NEWS&VIEWS 253

Showing our true colours

Welcome back dear reader and welcome to our annual review of the shows, fairs, exhibitions and events of another busy summer in our beautiful corner of the world.

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And so to business. Shows! Lots of shows, exhibitions and events (social and artistic and craft) and the good people who give their time to organise and visit are featured in this issue. Read on for reports on the Llanferres Gardening Club, Cilcain, Llanarmon and Llandegla Shows as well as the Eryrys LocalArtists Pop-Up Gallery which all passed off with great fanfare over the summer.

Read about local business success stories, local club and church news and find out how you can help one young person beat the Three Peaks Challenge later this year.

As usual. Thanks to all who contribute, distribute and advertise with us. And Thank you, dear reader, for picking the magazine up.

Sandrine and Dominic

Hidden Talents pop-up Gallery in Eryrys

Come inside the “Hidden Talents” event with Georgina Bell, its visionary organiser. Here she unveils her motivation to lift Eryrys and highlight its local artists and how they foster community engagement.

Why did you decide to organise this Hidden Talents event?

Several reasons - wanting to promote Eryrys, it’s pub and community hall , and local artists - because we are hoping the pub will become a community pub, the area is becoming a National Park, and there are so many artists

locally who have struggled through covid - we wanted to showcase these talents in our Community Hall.

What were the biggest challenges to connect a network of local crafters and artists?

Trying to reach those artists not knowing who was out

there! I relied mainly on Facebook groups and word of mouth and local advertising.

There are a great number of very talented artists exhibiting! Can you tell something about the local arts scene?

We have learnt through this exhibition just how many amazing artists and crafters there are and we only had space for 14! It seems that there is a thriving community of talent and the title Hidden Talent was very apt as we had

no idea how much talent there is so locally.

There is so much on show. Where you happy with how the day unfolded?

The event went incredibly well - the room was full from opening to closing and lots of interaction between the public and the exhibitors. We were overwhelmed by how many people came.

How many people visited the pop-up Gallery? What was their reaction?

We think about 250 people came and the reaction was incredible- so many wonderful comments.

Has there been any sales from the exhibited artwork?

All the exhibitors made sales and were delighted with the day.

What is your next event?

We have a waiting list of exhibitors and the feedback seems to suggest an annual Hidden Talent Pop up Gallery would be very popular.

Can you tell us about your own artistic activity?

I have been painting for nearly 30 years. I work mainly in pastels and watercolours

and take commissions for animal portraits as well as other subjects by request. In between commissions I work on paintings to sell , some of which  can be found on my website as well as at my summerhouse studio in Eryrys.

www.paintingbygeorge.co.uk

By George Animal Portraits & Paintings

Sophie Parkhill Passion for Wildlife

Sophie Parkhill is a young North Wales artist of some Renown and with an inspirational story. From self-taught beginnings, her art flourished during a challenging pregnancy, leading to acclaimed exhibitions and awards worldwide. Discover her vibrant wildlife realism and support her conservation-focused creations during the Clwydian Creative Art Trail.

Your pieces seem so alive. What training have you received to get to this level of proficiency?

For the most part, I am a self taught artist, with the extent of my art qualifications stopping at GCSE level, which was around 15 years ago! As a teenager, I dabbled in pet portraits for friends & family, but this was mainly for a bit of extra money and was nothing too serious at the time. It was during a difficult pregnancy in 2019/2020 that I had to leave my 2 part time jobs and began painting again to fill the time! With the help of Jason Morgan (another incredible

Welsh wildlife artist on Patreon & Youtube) I quickly found my love for realism in wildlife art. Over the next few years, I began to take my work more seriously, entering competitions and exhibitions across the UK and global competitions online. My first big achievement was in 2021, when the Royal Society of Marine Artists accepted my pastel painting “Crabtivated” in the London Mall Galleries. For such a prestigious venue, this was a huge moment in the beginning of my art career. I have since won over 30 awards including the overall winner of the 2022 “All Womens” art

show with Light Space & Time (worldwide), the Inaugural Chairmans Award 2023 & the Best In Show 2022 (both with the Association of Animal Artists). Joining art associations has also helped massively, and I’ve even found that lots of people who chat to me during events, actually already know of me, through the associations i’m in. These include the Association of Animal Artists, Pastel Guild of Europe, The SAA& ARTNorthWales. During the beginning of this year, I held my first ever guest solo exhibition at the Artworks2 Gallery in Betws-Y-Coed! I’m lucky enough to have been offered a 1 year residency with them… range of cards for sale every month to the more local area.

What is your working method, and what are your favourite materials?

Originally my go to medium was soft pastels, however, I’m also an asthmatic and I’ve definitely found that my asthma gets aggravated the longer i’m working on a pastel painting. For this reason, I’ve started to learn more about acrylic painting over the past year, and I have grown to love it!

I work with only the top brands of art supplies, and this is for the purpose of ensuring that all of my paintings have the best lightfastness & archival qualities. For my pastel works I use brands like Unison, Caran’D’Ache, Sennelier, Rembrandt, Carbothello & Faber Castell, and Clairefontaine Pastelmat. For framing, I send all of my pastels to the wonderful Ian Grant Design in Rhyl centre, who for the past 3-4 years, has been a magician when framing my works for all of my exhibitions! In terms of my working method, I

work based on reference images of wildlife, with photographers to purchase the rights to use their images of wildlife for paintings, or I visit places like Chester Zoo & even just walking along the welsh coastline.

What is your most successful work?

I would say my most successful artwork from a sales perspective would definitely be my snow leopard mother & cub titled “A Bond Like No Other”. The original painting sold before it was even ¼ complete, and the limited edition prints have been the most popular item, and have already almost sold out now. It’s also my most popular greetings card design, so all in all, it’s definitely been, in my followers eyes, my best work. However, my favourite subjects are the lesser known, vibrant creatures such as my Sally Lightfoot Crab

“Crabtivated” and “Red Eyed Tree Frog”. Being able to get the brighter colours out every once in a while, and remind the world that there is more to our wildlife than just big cats & birds, fills me with joy!

What does it mean to be an artist in North Wales?

I’m proud to be an artist in North Wales, and especially a member of ARTNorthWales, which is gaining traction and has even been contacted for TV shows over the past couple of years. Much of the art world has always been heavily focussed on big cities like London & Manchester, but we’re now in an era where collectors can find a whole world of artists online, so I think it’s important to try and push the area you live in, rather than move to the cities to try and be seen (without any guarantee!). North Wales is getting a lot more noticed in terms of creators recently, which is also helped with the Clwydian Creatives who organise a yearly art trail of open studios throughout Flintshire & Denbighshire. This year is my first open studio event, as a member, so it’s going to be really exciting!

I also love, in a bittersweet kind of way, that I’m one of only a couple of North Wales based artists in the whole of the

Association of Animal Artists. I’m proud to represent North Wales in their exhibitions, however it also really proves how art is definitely pushed more towards to larger cities & the south of the UK in particular, where a huge chunk of the members are based.

Is the path of an artist to live from their art difficult?

Unfortunately, it absolutely can be difficult during the beginning of any artists career. The term “starving artists” is well known, and it can very much be true, but I’ve also come to learn that it can be overcome! For an artist to really be successful, it’s not as simple as being good at painting, sculpting or drawing. You have to be willing to put all hours in to really learn about how to run a business.

An artist is not simply an artist if they want to make a living from their work. They’re a one man marketing team,  printing team,

packaging team, web team, sales team, design team etc. There’s a huge amount that goes into an art business, and it can be very overwhelming to begin with. To incorporate all of these aspects of the job, into an artists pricing, can also often seem like too much from an outsider perspective, and so it does make it difficult for emerging artists to feel confident and comfortable in selling their work.

What do you propose to people who would like to support your work ?

For original and commission work, you can find all prices and sizes on my website at www.spwildlifeart.com. As an idea, my original prices begin at a really afforable £150 for my smallest original 6 x 6 inch artworks, including framing. I have lots of different sizes & prices available for originals, going all the way up to a huge 130 x 100cm acrylic painting of

a herd of African Elephants. The original of this one is available exclusively through www. africawildlifeart.com for £5,900. It took over 5 months to complete, and 50% of the cost goes directly into wildlife conservation work through the Invicta Wildlife Fund. (Whilst we’re on the topic of supporting conservation work, I always donate a portion of any original painting to a relative charity or rescue centre. Most recently a % of all of my big cat artworks goes to Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, and bird paintings to RSPB etc.)

You exhibited as part of the Hidden Talents Pop-up Gallery in Eryrys, how did it go? It was a wonderful little event and I was thrilled to have so many people stop to talk to me about my work, with many compliments over the course of the day. I often find that the smaller events are a lot more successful than larger events, and this did not disappoint.

People will soon be able to see you in your workspace as part of the Clwydian Creative art trail. What do you like about this event? This is actually my first year taking part in this event, as we have a lovely new house which I’m lucky enough to have my own studio in, finally! A lot of people during my events such as Eryrys have taken the trail maps, so it’s looking like its going to be a wonderful month.  You can visit my studio, which is going to be open Friday-Sunday each weekend in September. (Please note: I will not be open on the 29th & 30th).

clwydian-creatives-art-trail. business.site/

Guy FawkesCelebration 2023

Saturday 4th November Starting at 3.30pm Guy Fawkes Competition Lantern parade & Fireworks Display

in Llanferres Village Hall & Llanferres Park

*Children activities, Lantern making, Arts & Crafts, prizes for Raffles, Planting bulbs in a pot, HOT FOOD & DRINKS ON SALE...

