.

The flooding is causing safety issues when pedestrians walk in the road, as the pavement and public footpath gate can be inches deep in water and road debris.

Pedestrians risk being soaked, and a few have! Water damage to the hedge and fence is a concern, and when vehicles travel on the wrong side of the road there is a safety issue for drivers meeting vehicles exiting the main road via the slip.

Winter estate work is ongoing. Work on the cricket square and bowling greens to improve drainage proceeds and a contractor is visiting to advise on the artificial wicket.

The contractors are also due back to do follow-up work on the area damaged by the film crew.

Gresford Cricket Club has been asked to host the Primary School girls’ Kwik Cricket Festival on Thursday 21st May. Pre-Season Indoor Nets - all welcome! Seniors and Under 15’s on Fridays at Ruabon School 7 - 9pm. Under 9’s and Under 13’s on Sundays at Darland School 10 - 10.50am.

Under 13’s and Under 15’s on Sundays at Darland School 10.50 - 11.40am. There are details about sessions and lots more on our website: gresfordcricket.clubbuzz.co.uk Gresford W.l. Sewing Group will meet Tuesday 11th February in the Green Room 1-3pm. £2. Members of Gresford Craft Group will be stewarding at Quiltfest Wednesday 5th to Friday 14th February, at the International Pavilion, Abbey Road and at the Museum, Parade Street Llangollen. More details are on the website: www.quiltfest.org.uk So far, no one has come forward with any ideas for a Gresford and Marford VE Day Celebration on bank holiday Friday 8th May 2020. Perhaps we will be one of the few communities not to join with the national celebration! Celebration tea, fun run, VE Day dance? Come on enthusiastic party people out there - your community needs you!

If you can help please contact: 01978 856650

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Could You Provide a Loving Home for a Local Child?

Fostering is where individuals provide a caring and secure environment in their own home for other people's children and young people. Fostering can be done on a full or part-time basis and ranges from day or weekend care to a few months or even on a long-term basis. Fostering a child offers you many opportunities to make a difference in a child's life by helping to provide health, education and emotional support.

Wrexham Fostering Service are looking for potential foster carers who are committed to children and young people of all ages. It’s so important to keep children in their local area to ensure continuity with friends and schools.

Help us to keep local children safe in Wrexham by providing a loving, secure home.

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Professional fees.

Fostering is essential Cllr Andrew Atkinson, Lead Member for Children’s Services said, “Fostering is an essential part of how we look after children in Wrexham. People might think that they don’t have the time or the resources to be able to foster, but we want to show people that it could be well within their capabilities. Being a foster carer is by no means easy, but with the contribution of just some time and effort you could make an immeasurable difference to the life of a child in care.”

If you would like more information on how you can become a Foster Carer for Wrexham, please call our Free Phone number: 01978 295316 to speak to the Recruitment Officer.

Or emal: fostering@wrexham.gov.uk.

Wedding Showcase Evening Wednesday 26th February You are welcome to come along to our Hotel anytime between 5:30pm and 7:30pm. On your arrival, you will be welcomed with a complimentary arrival drink and canapes for you to enjoy.

B ES OO SE K N IN TI G AL

This is a great opportunity to view our beautiful hotel and grounds, with the function suites being fully dressed for a Civil Ceremony and a Wedding Breakfast. There will also be a handful of selected suppliers here on the day for you to talk to along with our professional and friendly Management Team.

Mother’s Day Sunday 22nd March Why not treat your special Mum? Starting from only £19.95 per person.

For any further information please contact our Reception Team on 01244 571000 Rossett Hall Hotel, Chester Road, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0DE Email: reservations@rossetthallhotel.co.uk

Working with the British Weather

By EssentialsMAG fitness contributor LEE EASON For me, this time of year is the hardest to stay motivated; the gyms are full of New Year’s resolutioners, so it can be busy and often dispiriting for people there. Don’t worry, you’re not on your own! Following a simple plan can keep you ticking over during the months of dark nights and unpredictable weather. The plan for now is sacrifice and realistic goals. As I write this, a storm is on its way, so, for the next few days, cycling outside is too risky.

