North Wales Magazine - January 2020

JANuary 2020

!

EE FR

MAGAZINE What’s othnly?

Your monlocal guide to ts even

Time to get fit!

MAKE 2020 THE YEAR YOU STICK TO YOUR RESOLUTION

The seven wonders of wales EXPLORING OUR AMAZING LANDMARKS

INSIDE J Competitions J Food & Drink J Homes & Interiors

MAGAZINE

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MAGAZINE

DEAR READER May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year?! This is the first time that we have published a January edition, and it is testament to our region that there are still so many events taking place at this time of year.

There is absolutely no excuse therefore, not

a day adds up to quite a big change over the

to get out and about. Because, as we discuss

course of a year.

on page 31, getting out and moving around is absolutely the best thing that we can do for

So take this magazine as inspiration. Visit the

our health. It is said that a whopping 80% of

Seven Wonders of Wales. Go to as many events

New Year’s resolutions have been abandoned

as possible. Stroll around the art galleries and

by mid February, and when you think about

march along our fabulous beaches and, before

how extreme the majority of these resolutions

you know it, you will have improved your

are, that is perhaps no surprise.

health along with your local knowledge.

So start small this year, and make a realistic resolution that you are guaranteed to be able to stick to. Diets are out and walking is in!

Small, incremental changes are the name of the game – because one small improvement

Kate Hamilton Founding Editor

J

In this issue...

Let’s all make an effort to get out and about this January!

We want to hear from you!

J Are you organising or taking part in an event that should be covered in our what’s on listings? Then make sure you tell us! whatson@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk J Keep in touch. Send in your contributions, letters, photos and press releases and become part of the North Wales Magazine family. editorial@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk J Subscribe. If you want to ensure that you receive each and every copy of North Wales Magazine then why not subscribe? All you pay for is the post and packaging. subscribe@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk J Advertise. If you own a business in North Wales and want to get your message in front of 25,000 local readers every month then drop us a line. Prices start from just £75. sales@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk

Front cover credit: © Shutterstock

NWM 2020 Page 5

MAGAZINE

Page 6 NWM 2020

Contents

MAGAZINE

EDITOR

Kate Hamilton

09 What’s On

PUBLISHER

Your guide to local events taking place this January

16

The Big Picture

Anglesey is just as spectacular in the winter

19

Grant Hamilton

Beautiful boudoir

SALES MANAGER

Scott Lawson

16

MARKETING MANAGER

Carly Redgers

The photographer empowering local women

23

ART DIRECTOR

Simon Marriott

The seven wonders of Wales

CONTRIBUTORS

All of which are in the North!

26

Artist impression

Charles Tunnicliffe left quite a legacy

29 Competitions

19

There are two amazing prizes to win this month!

31

23

Fitness first

Is it time for a new you?

37

Food & Drink

The local wining, dining and culinary scene

49

CONTACT US editorial@northwalesmagazine.co.uk sales@northwalesmagazine.co.uk subscribe@northwalesmagazine.co.uk

Homes & Property

Get inspired by local homes and interiors

61 Walking Discover Dyserth Falls

64

whatson@northwalesmagazine.co.uk

31

Community news

A roundup of regional happenings

67

Steve Goodier Cai Ross Sally Ann Harding Frankie Hobro Alicia Cox Noelle Watson Lowri Llewelyn Julian Hughes Ali Hough Russell Grant John Crane Stephen Gregory Pete Greensmith Meurig Davies

In my opinion…

Our expert columnists share their thoughts

82 Horoscopes What does January have in store for you?

61

North Wales Magazine is an independent, regional monthly magazine produced

by KSG Publishing. It is available to pick up from a wide range of independent outlets throughout Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, Gwynedd and the Isle of Anglesey.

Disclaimer: All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part (electronically or in print) without written permission is strictly prohibited. Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of published content, and any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of North Wales Magazine.

The publishers assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from participation in, or as a result of, any offer, competition, information or advertisement contained within the magazine. North Wales Magazine does not endorse any of the advertisements featured. All words and images remain the property of their respective owners and all copyrights are observed. North Wales Magazine is not associated with any newspaper group.

Privacy Notice. You can read North Wales Magazine’s Privacy Notice in full at www.northwalesmagazine.com

NWM 2020 Page 7

What’s on this...

JANUARY

2nd-18th

Jack and the Beanstalk The acclaimed rock ‘n’ roll panto continues into the new year with a brand-new script

by Wales’ Christian Patterson, full of super slapstick, bonkers frocks, sparkling sets and the anarchic panto puppets! Phylip Harries shines as the Dame, Theatr Clwyd

1st

Porthdinllaen New Year’s Day Dip

4th

RNLI Porthdinllaen invites you to join the fun and meet the

Adult Flyers – Vertical Dance

crew this New Year’s Day. Held at Morfa Nefyn main beach,

Vertical dance is an exciting, emerging form of dance that

come in costume if you wish and brave the cold water! There

typically uses rock climbing equipment (ropes, harnesses,

will be a fee of £3 for those participating which includes a

abseil devices) to suspend dancers off the ground on a range of

medal and light refreshments after the dip at 11:30am. All

vertical surfaces. Join the fun at Venue Cymru at 3:30pm

proceeds go towards Porthdinllaen Lifeboat 1st

4th-5th

Join thousands of people dressed in ‘Roaring Twenties’