£3

*Additional costs on the day

All proceeds to Llanferres Playing Field & Recreation Association

WITH THE

Felting Artists Unveiling the Wonders of Wool

Every year during September, the free Clwydian Creative Art Trail event takes place across Flintshire & Denbighshire with around 22 studios hosting 70 artisans. Part of this network is the North Wales Felt Group. The best place to discover them will be on the 16th & 17th Sept in Rhuddlan, where you will be captivating by the rich heritage of wool, its intricate transmission through generations, and the wonders it holds.

On a picturesque summer afternoon, we convened with the North Wales Felt group, comprised of esteemed members including Ronnie Wood, Helen Melvin, Clairrie Flavell, Diana Bruce, Joy Wells, and Jean Pugh. Our gathering took place at Jenny Pritchard’s idyllic farm, where we engaged in

a vibrant exchange of artistry and concepts related to heritage skills woven from the finest wool. Our discussions centered around not only the mastery of these age-old techniques but also the vital significance of promoting awareness concerning transmission and the sustainable utilization of local wool resources.

Ronnie Wood the Designer

When did the North Wales Felt group start?

I set up the North Wales Feltmakers in 2017 as we felt that there must be lots of feltmakers in North Wales but we knew of very few, so we put posters out and got in touch with creative groups online and initially managed to create a small group of feltmakers.  Over the past few years we have marketed the group, had exhibitions and lots of interesting workshops and raised the membership to over 40.

There is an extensive network connecting feltmakers in the UK and around the

world, could you say a word about it?

Our group joined the International Feltmakers Association several years ago as one of four feltmaking groups in the North West Region.  Lesley King, one of the regional organisers of the IFA, is also a member of our group and regularly comes over for meetings. She is also coming to demonstrate feltmaking to the visitors at our Art Trail weekend. Individual membership of the IFA opens up a network of exciting events taking place online and all over the world, not to mention providing a really well written magazine. It opens your eyes to what different types of feltmaking are being done in different countries.

When did you start to be interested in Wool craft and felting particularly?

I was a painter originally but a work colleague invited me to go along to some textile workshops with her and I really enjoyed them.  We joined the Embroiderers’ Guild and among the many professional textile artists I met and had workshops with, was a feltmaker called Helen Melvin.  Felting just took me over, as it is very tactile and I could make landscapes using my background painting knowledge but also produce lots of 3-dimensional items too.  I am still learning after feltmaking for at least 15 years.

What is your process to create your lovely bags and purses ?

I suppose I have skills from my background of painting (BA in Illustration), from textile work, stitching and from the many felting workshops I have at-

covers etc. and there are so many UK wool perfect for this.

tended.  I also joined Artybird, Carnforth, for a City & Guilds course in Feltmaking which I attended over 5 years. The process of feltmaking involves the laying out of fine layers of wool vertically, then horizontally overlapping to the required thickness needed for the end felt. Decorative silk, wool or other animal fibres, or suitable fabrics can be added before sprinkling soapy water over it all, gently rubbing to start the felting process, then rolling until it becomes a solid felt. A resist, usually plastic based, is used to make a three dimensional item such as a bag or a vase cover and specific wools are needed to provide strength to the end product and it has to be very well felted to be serviceable. This entails extra rolling, heating and dropping, until the felt has shrunk and become really strong.

Where do you get the wool ?

I buy most of my wool from an

“I prefer to make bags, purses, hangings, vase

I love the earthy colours from the natural wools.”

Ronnie Wood

online store called ‘World of Wool’ in Huddersfield as they provide 100g bags of washed and carded wool in a huge variety of breeds and colours. There are other online stores too. I buy fleeces from various sources: some locally from farmers I get in touch with at agricultural shows, some from Wool festivals where they sell bags of fleece directly from farmers and some just turn up out of the blue from our members who know farmers.  The best outlet was ‘Woolfest’ which was an annual festival of wool in Cockermouth but unfortunately this has now closed down. The wool tops vary from £3 plus for dyed wool tops to £1.50 ish for 100g bags of natural wool.  Plus postage and packing of course.  Fleeces can be anything from £5 to £50 depending on the breed of sheep.  Those with long curly locks such as Wensleydale are the most expensive.

How important is it to develop and support local wool production?

The more felting I have done, the more I resisted buying imported wool and especially Merino. Merino is the easiest to felt with and is also the softest of wools to make articles which are next to the skin such as a fine felt scarf. It also felts up with silk fabric beautifully to create nuno-felt. Our nearest UK equivalent is Blue Faced Leicester, but unfortunately it is not nearly as soft a fibre as Merino.

However, I prefer to make bags, purses, hangings, vase covers etc. and there are so

many UK wool perfect for this.  I also love the earthy colours from the natural wools which vary from off white through the creams, greys, browns and to black.  As feltmakers, we all know about the plight of the sheep farmers who lose £2 per sheep from shearing through to selling each fleece to the Wool Marketing Board.  I can understand why so many farmers end up piling up their fleece in a field and leaving it to rot.

It just doesn’t make sense.  When I go abroad, especially to France, there seem to be lots of farmers’ co-operatives selling meat, rather than it all going to the supermarkets, which doesn’t seem to have caught on in the UK.  If the co-operatives also sold fleeces we, as feltmakers or spinners and weavers, would know where to go to buy the fleeces we wanted.

Why do you expose your work through the Clwydian Creative Art Trail?

I joined in the original ‘Helfa Gelf’ Art Trail from the first year it set off in Clwyd, through to when it finished two years ago.  Thankfully, The Clwydian Creatives Art Trail, which was part of the Helfa Gelf group of artists, carried on in their area and have set up a thriving network of Open Studios which run each September.  It is a brilliant way to showcase an artist’s work or a group of artists.  There are so many visitors who come back year after year and are really interested in the method of feltmaking, so we also find new members

joining us after the event too. I am passionate about feltmaking and most of our members are too, so it follows that we love to pass on those skills to the rest of the group.  When we meet up we have specific workshops on ‘making a bag, nuno-felting, landscape felting etc. but even when we are just having a general felting day, we all pass on our individual skills and share equipment and materials.

If we don’t pass on skills to a younger generation, then we lose those skills.  I have also run feltmaking workshops at Bodnant Garden for children (and their parents), and for the Young Embroiderers Group when I was a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild. Young children love felting and are amazed to produce a solid brooch, purse or picture at the end of a shortish session.

Jenny Pritchard the Farmer

Why, as a farmer, did you decide to join the group?

Farming is a lonely business and the felt group gives me the opportunity to spend time with like minded people and improve my skills. I also attend the Clwyd Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers.

The International Feltmakers’ Association is world wide and will be represented at the forthcoming Clwydian Creatives event in Rhuddlan, where visitors will have the opportunity to make a small piece of felt and to join the North Wales Felters group.

When did you start to be interested in Wool craft and what are your special skills?

I have a life long interest. I’ve loved sheep since a toddler (see my Facebook profile photo!) and learned to knit aged 5. I ran a knitwear business during the eighties and I really like knitting machines, especially old ones.

Your wool is not run of the mill. Tell us about the wool you produce?

My wool is primarily high welfare and that is the priority for me. I have a no kill policy and no one ends up in an abattoir. It is also sustainable and low mileage as it is both produced and processed entirely by me on the farm.

What is the process involved in creating your rugs or sheepskins? It’s quite a long process involving using washed and carded wool and felting it to raw (unwashed) fleece. There’s probably getting on for two days work in a felted fleece. The time can be reduced considerably by buying in carded wool and by taking short cuts but I prefer 100% of the product to come from the farm and I make sure each rug is sturdy and well felted. Can I just point out that I don’t have sheep skins, (which are a product of slaughter) as all my rugs are made solely from fleece produced here on the farm and the sheep are still happily in the field munching grass and growing a new fleece.

Why do you think it is important to develop and support local wool production?

Although I do not personally farm sheep for meat now, I have done in the past, and I one hundred per cent support local farming and food production. Shearing is a welfare issue and farmers have no option other than to shear. At present, their wool income fails to cover the cost of shearing and this is a disaster both for local farming economy and for wider sustainability. Wool is a natural product with very many qualities and is failing to reach its potential as a replacement for man made, non recyclable products due to lack of effective marketing and experimentation.

What will people be able to see by visiting your group in Rhuddlan, the 16-17th sept?

I like to put my product out to a local audience to promote the local economy, accountability and sustainability. Visitors to the event will see a group of talented artists using a natural product in many different ways. Many rural skills and crafts were on the decrease and under threat of being lost but since the pandemic there has been a lot more interest. Younger people are taking an interest and learning new skills which will help to pass on the knowledge. Pre 2020 I regularly ran various craft and rural skills workshops but latterly I have just concentrated on my farm. I am well past pensionable age and still working so slowing down a wee bit!

www.facebook.com/ jennyandcrafts

“ My wool is primarily high welfare and that is the priority for me.”