I like to get into the garage and hook my bike up to my turbo trainer, which s a stationary device you can attach to your road bike in order to cycle indoors.

To make it more enjoyable there are interactive training platforms which you can use; I use one called Zwift. This helps to keep my goals realistic and consistent and using an online platform can be really engaging and fun. I know that Alf Jones have turbo trainers available and with Zwift they offer a 30 day trial, so you can have a test period prior to committing.

Another key point during the colder months is ensuring that you are hydrated enough. It is easy to forget to keep up your fluids, as you naturally don’t feel the need to drink when your core temperature is cooler than in the summer months.

This can have a negative effect on sleep, digestion and overall mood.

As a guide, two litres a day is a good amount to aim for and if you’re exercising, you should be drinking about 500 millilitres two hours before your workout, and half of that amount afterwards.

Your body is 60% water, so water is vital to keep it working efficiently.

Next month, a special guest will be joining me, to share their personal experiences, which will be inspirational to say the least.

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”

Running is also available on Zwift if you have a treadmill, so it really does cover you for all forms of exercise. All ages and abilities are catered for, including womenonly groups. Please send me an email if you would like any more information about the app.

As I have mentioned before, Joe Wicks’ HIIT workouts are great and accessible, if running or cycling isn’t your thing.

EssentialsMAG fitness contributor is Lee Eason leeeason@hotmail.co.uk

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Local Birds & Wildlife

By Rev. Hugh Linn Last month's article was mainly concerned with negative changes in local birdlife. Familiar species such as Thrushes, Starlings, Yellowhammers and even the once ubiquitous House Sparrow have been decreasing due to a number of different causes. There is increasing evidence that global warming is an important factor, but there are many others.

For example, vanishing populations of urban House Sparrows were once attributed to motor cars displacing horse traffic and consequently also the food spilt by horses at both ends!

Red Kite

Some of our birds of prey, however, have been expanding their range and moving into new unexpected habitats. Buzzards, for example, once hard to find, are now widespread and can occasionally be seen in local gardens. Recently one perched up a tree in our garden was unceremoniously evicted by Rooks.

In Shakespeare's time, Red Kites were common Peregrine Falcon even in central London. In one of his plays he advised folk to "look to lesser linen" as Kites were stealing items hung out to dry as nest material. But by the mid 20th century they were virtually extinct in the UK with only less than a dozen hanging on in mid-Wales. Since then thanks to introductions from the Continent, the Kite population has rocketed and once more they can be seen in London.

Locally the month of February has witnessed a number of Kites in our own area. Some of the more conspicuous sightings have been birds soaring majestically over Marford Hill.

Others have been patrolling lowland fields and one was even found in the middle of a road tucking in to a squashed Rabbit run over by a car.

Another much persecuted bird of prey moving into urban areas is the fastest selfpropelled creature on the planet - the Peregrine Falcon. Pairs have nested on Wrexham Police Station and, more recently, in the middle of Chester and on Eaton Hall clock tower.

Over several weeks in the winter of 2015 a Peregrine roosted on Gresford church tower.

Who knows? It may be back!

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Moving to a Circular Economy

By EssentialsMAG environment contributor ROB RENOUF In December I attended the launch of a key consultation by the Welsh Government on their plans to move towards a ‘Circular Economy.’ This involves reducing raw materials consumed and waste generated and keeping resources within the system through repair, reuse and recycling. The reason we must do this is incredibly simple – our current levels of consumption are unsustainable.

• We’d need 2.5 planet Earths to enable every person in the world to consume as many resources as the average person in Wales!

• Many people in other countries use fewer resources, but globally we’re still consuming 1.7 times as much as our planet can absorb and regenerate.

• Whether we wish to believe it or not, this cannot possibly continue; either we change voluntarily or change will be forced upon us by ecological and societal collapse.

While individual actions are an essential part of the solution, most of us couldn’t simply reduce our own consumption by 60%. This is why the kind of far reaching approach proposed in this consultation is needed, including: • Increasing recycling rates to 100%.

• Reducing waste generated.

• Reducing raw material usage (especially those with a high carbon footprint) and using more recycled materials.

• Investment in infrastructure to support reuse, repair and remanufacture.