70 Years Young is André’s ultimate

costumes to brave the dip at Abersoch Beach to raise money

concert featuring musical highlights

for the Abersoch RNLI. Dip will take place at 12pm. Sponsorship

chosen by the Maestro himself from his

forms are available in the village at Abersoch Boatyard and

illustrious career so far. This unique

André Rieu: 70 Years Young

Abersoch New Year’s Day Dip

commemorative celebration will take

Abersoch Watersports shop

you on an unbelievable journey around the world. Bring your friends and kick off the New Year together in style, in the comfort of Ucheldre, with the most wonderful music

10th-11th

Take pART For two days enjoy 300+ workshops, drop-ins, talks, performances and loads of fun. Venue Cymru will host an explosion of arts and literature workshops and events. Visit the website for a complete schedule 11th

Harry Potter Festival Event Join Fleurble Laffalot at Venue 2nd-4th

Aladdin

Cymru between 3-4pm for a family friendly journey through

There’s still time for pantomime magic after the holidays at

J.K. Rowling’s much-loved books. Discover fun facts about the

Theatr Colwyn with Magic Light Productions hilarious stage

Harry Potter books as well as taking part in some of the key

performance

elements of life at Hogwarts

NWM 2020 Page 9

MAGAZINE

What’s on this...

JANUARY 11th

Anglesey Ultra The beautiful coastal Anglesey 10K, half, marathon and ultra-

14th

along cliffs shaped by the Irish Sea. Sign up with Endurance

Lucian Freud: A Self Portrait

Life to take part

For the first time in history the Royal Academy of Arts in

marathon course will take you over strenuous terrain and

London, in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts in 11th

Met Opera Live: Berg’s Wozzeck (Broadcast) Sung in German with English Subtitles, watch the

Boston, is bringing together Lucian Freud’s self-portraits.

The exhibition will display more than 50 paintings, prints and drawings in which this modern master of British art turned his unflinching eye firmly on himself, 5.30pm & 8pm, Ucheldre Centre

operatic masterpiece set in apocalyptic pre-World War 1. Broadcast starts at

15th

5:55pm at the Ucheldre

An evening of Rugby with Sam Warburton

Centre

Take advantage of a one-off opportunity to share company and hear from the most capped Captain of the Wales International Rugby Team just after the World Cup in Japan and prior to the start of the 6 Nations Championships with Wales playing Italy in February. Tickets include a 3-course meal and charity auction at St. Georges Hotel in Llandudno

16th

ROH Ballet Live: The Sleeping Beauty

11th

Charity Fire Walk

This production of Sleeping Beauty has

Conquer the coals this January and raise vital funds for Marie

been delighting audiences in Covent Garden

Curie at the same time. Fire Walk will take place at the Mold

since 1946. A classic of Russian ballet, it

Rugby Club between 4:30pm-9pm

established The Royal Ballet both in its new home after World War II and as a world-class

11th-12th

company. The ballet is

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

sure to cast its spell over anyone who sees it. Broadcast

Join musician Andy Pidcock and members of the BBC

starts at 7pm at the

National Orchestra of Wales in a series of music workshops.

Ucheldre Centre

Andy will even let you try out various instruments from the orchestra and make some music! Doors open at 10am at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, 16th & 17th 12th

Wild Pheasant Wedding Fayre

Silver Jewellery by Sandra Roberts Sandra Roberts is making her wonderful jewellery at

All brides, grooms and wedding parties are invited to this

Afonwen. Made with Eco silver, which is reclaimed silver from

Winter pop-up Wedding Fayre, exclusively hosted at The Wild

the jewellery industry, much of Sandra’s inspiration comes

Pheasant Hotel & Spa from 11am-3pm

from nature, with all its lovely shapes and colours

Page 10 NWM 2020

NWM 2020 Page 11

GWENER / FRIDAY - IONAWR 24 JANUARY

GALERI, CAERNARFON GALERICAERNARFON.COM 01286 685222

What’s on this...

JANUARY

24th

North Wales Cabaret & Burlesque Festival Watch the Final Seren yn Codi (Rising Star) competition, featuring six of the hottest stars from the world of cabaret and burlesque, competing to achieve bronze, silver, gold and platinum awards.

Show starts at 7:30pm

24th

Lovely Memories Made by Margaret Rose Sutherland This will be Margaret’s first time at the Afonwen centre, with her silk and contemporary art, mohair teddy bears, felt woodland animals with jointed limbs and head. She also

17th-22nd

makes beautiful patchwork memory bears

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

25th

Rey’s journey continues and the Skywalker saga

North Wales Author Expo 2020

concludes in ‘Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker’ at

A brand-new author showcase event taking place at the

Theatr Colwyn. Various showtimes available

Wrexham Enterprise Hub from 9am-6pm. Take part in workshops, listen to stories and meet interesting literary minds

