EssentialsMAG November 2023 - North Wrexham/Cheshire Magazine by Essentials MAG

November 2023

Your monthly local community magazine

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Welcome... Welcome to our November issue!

December Deadlines: Editorial - 10th November Advertising -15th November

Here we are, in the midst of another November, and it feels like only yesterday we were welcoming in the new year. As I sit down to pen this editor's letter, I can't help but marvel at how quickly time has flown by in 2023. And do you know what that means? The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching - yes, Christmas is just around the corner! November brings with it two significant occasions that hold a special place in the hearts of many across the UK. Firstly, there's Bonfire Night, a time when our skies light up with bursts of colour. And on a more solemn note, Remembrance Day falls on 11th November, a day when we pause to honour and remember the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who served our nation. As always, we encourage you to share your thoughts, stories, news and events. Your contributions are the lifeblood of our publication. May this month be a time of reflection and gratitude, as we honour our traditions and celebrate the remarkable individuals who have contributed to the strength of our community and nation.

All the best, Vicky Heathfield

We’ve got the local area covered! Delivered by hand to 6,400 homes and businesses more than any other magazine in our area. Rossett, Marford, Gresford, Holt, Farndon, Churton, Aldford, Eccleston, Lavister, Poulton, Pulford, Dodleston, Burton and Golly. Also available at 25+ pick-up points across the region.

You can also read our magazines online at: www.essentialsmag.co.uk EssentialsMAG is published by Essentials MAG Limited, a local independent publishing company. All content within the publication is copyright of Essentials MAG Limited. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views or opinions expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers. All dates, times, URLs and phone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print. © EssentialsMAG Limited 2023.

EMAIL: vicky@essentialsmag.co.uk CALL: 01978 855459

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Cover Image: Fireworks on Bonﬁre Night

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When you have ﬁnished reading it please pass it on, or put it in your paper recycling bin.

Local News Home ‘Sweet’ Home The band, Sweet, are back in Wrexham starting their ‘Full Circle’ UK Tour. Sweet’s guitarist, Andy Scott, is back in his home town Wrexham, beginning the tour at William Aston Hall on Friday 1st December 2023. Andy made his stage debut, some 60 years ago, on this very stage! Andy is a massive Wrexham AFC fan and follows the matches wherever he is in the world. Famously, he wore his Wrexham AFC rosette on ‘Top of the Pops’ in 1978 when playing ‘Love is like Oxygen’. For five decades Sweet have taken the world by storm, perfecting the art of making memorable records in a highly-competitive era. They remain determined to give their best on tour, playing their iconic hit songs. In the 1970s, they had 15 Top-40 hits, with eight of which reaching top-five, including the number one 1973 classic, ‘Blockbuster’. With bandmates Paul Manzi (lead vocals), Bruce Bisland (drums, vocals), Lee Small (bass guitar, vocals), and Tom Cory (guitar, keyboards) you can witness them first-hand as they return to the road at Wrexham. For tickets visit: www.williamastonwrexham.com/event/sweet-full-circle-tour

Hearing Loss Support Group The Deafness Support Network (DSN) provides a wide range of sensory support services for people living in Wrexham, Flintshire, Cheshire West, Chester and Cheshire East. They would like to invite individuals experiencing age-related hearing loss to a support group aimed at improving wellbeing. The ﬁrst Hearing Loss Support Group meeting will be on the 14th November, 10am - 2pm, at Wrexham Wellbeing Hub, Chester Street Crown Buildings, Wrexham LL13 8BG where there will also be information stands from local businesses and organisations who are there to support you to live well with age-related hearing loss. For more information, or to register your interest or attendance, please contact Hannah: hyoung@dsnonline.co.uk, or visit www.dsnonline.co.uk.

A Beacon of Light All Saints’ Church Christmas Festival is going to be doing things a little differently this year! Do you have an old lantern hanging up somewhere… or could you have a go at making a lantern from scratch? Maybe you are a dab-hand at recycling old containers - or would you like to just buy a simple lantern powered by battery lights? Why? Because the team at All Saints’ Church are hoping to encourage as many local people/groups/schools/businesses as they can, to take part in the ﬁrst Festival of Light to light up the inside of the Church this December, for charity. Once again, they are raising much needed funds for Nightingale House Hospice and Hope House/Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospice. There will be no charge to include your lantern in the festival - all they ask is that you decorate it somehow with light… and then come and see the display! (Needless to say use only battery operated lights - timed if possible!) You will even be able to collect your lantern after the festival, to take home for your own Christmas. To take part, email Janet Fletcher on: arrowmakers@hotmail.com just to say “Count us in” You can also leave a message on: 01978 856049.

Garden Waste Collections Over the past few months, Wrexham has been facing signiﬁcant disruption with refuse collection due to industrial action from Unite. During this time, Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC) simply haven’t had enough resources to collect green garden bins, and may not do so until February 2024. WCBC has recently announced they will extend the green bin collection period until the end of February 2025. So, if you’ve already subscribed, you will not be required to renew in September 2024, as your subscription will now continue until February 2025. WCBC said, “Depending on resources, we may also be able to do a green bin collection sooner than February, but as resources are changing daily and we approach winter weather challenges, we can't be sure this will be the case, and so we’ll communicate nearer the time about whether this is possible.”

Share your news with us: www.essentialsmag.co.uk/article

Gresford Community Council Latest News

When there is a space for someone to join the Community Council, it’s called a ‘vacancy’. Gresford Community Council (GCC) advertises vacancies on Facebook, and round and about in the villages, telling people about them and asking folk to apply. The application form is on the website and is very simple to fill in. Eligible applications go to the Council, and Councillors vote on who to accept. What’s involved? GCC meets on the first Thursday of every month; meetings last about two hours. Time is also needed beforehand to read the meeting papers so that you understand what’s going on, and what needs to be decided, and why (you can’t really have a meaningful voice if you don’t understand the issues being discussed!). If your area needs something you can bring it to a meeting and make a case for it – that’s the really exhilarating part! You can make a difference – and that’s pretty special. If you know someone you think would be a good addition to the Community Council, encourage them to fill in an application

form. We’re always on the lookout for likely people to join us. Or, maybe that person is you...? A date for your Christmas diary: The Community Council has been invited to host Father Christmas in his Grotto again this year at the Artisan Market at Gresford Trust on Sunday 3rd December. It was a lot of fun last year - 216 children met Santa and we also raised more than £200 for charity; so bring your little ones along. We will also have our ‘Carols Round the Tree’ as usual – date to be arranged – please join us if you can.

Come to a meeting! The Council meets on the ﬁrst Thursday of every month at 6.30pm. Contact the Clerk if you would like to attend – all welcome.

Get in touch 07470 631184 clerk@gresfordcommunitycouncil.gov.uk www.gresfordcommunitycouncil.gov.uk Facebook @GresfordCC

Rossett Church Latest News By SIAN HATTON-JONES The Changing Seasons In church life, many seasons and times of the year have special names, for example, Lent and Advent. However, November is set aside for remembering those who have died. All Hallows Day, or All Saints’ Day, on 1st November, is set aside to remember those in whom the grace of God has been seen powerfully at work. We give thanks for that grace, and for the wonderful ways in which it can shape human life. We are reminded to be encouraged by their example and that holiness grows not just in very ordinary circumstances, but also in the extraordinary crises, of human living. You might have a favourite saint to remember, or maybe you could research a new one like St. Elvis or St. Kevin! The 2nd November brings All Souls’ Day or The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, and commemorates those we have known personally. We remember with thanksgiving those we have loved or maybe who nurtured us in faith. Most years we hold a special Memorial Service later in November, names are read out, candles lit, prayers said, and readings given. The service ends by bringing us hope when we are reminded of life in God’s heavenly kingdom where suffering, pain, hatred and violence are no more, (date and time to be conﬁrmed). In Wales, on 8th November we commemorate all the wonderful Saints of Wales and sometimes name lots of them in one hymn which includes David, Deiniol,

Dyfrig and others! The second Sunday in November marks Remembrance Sunday. Acts of Remembrance are held in most communities on this Sunday in November at 11am. In Rossett, we will once again gather around the War Memorial at that time, as we honour the memory of the fallen and pledge to care for the living. Dates for the diary: Act of Remembrance Rossett War Memorial Sunday 12th November, 10:45am Getting Ready for Christmas A free Craft Event for Children Saturday 9th December, 10am (Children must be accompanied) Carol Service Sunday 17th December, 4pm Crib Service Saturday 24th December, 4pm Christmas Communion Saturday 24th December, 11:30pm Christmas Communion Sunday 25th December, 9:15am Please see our Facebook page @christchurchrossett for details.