• Supporting community initiatives.

• Using government levers such as legislation, taxation and purchasing.

Wales aims to be a world leader in the transition to sustainable levels of consumption, and to only take a “fair share” of global resources. Our household recycling rates are already the best in the UK and the third best in the world (increasing from just 5.2% in 1998/99 to 60.7% in 2018/19). This shows the progress we can make and the ambition is now for Wales to become a zero-waste nation by 2050.

It’s impossible to overstate the scale of the challenge we currently face. I believe we still have time to act, but this window is closing extremely rapidly and every delay makes things even more difficult.

Achieving this kind of transition successfully is critical for all our futures, so I’d urge you to have your say on the proposals and contribute your own ideas.

The consultation runs until 3 April 2020 and can be found at: https://gov.wales/circular-economystrategy

EssentialsMAG environment contributor is Rob Renouf robsrenouf@gmail.com

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Financial News with Hadlow Edwards Retirement on your Mind – Do something now that your future self will thank you for. We are reminded almost daily that it is important to make provisions for our ‘golden years’. So why do we find it so hard to be disciplined and save accordingly? Frustratingly, our brains may trick us into saving less and spending more. To be a successful saver, it is critical to overcome our psychological biases. The three greatest risks are: Present Bias Have you ever delayed a work project until the last moment? Had plans to tidy the kitchen turn into an afternoon glued to catch-up TV? That’s present bias at play. Present bias inclines us to value immediate gratification over future rewards. For example, choosing a shopping binge over a savings account. Many experts say that present bias is one of the biggest challenges in saving for retirement.

Present bias is scientifically accounted for. One part of our brain is associated with emotional decision making, whilst the other part supports abstract reasoning. The emotional part of our brain responds to instant gratification - when faced with the choice of a doughnut now or fruit later, this part of your brain pushes you towards the doughnut.

To overcome present bias, imagine a picture of your future self. Detailing your goals and aspirations helps the mind envisage the bigger picture. Creating and monitoring a financial plan is the key to your ideal retirement.

Loss Aversion Bias Loss aversion is a preference for avoiding losses over acquiring gains. We are hard-wired to be loss-averse: it enabled our ancestors to survive when resources were scarce. But when it comes to investing, loss aversion can lead to an overlyconservative strategy. Over a lifetime, it could

Warren Hadlow

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cost you thousands of pounds. The fear of losing money can result in a reliance on cash. While it’s natural to try to avoid loss, letting that fear loom large over your financial decisions could actually lead to the very thing you’re fearful of. As a chartered financial Practice, we will help you build an investment plan that caters to your risk tolerance.

Anchoring Bias Another financial challenge we face is anchoring bias. This is where we rely too heavily, or ‘anchor’, on one piece of information. For example, when buying a car, you may become focused on the condition of the paintwork. This fixation anchors your mind to the car’s exterior, making you oblivious to other issues. When planning for retirement, most people anchor on a retirement date, but state pension age, life-expectancy and future spending needs are just as important.

Workplace pensions can also reinforce anchoring bias. Many employees assume that the minimum contribution rate under auto-enrolment is the ‘correct’ rate. In reality, those paying the minimum are probably not saving enough for the retirement they hope for.

By understanding and overcoming our ingrained biases, we may be able to improve the chances of a financially secure future.

The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

An investment in equities does not provide the security of capital associated with a deposit account with a bank or building society.

Contributed by Warren Hadlow & Medwyn Edwards, Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited.

Telephone: 01978 311 611 - e-mail: hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The 'St. James's Place Partnership' and the titles 'Partner' and 'Partner Practice' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives.

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Lewis’s Farm Shop The Home of Real Food The award-winning Lewis’s Farm Shop is situated in the picturesque hamlet of Eyton, near Wrexham. The farm shop has long since acquired a reputation for offering a hearty serving of locally sourced and freshly prepared produce of the highest quality.

Mark Lewis is a champion butcher and has won several awards for his range of sausages and home cured black bacon. From the farm shop’s in-house butchery, Mark prepares the freshest cuts of meat sourced from local farms. In the kitchen, a friendly team of bakers make cakes, quiches and pies using quality ingredients and traditional techniques. Both the butchery and kitchen can be seen from the farm shop, so customers can see exactly how the produce is prepared.