18th

Craft & Artisan Fayre

25th

Set in the quaint, bustling 12th Century castle town of

Cyngerdd Santes Dwynwen

Beaumaris this Georgian hotel, plays monthly host to popular

Join Galeri Caernarfon’s resident pianist and singer and their

fairs in its ballroom with panoramic views of the Menai

special guest singer Lleuwen, in an evening of music filled

Straits and Snowdonia, accommodating 20 stallholders.

with love on Santes Dwynwen Day. Music starts at 7:30pm

Visitors receive free admission (10am - 4pm) and a 10% discount voucher to enjoy delicious refreshments in the hotel’s coffee lounge 19th

Imperial Hotel Wedding Fayre

25th

Nirvana UK + Special Guest MONKEY WRENCH (Foo Fighters Tribute) Hailed by Total Guitar as the best

Celebration Events Wedding Fayres

Nirvana tribute they have heard

are hosting the first Spring 2020

in years. NIRVANA UK, are

Wedding Fayre at the multi award-

a three-piece international

winning Imperial Hotel, on Llandudno’s

touring Nirvana tribute band

Promenade. Stop by between 12-4pm to

from Birmingham. Relive the

meet the team, tour the property, pick up a goody bag, a copy

live and loud experience at the

of Exquisite Weddings magazine and sample delicious food

Ucheldre Centre. Doors open at

and drinks

7:30pm 25th

Wedding Open Day 23rd

Clwb Comedi Club

Come to Talhentbont Hall between 12-3pm today and see for yourself

Little Wander and Pontio presents the January Comedy

what this amazing venue on the

Club featuring Rob Deering, Lloyd Langford and Danny

Llŷn Peninsula has to offer

McLoughlin. Show starts at 8pm at the Pontio Bangor

NWM 2020 Page 13

MAGAZINE

What’s on this...

JANUARY

31st

Weaving with Trevor Blackburn Trevor is able to demonstrate weaving sticks and lucet cord makings at Afonwen today, where he makes woven scarves and cushion covers made from various yarns, including silk and alpaca 31st

Network She: Shine 2020 Business Event Are you starting your own business? Want to get advice from women who mean business? If so, pop this one on the calendar. With guest speakers like Danni Wallace, Jane Kenyon & Helen Williams, contact Ruth at Network She today to get your tickets or book a trade stand. The free event will run from 9:30am26th

Llandudno 10 Mile & Half Marathon

4:30pm at the Crowne Plaza, Chester

Start the year as you mean to go on, an ideal goal setter.

Sign up with Run Wales to complete the challenge with the beautiful backdrop of Llandudno guiding your path

31st

WRU - Wales vs. Italy 31st Wales U20s play Italy U20s at

27th January – 1st Feb

Frankenstein

A new theatrical adaption of Mary

Stadiwm Zip World, Colwyn Bay this January. Gates open at 6:35pm, kick-off at 7:35pm

Shelley’s seminal 1818 gothic horror novel, Frankenstein, comes to Theatr Clwyd. Tickets priced from £10 are available at the Box Office

31st

29th

The North Wales Opera Studio will perform

ROH Opera Live: Puccini’s La Bohéme Puccini’s opera of young love in 19th Century Paris packed

Carmen Carmen by Bizet at Theatre Stiwt. Show starts at 7pm

with beautiful music will broadcast at the Ucheldre Centre at 7:45pm 29th

Emerging Tech Fest 2020

31st – 2nd January

The Gathering

Mike Peters of the Alarm invites you to Venue Cymru for a weekend of fantastic

Following the

music. The Gathering 2020 will be the

success of last

first UK show to feature the full electric

year, the 2020

ensemble of Mike Peters and The Alarm

event will bring

for some time and promises another eventful Gathering

together some

weekend for both fans and bands playing classics as well

of the most

as new songs like ‘Strength’ and ‘Sigma’. Tickets can be

innovative

purchased directly on The Alarm website

companies in Welsh technology with key sectors in North Wales such as tourism, energy and manufacturing, along with professional and business support. Doors open at 8:15am, free to attend

Page 14 NWM 2020

Are you organising or taking part in an event that should be covered in our what’s on listings? Then get in touch! whatson@northwalesmagazine.co.uk

MAGAZINE

Page 16 NWM 2020

The Big Picture Anglesey is the largest Welsh island coming in at 276 square miles – making it the fifth-largest island in Britain. You’ll find Ynys Mon, as it’s known in Welsh, located off the north-west coast of the mainland, separated by the Menai Strait.

And off the island lies yet another island – Holy Island is Anglesey’s most westerly point and is home to large colonies of seabirds at South Stack which can be viewed from the RSPB’s Ellin’s Tower observatory. The reserve also has a visitor centre and a café with plenty of parking, making it a must-see when you come to Anglesey...

NWM 2020 Page 17

Sneak

peek Lowri Llewelyn talks to Lauren Hughes, the boudoir photographer helping women feel fabulous.

As another year bites the dust and the Quality Street tin sits empty, most of us are succumbing to the pressures of the dreaded January diet. But boudoir photographer Lauren sees things a little differently. From her studio in Rhos-on-Sea, she’s on a mission to help women celebrate their bodies just as they are.