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The Farndon Soapbox Derby Sunday 17th September saw the second successful Soapbox Derby event that, apart from giving everyone who attended a fantastic day of fun and laughter, went a very long way in raising a lot of money for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd and other local community causes and initiatives. Organised and managed by a team of local volunteers, the overwhelming consensus was that this year was even better than last year. They promised a bigger and better event and the crowds turned up in their thousands to show their support once again. Tim Kenney, who was acting Chairman for the Soapbox Derby this year, said: “As anyone who knows about running any event, it’s all about teamwork. And in the case of something like a Soapbox Derby, running on closed public highway roads in the middle of a village, on the border with Wales and closing the bridge to a different country, there’s a hell of a lot to organise! Firstly, events like these can’t run without local authority support. Cheshire West and Chester’s safety advisory group have supported us from day one, principally because of pre-existing relationships with the organising team at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd. They trusted us to deliver a well-managed event, and we did. We built a full course from scratch with safety barriers and hay bales, and then 33 themed homemade gravity powered karts and their fancy-dressed teams competed

for the fastest time to cover the 350m course with jumps, bends in the road and a chicane. Who doesn’t love the sight of a couple of inﬂatable dinosaurs running through the village?!” Professional timekeepers kept precise track of the kart teams’ progress, with split second timing devices and a volunteer track marshal team, drawn from the world of motor racing, made sure the event proceeded within strict safety guidelines. This year, the event hub was at the Farndon Primary School, where all the karts were laid out for closer inspection before getting the all clear to race. A wide range of food was available from a variety of hospitality vans and mobile bars that supplemented the village pubs and cafes. Everyone agreed that it was a very busy but a great day out for all the family. The event was free to attend with visitors being encouraged to give generously for parking facilities using the charity buckets, as well as sponsoring individual teams via a JustGiving page. An incredible £47,500 was raised, all in aid of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd and local community causes and initiatives. Isn't it incredible what a community can do when its heart is in the right place? For more information visit the Facebook page @farndonsoapboxderby or website: www.farndonsoapboxderby.co.uk.

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Dates for your Diary EVERY THURSDAY

EVERY TUESDAY

TUE 14 NOVEMBER

Walking Netball Rhosnesni High School, Wrexham LL13 9ET

Marford & Gresford Cafﬁ/Exercise/Trips Group Gresford Methodist Church, Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8PA

Deafness Support Network (DSN) Hearing Loss Support Group Wellbeing Hub Wrexham, Crown Buildings, Chester Street, Wrexham LL13 8BG

The group is aimed at the over 50s but we welcome anybody who needs company and some fun.

Deafness Support Network (DSN) would like to invite individuals experiencing age-related hearing loss to a support group aimed at improving wellbeing.

Encouraging ladies to stay active in a team sport. 6pm - 7pm £4.00 per session sheilageorge2@hotmail.com

FRI 3 NOVEMBER

Llay Bonﬁre Bonanza Llay Miners Welfare Institute, Llay LL12 0TH Gates open 5:30pm Adults £5.00/Kids £2.50

FRI 3 NOVEMBER

Gresford Fireworks Gresford Trust Memorial Trust, Gresford LL12 8PS Gates open 6:30pm

SAT 4 NOVEMBER

Farndon Firework Display Farndon Community Club, Farndon CH3 6NX Gates open 5:30pm

EVERY MONDAY

Walking Football Colliers Park, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8PW Walking football for the over 60s. 4pm - 5pm £3.00 per session (2 free) Tel: 07747 431607 (Ruth)

10am - 12pm Tel: 07933 201731 (Beryl)

THUR 9 NOVEMBER

Autumn Fayre St. Chad’s Church, Hanmer, Whitchurch SY13 3DE Autumn makers Fayre exclusive stalls with a seasonal twist. Homemade cakes and refreshments served. 12pm - 7pm @hanmerautumnfayre

10am - 2pm Free hyoung@dsnonline.co.uk

WED 15 NOVEMBER

Pulford & Poulton Local History Group Pulford Village Hall, off Burganey Court CH4 9ES A talk by Dr Kevin Cootes “Update on the Poulton Dig”. 7:30pm £3.00 members/£5.00 non pplhg.org.uk

SAT 11 NOVEMBER

Christmas Craft Fair Rossett & Burton Village Hall, Station Road, Rossett LL12 0HE Featuring great food and craft producers from around the region. Father Christmas will be visiting to collect your Christmas lists! 1pm - 4pm dotbowan@btinternet.com

SAT 18 NOVEMBER

Pre-Christmas Market Gresford Methodist Church, Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8PA Craft, food and lots of fun. Fancy dress competition for children under 11 years. 11am - 3pm Free

While every effort has been made to ensure all the details are correct at the time of going to print, it is advisable to check details with the venue concerned.

18 & 19 NOVEMBER

Art Exhibition and Sale Pulford Village Hall, Pulford CH4 9EU Art Exhibition and Sale by Pulford Painters Art Group. Refreshments available. Free parking adjacent to the Hall. Disabled parking, access and facilities. 11am - 5pm (Saturday) 10am - 5pm (Sunday) Free Tel: 01244 630137

SAT 18 NOVEMBER

Garden Village Last Night of the Proms St Margaret’s Church and Community Hall, Chester Road, Wrexham LL11 2SH Featuring Farndon and District Brass Band, Brymbo Male Choir and a number of soloists. 7:30pm £10.00 Tel: 01978 312805

For a comprehensive list of local events, shows, groups and classes please visit:

essentialsmag.co.uk/whats-on SAT 18 NOVEMBER

SAT 25 NOVEMBER

Little Big Band Concert All Saints’ Church, Gresford LL12 8RG

Bangor-On-Dee Christmas Market Ysgol Sant Dunawd, Sandown Rd, Bangoron-Dee LL13 0JA

An evening of sheer enjoyment with Little Big Band and Choirs for Good. 7pm £10.00 Tel: 07766 881203 (Sue)

Find locally handmade ornaments, crafts, jewellery and much more. 11am - 4pm

24 NOV - 31 DEC

SAT 25 NOVEMBER

Christmas at Bolesworth Bolesworth Castle, Old Coach Rd, Tattenhall, Chester CH3 9JJ

Eccleston Village Christmas Fayre Eccleston Village Hall, Eccleston, Chester CH4 9HT

Winter wonderland, featuring festive lights trail, a real ice skating rink, Santa’s Grotto and more! £30.00 adult/£20.00 child ww.bolesworth.com

Join us for some early Christmas shopping and refreshments. All proﬁts to Eccleston and Pulford churches. 12pm - 3pm

SAT 18 NOVEMBER

SAT 25 NOVEMBER

Coronation Mass St Giles’ Church, Church St, Wrexham LL13 8LS

Coffee, Christmas Crafts and a Chat! Church House, Church Green, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8RG