A well-stocked deli offers a vast selection of homemade produce, cooked meats and local Welsh and English cheeses. All other produce available in store is sourced as locally as possible and from British artisan food producers.

Lewis’s Farm Shop is a family run business that prides itself on offering a wide variety of produce and a helpful service. The team upholds traditional values, which are reflected in the fair pricing of wholesome food and artisan goods. For ease, there is plenty of free car parking spaces outside the farm shop.

Customers can purchase everything they need to create delicious meals, including fine cuts of meat, seasonal vegetables, a great choice of condiments and delectable desserts.

Mark has created a gluten-free range of sausages and burgers and, for those seeking healthier options, he provides leaner cuts and syn-free meats.

For Valentine’s Day, Lewis’s Farm Shop is offering 10% off all steaks from 13th to 16th February.

If you want a special dessert or a treat for a romantic afternoon tea, you’ll find a great choice of delicious cakes, scones and tarts, all freshly prepared in the farm shop kitchen.

When you visit the idyllically situated Lewis’s Farm Shop, you will enjoy great quality produce, excellent value and a very warm welcome.

Opening Times: Tuesday to Saturday: 9.30am - 5.00pm / Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm Lewis’s Farm Shop, Brook Cottage, Eyton, Wrexham LL13 0SW Tel: 01978 780852, www.lewisfarmshop.com

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How to Combat Overtiredness

By Infant Sleep Consultant RHIAN MILLS Are you struggling with the little people of your household refusing bedtime? Does your child wake multiple times during the night? The culprit could be overtiredness, and your saviour ironically could be more sleep - the saying sleep breeds sleep is true!

Don’t be tempted to keep your child up longer to tire them out in order to make them sleep better at night – this is a myth!

When a child becomes overtired the light and lively environment tells the brain to wake up. Consequently, wakeful and energising hormones are released including cortisol, this is like a shot of adrenaline! The body now goes past the tired stage and feels wired. You may relate to this yourself – when you feel like you’ve gone ‘past’ tired – what is known as a second wind.

A child who is overtired is going to find it more difficult to settle to sleep – they will do all they can to resist it. After all, they have the cortisol to fight now! More night wakings are also seen. As well as this overtiredness is the main cause of early rising, increases the likelihood of parasomnias such as night terrors and sleep walking, and can cause behaviour during the day to deteriorate as the brain becomes more irrational.

So, what are the causes of overtiredness?

The first is not using the correct wakeful window for your child. What is a wakeful window? It’s the period of time that

your little one is awake between sleeps.

For example, a child who has one nap a day will have two wakeful windows – one either side of that nap. The maximum wakeful window will vary depending on the child’s age.

The second cause of overtiredness is little ones not getting sufficient naps during the day. Again, the ideal total daytime sleep varies dependent on age.

The third culprit is going to bed too late – this is easily done; remember the cortisol and the second wind? You might be watching your child and thinking ‘no, they’re not tired yet’ when actually they are past it.

To combat overtiredness: • Know how much daytime sleep your little one needs and make sure naps are sensibly spaced during the day.

• Make sure your little one’s wakeful windows are appropriate for their age.

• Put them to bed up to an hour earlier than usual for a week or two – this will give them a chance to catch up on sleep and you shouldn’t find that they wake any earlier the following morning.

To book a FREE call with Rhian please visit: https://restedmama.appointlet.com

EssentialsMAG Infant Sleep Consultant is Rhian Mills, from Rested Mama restedmama@gmail.com, Tel: 07530 015704

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Gresford Football Club Latest News

www.gresfordathletic.co.uk

Happy New Year from everyone at Gresford Athletic Football Club and let’s hope 2020 is successful for all our Adult and Youth teams.

great goals seen at Clappers Lane in recent weeks, so come along and support our village club; you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the standard of football on show.

Off the field, we held our Annual Christmas Pensioner’s Party in December in the British Legion with Andrew Burke winning this year’s Christmas Hamper. Mike and Olwyn Hughes were on form again arranging everything to make the afternoon a great success, which included a guest appearance from Father Christmas.