“Boudoir photography is something I had never come across until I got my first job in a photography studio,” she says. “One day we would shoot families, other days babies… and then we had a boudoir day. Three or four women came in, all different shapes and sizes, some more nervous than others. It was very feminine, with lots of girl talk – kind of like when you visit the nail salon and the women are all gossiping, spilling all to the technician! They would talk about their relationships, issues with their bodies, and by the end of the session they were usually completely naked without a care in the world. You come in feeling nervous, hating your hips, your cellulite, or your stretch marks, and leave feeling like a new woman. That is the magic of boudoir.”

NWM 2020 Page 19

MAGAZINE

As backlash mounts towards the media’s unrealistic and unattainable beauty standards, small but steady steps are being taken towards attaining fairer representation; most notably, in 2019 morbidly obese model Tess Holliday made the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine. Though Lauren acknowledges Tess may be endangering her health, “From a photographer’s perspective, I think her message is great.

She gives girls the confidence and love they should have for themselves, which in turn can help with physical and mental illnesses like anorexia and bulimia. I photograph women of all sizes and would love to photograph Tess just as much as any other woman.”

But there’s a big difference between an internationally renowned model and regular women baring all for the camera. What, exactly, is luring so many of us to the studio?

“I think boudoir photography gives women a taste of the spotlight. They say to themselves: ‘You know what, if she can do it, so can I’. You don’t have to be a model to pose in your Glamour and boudoir photography, of course, bring to mind

underwear; every woman is sexy in her own way.”

images of flawless Page 3 girls for most of us. “Boudoir is for everybody,” Lauren insists. “You might be celebrating a

As you may have noticed – no, she hasn’t been at the Quality

50th birthday, or maybe it’s a gift for hubby-to-be. It might

Streets – Lauren recently became a mother. Has her own self

just be because you feel like it.” And if the photos are a gift

image changed in that time? “Oh my God – nobody prepares

for that special someone? “I always tell my ladies to sneak

you for what your body goes through during pregnancy,

something out of the wardrobe – there’s nothing sexier

and especially afterwards! My body did not ‘bounce back’

than a woman wearing her man’s shirt!”

overnight. Unfortunately, that’s another false standard the

Page 20 NWM 2020

I USED TO THINK IT WAS THE ‘CORRECT’ WAY TO PHOTOSHOP EVERYTHING WE WOULD CONSIDER A FLAW, BUT OVER THE YEARS I’VE LEARNED IT’S NOT ABOUT ERASING OUR FLAWS, BUT ACCEPTING AND EMBRACING THEM

media has set. Of all the pregnant women I’ve photographed,

So, what exactly does a boudoir shoot involve? “I’ll

or even mothers after the fact, I have by far the most stretch

typically take the time to get to know a client before their

marks I have ever seen. But I’ve learned to love and accept

session. We chat and discuss outfits; I advise them to

them. They are evidence that my body made the most

bring as many as they want, because the more options I

beautiful boy I could wish for, and I couldn’t be happier. If

have, the more variation I can achieve. During the shoot

you’re reading this and thinking ‘I hate my post-baby body’,

I’ll usually have an assistant with me, who is responsible

don’t. You are a goddess!”

for helping my lady feel at ease and keeping an eye out for small imperfections like loose strands of hair, a tag poking

“I love making mums-to-be feel glamorous and unstoppable

out, or a dress that isn’t flowing in the right direction. I

whilst they’re feeling huge, exhausted and not very sexy,”

always have my ‘Independent Ladies’ playlist on, and will

continues Lauren, who specialises in maternity glam. “Being

use lighting to highlight a woman’s favourite and best

pregnant really takes a toll on your self image. When women

features. We sing along and have a giggle just like you

see my photos, they see women who are just like them: full-

would on a night out with the girls. The majority of my

time parents, working mothers, everyday people – all looking

friends were originally customers, so I really value the

amazing. It’s not all about size six models with zero cellulite;

friendships I’ve made through my job!” Lauren continues.

it’s about feeling empowered and beautiful during the most difficult time of our lives.”

“I have photographed so many women, all of whom have had different journeys through life. They’ve overcome

Whilst Lauren’s images are undoubtedly stunning, us

obstacles, and some have been to hell and back. But at the

creatives never stop learning. Has she made any mistakes

end of a shoot, they all have that sparkle in their eyes, that

along the way? “Photoshop is a huge subject when it comes

smile on their face and walk out feeling empowered.”

n

to boudoir – if you know your way around the software, you can pretty much achieve anything. It’s difficult to find an image that hasn’t been manipulated these days, especially on social media. I used to think it was the ‘correct’ way to remove everything we would consider a flaw, but over

To see more of Lauren’s work visit her on Facebook at @silhouettephotog, or to book your own session get in contact at info@silhouette-photography.co.uk

the years I’ve learned it’s not about erasing our flaws, but accepting and embracing them.”