Concert featuring Côr Glyndŵr & Cantorio Rhos. 7:30pm £10.00 on the door Under 16s free Tel: 07944 143119 (David)

Come along for a coffee, buy some Christmas Crafts and have a chat! 10am - 12:30pm Tel: 07766 881203 (Sue)

Share your events with us - it’s FREE! Let us know your events taking place next month so we can feature them. essentialsmag.co.uk /whats-on

Wrexham Tourism News By JOE BICKERTON, Tourism Manager, Wrexham County Borough Council As we head into Autumn, we still have a busy programme of tourism activity here in Wrexham County. It seems that every week brings new group travel enquiries as Wrexham’s profile continues to surge and interest in coming to the area in 2024 is looking really positive, as regards accommodation and exploring what we have. Naturally there’s a huge interest in coming to the STōK Racecourse and taking in the matchday atmosphere – but there’s still plenty of opportunity to encourage lengthier stays in the area, which will hopefully benefit many other businesses. Visitor numbers drive confidence for investing and it’s great to see new ventures, like Hickories, opening in Wrexham and existing attractions continuing to grow and invest, like Commonwood Leisure in Holt, and the Plassey Holiday Park, in Eyton. This month, there are a number of events happening and it was also great to see another well attended celebration of Welsh football last month with Wal Goch landing at Eagles Meadow and the Welsh International team beating Gibraltar 4-0, here in Wrexham. At Tŷ Pawb, there is the 10th anniversary of their biennial exhibition, ‘Print International’. Featuring over 100 works from the Printing in Swiss collection, Aberystwyth Printmakers, Belfast Print Workshop, Glasgow Print Studio and Kip Gresham Editions (Print Studio Cambridge).

Print International runs from 21/10/2023 until 06/01/2024. If you venture out and enjoy any of the great events, attractions or walks around Wrexham this Autumn – don’t forget to tag us @thisiswrexham as we’d love to share your pictures too! For more ideas of great things to do in our area – pick up a brochure from our Visitor Information Centre on Chester Street, (Monday – Saturday 9am-5pm), or head to: www.thisiswrexham.co.uk

By Joe Bickerton, Tourism Manager at Wrexham County Borough Council T. 01978 292015 www.thisiswrexham.co.uk

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Something for the Weekend By DELMAR WORLD in Gresford If you’re looking for a short break outside the UK, it makes sense to use one of our “local” airports - Liverpool or Manchester - in order to minimise your travelling time. This used to mean a fairly limited choice of destinations but, with more “no frills” airlines competing for business, it has opened up a far greater range of possibilities. I have recently visited Carcassonne - a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the South of France. This is a beautifully preserved medieval walled city perched atop a rocky hill. Within it stands a quite spectacular castle and a small entrance fee allows you to explore its layout and also to enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area as you walk around the defensive walls. The magniﬁcent Cathedral, used as an ammunition store by the German Army in WWII, is also worth a visit with its beautiful stained glass windows.

As you stroll among the labyrinth of cobbled streets, there are shops selling local goods alongside many picturesque restaurants serving everything from gourmet tasting to “prix ﬁxe” menus featuring local specialities - the duck cassoulet comes highly recommended - all at very reasonable prices. The lower town of Carcassonne is built on the left bank of the River Aude and is called the Bastide Saint-Louis; although less visited by tourists than its medieval neighbour, it is also a beautiful historic town, rich in history and architecture. There is much to do and see in this area including a buzzing local market (three times a week); scenic boat rides on the River Aude; hire a bike and cycle along the UNESCO Canal du Midi or maybe take a wine discovery tasting tour - the Languedoc region produces more wine than any other in France. Accommodation ranges from B&B to 5-star hotels but, whichever you choose, this will be an experience to cherish.

Delmar World are leading travel experts in Worldwide tailor-made holidays & cruises. Tel: 01978 853 886, www.delmarworld.com 54-56 Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8NE

World Kindness Day By HELEN CONWAY It’s World Kindness Day on 13th November, and it is a timeless virtue that holds tremendous power to transform individuals and communities. It's a simple act that can have profound and farreaching effects. And beneﬁts, including: Improved mental health Kindness has been linked to improved mental health. Acts of kindness trigger the release of oxytocin, often referred to as the "love hormone" or "bonding hormone." This hormone is associated with feelings of warmth, happiness, and reduced stress. Engaging in kind acts not only beneﬁts the recipient but also enhances the emotional well-being of the giver. Reduced stress and anxiety The act of helping others, or even witnessing acts of kindness, can reduce stress and anxiety. Kindness fosters a sense of connectedness and social support, which can help individuals cope better with life's challenges. It creates a positive feedback loop, reducing the negative impact of stress. Enhanced physical health Believe it or not, kindness can have a positive impact on physical health. Studies suggest that people who engage in regular acts of kindness tend to experience lower blood pressure and better heart health. Additionally, the reduced stress associated with kindness can boost the immune system.

Boosted self-esteem and confidence When you practice kindness, you reinforce your self-worth. Acts of kindness, no matter how small, can boost your selfesteem and sense of purpose. This, in turn, can contribute to greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image. Building resilience Kindness fosters resilience by helping individuals focus on the positive aspects of life. This can make it easier to overcome adversity and bounce back from challenging situations. A positive mindset and support from a kind community can be powerful tools in building resilience. The benefits of kindness extend far beyond making someone's day a little brighter. So, the next time you have the opportunity to be kind, remember that you're not just helping others; you're also helping yourself and contributing to a better world.

Bodywork-Pilates was established in 2002. They offer the very best in pilates, yoga and holistic ﬁtness, with over 20 classes a week to choose from in and around Wrexham and Chester.

EssentialsMAG ﬁtness contributor is Helen Conway from Bodywork-Pilates Ltd www.bodywork-pilates.co.uk Tel: 01978 512401

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Flower Remedies, Animals and Fear By MELANIE BURGESS Does your pet have a habit that is annoying - barking, chewing, messing, whining, biting, ﬁghting? These habits can cause us to feel frustrated, stressed, make us shout. However, have you thought about why your animal is behaving in this way? It is our job as our animal’s care givers to give them their best lives, and that includes working out what is causing any negative ‘annoying’ behaviours. We can then begin to change our management of situations to help change those behaviours into something more positive. It could be your dog barking at every dog they see, the cat messing in the house, your horse refusing to go into the stable, the budgie attacking you when changing his food. All of these, plus many other situations, could be as a result of fear.

Cherry Plum, also in Rescue Remedy, is for the fear of losing control. In animals, Cherry Plum can help with uncontrollable crazy behaviour, if they go into an uncontrollable rage or frenzy or total panic through fear. Mimulus is for everyday fears of known things or situations, for shyness or timidity eg, fear of the dark, water, thunderstorms, being groomed, insects, cars. Mimulus often works well with Rock Rose. Aspen is for the fear of unknown things. This is more for humans but can work well with animals, particularly if they are older or ill and their declining physical state makes them feel vulnerable.

Bach flower remedies can offer emotional support for your animals if they are fearful to help them to feel more comfortable and confident. There are a number of remedies specifically for fear:

Also remember, the remedies are there for you as well! If you feel frustrated or stressed with your animal’s habits, the Bach remedies could help to manage your emotions, so you feel calm and in control.

Rock Rose is for extreme fear and panic, when your animal is shaky or showing signs of extreme terror. It can help in situations such as going to the vets, or if your animal has had an accident or been attacked. Rock Rose is in Rescue Remedy, the remedy for emergency situations.

If you are concerned in any way about your animal, always consult a Vet, who may also make recommendations for a qualiﬁed animal behaviourist.