Jenny Pritchard

Helen Melvin the all-round Artist

Why did you join the group?

I started the Facebook page in 2017 after Ronnie White and I had started the North Wales Feltmakers.

I learnt Feltmakimg, Natural Dyeing and Spinning in the mid 1990’s. My USP Is naturally dyed felt landscapes and very fine naturally dyed felt Stoles.

I usually start by painting a picture. Originally I used watercolour but often the colours did not translate into natural dye colours so in 2002 I came across ink making, experimented with this and developed my own range in 2007. I also often make a sample felt before the finished pieces. For my landscapes and stoles I mostly use merino which comes for South Africa and New Zealand. This is because it makes felt which is ideal for framing as it makes fine firm felts. The very fine merino, which is 14 microns I use for my stoles is very soft. I have been recently experimenting with felting fine Japanese paper into the surface of felt and fine merino is ideal for this too.

Where do you get the wool ?

I use locally grown fleeces, Gotland and Gotland cross, from a farm 5 miles up the road, and Wensleydale from a farm near Caernarfon. I use these to make natural dye samples and to spin and many of these were in the crocheted coat you photographed

I am very inspired by Jenny Prichard and Ronny White who work in natural colours

grown locally and want to use these more in my work. I would like to see locally grown fleeces to be used in feltmaking and spinning.

I originally opened my studio, dye garden and summer house Gallery for the Helfa Gelf Art Trail which started in 2006 and finished in 2018.

I found that I sold all the pictures I during Helfa Gelf . Helfa Gelf folded but Sharon Wagstaff and Carol Udale started the Clwydian Creative Art Trail which began in 2021. I join in now with the Cilcain Artisans not the Felt Group because I

like to do two weekends and I was already exhibiting with the Cilcain Artisans. Anyone is welcome to come to visit , and to buy of course.

It is important to preserve traditional crafts. Both Natural Dyeing and Feltmaking nearly dyed out and when I started felt making I was the only person teaching felt making in North Wales and one of the first to teach Natural Dyeing too. I still teach 2 or 3 masterclasses a year.

People can support me by buying by Art work or connect on www.fieryfelts.co.uk

“I would like to see locally grown fleeces to be used in feltmaking and spinning. ”

Helen Melvin

Diana Bruce the Multi-tasker

Why did you join the North Wales Felt group?

I visited an exhibition of felted items and weavings during Clwydian Creatives Art Trail 2022. I was recommended to North Wales Felters by the artists there. I have knitted since a child and always wanted to weave as my mother gifted me an old table loom. Retirement gave me the time to explore textile arts in more breadth and depth. I joined a local guild and also learned to spin and do some basic wet and needle felting.

What is your process to create your lovely rugs and little wool sculptures?

I am mostly self-taught in weaving with much encouragement and new skills learnt at the guild of weavers spinners and dyers. I started weaving on a Saori loom and prefer exploring this freestyle method and texture, rather than rigid patterns. I moved on to rug weaving when I found a vintage rug/ tapestry loom on ebay. I wash (scour) raw fleeces before carding the

fleece and spinning it into yarn to weave with. Sometimes I will dye the fleece and yarn using both natural and acid dyes, depending upon the colours and shades I wish to achieve. I have also experimented with needle felting 3D sheep in the image of the breeds of fleece I use in my rug weaving. Watching YouTube videos and being a member of various groups on social media have been useful in honing my skills and gaining inspiration.

Living in a rural area I am surrounded by sheep! Local farmers were all too willing to offer me fleeces for little or no cost as they preferred to see them being used rather than burned or composted, as the price given by the Wool Marketing board is so poor. I started off with Herdwick, Jacobs, Mule and Badger faced Welsh (Torddu) from local farmers’ stock. Recently I have paid much more from internet sites for a rare breed fleece

of my choice (e.g.Gotland) for felting a sheepskin rug without the skin.

How do you support local wool production?

I have resolved not to buy any more of these products that are so bad for the environment. Instead I wish to support local wool production by only using locally sourced wool and other natural fibres.

Why do you expose your work through the Clwydian Creative Art Trail?

The joy is in the making. I find sharing my work and seeing others’ creations through attending workshops. Offering them for others to see and possibly buy through the Clwydian Creatives Art Trail is a natural extension of this, and hopefully will encourage more people to enjoy learning a craft which is so beneficial for mental health.

I believe that learning through arts and crafts is essential for developing creativity and fine motor skills in the young. This area of education has been compromised and severely declined within the school curriculum and many parents do not have the skills or time to pass on the traditional and heritage crafts.

I hope that people will participate in the art trail and through it realise the beautiful art and craft work that is on their doorstep. By buying an item, no matter how small, they will be giving the artists and artisans the confidence and means to carry on producing their wares.

“The joy is in the making. ”

Diane Bruce

Jean Pugh the Breed Explorer

Why did you join the group?

I joined the North Wales Feltmaker’s Group at the beginning of 2003. After attending a few local felting workshops, I was eager to develop my skills and meet people with similar interests. The North Wales Felters Group was recommended to me as a very friendly group who would be able to show me new techniques and help me develop my feltmaking skills.

When did you start the whole learning process on Welsh breeds?

I have been knitting with wool for several years. However, when I retired 2 years ago I wanted to explore new hobbies and meet other people. I was introduced to feltmaking by Wende Arundale who ran a needle felting workshop in the Community Hall in Llanelian. I was instantly taken by feltmaking and was amazed at how wool fibres could be transformed to 3D characters and 2D pictures. Since first experiencing needle felting, I have done some wet felting, nuno felting and made vessels. I have also joined the International Feltmaker’s Association and completed two online courses. I  have learnt how to blend a range of colours from Merino dyed primary colours, felt mosaics. The other course I completed, focused on wet felting different British Breed wools to look at the textures and shrinkage rate and explore what items the wool samples

would be suitable for i.e., making bags, lampshades, garments etc.

When I was undertaking the course, a family friend told me that he had just sheared his sheep and that it had cost him more to shear the sheep than he got paid for the wool. It worked out that he was out of pocket £2.50 per sheep for his Dorset Fleece. In addition to the British Sheep wools I had sampled for the course, I thought I would explore the Welsh Breed sheep wools and share my finding with the tutor’s and other students on the course. After sourcing a variety of the Welsh Breeds,  I wet felted 10gms of each wool sample. I was asked to provide information about the history of the sheep breeds and wool fibre details i.e. Microns and staple length. Some of the Welsh fleece samples are from rare breeds which

originated 2000 years ago and those commonly seen e.g.Welsh Mountain, Radnor Hill, Lleyn. Exploring the Welsh Breeds was very interesting and educational. It also inspires me to source Welsh wools for my future projects to support local farmers.

What is your process to felt ?

As I am fairly new to felting, I am yet to develop my specific skills. I enjoy needle felting 3D figures and 2D pictures. I equally enjoy wet felting and exploring new felting techniques.  I buy the majority of processed wool online from World of Wool. The wool is available in natural colours or dyed in various colours and comes in different weights.  I was recently gifted a fleece by a local farmer. I am learning how to sort and clean it.

“ It inspires me to source Welsh wools for my future projects to support local farmers ”

Jean Pugh

Hopefully, in the future I will be able to purchase quality fleece locally and be able to process it myself.

Why do you think it is important to develop and support local wool production?

I believe it’s very important to support the local economy and the farming industry. If there is more demand for local wool production the sheep farmers will be paid more for their fleece rather than be out of pocket. If sheep farmers make a profit, future generations will continue to farm and they in turn will also contribute to the local economy. I think it’s very important to transmit my skills and knowledge to younger generations as these skills are likely to die out. My grandchildren are always keen to see what I have

been making and want to know how I have made things.

I think it’s also important for young people to engage in crafts and creativity as its good for their wellbeing. Skills can be transmitted through schools/college’s, youth centres and work shops for young people. Some people post instruction videos on YouTube.

Others exhibit their work and give demonstrations. The Clwydian Creative Art Trail which hosted in September is a very good example of this.

Joy Wells the Craft Apprentice

Why did you decide to be part of the Felting group?

To learn more about the felting process and to develop my textile art skills, particularly 3D and colour work. The group had been recommended as a dynamic and friendly one with a high standard of felting work.

When did you start to be interested in wool craft and the whole learning process on Welsh breeds?

I was introduced to felting through a series of City and Guilds course in stitched textiles in Sheffield between 2011 and 2018. Joining the North Wales Feltmakers this year has made me much more aware of wool crafts and the issues that surround it. I completed the International Felters Association online course1 on wet felting using wool fibres from a wide range of different British sheep breeds in MayJune this year. Through this I

learned more about the range of Welsh breeds.

I bring a background in stitched textiles to the felting process which includes hand and machine stitching as well as an awareness of design principles. I have done mainly wet felting this year but am developing needle felting skills and have signed up for day course on this in September.

Where do you get your raw material?

I’ve bought mainly online so far, e.g. World of Wool; Wingham Wools; Adelaide Walker. I bought wool fibres from a local shop in Llandudno earlier in the year but this has now closed. I have also bought from Jenny’s where we met up. Some equipment is expensive but not necessary at least for beginners. A lot of felting activities can be done on low budgets.