In January we held our annual Gerry Evans Sportsman’s Evening with guest speaker Norman Whiteside at the Ramada Hotel.

Thanks to everyone who attended and supported the event which celebrates the life of Gerry Evans (who was a stalwart of our football club). The event also raises important funds for all our teams in Gresford. Our next social event will be on Saturday 15th February, when we will hold a Race Night in the Gresford British Legion.

Saturday Home Fixtures for February with a 2:00pm kick-off is as follows:

On the field of play our adult teams have made a great start to 2020 and at the time of writing remain unbeaten since the turn of the New Year. A number of new faces in both teams’ adult squads bring much needed skill and experience to both squads. The football being played in recent weeks putting a smile on our spectators faces once again. There have been some

1st February - Porthmadog 8th February - Holywell Town (reserves) 15th February - Corwen Our junior sections return to action after the winter break at mini-football and 11 aside level. We have teams at mini football level from under 8’s through to 11’s and compete Saturday and Sunday mornings at the High Street, Gresford and the Gravel Pit, Marford.

Our under 12’s through to 16’s compete Saturday mornings at Clappers Lane and Saturday afternoons at the Gravel Pit when at home. All teams being enthusiastically supported by parents and friends. New members are always welcome to come along and get involved.

Contact Jason Gee the junior’s secretary via our club Twitter or Facebook accounts for details.

We look forward to seeing you at Clappers Lane for our next home game.

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It's Not Always a Merry Christmas For Everyone

By EssentialsMAG legal advice contributor CAROL McGUIRE Christmas time is often the period that partners, husbands and wives, spend the most time together. For some, it's a lovely family time with the true spirit of what Christmas is all about. Sadly, for others, it's one of the most miserable times of the year.

With alcohol flowing and tempers fraying from such, arguments ensue and worst of all violence. Some people put up with this every year and when asked why they have two black eyes; they will always say that they tripped up. We all know it's not true but we go along with it for their peace of mind.

The trouble is, that often when we ought to try and intervene, because the last thing the ‘victim’ has on her/ his mind is ‘peace’. We need to encourage them to talk and to give them the support that they may need to consider a separation or a domestic violence injunction. They need to know where they stand legally because often, they fear the worst and that might not be the case. Who knows if putting space between the parties, might make them stronger and to realise their faults?

Victims nearly always put up with violent behaviour for the sake of their children. What they don't realise is that their children pick up on their parents temperaments and they start to believe that violence within a relationship, is normal, which could result in them becoming mirror images of their parents later on in life.

Children are far more resilient than we all think. I have often dealt with divorce clients, who have put up with these agonies for years, fearing the effect on the children, were they to separate. Several sets of children have told me that they wished their Mother or Father had done it earlier, as they constantly felt guilty that it was only because of them, that their Parents were staying together.

Christmas heightens the need to take a step back and ask yourself if you are happy in your current situation.

You have to ask yourself if you want to put up with this behaviour for the next 10 to 20 years. If the answer is in the negative, then it’s the time to seek legal advice for a Happier New Year.

EssentialsMAG legal advice contributor is Carol McGuire of Thomas Andrews, First Floor Suite, 5-7 Church Street Wrexham LL13 8LS

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Hugh Jones Councillor for Rossett Boundary Review. The Welsh Government has instructed the Boundary Commission to reorganise Local Government Ward Boundaries across Wales to ensure that each Councillor has a similar number of electors.

In Wrexham this is 1,834. In order to do this, they are proposing to create a new Burton, Llay Ward consisting of the existing Llay Ward, with its two Councillors, and the part of Rossett that consist of the Burton Ward, with a total of two Councillors. This effectively means transferring all of Burton and most of Station Road to this new Llay dominated Ward. Effectively transferring the Parish Church, Alyn Family Doctors, Presbyterian Church, The Village Hall and the Dentists Surgery into this new ward. Both the County and Community Councils have opposed it and we intend to hold a public meeting to gauge the view of residents and to seek support for opposition to the proposals. The majority view so far is that this proposal is ludicrous, takes no account of cohesive communities and fails to recognise the geography of the community. Residents can view the proposals at www.ldbc.gov.wales and observations and objections can be sent to consultations@boundaries.wales objections should also be sent to our AM Lesley Griffiths Lesley.Griffiths@assembly.wales as it is the Welsh Government that is making these proposals.