For more details, contact Melanie Burgess at Daisy Holistics Tel: 07970 758811 E: daisyholistics@gmail.com Facebook: @daisyholistics

BRHS - Burton Rossett Horticultural Society Gardening News

By EssentialsMAG gardening contributor CAROL EDWARDS As I write this we are having a very welcome warm and sunny spell of weather, therefore it seems as if this isn’t the right advice for November at all! However, here goes, and I hope it is of some use to you all! When you spread a mulch on the garden and ﬂower beds, it is a good time to use any spent compost as this will work very well and protect your plants through the winter. Any containers should also be raised as it helps to prevent the rain water from rotting your plants. Last winter I lost two mature Phormium plants in my front garden, despite them coming through the last winter completely unscathed! We do appear to suffer from frost in our garden and do live in a frost pocket so, in the end, we cut them down and one survived. Now is the time to plant spring bulbs and when November does arrive, we can plant tulips too. I planted some tulips last year, slightly too early, and lost them to tulip ﬁre! There is no doubt when you get that as they are really distorted. There is still time to cut back your perennials, and to prune your roses too.

This will prevent wind rock damaging the plants. You can still plant out garlic,and harvest parsnips. These can be left in the ground until needed as they taste better after a frost. If you decide to plant out any fruit bushes, such as raspberries, or bare rooted fruit trees, make sure the ground is not frosted or too wet, and then dig it over, then weed.

Before I go, I have a message from BRHS for you all, as follows: BRHS needs new members on the committee. By joining you will meet new people and have the opportunity to learn new skills and more about plants and gardening. You will also be helping to keep the Society ﬂourishing. The involvement is attending monthly meetings to discuss Society business and assisting, arranging and running events including the August Flower Show. An interest in gardening will be helpful. For more information please contact Pat or David Weir on 01244 571353 or email: join@brhs.org.u.k.

Information provided by: www.brhs.org.uk

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Local Birds and Wildlife News By REVEREND HUGH LINN Throughout October, the wood at the bottom of my garden has been used as a communal roost by Jackdaws, Carrion Crows and Rooks. On occasions, there have been well over 100 birds present. The majority of these have been Jackdaws. Jackdaws are the smallest of these species with grey heads and pale greyish/white eyes contrasting with their black body plumage. It will be interesting to see whether the roost is abandoned when the deciduous trees have lost their leaves. The Winter sees many bird species forming flocks. One of the best known and spectacular is made up of Starlings gathering in flight displays (known as “murmurations”) prior to settling down for the night in their roosts. Some of these roosts are on buildings, others in trees or reed beds. The Trevalyn area is a popular gathering area for Starlings which may be seen in hundreds lining overhead wires. In recent years, Gresford Flash has proved popular with wintering Goosanders. Last winter, the first Goosander appeared on 1st November with six more the following day, and eight on the fourth day. Ten days later there were 41. The largest flock I have seen there was made up of 63 birds. Recently, during October, Gresford Flash has been completely devoid of wildfowl. Things may improve once the wintering migrants arrive from further north. One of the most numerous species is the Pinkfooted Goose. One day last winter, a flock containing nearly 20,000 birds was

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observed ﬂying over Saighton. Pink-feet can also usually be seen on the Dee ﬂoods around Holt and Trevalyn. The Dee Marsh at Parkgate is always worth a visit for Harriers, Owls and Egrets as well as Pink-feet.

Wrexham Birdwatchers Friday 10th November 7.30pm Talk by Chris Tynan “Birds of the 4 Estuaries of Liverpool Bay” (Gresford Memorial Hall). Sunday 19th November (meet at 9:30am) Trip to Venus Pools – leader Marion Williams. Contact Trevor Britton on 01978 855266.

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The new school year started on a high as we hosted a training event for the Darland Learning Community (our family of ﬁve partnership primary schools). I was invited to take part in a session on ‘Effective Feedback’ along with over 100 teachers. The energy in the hall was impressive as we enthusiastically shared our understanding and ideas on how to ensure each student receives high quality, consistent feedback at every stage of their education. Curriculum for Wales The Curriculum for Wales releases schools from the constraints of a nationally prescribed curriculum. Schools are now free to teach in a way that responds to the needs of their students and their local community. We’ve been planning and developing topics and activities for our year 7 and 8 curriculum, building on the foundations laid by our learning community. This approach aims to deliver the experiences, knowledge and skills that our students need for employment, lifelong learning and active citizenship. Our curriculum aims to raise aspirations for all learners and an important area of focus is supporting those students with additional learning needs (ALN). We’ve also made sure to plan in regular, collaborative learning opportunities for

all staff, from early years to GCSEs, to deliver our shared vision. Open Evening I was in awe of the energy and enthusiasm on display at our September Open Evening. Every learning space had something going on - talks, live music, games, puzzles, science demonstrations and sports challenges. Our students are the very best expression of what Darland is all about. Don’t worry if you missed it – daytime tours to see the school in action can be arranged through Mrs Pickup, 01244 570588 or via the email below. Also, we’re planning exciting transition days for both year 5 and 6 students. Uniform As term got underway, you may have noticed some changes to our uniform. Governors approved an updated policy which reduced the number of Darland ‘branded’ items in order to lessen the cost for families. On an environmental note, if you have any pre-loved items that are no longer required, the school ofﬁce would be happy to receive them. If you’re interested to ﬁnd out more about a role on our governing body please email me to arrange a call back: enquiries@darlandschool.org.uk

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By JAN JONES, Gresford and District Community Library

Please come along and share some Christmas cheer with us!

November is here and all over the community plans are being made for Christmas, which is not very far away now.

Library volunteers will also be helping Father Christmas in his Grotto at the Artisan Market on Sunday 3rd December.

Gresford Community Library will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year – unbelievable, isn’t it? Ten years since Wrexham Council closed down our library, our Youth Club and our Community Centre back in 2014! Well, the library refused to stay closed, and here we are, still going strong because of your support nearly 10 years later. You can be sure we will be celebrating with you and we’ll share our birthday plans in another issue of EssentialsMAG next year.

Saturday 9th and 16th December: Kristmas Kraft KidzKlubs

Christmas events Over those years, we have developed our Christmas traditions. As previously, we will be having Christmas activities for the children throughout December and we would also like to invite you to join us for mince pies and mulled wine on Thursday 21st December, between 2pm and 5pm.

Saturday 23rd December: Kristmas Lego Klub The children will be making Lego lanterns for the All Saints Church Festival of Light at the November Lego Club (the last Saturday of the month – 26th November) - so put that date in your diaries too. Christmas opening times We will be open as usual on Saturday 23rd December and then we will be closed over the Christmas period. We will open again on Thursday 4th January. Be sure to stock up on books and jigsaws for the holiday period in case you get tired of old ﬁlms on the telly, or you need an escape from the festivities.

Get in touch – if you have any questions there are many ways to contact us: Phone: 01978 852627 Email: gresfordlibrary@hotmail.com Website: gresforddistrictcommunitylibrary.org.uk Facebook: @GresfordandDistrictCommunityLibrary Wrexham online catalogue: wales.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/wrexham_en

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Hwb Yr Orsedd Project ‘Hwb-Date’ The Hwb Yr Orsedd project received excellent news regarding funding from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund. This allows us to move forward with the project to demolish the toilet block and start building the community hub. We are currently going through the tender process to appoint contractors and have also applied and achieved charity status. There’s been a great deal of hard work and effort from a small group of local volunteers to date. We anticipate this work increasing as we progress the project and this will require more people becoming involved. We are particularly looking for people with skills and experience in the following areas: • Project management • Marketing and communications • Finance - VAT, general taxation, charity returns • Fundraising, including writing funding bid applications • General admin including minute taking.