NWM 2020 Page 21

Taith i Fienna Gwener 10 Ionawr, 7:30pm £17 | £16 dros 60 | £5 myfyrwyr a dan 18

A Journey to Fienna

Gŵyl y Gelli Gandryll a Pontio yn cyflwyno Hay Literary Festival and Pontio present

Behold, America: A History of ‘America First’ Noson yng nghwmni An Evening with

Sarah Churchwell

Friday 10 January, 7:30pm £17 | £16 over 60 |

£5 students and under 18

Theatr Bryn Terfel Iau 23 Ionawr, 7.30pm Thursday 23 January, 7.30pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£12 / £10

Trials of Cato + Tant

Gwe 17 Ionawr, 8pm

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

£14 | £13 gostyngiadau

Fri 17 January, 8pm £14 | £13 concessions

Theatr Bryn Terfel

Sadwrn 25 Ionawr, 11.30am + 2.30pm

Saturday 25 January, 11.30am + 2.30pm

£6.50 | £22 Tocyn Ffrindiau a Theulu

£6.50 | £22 Friends and Family Ticket

Stiwdio

Clwb Comedi January Ionawr Comedy Club Stiwdio Iau 23 Ionawr, 8pm

Studio Thur 23 January, 8pm

The Fureys Mercher 19 Chwefror, 7.30pm Wednesday 19 February, 7.30pm Theatr Bryn Terfel £20

£10.50 / £8.50 16+

Bangor

Studio

The original reference to the Seven Wonders of Wales actually comes from an anonymously written rhyme:

Lucky number

“Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham Steeple Snowdon’s mountain without its people Overton Yew Trees, St Winefride’s Well Llangollen Bridge and Gresford Bells.”

But, while the origin of the rhyme isn’t known,

Did you know that the Seven Wonders of Wales can all be found in the North?

that of the seven mentioned locations most certainly is. So, if history is your thing, read on to find out more about the seven most historic

Pistyll Rhaeadr

e

landmarks in North Wales…

Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall, near Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochnant, is the highest waterfall in both England and

St Giles’ Church, Wrexham The 16th Century tower of St Giles’

Wales at an impressive 80 metres. Fed by water from the Berwyn Mountains, the waterfall is formed by the Afon Disgynfa falling in three stages into the Afon Rhaeadr below. There is a car park and café at the foot of the

miles. Referred to as a steeple in the

waterfall, making it a great place to

poem the tower, which is 135 feet high,

explore the Berwyn Mountains and

was completed in 1506. Over the pond,

surrounding hills from, with many

a half-size replica of the tower can be

walks available to suit a variety of

found at Yale University, which includes

walkers. And, if you fancy stopping

an original stone from St Giles’ tower. The

for a bit longer to soak up the

Grade I listed medieval Parish Church

atmosphere, a campsite is situated

itself is a whopping 180-feet long,

just a stone’s throw away from the

making it the largest of its type in Wales.

majestic waterfall…

e

Church in Wrexham can be seen for

Snowdon

The highest mountain in England and Wales, Snowdon stands 1,085 metres high. Located in Snowdonia National Park, Snowdon is the busiest mountain in the UK, and the third most visited attraction in Wales, with almost 600,000 visitors each year. The mountain can be climbed by a variety of routes, but the easiest way to reach the summit is via the Snowdon Mountain Railway which departs from Llanberis. And, whichever way you have reached the top, you can enjoy some refreshments at the Hafod Eryri visitor centre while admiring the stunning view.

NWM 2020 Page 23

MAGAZINE

e

The Yew Trees, Overton-on-Dee

These famous yew trees can be found in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, a church which dominates the high street of Overton-on-Dee in Wrexham. The majority of the 21 yew trees are believed to date back between 1,500 and 2,000 years, however one was planted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992 in order to celebrate the 700th anniversary of a Royal Charter being granted to Overton

e

by Edward I in 1292.

St Winefride’s Well, Holywell St Winefride’s Well is located in Holywell, Flintshire. It is a Grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument that has attracted pilgrims for more than 1,000 years. Legend has it that the Well’s waters have healing powers, which perhaps explains why it is the oldest continually visited pilgrimage site in Great Britain. An onsite exhibition explains the history of St Winefride’s Well, and even displays crutches left behind by some of the reportedly cured pilgrims from the 19th and early 20th Centuries…

Llangollen Bridge, Denbighshire Llangollen Bridge was the first stone bridge to span the River Dee. Built in the 16th Century to replace an earlier bridge built under the direction of John Trevor, Bishop of St Asaph, it has been upgraded many times. In the 1860s the bridge was extended by adding an extra arch and a two-storey stone tower with a castellated parapet. This then became a café before being demolished in the 1930s to improve traffic flow. The bridge was then widened in 1873 and yet again in 1968, using stonework which toned in with the original structure. Today Llangollen Bridge is Grade I listed

e

and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Gresford Bells, Gresford

All Saints Church in Gresford makes the list, not for its size or beauty, but for its bells – which are still rung regularly for church services. A device means that all eight of the bell chimes can be rung by just a single person, and the bells themselves are renowned for the purity of their tone. Meanwhile, the Grade I listed 15th Century church has been described as the finest parish church in Wales, and has the most surviving medieval stained glass of any Welsh church.

Page 24 NWM 2020

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NWM 2020 Page 25

MAGAZINE

Look, and look, and look again…

Stephen Gregory explores the legacy of Charles Tunnicliffe.

So, it’s January 2020. Twenty-twenty sounds good and

enthralling was my total and almost literal immersion into

positive, the numbers we use to denote a perfect clarity

the lives of Tarka the Otter and Salar the Salmon, the

of vision. Let’s hope that 2020 will be a year of clarity and

secret animal worlds created by Henry Williamson.

mutual understanding.