Communications. A glitch occurred in the WCBC email system which meant that many Councillors were without email from 15th December to 4th January. I believe I have now responded to the backlog, but if you have recently emailed me and not had a reply, please re-send.

raise the profile of these problems. There are a number of issues, firstly that potholes of a certain diameter and depth have to be dealt with immediately, this results in a ‘cold tar’ application which has limited life. The alternative, of a hot repair requires temporary road works and often traffic lights. We have ordered a complete review of this service and are investing a further £1m in order to tackle the problem and use more effective methods.

As a cyclist I appreciate the problems they cause, one only has to cycle down Marford Hill to experience a bone shaking ride. This problem is not confined to Wrexham, surrounding Counties are as bad or worse.

Please be assured I will continue to keep the pressure up on behalf of Rossett.

Flooding. Surface water flooding on many lanes is a real problem, I continue to ask for pressure to be put on landowners to maintain their ditches. One problem is the way in which agricultural funding is applied leads to land management techniques that causes significant run-offs from fields on to roads.

Policing. I recently attended a police liaison meeting for the rural areas and the agreed priorities for the next three months is a proactive approach to speeding, particularly in residential areas and also to pavement parking which continue to be the source of problems for pedestrians, particularly with prams etc and to disabled people.

Road Conditions. I am conscious of the number of complaints surrounded road surfaces and potholes; I regularly take our Streetscene Supervisor around the Ward to

Tel: 07769 706999 hugh.jones@wrexham.gov.uk

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Andrew Atkinson Councillor for Gresford This month, this is a joint report between CLLR GILMARTIN & CLLR ATKINSON Virgin media. Cllr Gilmartin and I were contacted recently by Virgin Media as they were needing to bring forward their planned works to install their technology in the area that will allow homes to sign up to the Virgin service if they so wish. Work has started in the area, so we organised an information event at the Gresford Trust to inform residents.

Notice was so short that we could only inform residents via social media, so please let us know if you’d like us to organise another.

To be clear as we understand it, there will be disruption and upheaval and it may well be a quite chaotic, but thankfully its only temporary and at the end of it there's more consumer choice.

We will be working with them and be on their case to minimise disruption and make sure things go as smoothly as possible. They are starting on the Mayflower estate in Marford which will then work out towards Hillock Lane, Nayland Avenue and Chester Road leading on to Bodwyn Park, Pant Olwen and Hollyfield etc. We will do everything we can to assist you throughout this process and monitor roads to make sure the repairs are to the standard that they should be.

Community Speed Watch. I will be out and about monitoring speeds with Cllr Gilmartin and Community Cllr Mike Edwards. This exercise acts as a deterrent to speeding but also helps us collect useful data to prove that long term measures are needed to address speeding.

decision. This means that the refusal could now be overturned and the development could go ahead. This is very troubling news and we the Vicarage Lane Action Group have been urging residents to once again make their opposition to this development known by submitting comments to the Planning Inspectorate. The deadline has now passed and we thank everyone that has submitted a response.

Gresford Roundabout. I recently had a good meeting on site with a senior Highways officer and a local Gresford resident whom has been a big help with these matters. The upshot is there will be some changes including road name markings in lanes to make things safer and amendments to some of the layout. When more precise details become available, I'll update you.

Traffic Lights. I reported the issues with the lights at the Plough in Gresford and chased it up, and as of the time of writing they are fixed. As an update I've been working for some time on getting another crossing and the lights and timers properly sorted. I'm informed they will be completely refurbished and we will get the new crossing. I'm pushing for a date and hope it won't be too long!

Water on the Road. I've been on to the council again numerous times about the water on the road on Chester Road as it’s so dangerous.

Vicarage Lane Action Group. Vicarage Lane planning application for 44 homes. As some of you will be aware, the developer has now lodged an appeal against the council’s

Tel: 07914 211631 andrew.atkinson@wrexham.gov.uk

Russell Gilmartin Councillor for Marford & Hoseley It's one I've been trying to resolve for a long time alongside Clappers Lane which is very similar. Both have soakaway issues in the neighbouring field which the council need to fix but bizarrely (Clappers Lane especially) it's not classed as a priority. (We're looking at lots of options to counter this).