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EssentialsMAG Tasty Recipe

Mussels, White Wine and Parsley SERVES 2 INGREDIENTS 1kg mussels, in shells small glass white wine 1 shallot, ﬁnely chopped chopped parsley, to serve

METHOD Tip the mussels into the sink or a large bowl of cold water. Swish them around with your hands to wash them thoroughly. Use a small sharp knife to scrape off any barnacles attached to the shells. Discard any mussels with broken shells. Pull off the beards using the knife to help you – they just need a good tug. The beard is the brown wispy bit hanging out of the join in the shells, but not all mussels will have beards. If any mussels are open, tap them sharply against the side of the sink, worktop or with a knife. If they don’t close, discard them – they are dead and not edible. Rinse the mussels again in fresh cold water to remove any bits of shell or barnacle, and drain in a colander. Tip the mussels into a large pan, then add the wine and chopped shallot. The pan should not be more than half full – the mussels need plenty of space to move around so that they cook thoroughly. Set the pan over a high heat and cover tightly with a lid. When the pan starts to steam, cook the mussels for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan from time to time to ensure they cook evenly. They are cooked when the shells have opened. Remove the pan from the heat to stop the mussels cooking any further. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, then spoon them into warmed bowls and pour over the pan juices. Service with French fries and crusty bread.

Trying out our recipe? Share your photos with us on Facebook @EssentialsMag Wrexham

Seasonal Treats in November

In November, the food scene is all about cosy, comforting ﬂavours. Here's a glimpse of what's in season during this month: Root Vegetables and Squash Think potatoes, carrots, and turnips. They're super tasty and perfect for roasting or making mashed potatoes. Butternut squash are also at their best. Roast them or turn them into soups for that hearty, Autumn feeling.

Venison Venison is a lean and ﬂavourful meat that can be used in a range of dishes, from steaks to slow-cooked stews. Lamb Lamb is available year-round, but it's especially good in the autumn months. You can ﬁnd cuts like lamb shoulder or leg for roasting or braising.

Cranberries These little guys add a tangy pop to your meals. They're great for making cranberry sauce or adding to baked goods.

Mussels November is a great time for mussels, when they are plump and at their best. Use them in a variety of dishes, including ‘moules marinières’ and seafood paella.

Apples Apples are still crisp and delicious in November. Make apple pies or enjoy them fresh as a snack.

Pollock Pollock is a sustainable ﬁsh that's in season in the UK during November. Enjoy it baked, grilled, or used in ﬁsh pies.

Citrus Oranges, grapefruits, and clementines start coming into season, adding a burst of freshness to your meals. Game Meat November marks the beginning of the game season in the UK, when pheasant, partridge, and wild duck are readily available. These meats have a rich, earthy ﬂavour and are often used in hearty stews, pies, and roasts.

November Shopping List Apples and Pears (late varieties), Quinces, Cranberries, Sloes, Figs. Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Leeks, Parsnips, Swedes, Turnips, Kale, Winter Squash (such as Butternut and Acorn Squash), Carrots, Beetroot, Chard, Spinach, Celery, Radishes, Shallots, Garlic.

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Business Advice Learning Hub By VICKY HEATHFIELD What is Colour Psychology? Colour psychology is the study of how different colours can affect human emotions, behaviour, and perceptions. Understanding the effects of colour on consumer behaviour is essential for businesses to create effective marketing strategies, as each colour can evoke speciﬁc feelings or associations. Here are some common interpretations of colours:

Orange is a colour of energy, enthusiasm, and friendliness. It can create a sense of excitement and fun, but it should be used in moderation as it can be overwhelming.

Red is often associated with passion, energy, and excitement. It can also represent love and intensity but may also signify danger or anger.

Black represents sophistication, power, and elegance. It can also signify mystery and formality, but too much black can be associated with negativity.

Blue is linked to calmness, trust, and serenity. It is often seen as a colour of stability and reliability, making it popular in corporate settings.

Grey is a neutral colour associated with balance and practicality. It can evoke feelings of professionalism and maturity but might also come across as dull or conservative.

Yellow is a colour of happiness, optimism, and warmth. It can evoke feelings of joy and enthusiasm, but in excess, it might lead to anxiety. Green symbolizes nature, growth, and balance. It's often associated with health, renewal, and tranquillity, making it a popular choice in eco-friendly and wellness industries. Purple is a colour of luxury, creativity, and spirituality. It can convey a sense of elegance and mystique, but it may also suggest extravagance.

Pink is often associated with love, compassion, and sensitivity. It's considered a soothing and nurturing colour, especially in its lighter shades.

Colour psychology is fascinating. By using colours strategically, businesses can differentiate themselves from competitors and ultimately achieve greater success.

Whether you’re starting a new business, working for yourself or managing a team, EssentialsMAG Learning Hub is home to a growing collection of jargon-free marketing and business resources. Visit: www.essentialsmag.co.uk/learning-hub By Vicky Heathﬁeld, Editor of EssentialsMAG vicky@essentialsmag.co.uk www.essentialsmag.co.uk Tel: 01978 855459

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Planning Your House Extension By IAN FOXALL Planning a house extension can be an exciting endeavour that can enhance your living space and property value. However, it's essential to navigate the planning application process carefully, as there are numerous factors to consider to ensure your project complies with local regulations and meets your speciﬁc needs. Permitted development rights Check if your proposed extension falls under permitted development rights, which allow certain extensions without the need for a full planning application. However, there are still restrictions, such as size limits and proximity to boundaries, that must be adhered to. Size and scale The size and scale of your extension should be proportionate to your existing property and surroundings. An overly large extension could face objections during the planning process. Neighbourhood consultation It's a good idea to discuss your plans with your neighbours. Their support can be valuable during the planning process, and addressing their concerns early can help avoid disputes later on. Environmental impact Think about the environmental impact of your extension. Sustainable features like energy-efﬁcient windows, insulation, and rainwater harvesting.

Building regulations Separate from planning permission, you will also need to comply with building regulations. These cover structural safety, energy efﬁciency, and other technical aspects of construction. Timelines and budget Establish realistic timelines and budgets for your project. Delays and unexpected costs can occur, so it's essential to have a contingency plan. Professional guidance Consider hiring an architect, builder, or planning consultant experienced in dealing with planning applications. Their expertise can be invaluable in navigating the process smoothly. Planning a house extension involves a complex process that requires careful consideration of various factors, from local regulations to design and budgeting. By approaching the project with diligence and seeking professional advice when needed, you can increase your chances of a successful and compliant extension that enhances your living space.

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Sarah Atherton MP Member of Parliament for Wrexham On 22nd September, Wrexham came together to honour the 266 men that lost their lives on the 89th anniversary of the Gresford Mining Disaster. We keep all of their families in our thoughts. Wrexham has a long and proud mining history, and I was pleased to see so many residents and representation from nine local schools at the old pit wheel, during a poignant service, to reflect on our history and the lives that were tragically lost in the disaster. After months of lobbying the UK Government and the Levelling Up Secretary, I am delighted that our new city has been awarded £20 million from the ‘Towns Fund’. Wrexham will receive £20 million to give the area long term certainty to deliver projects over 10 years and flexibility to invest locally on what matters to the people of our City. Wrexham Council will be responsible for delivering this fund by working with interested parties. In addition to this positive news, the Prime Minister announced the UK Government’s plans to electrify the North Wales Main Line, enabling stronger connections between Wales, London, and the North West. The redirection of the £1 billion initially allocated for HS2 towards this electrification project represents a substantial investment that will transform North Wales’ public transport infrastructure. Once completed, North Wales will be able to deliver faster, more dependable, and more frequent services for both local residents and visitors. This announcement

is yet another testament to the UK Government’s dedication to the prosperity and development of North Wales. Now it is time for Transport for Wales, run by the Welsh Government, to step up and improve the service from Wrexham to Chester. Lastly, I was delighted to spend a sunny Saturday at Wrexham Feast with hundreds of residents. The turnout was incredible, and Wrexham Feast is fast becoming one of the most popular festivals in North Wales. The festival was an excellent opportunity to chat with many local businesses and purchase some local goods – the chilli jam was a particular hit in my household! Well done to everyone involved – we are already excited for next year’s event. If you are a resident in the current Wrexham constituency and need my help with any issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email at sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.