So what’s the connection between the Brooke Bond tea And January. I’ve always liked the image of Janus,

cards and the books of Henry Williamson? It’s the artwork

with his two faces… one looking backwards with an

of Charles Tunnicliffe, one of the greatest naturalist-

expression of wistful nostalgia, the other looking

artists of all time.

forwards with hope and courage and strongly positive feelings.

Nowadays you can bring your childhood memories bang up-to-date, as I did last week, by going to the superb,

January, from the Latin word ‘ianua’, a door. So Janus

state-of-the-art Oriel Ynys Mon at Llangefni and seeing an

closes a door behind us, and he opens a new one, for a

exhibition of Tunnicliffe’s breathtakingly beautiful work.

new start, a New Year.

Charles Tunnicliffe was born and brought up in Cheshire Looking backwards a bit further than last year, into

but, in 1947, after studying at the Royal College of Art in

my childhood in the 50s and 60s, I bump into some

London and also teaching art in London and Manchester,

treasured memories which resonate right up to the

he moved to Anglesey and settled there with his wife

present day. In those days the local grocer would deliver

Winifred. He had already established a reputation with

our groceries to the front door, arriving in his Morris

his illustrations of Tarka the Otter and his exhibitions of

Minor van and carrying a cardboard box of our weekly

work in London, and he was elected as an associate of the

supplies into the kitchen. And for me it was an exciting

Royal Academy. But from then on, right up until his death

moment, to open the cartons of Brooke Bond tea and feel

in 1979, he would live and work in his home, Shorelands,

for the tea cards I was collecting, the illustrations of birds

at Malltraeth, in the south-eastern corner of Anglesey.

and fish and animals which I would stick into my Brooke Bond catalogue. Good days, simple pleasures!

By all accounts he was a quiet and modest man, who

Another memory, from around the same blurry and

preferred to continue observing and recording the natural

cosy time, was the enjoyment of my favourite books

world, especially birds, around the shores of his island home

of childhood. The adventures of The Famous Five and

in North Wales, although he was honoured later in his life

The Secret Seven… but far more thrilling and deeply

with the Gold Medal of the Royal Society and also the OBE.

Page 26 NWM 2020

He was known to say that ‘Nature is lavish with her riches,

Charles Tunnicliffe himself would have been thrilled to

for those who have eyes to see...’ and indeed his copperplate

know that his otters are stealthily thriving. He himself had

engravings, his woodblock engravings, his etchings and

remarked on a gloomy outlook for many bird species – ‘alas,

his paintings are minutely detailed. Many lovers of his work

modern man’s activities are, on the whole, against their

marvel especially at his sketchbooks and journals, his on-the-

survival… will many of our birds be but a memory in a few

spot observations of birds in their natural habitat, his pencil

years to come? Some are already just that.’ Today, as we look

sketches done in the field and finished later in the studio in

forward into the coming months of 2020, we must wonder if

watercolour or ink.

we’re doing enough to repair the damage we’ve been doing to our precious environment.

He would advise other naturalists and would-be artists that there was only one way to make drawings of a quickly moving

Meanwhile, the legacy of Charles Tunnicliffe remains for

bird… ‘to watch, and watch, and watch again, get accurate

all of us lucky enough to live and breathe on the shores

impressions of the bird photographed onto your mind, so that

of Anglesey and under its ever-changing skies. Make a

when the bird finally disappears you can get to work on your

leisurely visit to Oriel Ynys Mon: it’s beautifully modern,

sketchbook and set down those impressions at once.’

there’s an excellent restaurant, and you can spend long, contemplative hours with the works of many local artists,

He created what he called his ‘feather maps’ too, records of

including the uniquely stylized painter Kyffin Williams. And

dead birds which he found or which people brought to him.

it’s free!

Not just birds, but all kinds of animals, such as foxes and squirrels and otters and weasels… he would look, and look,

But for me and many lovers of the natural world and

and look again, making such extraordinarily detailed images

especially the birds, it’s the artistry of Charles Tunnicliffe

of fur and feather, of beak and talon and tooth, that few artists

which makes a visit to the gallery so special. The clarity

had ever done before or will ever do.

of his vision… it makes our appreciation of Anglesey and the landscape of North Wales so much the finer. And so his

We are indeed lucky, here in North Wales, to enjoy the legacy

spirit remains, on the beaches, in the air, in the sand and

of such an artist and naturalist and conservationist as Charles

the salty spray.

Tunnicliffe. Over my years in Wales I’ve walked and enjoyed, indeed inhaled, the foreshores and beaches which he loved

It was the artist Kyffin Williams who summed up his

and treasured. Especially in the south-western corner of

colleague and friend like this: ‘Anglesey gave Charles

Anglesey, by Newborough and Malltraeth and Aberffraw, you

Tunnicliffe the peace his work demanded and the ready

can breathe in the world of Tunnicliffe, and observe the birds

material for it. Unambitious and content, he just got on with

and other creatures he loved.

his work, gazing, noting, writing and then gazing again.