Why do you think it is important to develop and support local wool production?

Environmental issues, carbon footprint etc. Support local principles. Avoid waste of useable environmentalfriendly material. In particular the plight of the farmers who make a loss on selling their fleeces which could be used for insulation and in gardens, as well as for art and design projects for example on a large scale in schools and colleges.

Textile art and skills are not always taught in schools. Busy parents may not be as able to pass on textile skills as happened more routinely in the

“ Group textile projects are sociable and develop friendship networks, loyalty and support ”

Joy Wells

past. The current generation of parents may not have had access to the wide range of domestic textile skills compared to previous generations. Felting and other textile processes are an excellent way of teaching children about many aspects of the curriculum (e.g. maths, history, geography, languages, vocabulary) as

well as the more obvious art and design curriculum. Many environmental issues can be taught through textiles and its world history. Textile activities can also help concentration and enhance self-esteem and well-being. Group textile projects are sociable and develop friendship networks, loyalty and support.

How can this transmission of skills be supported?

Groups like the North Wales Feltmakers hold open days,

Country Park Painters Annual Exhibition

Our small group of local artists wish to invite everyone to view our annual exhibition to be held in the Loggerheads Country Park from Friday October 13th to Wednesday November 29th. As usual there will be a variety of subjects using mixed media. Much of the work displayed will have local influences.There will be the opportunity to vote for your favourite painting...the artist gaining the most votes keeps

our trophy for a year. Following last year’s success, there will also be a Wildlife quiz for children.

There will be a prize for the child who achieves the highest score. For many years our group has donated to several charities. The charity is chosen by the winner of the public votes. Last year’s winner chose Hope

exhibitions and attend community events which are all an opportunity to educate.

Individuals who keep sheep for fleeces also communicate via courses etc. Online courses/social media info essential. However, a more top-down approach is needed to coordinate an education programme necessary to understand how fleeces can be used and why, as well as a business programme for selling fleeces and manufacturing them in useable forms such as for insulation. I don’t know enough about the Welsh Board, the Campaign for Wool etc so this may already be happening, though on the ground it seems that there are still piles of Welsh sheep fleeces being thrown away and not enough people who know what to do with them.

clwydian-creatives-art-trail. business.site

House as our charity. Admission and participation in the quiz are free.

PLEASE JOIN US

Highlights from your Llanferres

Community Council

Councillor Vacancies

Unfortunately, Dawn Skelhorn has resigned from the Council for personal reasons and therefore there are currently three vacancies for Councillors. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the Community Council, please contact the Clerk on 01352 810735 or email Clerk.llanferres@gmail. com

Road Repairs

The Council is continuing its efforts to have the road resurfaced around the S bend along the main road into Maeshafn. So far Denbighshire CC response has been ‘Thank you for your enquiry, the work is currently with the internal highways team and will be done as resources allow’, which is not very encouraging but we will keep reminding them that the work is outstanding. It would help if you too could complain either in writing to Denbighshire

Maeshafn Village Road Names

A number of residents have been asking why the name ‘Village Road’ has been changed to ‘Pont y Mwynwr Road’.

Way back in 2005, a number of residents along the A494 asked for their address to be changed to Pont y Mwynwr Road because their mail was getting lost and it seems the Community Council at that time, agreed to this. For reasons unknown, it has taken Royal Mail 18 years to change their records and this is now causing confusion within the community because other agencies are still referring to Village Road.

This topic is on the agenda for discussion at the next council meeting on 14th September so your views on this matter would be very much

appreciated. Please speak to your local Councillor or email the Clerk at clerk.llanferres@ gmail.com

Maes Ysgawen Park Improvements

After 4 months consulting the community, obtaining advise from various specialist and asking many local organisations if they would support improving Maes Ysgawen, the Park Improvements Sub-committee presented its report and recommendations to the Council at an extraordinary meeting held on 2nd August. In summary, the Community is in favour of the following:

1. Improving access into the park by upgrading the gates and paths to make them suitable for the less able particularly wheelchair, mobility scooter and pushchair users.

2. A multi-purpose outdoor shelter to host educational and social events and run country

CC or by logging a complaint on their website – ‘Report a Pothole’ page.

craft workshops (nature lessons, social gatherings, music events, book/magazine exchange, fruit pressing, games competitions, bird and bat box building).

3. An outdoor sports/games area (tai chi, yoga, giant chess/ draughts board, boules pitch) and lengthening the paths around the park to form a circular route for exercise.

4. An accessible community garden with raised beds to grow food (fruit, veg, herbs) and a compost heap to convert garden waste into compost to recycle within the park.

5. A nature trail through the park with educational lecterns showing the types of plants and wildlife present in the area.

6. A rain garden along the banks of the stream with seating area for quiet meditation, more wildlife habitats and to broaden the scope of the ecosystem.

7. To convert some of the manicured grassed areas into a wildflower meadow with a mown path through it and the grass on either side cut at different lengths to improve biodiversity.

8. A pond.

9. An area for pigs & chickens.

10. Bee hives.

After much discussion, Councillors accepted the first 7 items and rejected the last 3 due to practicalities, health and safety concerns and difficulties in obtaining insurance cover.

Councillors compared quotations received from 4 landscape architects and agreed to use the lowest cost

to apply for a grant from the National Lottery to fund the preparation of drawings, specifications and tender documents.

The application was submitted in August but it will probably be November before the National Lottery responds. If successful, the Council can then formally appoint the Landscape Architect to prepare CONCEPT DRAWINGS for presentation to residents and other interested parties for comment.

If the community still wants the project to go ahead, then the Council will need to apply for a second grant to fund

the capital costs to undertake these improvements. In the meantime, if anyone has any further thoughts, please let the Council know.

Keeping Track

If you want to keep track of progress relating to any of the items above you can do so by attending council meetings, either in person or by TEAMS video conference link, by reading the minutes of each meeting published on the Council’s website www. llanferrescommunitycouncil. org or contacting the council by email clerk.llanferres@ gmail.com or speaking to one of the Councillors.

Cyngor Cymeithas - Llanferres - Community Council

Cyngor cymeithas Llanferres Community council

Dates of Council Meeting 2023-2024

Contact details for all Llanferres Community Councillors

www.llanferrescommunitycouncil.org

Meetings are either held in Llanferres Village Hall with remote access available via Teams video conference facilities or Teams video conferencing and start at 7.30pm. Please refer to the Public Notice and Agenda published at least 3 days before each meeting on the Council’s website and noticeboards around the area, for confirmation of how each meeting will be held.

All correspondence for Councillors should be addressed to the Clerk

Margaret Narburgh Clerk & RFO

Tel: 01352 810735 clerk.llanferres@gmail. com

Allan Morgans - Chair 01352 810 735

Jac Armstrong Vice Chair Tel: 01352 810 259

Simon Grice 07881 938 862 contact@simongrice.me

Amanda Curtis 01352 810 398

Paul Sheldon 07824 099 963

Huw Williams County Councillor 07545 185 756

Lyn Gibson 01352 810 735

Llanferres Bowls Club needs your help

Numbers attending have dwindled over the summer months and the club may have to close after all these years if we do not get new members. We meet every Tuesday in the Village Hall at 7.00pm and play until 9.00pm with a break halfway through for refreshments. We have 2 mats that run the full length of the Village Hall and we play doubles and singles games. Each game doesn’t last too long, and everyone gets to play

several times. The club has several sets of bowls that anyone can use. Beginners are very welcome, and tuition is given so that you can pick it up very quickly. It’s great fun for both adults and juniors and also has the benefit of keeping you fit. If you already play bowls outside during the summer, then it is a good way to keep your hand in during the winter months when outside play is not possible. There isn’t any

membership fee, everyone just brings £1 each week to cover refreshments and the hire of the Hall.Please come and try it out and keep the Bowls Club running.

Tony McKinstry 01352810506

Village Hall News

Another busy period for the village hall with club activities and events, not least the annual garden club show on September 2nd.

Very successful fund raisers for both dogs and cats! The “Almost Home” summer fair in early August raised over £2,000 for their charity, with a Christmas Fair to follow. “Secondchance4cats” also held a very successful coffee and cake morning a few weeks later.

Fancy trying Qigong? (yes, I had to google it as well) 6

week taster course starts 10th September - contact Keith on 0776 6132 413 or Allan on 07495 302 211.

In the hall itself, the old stage curtains have been replaced with magnificent new drapes – worth a visit just to see them! Not cheap but a real enhancement to the hall following the recent redecoration / refurbished floor / new blinds / windows / doors and roof and free broadband. Well worth booking your event !!

email Noel on headley889@ btinternet.com.

Key contacts and dates of clubs listed below, please contact the organisers if interested in joining:

D Tai Chi – (Sundays 6.30pm) Keith Gould 07766132413

D Pilates (Mondays 5.15 and 6.15pm) Janet Booth 07836 601149

D Yoga (Tuesdays 5.30pm) –Jill Blandford 07449 631836

D Bowls (Tuesdays 7.30pm) –Tony McKinstry 01352810506

D Whist (Wednesdays 6.30pm) – Noel Headley 07836268894

D Karate (Fridays 6.00pm) –www.llanbedrdckarate.com (first class is free)

D Gardening Club (every second Tuesday at 7.30pm) –llanferresgardenclub@gmail. com

SAVE THE DATE(S)

D Photo shoot – October 21st / 22nd weekend.