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Leave the Leaves By EssentialsMAG environment contributor ROB RENOUF The beautiful colours of autumn all too soon become a carpet of leaves on the ground. However, we shouldn’t view these fallen leaves as just another chore for us they have important work to do and the best thing, from an environmental perspective, is to leave them alone. Feeding the soil Left to break down, leaves return vital nutrients to the soil. Removing them interrupts this natural cycle, harming the soil by starving it of nutrition. We may then end up spending money on fertiliser or compost; transport and packaging for which will create completely avoidable negative environmental impacts. If we remove leaves we’re effectively turning trees into giant hoovers that suck nutrients out of the soil, but can no longer replace them. Another option is to compost or mulch leaves - this can help nourish the soil, but isn’t as good for wildlife. Wildlife Fallen leaves provide an important habitat for many species during the winter months. This includes ones that really benefit our gardens, through pollination and managing populations of creatures we may find problematic. Creatures living in the leaves can also provide food for foraging birds. I love watching blackbirds picking through the leaves in our garden. Flower beds There’s usually no need to do anything with leaves in flower beds, unless

they’re completely covering plants. Fallen leaves suppress weeds and can help to maintain consistent levels of soil moisture. They also provide protection for perennials when temperatures drop. Lawns A few leaves on the lawn are unlikely to cause any harm. A really thick layer that remains in place for an extended period may create problems for the grass. The solution is often as simple as redistributing leaves to other parts of the garden where they’ll be more beneﬁcial. Don’t burn them Burning leaves (or anything else) is bad for the environment and human health. In addition to robbing your garden of nutrition, it creates air pollution and adds carbon to the atmosphere. Smoke is particularly dangerous for people with health conditions, such as asthma. In addition to being antisocial, bonﬁre smoke can prevent others from line drying washing, forcing them to waste energy using a tumble dryer. Best practice from an ecological standpoint is for leaves to be left whole, exactly where they fall. We can save ourselves work and money by just sitting back and watching nature do its thing.

EssentialsMAG environment contributor is Rob Renouf robsrenouf@gmail.com

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Alyn Family Doctors Latest News NHS Wales App Alyn Family Doctors is now connected to the NHS Wales App which will replace My Health Online. The NHS Wales App is a simple and secure way for patients to access a range of services on their mobile devices or a web browser. The app will be available in both Welsh and English. The app allows you to access a range of NHS services such as: • Check and cancel appointments • Order repeat prescriptions • See medication and immunisations • Get health advice from NHS 111 Wales • Manage blood and organ donation status • Discover other health and care services (links to screening services and wellbeing services). More NHS Wales features will be rolled out in future by Digital Health and Care Wales. The NHS Wales app is available online at https://app.nhs.wales/login and can also be downloaded on your smartphone or tablet via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. To use the app, patients must: • Be registered with a GP practice in Wales • Be aged 16 or over • Be able to prove their identity (photo ID e.g., passport or driving licence) • Have their own individual email address as the email address acts as a unique identiﬁer for NHS login account.

My Health Online will be decommissioned in December 2023 and any electronic prescription requests will need to be made via the NHS app. If you wish to order a prescription on behalf of a patient that is under the age of 16 or that you care for, please submit this via the Klinik system. The following website has detailed guidance for patients to help use the app. https://apphelp.nhs.wales Here you will find guidance on: • NHS login • Biometrics (finger, face or iris login) • Managing notification preferences • Prescriptions • How to get urgent medical care (NHS Wales 111 and 999 services). If you have a technical problem with the app or want to give feedback about the app in general, you can send feedback within the app using the feedback button. If you are having problems with your NHS login account, visit the NHS login Help Centre: www.login.nhs.uk

Tel: 0333 332 3260 www.alynfamilydoctors.co.uk www.facebook.com/alynfamilydoctors

Lesley Griffiths MS Member of the Senedd for Wrexham In a previous EssentialsMAG column, I highlighted how Ken Skates MS and I have been taking a stand against Euro Car Parks, the private firm that operates the car park at Island Green Shopping Centre in Wrexham city centre. Despite managing to get some parking charge notices overturned, constituents are still contacting us complaining about unfair fines. It is clear shoppers are avoiding Island Green and this is negatively impacting the businesses. The unscrupulous practices of private car park operators is a nationwide problem and the UK Government recently reacted by launching a consultation which may lead to greater regulation around these faceless, seemingly unaccountable companies. The deadline has now passed, but I provided a thorough response to the consultation on behalf of my constituents. I hope UK ministers will be forced to act and this work will lead to lasting change. I will, of course, continue to monitor the situation. This year, Macmillan Cancer Support celebrated its 33rd annual Macmillan Coffee Morning event. Sadly, cancer affects the lives of so many of us but Macmillan’s flagship fundraiser offers the chance for people to get together every year and collectively raise millions of pounds to help combat the disease. Coffee Mornings are organised in homes, schools, workplaces and community centres and every cup raised and cake baked supports the charity’s incredible

Talwyd costau’r cyhoeddiad hwn gan Gomisiwn y Senedd, o gronfeydd cyhoeddus / The costs of this publication have been met by the Senedd Commission from public funds.

work in Wrexham and across Wales. The money ensures Macmillan can keep doing whatever it takes to help people living with cancer. This year, in addition to attending a special event at the Senedd, I, along with Welsh Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Wrexham, Andrew Ranger, hosted our own Macmillan Coffee Morning at Acton Community Resource Centre. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped raise money for such a worthy cause. Finally, students from St. Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School in Wrexham recently visited the Senedd. It was lovely to catch up and I hope everyone enjoyed their time down in Cardiff. If any Wrexham school or youth group is interested in visiting the Senedd, there are travel subsidies available. All the information can be found online. As always, if you’re a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Tel: 01978 355743 Lesley.Griffiths@senedd.wales www.lesleygriffiths.co.uk Facebook & Twitter: @lesley4wrexham

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Financial News with Hadlow Edwards By WARREN HADLOW

Will I need long-term care one day? There is a good chance that you, or a loved one, will need long- or short-term social care in the future, so thinking about the costs up front could mean less stress if you do end up needing it. There is no way of predicting whether you may or may not need care before the end of your life, either in your own home or a residential care home, but it can be a huge expense that can make a big difference to the amount of money that you will have available to pass on to your family and loved ones once you are gone. In 2021, the NHS estimated that 24% of men and 28% of women over the age of 65 needed help with at least one daily

living task1 (met by paid carers or unpaid), and over half of those over 80 need help or care in some way. So, how much might you need to pay for care? Currently, the estimated cost of a week in a UK residential care home is around £760, with an additional £200 needed if nursing care is also required2. Some fees even reach £1,250 per week in some parts of the UK. Paying for care doesn’t just impact the person receiving the care. In some cases, family members might decide to give up work to care for a parent full time and, the more money that is spent on social care, the less your estate will be worth. There is a misconception that long-term care is paid for by the state and covered

By Warren Hadlow of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk Tel: 01978 311 611 www.hadlowedwards.co.uk

by the NHS however, this is not the case. Preparing yourself for the possibility of going into care is the best way to putting yourself in a position to be able to pay for that care if it does happen. How can you prepare yourself for the possibility of going into care? There are small groups at either end of the scale: those that have plenty enough money to afford any care they need, and those that qualify to receive assistance from the state. Then there is the large group in the middle that will have to selffund their care and may not have enough to pay for what they need. The most important thing to do is to seek professional ﬁnancial advice, even if it seems like a long time until care is

needed. It shouldn’t be a huge worry but building it into your ﬁnancial plans, as with planning for retirement or preparing for other life events, can certainly help you look towards the future you imagine with more conﬁdence. If you would like to discuss planning for your later life, or any other life events, please get in touch via: hadlowedwards.co.uk/contact, or via phone on: 01978 311611.