Wherever I go in Anglesey I will always feel that he is

If, like me, as a child you submerged yourself into the dark

somewhere around …’ n

depths of the waters inhabited by Tarka the Otter, you’ll be heartened to know that otters are making a significant recovery in many parts of England and Wales, after being almost completely decimated by the use of chemicals as agricultural pesticides and in sheep dips which leached into the soil and freshwater habitats. It’s great news – you may still never see an otter, probably the most elusive of native British mammals, but you can be obliquely reassured by the knowledge that they are somewhere nearby, as silky and smooth and as secret as Tarka and his family.

Stephen Gregory’s new book, an anthology of short stories entitled ON DARK WINGS, is now out in the USA from Valancourt Books. It features 14 of his stories, many of them previously published in the Illustrated London News and the London Evening Standard, as well as a Christmas ghost story he wrote especially for the North Wales magazine. Search for ON DARK WINGS at www.valancourtbooks.com to order your copy, postage free!

NWM 2020 Page 27

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Sunday lunch at the Gaerwen Arms Win a meal for two people on any Sunday at the Gaerwen Arms on Anglesey. This fantastic prize includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival, a three-course meal with a bottle of house wine and a cup of tea or coffee to finish your dining experience – which can be enjoyed at either lunch or dinner on any Sunday of your choice. The Gaerwen Arms has just won The Most Romantic Restaurant Award at the Restaurant Awards Welsh Edition, and has also recently been awarded 2 AA rosettes. gaerwen-arms.co.uk

North Wales Magazine has two amazing prizes to give away this January! Read on for entry details, and remember to follow our Facebook (@northwalesmag) to ensure that you don’t miss out on any extra competitions that are taking place throughout the month. Good luck!

A luxury hot stone massage and facial Come and indulge with a relaxing treatment at Pure Beauty in Mold town centre. At the fresh new salon you will find everything that you need, with treatments ranging from specialist waxing and nails to holistic massage and facials, and everything in between. You’re sure to be in good hands with over 22 years’ experience along with their ethos of affordable luxury. This great prize of a luxury hot stone massage and facial has a value of £78, but all new clients receive 20% off in January! www.purebeautymold.co.uk

To Enter In order to enter, all you need to do is email your name and address to us at competition@northwalesmagazine.co.uk by Friday 31st January, making sure that you put the name of the competition that you are entering in the subject line. Of course, you could always enter both – good luck!

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Notice We collect your information when you enter our competitions, and store this information on our systems. We will use this information to contact you if you are the competition winner, and to contact you occasionally with details of relevant offers and items which may be of interest to you. If you win the competition, your name and the town where you live may be printed in a future edition of North Wales Magazine. We will also share your information with the competition provider, and they may contact you with details of relevant offers. Please see www. northwalesmagazine.com for our full Privacy Notice.

EACH COMPETITION NEEDS TO BE ENTERED SEPERATELY

NWM 2020 Page 29

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Staying motivated

Most of us have no problem initially making our New Year’s resolution – the problem tends to come when you need to maintain your motivation. Noelle Watson shares her top 11 tips for keeping your workout mojo throughout 2020…

So where’s the switch? How do we suddenly go from “normal” to Fitness Goddess (or God!)? How do people actually do that? How do you fit it in around work, family, house and everything else? Quite honestly, if you’re reading this you probably already know what to do to get fit and healthy… yeah yeah, get more active, eat healthily, give up alcohol. We all know. But it’s not the knowing – it’s the DOING. It’s the fitting it in. And the motivation.

In an ideal world we’d hire a personal trainer to sort us out. That’s what the celebs do. But this time of year money can be as tight as our jeans.

So I’m butting in now to help, here to share some of the tips we use to get our own clients kick-started and achieving those weight loss, health and fitness results fast and

towards a real goal that we really want… just a little every

easily.

single day… never allowing a bad day to stop us… can result in a beautiful big healthy snowball effect by the spring.

And it’s a snowball you’re going to

J 1. Set realistic and time-framed goals. Write them down

LOVE.

and leave them somewhere that you see them every single Some of these are pure “mindset” – and just involve thinking. Others are real practical tools to use

day. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day – fitness and weight loss takes time and effort. Mini fortnightly goals are good if you have a long journey ahead of you.

straight away. The overall message here is simple – consistently working

J 2. Take a photo of yourself and do your measurements.

Repeat this every month and watch your progress. Sometimes you’ll get visible changes that don’t show on the scales.

NWM 2020 Page 31

MAGAZINE

J 9. Avoid discussing your goals with people who are negative. “Well intentioned terrorists� will say things like “I think you’re mad doing that�. Or “You don’t need to do

J 3. On that last point – watch the NSV’s. The Non Scale

that�. Even if you don’t believe them, these negatives have a

Victories. Fitness, health and wellbeing aren’t all about the

subconscious effect. Surround yourself with more positive

scales. You’ll get lovely improvements in energy levels, sleep,

folks who will support and help you find ways to make it

positivity, keeping up with the kids, joint pains – and so

work.

much more!

J 10. Remember, cravings only last for 20 minutes. Have J 4. Get organised in the kitchen – empty your cupboards of

craving avoidance tactics ‌ clean your teeth, climb the stairs

“junk�. Then write a weekly menu plan full of lovely healthy

ten times, have a bath, tidy a cupboard, play a game, do a

home-cooked meals for as much of the week as you can. And

puzzle etc.