In response to my request they've been out removing the water but doing this more often is a waste of resources and I'm pleased there seems to be a strong desire to get it sorted this year once and for all and I'm grateful to the council for that and will stay on the case.

I’m concerned that Chester Road seems to only have had problems since it was resurfaced and I want to see this looked at.

Yew Tree Court Street Lights. I notified the council as soon as I was informed that the street lights in Yew Tree Court were out. I had been chasing it up but unfortunately it was a Scottish Power fault and takes longer. It’s now resolved and I’m grateful to Serena the Clerk to the Community Council for her work on this too.

High Street. I’m trying to get High Street properly swept at the moment to get rid of all the grit from pothole fills. I'm still pushing for this to be re-surfaced.

Narrow Lane. I had Narrow Lane alley way leading to Chester Road swept to get rid of the leaves in response to a residents request so please let me know of any other bad areas (I'm also working on Griffin Hill pavements).

Gresford Road, Llay. Gresford Road Llay is closed again until February (so we're told) and we as councillors are concerned it could still drag on. We have been trying everything we can to get it sorted but legally they are allowed to work as they are even though it's causing such a massive inconvenience for so many people. Cllrs Walsh and Apsley the Llay councillors have been working particularly hard on this as its their ward.

We will keep you updated.

Council Housing Issues. I'm following up a lot of council housing issues including the broken railings in Newtown on the green, more off-road parking and various individual concerns. If you have any concerns that I can help with just get in touch.

OWL Roadshow. I am in the process of organising another crime prevention roadshow with the charity OWL to help residents keep their properties and belongings safe and deter crime. I’ll update ASAP. Colliers Park. I’ve arranged for a working group to be set up with Colliers Park and Community Councillors and interested residents that live nearby to make sure any issues such as over attendance (causing traffic issues with many parked cars) are addressed.

Please let me know if you’d like to be on the group.

Vicarage Lane. Cllr Gillmartin and I are chasing up getting the top end of Vicarage Lane potholes sorted as it's a dreadful state (it's Marford ward but we're working together on it).

Tel: 07514 676175 russell.gilmartin@wrexham.gov.uk

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Your Community Noticeboard JOIN OUR 100 CLUB Gresford Trust Monthly Draw.

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Get in touch today! Contact: contact@gresfordtrust.org T: 01978 856650

Zumba with Sian Gresford Memorial Hall Monday 6:30 - 7:15pm Wednesday 9:10 - 9:55am Rossett Village Hall Wednesday 6:30 - 7:15pm

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St. Margaret’s Church Hall Friday 9:30 - 10:15am Zumba is a fun, dance based fitness workout. For more information contact your licensed Zumba instructor Sian on : 07708 149517 or Facebook Zumba with Sian Gresford and Rossett.

Think Globally, Act Locally Saturday 21 March 2020

RHOS ORPHEUS MALE CHOIR

Gresford Memorial Hall Come and tell us your ideas and priorities for action on the recently-announced CLIMATE EMERGENCY for Gresford and Marford.

Let your children have fun meeting hedgehogs, making hedgehog homes and bee houses and finding out about how they can help save our world, starting locally. The future of our world depends on each and every one of us and we can all do our bit. Come and find out how your family and community can make a difference and what we can do to link into the Community Council and Local Authority Climate Emergency actions.

Put this date in your diary NOW and watch for more information i n the next edition of EssentialsMAG

Open Rehearsal at Ty Pawb, Wrexham Wednesday 12 February at 7.30pm Why not come along?

Transport available from: Burton / Rossett / Marford / Gresford Holt / Farndon.

Call Richard 07528 259087.

MARFORD/GRESFORD & DISTRICT LUNCH CLUB WELCOME YOU TO ANY TUESDAY, AT GRESFORD METHODIST CHURCH Seated exercise at 11:45am followed by Soup and Sweet lunch, a good natter and a laugh.