Source: 1 NHS Digital, 16th May 2023 (Accessed 13th October 2023) 2

Carehome, 18th September 2023 (Accessed 13th October 2023)

Hugh Jones & Ross Shepherd Councillors for Rossett Street Lighting Street Scene are working to ensure that any blocked or obscured lighting is made good - some of our current lights have been blocked by over grown trees and shrubbery. This is particularly important during this part of the year as the days continue to become shorter. HWB yr Orsedd Good news that the team have secured the amazing sum of £574,000 from the UK Government through the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund for our community. They can now proceed with the development of the new community hub on the site of the disused public toilets in Rossett Park. Blocked drains Council workers are continuing to attend to blocked drains throughout the ward. They are aware of certain areas where water is slow to drain away from roads and paths after heavy downpours and these hotspots will continue to be cleared.

For up to the minute information about refuse collections, please see the direct emails which are sent out from Wrexham Council. If you are not already signed up to this service please follow the instructions directly from www.wrexham.gov.uk to be added to the list. This will keep you updated in terms of which bins are being collected as and when. The strike is also impacting on other services from environment including grass cutting. Former Spar Post Ofﬁce, Station Road A number of concerns have been raised regarding the design of the frontage, which has been erected without planning approval. Ofﬁcers have ensured that a formal application has now been submitted and this will be subject to the usual consultation process. As always please feel free to contact either of us by phone or email.

Refuse Collections The ongoing strike continues to create difﬁculties and the Environment Team are working incredibly hard with very limited resources. Temporarily we have moved to a three-weekly collection cycle. A further evaluation of our ability to collect green bins is being looked at.

Hugh: Tel: 07769 706999 hugh.jones@wrexham.gov.uk Ross: Tel: 07715 473776 ross.shepherd@wrexham.gov.uk

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Beryl Blackmore - Deputy Mayor & Councillor for Marford & Hoseley It is well over a year since I won the seat as County Councillor for your Ward as a Welsh Liberal Democrat. I am still a member of that party but chose to ask to join the meetings of the Independent Party as I wanted to be fully involved and felt this would not work sitting as the only Liberal Democrat member. I thought I would write with details of what my role has involved in that time. I sit as a Scrutiny Member on Lifelong Learning, Employment, Business and Investment Committee, Grievance Committee, and Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny. I am a Trustee of Clybiau Plant Kids Clubs, Family/Friends and TEMPS Out of School Club. Most recently, Deputy Mayor for 2023 2024. I attend the full Council’s meetings and ﬁt in, as I can, other meetings, of which I am not a member, along with many training events, including visiting outside organisations.

Over the next year, top of the agenda will be improving poor pavements, pot holes and Marford Hill, which needs the high trees cutting back to make the whole length lighter, and cut back trees/bushes around the zebra crossing as the area is too dark. Just to ﬁnish, here’s a suggestion to residents of Wynnstay Lane who may be having work carried out involving lorries visiting - if possible point out that Pistyll Hill is limited access. The best route to take to drop goods off is by turning left after Hoseley Lane. Sat Navs are sending them the wrong way! I look forward to another year of representing you. As always, contact can be made by a visit on a Tuesday to Gresford Methodist Church for a chat and coffee between 10:15am and 11:30am.

I am also still a Community Councillor on Gresford Community Council - a role spanning more than 25 years - which meets monthly. Living locally, I am able to visit the ward and connect with residents. I cannot solve every problem and may not always share your view, but I will listen and endeavour to represent your views at relevant levels. Tel: 07933 201731 beryl.blackmore@wrexham.gov.uk

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Jeremy Kent Councillor for Gresford How is it November? The dark evenings have become the norm, and now that Halloween has passed, we are all no doubt thinking towards Christmas… which reminds me to book the sleigh for Santa’s Annual Village Tour. Keep an eye out for dates to be announced. The date for Santa’s Grotto at the Artisan Market has been conﬁrmed for Sunday 3rd December so please do come along. As I write this, there are a number of issues affecting the village and I will use this space to cover them, but note that the deadline for print may mean that there have been some updates which haven’t quite made it to this article. Bin strikes Wrexham County Borough Council environment workers have been on strike, on and off since the middle of September, and this has caused an issue with refuse collections. I have been trying to ensure that the latest updates are shared on the village and ‘Gresford News’ Facebook page. To meet the demand, there have been changes to the collection schedule, please refer to the Council website: www.wrexham.gov.uk/service/when-aremy-bins-collected I know many are concerned that they have paid for the garden waste collections and these have not been undertaken in this period. I know that the Lead Member is aware of this issue and that there will be discussions about the delivery of this service.

Anti-social behaviour It was this time last year that I was writing about the vandalism to the Silhouette Solider on the edge of the village (by the wooden bell), as well as the dog statues that were destroyed on Old Wrexham Road, and how this pointless vandalism only causes distress to others and wastes police time. Many will be aware that in October there was a large amount of vandalism to parked cars on Pant Lane and surrounding streets. I have been in regular contact with the Police Inspector and we are both keen to see those that are responsible, caught and dealt with. If you have any concerns regarding antisocial behaviour, please report it to North Wales Police on: 101 (999 in emergencies). Upcoming Events As we enter November, there will undoubtedly be a number of ﬁrework displays around the village, as well as private events. Organisers of events are aware of the need to mitigate issues as far as practicable when it comes to parking etc. Please do what you can to ease matters and be patient when these short term enjoyable events take place.

Tel: 07832 211085 Jeremy.Kent@wrexham.gov.uk

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Legal Advice By Wendy Marles, a Senior Solicitor and Head of Residential Property Buying a new build house – when to appoint a solicitor and apply for a mortgage There are many new housing developments springing up across England and Wales, but the process of buying new build property is quite different to buying older residential properties – particularly if you also have a property to sell. And timing is key to everything. As new build homes are usually sold off plan (prior to the property being completed or even built), on agreeing to purchase the Developer will ask for a reservation fee which you will forfeit if you later pull out of the purchase. If you go on to exchange contracts and complete your purchase, then the reservation fee will be credited against the purchase price. Upon reserving the property the selling Developer will require your solicitor’s details for their reservation form. Contract papers will be issued to your solicitor, and you will be required to enter into a legal binding agreement within a prescribed timeframe. Early appointment of a solicitor is therefore essential. If you require a mortgage, you must obtain a mortgage offer before exchange of contracts to ensure that you can borrow sufﬁcient monies to enable completion on your purchase. In the pre-contract stage searches

will be undertaken, the title will be investigated, and checks on planning and building regulation documentation and warranties will be made. Be aware that if there is a long period of time between exchange and completion, your mortgage offer may expire, and you may need to extend or obtain a new offer in time for completion. Similarly, searches may need to be repeated if they go out of date. Once the property build is completed, the Developer will serve a Notice giving the Buyer around 10 days to complete on the purchase. This notice is accompanied usually by a cover note from the company providing a warranty, and a Building Regulation compliance certiﬁcate. You will be required to pay your deposit for the purchase of the property at the exchange of contracts stage - usually 10% of the purchase price. Whilst you will not receive a move in date as completion will be on notice, you should be given a target date for completion. The contract often contains a long stop date. If you pull out of the purchase prior to the expiry of the long stop date you will lose your deposit unless it is because the Developer has not fulﬁlled its obligations, in which case you may be entitled to reclaim your deposit. Your conveyancer will guide you through the process of purchasing a new build property and ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible.