D Village Hall AGM – Thursday November 16th at 7,30pm

D “Almost Home” Christmas Fair – Sunday 26th November from midday.

Dogs and owners welcome

D Christmas Bingo

Friday 1st December 7.30pm

D Garden Show (50th anniversary) – September 2024

VILLAGE HALL ACTIVITIES

Hannah’s Three Peaks Challenge Journey

Hannah Price is a 21-yearold Aldi Deputy Store Manager from Sychdyn. Outside of her work her active life revolves around running, paddleboarding, and hiking. Motivated by a family member’s cancer diagnosis she has linked up with Aldi’s charity partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust to take on the Three Peaks Challenge, aiming to conquer the highest peaks of Wales, Scotland and England in one 24 hour period this October. Can you help?

My name Hannah Price, I am 21 years old and I’m from a village called sychdyn. I’m a deputy store manager at Aldi currently.

I have a very active lifestyle, out of work, any spare time I have I’m always doing something whether it’s running, paddle boarding or hiking. The thing I love most about hiking is the views you are blessed to see on your way up the mountain and the sense of accomplishment you feel once you’ve reached the top of it!

My favourite mountain to hike in the UK is of course Snowdon. The views from there are out of this world! I also love how many different peaks there are within Snowdonia you can never get bored exploring that mountain! I have also climbed

a lot of the peaks in Lake District including Scarfell Pike which is one of the mountains within the three peaks. I decided to challenege myself the three peaks because it’s something I’ve always said to myself that I’ve wanted to do and wanted to see if I can push myself mentially and physically to achieve this challenge.

The Three Peaks Challenge is the highest three mountains in the UK. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland, Scarfell Pike is the highest mountain in Lake District and Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales.

My schedule for the three peaks. I’m going to hike up

Ben Nevis in Scotland (which is 4,413ft) on the Sunday afternoon then head onto Scarfell Pike in the Lake District (3,209ft)band climb there Sunday night and finally climb Snowdon (3,560ft) on Monday morning. If all goes to plan I should be done within the 24 hours. I have a driver to drive us in between all the mountains and my friend who also loves hiking is going to join me along the challenge. Hopefully the difficult weather shouldn’t be a issue on the day but it is definitely making it harder to train for the challenge!

I’m decided to do the Three Peaks Challenge For Teenage Cancer Trust pacifically after finding out a close family

member was diagnosed with cancer this year. Aldi also has a charity partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust so thought what better charity to do it!

I have a go fund me page where any donations no matter the size would be much

appreciated. I have a target goal of £500 which would be amazing to hit! I have currently raised £200 out of the 500.

www.gofundme.com/ f/6er85-raise-money-forteenage-cancer-trust

You can also follow my Instagram Hannahprice4 where all my live updates will be whilst I am conquering the three peaks!

Chester Oaks & Lixwm Logs

CEO John Joinson’s lifelong passion for trees led him to spearhead Chester Oaks and Lixwm Logs, in Nannerch. With 15 years as a tree surgeon, he coordinated the shift to electric saws in 2022, resulting in lower noise, pollution, and maintenance, and dedicated environmental commitment amid growing climate change concerns.

When was the decision made to transition from petrol to electric, and what advantages have emerged in terms of noise reduction, pollution curbing, safety enhancements, improved working conditions, and heightened comfort?

The shift from petrol to electric saws was initiated in 2022, yielding a multitude of benefits. Users experience significantly diminished noise levels, eliminating the need for ear protection, while also breathing in fewer fumes. The battery’s lifespan mirrors that

of a tank of fuel, reducing trips for petrol and eliminating the need for two-stroke oil.

Is this transition more financially demanding for you?

The initial investment was substantial, encompassing the procurement of batterypowered saws, hedge cutters, numerous chargers, and batteries. Nonetheless, the allure lies in free fuel via

solar charging and reduced maintenance.

Anticipated lower upkeep costs as equipment ages stem from the comparative simplicity of electric motors versus petrol engines, which comprise a multitude of intricate parts.

Amid mounting concerns over climate change’s impact on trees - including drought and summer fires - what counsel do you offer tree owners? What aspects require their attention? Trees are essential assets, sequestering carbon and producing oxygen that purifies our communities. Yet, responsible tree management occasionally necessitates removal or reshaping. Opting for machinery that minimizes environmental harm proves beneficial for all.

Regarding wood waste, how is it managed?

All waste is repurposed into affordable, renewable firewood - a significantly gentler option for communities and the planet than burning fossil

fuels. To streamline these endeavors, I established Lixwm Logs, a new local venture in collaboration with Chester Oaks Tree Surgery. Presently, we offer 18-month-old barndried hardwood logs with complimentary local delivery. Our firewood is sourced locally and processed using solar-charged battery-powered equipment. This commitment propels Lixwm Logs toward carbon neutrality from inception.

D Overhanging, dead, diseased or damaged trees

D Clear felling

D Felling by dismantle

D Preservation and conservation orders

D Ground clearance for building work

D Light or view blocking trees

D Tree reshaping or reduction

D Conifer hedge removal or reduction

D Stump grinding

D Trees damaging your home

D Removal of harmful and dangerous dead wood in trees

D Removal of split, broken or rubbing branches

D Wood recycling

D Firewood sales with competitive pricing

D Firewood deliveries

St Berres Church

Service times – from September all the Sunday services will now be at 9.30am with Eucharist every other week. 5th Sundays will still be on a rotational basis between the five churches at 10.30am.

Tree felling – recent work has been undertaken in the churchyard to fell / top several dead and overgrown trees. A quantity of wood is available until mid September – if interested, please email Noel on

headley889@btinternet.com. Any donations welcome, as it wasn’t a cheap job!

Church opening – the church is open during daylight hours every day until the end of October. Please come and visit for private contemplation or prayer.

Any donations for the Food Bank can be left in the box on the back pew or in the foyer.

End of August we donated a further 19 kilos to Flintshire Food Bank. There is also a selection of free books to browse on the pew – any unassociated donations welcome!

A few weeks away, but our Harvest Festival service will be on October 15th – donations of goods for Flintshire Food Bank.

Second Chance For Cats

The non-profit organisation has launched a coffee and cake event Sunday 20 August at the village hall in Llanferres.

It was our first time doing the event in Llanferres and we all had a really lovely time chatting to lots of new people. It was great to see quite a few familiar faces too who had gone to the trouble of travelling over to see us. Thanks to you we raised a fantastic £458.90!

We’re very grateful for the kind donations of food and litter and also the lovely catnip plants that the Coedpoeth gardening club brought along for the kitties to enjoy. They’re going to love them!

We really appreciate the fabulous support from you all, and a big thank you also to

our wonderful volunteers for giving up their time again over the weekend.

We are a small self funded, not-for-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers. We are a growing team of people with a broad range of experience who are passionate about advocating for, and providing help to cats in need to get them back on their paws

We believe that every cat deserves a second chance. Whether they are cats who have been living outdoors as strays, cats who have been abandoned or surrendered, whether they are older, have ongoing health conditions or

just find themselves lost and in need of a bit of help to get back home.

For cats in need of a new home, this will involve finding forever homes for cats through our standard adoption process, or for cats with health issues who are likely to incur ongoing vet bills it could be via an “adoption with support” scheme. We also are looking for understanding and willing long term/permanent fosterers for cats who will struggle to be adopted for whatever reason as we provide the ongoing support for those cats.

Every cat that comes into the care of Second Chance For Cats will be vet checked, neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, receive appropriate parasite control and veterinary care as they need it.

As we grow, we will always be in need of new supporters, volunteers and fosterers to share our vision. Anyone who would like to volunteer or who has space to accommodate a foster cat or two is welcome to get in touch at any time. Behind the scenes, the team works tirelessly to raise funds to be able to help the cats already in our care.

HOW TO DONATE FUNDS: Sponsorship scheme - sponsor one of our cats for only £20 a year. https://forms.gle/ eKxisVFMrsYssZRS6

GoFundMe

https://gofund.me/b1443447 or find all the information on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ secondchance4cats

Over 50 club is over Signing off with a heavy heart

It’s with huge regrets after great fun we’re ceasing Llanferres Older Persons Welfare committee.

Formed over 50 years ago to provide fun and outings for our older generation the committee now fall into that category!!!

We enjoyed at least one summer coach trip, lots of get together in the village hall and a beautiful 4 course Christmas

lunch firstly prepared by us and willing friends in the village hall before Jim and Julie kindly rescued us and invited us all to the Druid and carried on in great spirt by Sam and her amazing team.

Brilliant and talented hard working committee members have served over all those years working tirelessly esp carol singing when we were short of funds for the lunch

the day after!! We can honestly say we’ve had as much fun if not more than everyone else that has joined us on this incredible journey.

We had £200 left in the bank which we have donated to “Music for All” a local charity that buy and recondition musical instruments and take them into schools, we thought that would be a lovely use for the money...