Only £2 for lunch, £2 for seated exercise.

Starts 7th January. Call Beryl: 01978 855691.

This is your local community noticeboard... promote your event or class here.

Free-of-charge to charities and not-for-profit groups and organisations.

Email: vicky@essentialsmag.co.uk

ROSSETT FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE Drinks Get Together Wednesday 11th March 2pm at The Golden Lion, Rossett Our aim is to get people in our local community making new friends who they wouldn’t normally meet. Contact Jo: 07498 864564 or via Facebook

PULFORD & POULTON LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Wednesday 19th February “Heritage of Christleton” An illustrated talk by David Cummings in Pulford Village Hall at 7:30pm Admission: Members £2 / non members £3 More information: Hon. Sec. Jenny Nethercott Tel: 01244 571040

VE BOOK FROM GRESFORD & MARFORD LUNCH CLUB I need your help please... if you would like to see your organisation in the book tell us something about your memories, words and photos connected to Gresford and Marford Get in touch ASAP. Beryl Blackmore blackbb1927@outlook.com

NORTH WALES WILDLIFE TRUST Wednesday 12th February Gresford Memorial Trust LL12 8PS RSPCA and WILDLIFE Hear about the work that the RSPCA does with our local wildlife Wildlife Officer Dave Milborrow All welcome Refreshments. Donations welcome

COME AND SEE THE BABY LAMBS! Saturday 29th February & Sunday 1st March 10am - 12 noon The Bungalow, Darland Lane, Lavister, Rossett Refreshments available & cake stall For more information call 01244 570242 All proceeds to Christ Church, Rossett

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RSPCA How Littering Affects Animals

The RSCPA receive more than 5,000 calls a year regarding litter. Unfortunately, wildlife is the main victim when it comes to these situations - wild birds in particular. Many injured wild animals are never found, so it’s estimated that the actual figure of animals injured by litter is much higher.

Everyday objects can become hazards Protecting animals from harmful rubbish is easy – dispose of your rubbish responsibly.

Balloons - Balloon releases threaten wildlife, even balloons marked as degradable may take a number of weeks to degrade, but it only takes a second for an animal to swallow a balloon.

Chinese lanterns - Also known as sky lanterns, can seriously injure animals.

Glass - Broken glass can cause serious injury and animals can get trapped in jars.

Be sure to clean and recycle glass to help prevent injuries.

Containers and cans - Animals looking for food can get trapped in cans or injured by sharp edges. To help prevent this clean and empty containers, pinch cans shut and cut cans in half and recycle where possible.

Elastic bands - These can wrap around small animals and beaks of birds. If swallowed they can cause choking. Reuse bands when possible or cut them open before putting in a bin.

Fishing tackle - Fishing litter is responsible for the injury of thousands of wild animals every year with animals getting entangled in line and hooks which can pierce skin or be swallowed. By fishing responsibly, you can avoid accidental harm to the local wildlife and environment.

Plastic bags - Animals can climb inside plastic bags and suffocate, or eat them and choke. Simply tying a knot in the top of plastic bags before recycling can help prevent deaths.

If you've found a wild animal injured by litter report it today Call the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line to report cruelty, neglect or an animal in distress Tel: 0300 1234 999 For more information visit: www.rspca.org.uk

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Puzzle Page...

Just For Fun Crossword Across 1 7 8 9 10 11 13 15 17 21 22 23 24 25

Water ice (6) Portable device to keep the rain off (8) Key on a computer keyboard (3) Swimming costume (6) Couple (4) Rustic (5) Eg shrimp or crab (7) Form of an element (7) Send someone to a medical specialist; allude to (5) Endure (4) Raised (6) Not bright; darken (3) Unexpected and inappropriate (8) Predatory marine fish (pl) (6)

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 12 14 16 18 19 20

Long-haired breed of dog (6) Thief (6) Cloak (5) Compels (7) Water based aircraft (8) Having an absence of pigment in the skin (6) Earlier in time (8) Leather pouch (7) Observing (6) Livestock food (6) Poems; sounds alike (6) Clock pointers (5)

If you want to find out the answers they will be published in next month’s edition.

Here are the answers from January:

Classic Sudoku

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