This article has been written by By Wendy Marles, a Senior Solicitor and Head of Residential Property at GHP Legal.

Tel: 01978 291456 www.ghplegal.com

All Saints’ School

Open Day

ADMISSIONS - SEPTEMBER 2024 Choosing the right school for your child is a very important decision and we warmly invite you to visit our school to support you in making that decision The admissions window for Reception entry in September 2024 (children aged 4 by 31/08/2024) will open in late September 2023 The admissions window for Nursery entry in September 2024 (children aged 3 by 31/08/2024) will open in January 2024

We will be holding our second Open Day of the new school year on Wednesday 22nd November for you to come and visit our school, meet staff and see our excellent facilities ﬁrst hand Headteacher tours of the school will take place at: 10am, 1:30pm and 5pm

To reserve a place, email: mailbox@allsaints-pri.wrexham.sch.uk

St. Peter's Playscheme

St. Peter’s School

St. Peter’s Church in Wales Primary School in Rossett, for children aged 3 - 11 Wrap around childcare at St. Peter’s Primary School, Rossett We offer wrap around childcare for all our pupils, including those of nursery age. We are open from 7:45am to 5:30pm during term time. We also offer childcare during the school holidays.

St Peter's Playscheme For details contact Mrs Sophie Cannon

07958 915685 playscheme381@gmail.com

At St. Peter’s School we combine the traditions and expectations of a good standard of education, behaviour and self-discipline, with the latest curricular developments together with the development of skills and characteristics which will be needed in the future.

Come and explore our school!

Applications for Nursery places for September 2023 are now open and available on the Wrexham Council website. Please ring the school on: 01244 570594 to make an appointment and see our wonderful setting.

stpeters-pri.wrexham.sch.uk St-Peters-Primary-School-Rossett

@stpetersrossett

Useful Numbers ANIMAL CARE Daleside Veterinary Farndon Kennels & Cattery Gatehouse Veterinary Green Lane Veterinary Park Lane Kennels Rhyd Broughton Veterinary RSPCA Vets4Pets

01978 311 881 01829 270 198 01244 570 364 01244 683 858 01978 852 914 01978 720 362 0300 1234 999 01978 352 499

COUNCILS Cheshire West & Chester Wrexham

0300 123 8 123 01978 292 000

DOCTORS Alyn Family Doctors Farndon Village Surgery Marches Medical Practice Strathmore Medical Practice NHS Direct

03333 323 260 01829 771 588 01244 520 615 01978 352 055 111

DENTISTS Bridge End Dental Practice Chapel Cottage Dental Practice Rossett Dental Care Springﬁeld Dental Care

01978 762 030 01978 854 745 01244 571 544 01978 851 300

OPTICIANS Gresford Eyecare

01978 855 828

HOSPITALS Countess of Chester Wrexham Maelor

01244 365 000 01978 291 100

LEISURE CENTRES Gwyn Evans Northgate Arena Plas Madoc

01978 269 540 01244 380444 01978 821 600

LOCAL FACILITIES 3C Pest Control Adult Social Services Citizens Advice Foodbank - Chester Foodbank - Wrexham Recycling Centre - Chester Recycling Centre - Tattenhall Recycling Centre - Whitchurch Recycling Centre - Wrexham Samaritans

01948 838 111 01978 292 066 0300 330 1178 0151 355 7730 07538 547971 01244 372 764 01829 771 337 0345 678 9007 01978 292 000 116 123

In an EMERGENCY always dial 999 For your local POLICE STATION in a NON EMERGENCY dial 101

LOCAL SERVICES Air Ambulance - Wales Fire & Rescue - Cheshire Fire & Rescue - North Wales Environment Agency Natural Resources Wales Severn Trent Water Welsh Water

0300 0152 999 01606 868 700 01745 535 250 03708 506 506 0300 065 3000 0800 783 4444 0800 052 0130

LIBRARIES Chester Library at Storyhouse Gresford Library Llay Library Overton Library Wrexham Library

01244 409 113 01978 852 627 01978 855 100 01978 710 557 01978 292 090

SCHOOLS & NURSERIES Abbey Gate College All Saints’ Primary School Benison Nursery School Bishop Heber High School Dandelions Day Nursery Darland High School Dodleston Pre-School Dodleston C E Primary School Eccleston Primary School Farndon Primary School Gresford Playgroup Holt Primary School Holt Under 5’s Playgroup Leaps and Bounds Pre-school Little Scholars Nursery Marford Playgroup Rhosnesni High School Rossett House Nursery St. Paul's VA Primary School St. Peters Primary School Shocklach Primary School The Catholic High School The Homestead Day Nursery The King’s School The Maelor School The Queen’s School The Rofft Primary School The Spinney Day Nursery Ysgol Bryn Alyn

01244 332 077 01978 852 342 01244 676 199 01948 860 571 01829 272 277 01244 570 588 01244 661 611 01244 662 990 01244 981 000 01244 981 280 07523 398 880 01829 270 021 07496 231 275 01244 678 997 01978 314 912 07947 473857 01978 340 840 01244 571 872 01978 661 556 01244 570 594 01829 250 285 01244 981 600 01978 853 946 01244 689 500 01948 830 291 01244 312 078 01978 853 116 01244 577 948 01978 720 700

TRAVEL National Rail Enquiries Traveline

03457 48 49 50 0871 200 22 33

All Saints’ School

Gresf漀d

Ysgol yr Holl Saint - All Saints' School in Gresford is a Church in Wales Primary School for children aged 3 - 11.

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playgroup@allsaints-pri.wrexham.sch.uk www.gresfordallsaints.co.uk/wrap-around-care-1 REGISTERED FOR THE 30 HOUR CHILDCARE OFFER AND TAX FREE CHILDCARE

ils

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Offering high-quality childcare all year, including school holidays (except Christmas) for children aged 2-11 years

fo Dis r co us OA un t fo rd P et ’s a

To ﬁnd out more about our school, or to arrange a visit, please contact us on: 01978 852342 or email: mailbox@allsaints-pri.wrexham.sch.uk

AT ALL SAINTS' SCHOOL

-A sk

We are a forward thinking and innovative school, combining curriculum and teaching excellence with traditional values. Our school leads a number of national and local priorities, ensuring our pupils have every opportunity to succeed.

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Puzzle Page... Just For Fun Crossword ACROSS 1 Wharf (4) 3 Slope (8) 9 Not outside (7) 10 Not clearly stated (5) 11 Pavement edges (5) 12 Food pantries (7) 13 Large birds of prey (6) 15 Flammable material used to light a ﬁre (6) 17 Market a product (7) 18 This follows day (5) 20 Religious acts (5) 21 Hot wind (7) 22 Waterside area (8) 23 Very large book (4)

DOWN 1 Easily angered (5-8) 2 Tree of the birch family (5) 4 Steal livestock (6) 5 Designed to distract (12) 6 Intellectual (7) 7 Hidden store of valuables (8,5) 8 In a carefree manner (12) 14 Costing (anag) (7) 16 Tricky question (6) 19 Type of lizard (5)

If you want to ﬁnd out the answers they will be published in next month’s edition. Here are the answers from October:

Classic Sudoku

ROSSETT HOUSE NURSERY Contact us today to arrange a visit ‐ 01244 571872 info@rossetthousenursery.co.uk Rossett House Nursery, Llay Road, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0HT

- FRED DONALDSON

“Children learn as they play; most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn.”