A day at the Palace with June Lovell, BEM

June Lovell, Manager of Prescribed Medication Support Service & Primary Care Mental Health Counselling Service at Betsi Cadwaladr, has been honored with a British Empire Medal for her mental health work. She shares her Buckingham Palace Garden Party experience and mingling with the Royals.

This was an amazing opportunity and privilege to be invited to attend the garden party at Buckingham Palace right after the Coronation as well and gave us the chance to be in London for all the other events going on that week, so was in London for the Coronation watching on a screen in Hyde park and able to see the fly past head towards the palace. On the Sunday we were able to watch the concert tremendous atmosphere everyone around us became our friends sharing sun cream, cake and Prosecco! The day of the garden party it predicted rain but we were

really lucky stayed fine all afternoon and poured down just as we managed to get to a cocktail bar, so all good… Prince Charles and Queen Consort had the day off, so the Prince and Princes of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Royal were at the party they had two brass bands playing the 8000 people at this intimate party were all served afternoon tea with amazing speed and efficiency. The gardens behind the palace are immaculate and stretch over 39 acres which is amazing right in the heart of London. We had the chance to walk round it all but as were leaving

the security guards had dogs sweeping the grounds to make sure we hadn’t hidden in a bush somewhere, so we did as asked and left great afternoon met some interesting people with stories of what they were involved in.

The story continues on the 15th September in St Asaph I will be presented the BEM medal by Lord Lieutenant Fetherstonhaugh O.B.E with friends, family and work colleagues in attendance.

Summer Fairs & Villages Shows

Step into the heart of summer tradition with our annual Village shows. Rooted in centuries-old local customs, they offer a vibrant tapestry of sheepdog trials, gardening exhibits, music, friendly contests, and delectable regional fayre. Join News&Views for a glimpse into the lively Llanarmon, Cilcain and Llandegla shows, along with the Llanferres Gardening Show.

LLANARMON-YN-IAL

The Llanarmon-Yn-Ial Show was held on Saturday 12th August 2023 on the Gelli Gynan Hall Estate.

Following all the recent rainfall, this years show was lucky to escape with just a couple of showers of rain. The winds were gusty, with many Stall holders having to hang on to their tents! The Show was very well attended with over 1,200 visitors throughout the day.

In an age when we are hearing about the demise of the Countryside and the loss of Community Spirit it is great to keep the Llanarmon-YnIal Show tradition as strong as ever. The Show has been in existence for nearly 90 years and thanks to everyone involved, it will continue to thrive in the future.

Due to a clash of dates with the National Competitions, the Sheepdog trials were run

a week earlier on 5th August. Despite a day of heavy nonstop rain over 80 competitors from across the UK and Europe attended and were still running their dogs as it went dark!

The Main Show event had something for everyone. A Horse Show, Companion Dog Show, Classic Cars, Motorcycles and Tractors, Children’s races.

The Produce Tent had a record number of entries with competitions including Home Grown Produce, Cookery, Handicraft, Floral Art, Photography and a Children’s Section. Prize money and Cups were awarded to those gaining most points in the Sections. The show field had lots of stalls from local business selling their goods.

The Miniature Donkeys from

Moel Famau were a hit with the visitors.

The Show is held on the 2nd Saturday of August, so the date for next years diary is Saturday 10th August 2024. The Show Committee are looking for some extra volunteers for next years show. Please contact the

Committee via their Facebook page. The Committee would like to thank everyone who attended the show! Thank you to all the Committee Members who worked hard to organise the show, to all the judges who attended, and to Gelli Gynan Hall for providing such an idyllic location.

CILCAIN SHOW

Phil Parson gives the taste of the 28th August afternoon filled with fun. The Cilcain show welcomed 3,000 visitors to this ever-popular event from the thrilling teddy parachutists jump to the well-executed dog show, the delicious cakes and the music! The sun even made an appearance, making it a perfect day out.

My wife and I woke at 6am on August Bank Holiday Monday. We have both been on the  organising team of the Cilcain Show for over 16 years and show day is a busy, busy day for us and all the other volunteers who make it possible.

At 8am my wife is installed on the show field, directing over 60 stallholders to their alloted spaces, this year dealing with  vehicles getting stuck in mud following so many rainy days. I’m still at home, cleaning my vintage Austin that will be on display with other classic cars. At least it’s not raining now, though a shower or two are expected around mid day.

Other volunteers have set up the cafe in our village hall, the barriers closing our village centre to traffic, the Mold Camera Club exhibition, the Mountain Race, car park control by the ATC, Police

Cadets, the Teddy Bear Parachuting, Bouncy Castle and so much more. Competition entries are pouring in for judging of flower displays, baking, vegetables, crafts and more.

11am the show opens. Throughout the day 3,000 people attend and enjoy the Royal Buckley Jazz Band, the Mersey Morris dancers, Mr Magico’s Punch and Judy, Tug of War competitions, Children’s races and Fancy Dress, Dog Show, the Mountain Race, the Buckley Cheer Leaders, Street Buskers and delicious foods and drink.

As the day went on the sun appeared in time for the

Grand Draw, prize giving, presentation to our Guest of Honor, and the ever popular auction of entries to our competitions, cakes, vegetables, etc.

5pm and the show is over. Traders leave us for another year and our volunteers set about clearing the field, putting away tables, chairs, and all the other facilities set up for the day.

6.30pm, my wife and I retire to our village pub, the White Horse for a well deserved sit down and  a pint or two. Another very successful Cilcain Show is over.

Phil Parsons.

LLANDEGLA FETE & PRODUCE & CRAFT SHOW

As the sun-kissed morning of September 2nd, 2023, unfolded, the village of Llandegla came alive. The annual Llandegla Fete and Produce & Craft show awaited, with vibrant displays and festivities.

The bunting gently fluttered in the breeze of a sunny September morning. The Welsh Dragon gently danced in the early cool air atop the flagpole. A sleepy village awoke to the sounds of tent pegs being knocked into the ground to secure a small marquee. Travelers drove past the numerous signs advertising the event, some deciding to call in for a look. Yes, it is September 2nd 2023, and as the dew burned off the grass we were ready for the annual Llandegla Fete and Produce & Craft show! Soon flowers and vegetables poured onto the field and were quickly staged in the Show Pavilion ready for the public to vote, on which they liked

best, the popular vote we call it. Photographs, presentations of home-made preserves, Cakes fit for a King and various pieces of other art filled the tables and walls with colour and showed off the many skills

we have in Llandegla. It was not long before stall holders began to gather on site and to begin putting their stalls together. Marie’s Crochet Box, Rosie’s Cider, the Memorial Hall Bar, Jasmine Rose’s Face painting, Ian Robinson and his cacti stall, Norah Lucas’s plants, Moel Famau Donkeys, Celtic Crafts, RDA (Riding for the disabled), members of the Border Classic Car Club and of course a well-attended ice cream van.

Under the ever-watchful eye of Mr. Sports Llandegla

(Martin Weston) and ably assisted by his son Daniel, children from every part of the village were entertaining the crowds with their antics at the egg and spoon race, sack race and other games Martin puts together for us. In another area of the field the Memorial Hall’s very own and much-loved master of the games Mr. Haydn Edwards, soon had children and adults alike hooking ducks, knocking over the stacked tin cans, having fun throwing sticky spheres at a specially designed dart board and he was ably assisted by Jack, Martin, Andy and Keith who splatted so many rats he was like the piedpiper!

Almost as soon as the children’s sports were over it was time for the eagerly awaited Dog Show. With MC John Lloyd guiding us through the classes and Judge Kaye Littlehales working hard to choose winners and runners

up, there were some sixty entries in all. Music throughout the afternoon was provided by the Ukuleles and the Kings and one Queen bands both from Llanarmon Yn Ial.

Many thanks to everyone who helped setting up and taking down all of the various bits and pieces needed on the day, to Sarah and her team for setting out the produce areas and totaling the votes, Carol on the raffle, Gill and Andy dealing with Dog Show entries, Shelagh & Rod who manned the bar and volunteers from Llandegla Community Shop who provided the supply of copious amounts of tea, coffee and cake. Lastly, and most importantly, thank you to everyone who came along to support the day’s events.

47th LLANFERRES PARISH GARDENING CLUB SHOW

The Garden Show has, for another year, achieved great success thanks to the support and the tireless efforts of the club’s dedicated members working behind the scenes.

At the auction of pro-duce at the end of the show, kindly left by exhibitors, with experts Yvonne and Ged in charge, the fabulous amount of £170 was raised to be donated to Cae Rhug Holistic Farm to be spent by them on a special program proposed by Rachel & Simon Farr that helps children that are struggling to be healed with gardening in loving memory of our very special Mike the Milk. Thanks so much for all the volunteers, you’re hard work it really is much appreciated by us all you know.

The winners of 2023

D The Hitchmough Perpetual Rose Bowl, most points in Garden Produce section

Gaye Headley

D Trophy for most outstanding exhibit in Garden Produce Section

Jane Clough

D The Peter Plews Perpetual Challenge Cup, most points in Flower section

Poly Lomax

D The Audrey Raba Perpetual Challenge Cup, Best exhibit in Flower section

John Almond

D The Dumbhill Perpetual Challenge Trophy, Best exhibit of sweet peas

John James

D The Sid Davies Perpetual Challenge Trophy, best specimen rose

Polly Lomax

D The Pont yr Alyn Perpetual Challenge Cup, most points in Largest Produce section

Gaye Headley

D The Tom Collins Perpetual Challenge Shield, heaviest marrow class 75

Polly Lomax

D The McCreanor Perpetual Challenge Cup, most points in Floral Art section

Joan Almond

D The Vena Raba Perpetual Challenge Cup, most outstanding exhibit in Floral Art section

Joan Almond

D The Llanferres Perpetual Challenge Cup, most points in Pot Plants section

Polly Lomax

D Trophy for most outstanding exhibit in Pot Plants Section

Polly Lomax

D The Andew Brooman Perpetual Challenge Cup, most outstanding exhibit in Photographic section

Simon Hodge

D Trophy for the most points in the Photographic Section

Ian Robinson

D The News & Views Cup, Best exhibit in Junior Photographic class

Charlie Stroud

D The Cadole Perpetual Challenge Trophy, most points in Home section

Juanita Twomey

D LOPWC Award, best Victoria Sandwich

June Healy

D The W. I. Trophy, best Jar of Jam

Juanita Twomey

D The Pentre Cerrig Mawr Perpetual Challenge Trophy, most outstanding exhibit in Adult Handicraft section

Anne Jahn

D Trophy for the most points in the Adult Handicraft Section

Gill Sankey

D H.P. Parker Art Trophy

Stephen Clarke

Llanferres Parish Gardening Club

By the time you read this our annual flower show will be over for another year Hopefully we will have built on the success of last year’s ‘Covid come back’ show, with even more entries and more visitors in the run up to next year’s Golden Anniversary Show.

It’s hard to believe that almost fifty years have gone by since the Club’s foundation back in 1974, but the ethos of the club remains the same now as then; to be an inclusive, welcoming space where we can meet in the spirit of community, to share our common interests in gardens, gardening and nature and all which that may encompass.

Over the following months we will be searching through the archives to try to bring back a taste of those early shows so if any N&V readers have any old programmes or photographs from the 70’s, we’d love to add them (or copies of them) to a display board next year. We have lots of plans for some retro themes so watch this space…! So back to this year, and in

June, members and friends boarded a coach to Salford to visit RHS Bridgewater, this is a wonderful garden created on 154 acres in the grounds of a former stately home. It was redeveloped during the recent pandemic and it really has been an astonishing achievement. Highlights include an 11 acre walled garden formed of various zones, including an inspirational community garden with raised beds growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. There is also the Chinese Streamside Garden which is a remarkable horticultural and landscape initiative consisting of a fusion

of the best of British and Chinese gardening traditions. There are also acres of grasses and wild areas to be explored so this, along with several cafes and a garden centre, kept everyone occupied for the whole day and thankfully the thunderstorm held off until the very last minutes… The general consensus was that it was an excellent day out and very good value with some calling for a repeat visit next year, thanks are due to the Community Council for helping to meet the cost of the coach.

The July meeting was another visit, this time to the Community Garden in Gellifor. This is the other extreme in terms of scale but is no less of an achievement as it too was developed during the pandemic. However it was done on a scant budget and worked entirely by local volunteers from the community. Iola Quinn who initiated the project, gave us an illustrated talk last November on the creation of the garden which was wholly inspiring, showing just how much can be achieved in a short space of time with very little other than plants and pavers donated or shared from other people’s gardens. We had a lovely, if slightly damp evening, looking

around the garden and chatting with the core group of volunteers who run and maintain it and were also treated to a couple of glasses of wine. It has been a pleasure to connect with garden lovers in neighbouring communities and this is something we hope to continue to build on.

The September meeting will be held a week later than usual on September 18th we will use this opportunity to discuss the recent annual show, what worked, what didn’t and what we can work towards for the following year. This is usually a very positive experience with lots of ideas being bounced around so if you have anything to add then please come along and join in the discussion, you will be rewarded with tea, biscuits and friendly company. The same goes for our AGM meeting in October, when amongst other things we will review the previous year and look at ways in which we can build on our successes moving forward.

We are slowly increasing our membership, if you are interested or curious to find out more, please join us at any of our meetings, generally held on the second Monday of the month at the Village Hall at 7:30pm (please check for any changes). Everybody welcome from within or outside the parish.

For more information please follow or ‘like’

our FaceBook page: @ llanferresparishgardeningclub send us a message or email on: llanferresgardenclub@ gmail.com

MARSHALLING 16/17 SEPT - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED PLEASE!

We are about 20+ people short to meet our obligations on Sun 17th Sept to raise £1,000+ of much needed funds to keep the playground open and safe. This is a spectacular event and you, and friends, family, can enjoy - by giving up a few hours of your time - the great countrywide we have at same time as supporting the charity. There’ll be refreshments provided at the Druid at the end of the event....so PLEASE either email seathomas99@ ymail.com or msg 07711 104490 to register your interest.

TESCO COMMUNITY FUND

A great result with £1,000 second place prize going towards the “sensory information signs” projectso huge thanks to all those voting with blue tokens!. This money must be spent on capital projects, not on our operating costs, and this project is designed - using additional budget funding from Clocaenog Wind Farm fund and Nat Lottery - will help all park users engage more with the environment and wildlife in the park.

OCTOBER

“WORKING PARTY”

Look out for notices for volunteers needed to do general maintenance work on the park and playground, dates likely to be Saturday

morning 21st October - please put date in your calendarthank you! The playground and park cannot work without your help.

NOVEMBER GUY FAWKES EVENT

We hope to run this event again this year as it was very well supported in 2022. The indoor event will likely be ticketed this year to help manage numbers and to make sure everyone attending had an enjoyable time. Watch this space and social media for more details in Sep /Oct.

RACE NIGHT IN DRUID IN 2024

Watch out for future notices for a fund raising “race night” in the Druid in early 2024. These are great events bringing the thrill of horse racing to your door step, and some great prizes for winners and the raffle.

NEW MEMBERS

Join any time of year! Thank you to all those new members joining before and at the AGM in June. The charity cannot run without having a core membership from which to draw the Executive Committee. We know how much the playground and park is valued by the local and wider community, so please offer up your time when requested to keep the park safe and open. Please use QR codes below to become members of the charity association.

What’s been happening with Outside Lives

Green Flag flying at Outside Lives HQ

Environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy has unveiled this year’s Green Flag Award winners – the international mark of a quality park or green space.

Outside Lives has achieved the coveted Green Flag Community Award in recognition of its high environmental standards, cleanliness, safety, and community involvement.

Outside Lives is a beautiful outdoor space developed and maintained by our wonderful team of volunteers and local community.

“We are delighted to have received this Green Flag award! It’s testament to all the hard work and effort put in by our volunteers and local community who have made this site as wonderful as it is. This award

is for all who are involved with Outside Lives.

Our beautiful space in the North Wales countryside allows local people to come together, engage in a multitude of activities and connect with nature”

180 community managed green spaces across the country have met the high standards needed to receive the Green Flag Community Award.

Now in its third decade, Green Flag recognises well-managed parks and green spaces in 20 countries around the world. In Wales, the awards scheme is run by Keep Wales Tidy. Lucy Prisk, Green Flag Coordinator for Keep Wales Tidy said: “Free access to safe, high quality green space has never been more important. Our awardwinning sites play a vital role in people’s mental and physical well-being, providing a haven for

communities to come together, relax and enjoy nature.

“News that a record number of community managed green spaces in Wales have achieved Green Flag status is testament to the dedication and hard work of hundreds of volunteers. We’re delighted to be able to celebrate their success on the world stage.”

A full list of award winners can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website: www.keepwalestidy.cymru #GreenFlagWales

Wheelchair accessible minibus funding

We are delighted to report that The Steve Morgan Foundation has agreed to help us fund a wheelchair accessible minibus. We want this to be used for maximum benefit of the community... enabling people to access our community activities, go on adventures and help those who live in more rural locations to do what’s important to them. This will be a fantastic asset for people in our local community and a GAMECHANGER in terms of our offer and inclusion!

It is now up to us to fundraise £7,500 as an important contribution from Outside Lives. This is our biggest fundraiser to date and we have been busy coming up with wacky ideas to raise this money. We’ve managed to raise 75% of this so far and are keen to work hard for the last 15%.

If you can spare us the cost of a brew, we would be so very grateful… just scan this QR code.

OR join us for our next fundraiser… a BINGO NIGHT!! eyes down for a full house. Join us at Mold Rugby Club on Friday the 13th of October. 6:30 - 8:00pm Loads of great prizes donated by friends of OL and local businesses. Tickets are £5 each and all donations will go to the Outside Lives Mini bus.

Cacao Ceremonies

Our cacao ceremonies are back for the Autumn/Winter season. The wonderful Jill will begin each session with a simple cacao ceremony - a beautiful heart-opening ritual. Drinking cacao together in a community is a mindful practice which enhances the meditation experience. Cacao is also a superfood, high in antioxidants, iron, magnesium, calcium & theobromine which supports heart function & is moodenhancing.

Wander Walks

Our wander walks are back for the autumn! Our next walk will tie in with World Clean Up day and will be around the River Dee in Connays Quay. We will meet at the Dock Road Lay By Car park at 10am on Sunday 17th September.

These walks are totally free and run by our wonderful volunteers. If you would like to join us please book by visiting the events page on our website to register. Wellness at OL HQ

You will then be led in a short seated meditation and move into a deep relaxation, lying down with blankets & cushions etc, where we listen to the healing sounds of the crystal & Tibetan singing bowls.

Each session will have a new theme & you will leave feeling not only beautifully relaxed, but also spacious & energised.

We have 4 sessions planned over the next few months, if you would like to join us please book via our events page. Each session costs £12.

www.outsidelivesltd.org

Pass Wide and Slow campaign

23rd September at 1pm in Eryrys

Pass Wide and Slow is a Facebook group dedicated to road safety for horses. They organize events, like the annual awareness ride, to promote safer roads for equestrians and other vulnerable users.

Pass wide and slow is a social media Facebook group used to educate the general public on road safety with horses it is not an organization or a charity but relies entirely on members of the public who have a mutual interest in making our roads safer for equestrians and other vulnerable road users.

The nationwide annual pass wide and slow awareness ride and drive is coming up on September 16th and 17 and there are 179 events where riders, carriage drivers, Walkers, cyclists can join together in their local area to highlight the need to pass horses wide and slow.

The Eryrys campaign is being held on 23rd September at 1:00pm.

Route to involve a circular ride Eryrys to Grianrhyd and Rose and Crown.

Back lanes to Llanarmon yn Ial via Raven and then back up to Eryrys and stopping at The Sun Inn.

Anyone wishing to explore Nercwys Forest there will be an opportunity to ride there after the Event.

There has been a recent update on the highway Code rule 215 which says horse riders and horse drawn vehicles be particularly careful of horse riders and horse drawn vehicles especially when approaching overtaking passing or moving away always pass wide and slowly when you see a horse on a road you should slow down to a maximum of 10 miles per hour and be patient do not sound your horn or rev your engine when safe to do so past wide and slow allowing at least two meters of space.

Police forces in the UK will be running a campaign Nationwide in September focusing on vulnerable road users.

I’ve also spoken with a local councillor Terry Mendies from Denbighshire County Council who is happy to come and  support us when we stop at the Sun Inn in Eryrys for a photo opportunity at 3:00pm

Everyone is welcome to show support for this campaign. Having support from the local community is essential and very much appreciated. I am hoping this ride will be the first of many so that we can keep highlighting the difficulties that many road users face whilst we share the roads whilst being courteous to one another.

www.facebook.com/groups/ passwideandslow

Owain Glyndwr Pub &Pies On the top of the hill

Meet Gareth and Emma Francis, owners of Owain Glyndwr. They embarked on this journey in May 2011, turning it into a successful family-run venture.

How long have you run the Owain Glyndwr?

Emma and I came to run the Owain Glyndwr in May of 2011. Initially we had a short-term contract but quickly developed a longer-term plan and today, 12 years later, we continue to enjoy running what is a successful little business. I mainly run the bar and Emma the kitchen with Emma far more capable of helping with the bar duties than I am with a commercial kitchen!!

When we arrived Emma was actually three months pregnant with our first child

who was born in late 2011. Obviously, along with a brandnew business venture, this led to a quite hectic initial twelve months.

We received great support from our family, friends and customers that helped us settle into a routine that suited both our business and new family life. We now have two further children who arrived in 2014 and 2016 respectively. During Emma’s pregnancies we received great support from our families to ensure the business continued to run smoothly, particularly the kitchen.

What is your background?

I was born in Wrexham and apart from 18 months have lived in Gwernymynydd all of my life. Emma moved to Gwernymynydd at a young age in 1997. My family on the paternal side have strong links to the area. Pre-World War two my Taid lived on a farm in Treuddyn and my Nain in Eryrys. I still have family links to these villages as well as Nercwys.

Emma and I met in 2008 while both studying for university degrees and working part time in the now closed, Rainbow Inn in Gwernymynydd. This

being my first experience of working in a pub. Emma became manager of the piccadilly pub in Caerwys for a short period and I was a member of her staff. We began frequenting The Owain Glyndwr as Customers in late 2008 initially to take part in the weekly pub quiz. In 2009 as I worked towards completing my studies, I was offered the opportunity the run the bar at the weekends. In hindsight this gave us both the opportunity to develop an understanding of what is a very unique public house and made the transition into owning the business simpler.

Emma’s parents both worked in the hospitality industry during her upbringing with her father managing a number of hotels. In 2009

Emma completed a first-class degree in hospitality business management and became marketing manager at a local hotel. My family’s employment history is mainly in education, and I completed my degree in primary education in 2010.

While attempting to find my first teaching position the opportunity to take over the Owain Glyndwr arrived. When we took over the pub Emma continued to work full time at the hotel, however, we quickly realised that with the new business venture and the upcoming addition to our family the move to us both working at the pub full time would be the best way forward. This is still the way the business is run today.

Do you know the history of of the Pub

Unfortunately, we have very little information on the history of the pub. Most opinion is that the pub has existed as an inn or hotel since the 1700’s. We inherited a number of historical photographs which show the pub in various guises across mainly the last century. One in particular showing a visit from the duke of York. There is obviously great history in the name of the pub with Owain Glyndwr being a great figure in Welsh history

and actually the last nativeborn Welshman to hold the title of The Prince of Wales. Historians I have spoken to believe that due to the elevation of the pub and the view across a number of Welsh and English counties that the location could well have been a look out for Owain Glyndwr himself and his armies.

What do you like about it?

Firstly, the location of the pub is a beautiful part of North Wales with a superb view, a lovely place to raise a family. From day one we have received great support and have made a number of close friends, sadly losing some along the way. Over the years we have also been very lucky with staff members, both in the kitchen and front of house. Many of our staff members over the years have become close friends and without the help and support of our friends and family I don’t think we would still be at the pub today!

Many people would think differently, but I love working side by side with my wife and with my children so close. We are very much a family run business, perhaps the children will help in the pub one day! It is certainly a job with completely different pressures to teaching a class of primary school children.

Do you have any special events until the end of year?

Since we arrived, we have run a weekly pub quiz, initially on a Tuesday but currently on a Thursday evening. As you can imagine writing an

original quiz for most weeks of twelve years becomes more and more challenging, I must be getting close to 500 by now! We also have a free pool table in the pub. This has always proved very popular. We annually run two or three pool competitions which have always been well supported with a number of different winners over the years.

We have hosted weddings, christenings, birthday parties, baby showers, live music nights and sadly funerals. When required we have had a marquee on the car park that fits quite snuggly and obviously increases the pubs capacity greatly. Over the years the local business, Tents and Events, have given us great support at very reasonable rates.

Emma has hosted a number of special food events with various themes. There is actually a pudding and pie night next weekend that we increased to two nights due to

the great interest we received. Preparations for Christmas events and menus have already begun.

What is the hardest parts of being a landlord?

Becoming publicans is not something Emma and I ever discussed until the opportunity arrived. To be honest I don’t think I would be interested in being a landlord of any other pub. The job, like any other, comes with positives and negatives. There is obviously a permanent tie and throughout

the years we have made every effort to make sure the pub has remained open every day of the year with the exception of boxing day and new years day. Juggling a country pub and a family with young children and pets has certainly been a challenge over the past twelve years, however, on the positive side we are able to have plenty of family time and with the help of our friends and close family the children are never far away. The most challenging part for myself are the late hours of work but after so many years it has just become my normal routine. As Emma and the children would testify, I am not seen too often in the early mornings!

And, the famous Glyndwr Pies?

When the first covid lockdown began we started take away meals at the weekends and also began a delivery service during the week of Emma’s handmade shortcrust pies. These pies proved to be very popular and have since become a secondary part to our business. We currently provide a midweek delivery service to the local area as well as selling within the pub. We also attend local artisan markets were possible. Our pies continue to prove successful, and our customer base is increasing nicely, however, with the pub kitchen running alongside at the weekends, further development of the pie business is somewhat restricted.

facebook.com/ owainglyndwrinnpies

Can my denture be repaired?

In most cases, yes We can replace chipped or missing teeth, cracked or broken dentures, and remove stubborn stains such as plaque, tartar, discoloration from tea, coffee, red wine, nicotine deposits and denture adhesive

Can't I repair my own denture with superglue?

Please don't try to repair a broken denture yourself! The glue is not something you want in your mouth, it's also difficult to remove and makes repairing the break accurately almost impossible.

Customer Testimonial

I appreciated the friendliness & efficiency of every member of staff I spoke to, thank you all, it DOES make a difference!

I was delighted too at the quality of the repair which was invisible and although I had fretted that the comfort might be affected, I was soon proved wrong

With my sincerest thanks

M.R – Ruthin

10th June 2020

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Traditionally, a dentist takes the patient’s impressions and sends them to a Dental Technician who makes the dentures. A CDT is qualified to both take the impression and make and fit the dentures. This gives the CDT invaluable first-hand insight into the patient's anatomy and requirements, resulting in comfortable, functional cosmetic dentures

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