STICK TO IT! (You know even baked beans on toast is good.)

J 11. Make sure that you reward yourself for your efforts.

J 5. Do your shopping from your menu for the whole week.

Every time you hit a mini goal, you MUST treat yourself.

Home delivery can save time and temptation too.

Why not buy a £5 voucher from your fave clothes shop. Then when you’ve hit a big goal you can treat yourself to a lovely

J 6. You need to get active. This is important. Choose an

outfit. Lots of our ladies have tried this one and it works a

activity that you ENJOY and that will work for you – deciding

treat. And it can really benefit local businesses too. đ&#x;˜Š

to start running when you are four stone overweight, for example, will not be fun or practical and you will probably

PS Never forget that the issue with motivation is ALWAYS in

hurt too much. Perhaps a class, dancing, walking, swimming

our head. (This is my speciality). We all give many reasons

or cycling? Here in North Wales we have some amazing

for not putting our own well-being, health and happiness

mountains and lovely quiet lanes to explore! Start with one

first. These might include time, effort, money, joint pains,

thing a week for an hour if possible.

illness, age – or something else entirely. But assuming you are able to stand (and realistically even if you cannot) then

J 7. Then increase your Daily Movement. Sit a lot less. Potter

there is always something we can do to improve ourselves,

about. Get active in little tiny chunks. Use the stairs more. Use

our contentment and our health.

the car less. If you’re desk bound get up for two minutes every hour. Set a timer – that’s what I do. This’ll help your back too.

The question I always ask is this. If you don’t do it, then who

Maybe get outside for a couple of minutes and walk round the

will? n

building? This last one can help our mood massively if we time it with lunchtime, so getting some daylight during dark winter days.

J 8. Get support. This is so massive. We have a Network where this happens. Make your own one. Tell people what you plan to do and ask them to help you to stick to it. A good friend would love to see you happy.

Page 32 NWM 2020

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FOOD & DRINK INSIDE: recipes wine cocktail of the month

NWM 2020 Page 37

MAGAZINE

Page 38 NWM 2020

OF THE

Month It’s January, the month when people start talking about going “dry” – and we don’t think that they are referring to their sense of humour… So if Dry January isn’t for you, then why not try and put the spring back in your step another way? The Hair of the Dog cocktail is traditionally drank as a cure and pick-me-up – perfect!

INGREDIENTS 3 teaspoons of Honey 60ml Whiskey 30ml Single Cream 30ml Milk Nutmeg

Hair of the Dog METHOD Stir the honey and whiskey together until the honey has completely dissolved.

Shake all of the ingredients over ice and double strain into a Martini glass To serve: Garnish with nutmeg

IN THE MIX

Of course, if you’d rather sit back and relax while somebody mixed your ideal cocktail for you, then why not visit Sheldon’s in Colwyn Bay? From a Margarita to a Mojito, it has quite the cocktail selection and is quickly becoming the place to go for cocktails in North Wales.

01492 339821 www.sheldonsbar.co.uk

NWM 2020 Page 39

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Food for thought

Thank goodness that’s over! Christmas, I mean.

started showing all those brilliant Scandi-

Excess in all things is a wearisome chore, but

noir dramas like The Killing, Wallander and

Christmas is especially hard work: a festival

The Bridge, in which moody but attractive

of gorging and overdoing it that lasts over a

detectives with cheekbones like kitchen

month. It was hard enough to survive it all

knives would wander around snow-coated

when I was 14 (and a box of Quality Street

scenery solving gruesome murders whilst

could be consumed in its entirely without

sporting tasteful knitwear.

consequence), but now I just want to drag my bloated body over to the nearest health spa and

At the same time, my daughter started getting

eat nothing but celery and Ryvita for a month.

into the world of The Moomins, Tove Jansson’s charming Finnish children’s books that often

I don’t know about you but pulling down

involved little more than Moomintroll walking

the Christmas decorations is a cathartic

though a forest enjoying existential chats with

Cai Ross is co-owner

experience for me. I suspect that some people

his friend Snufkin.

and Maitre d’ of

feel blue packing away all the tinsel and lights

the award-winning

because once it’s all back in the attic, there’s

I think it took me back to my youth when we

Paysanne Bistro in

nothing but the bleakness of winter ahead for

lived on a hill farm near the Clocaenog forest.

Deganwy, which has

weeks on end.

I remember one winter (I think it was 1982)

been serving French

when it snowed, seemingly for weeks and

country-style food to

Personally, I love January. It’s the only time

weeks. I would wrap myself in as many layers

the fine people of North

of year that we can close the restaurant for a

as I could and just wander off into the fields and

Wales since 1988. He

whole week. Plus, my birthday is later on in

the hills catching snowflakes on my tongue.

also writes for Calibre

the month and thanks to the January sales,

The snow would be up to my knees. More

Magazine, BBC Good

my prezzies are often noticeably decent since

than anything, I remember the silence; that

Food, HeyUGuys.com

they were all bought at half-price!

miraculous absolute silence all around except

and The North Wales

for the crunch of snow under my little wellies.

Weekly News

Winter might be the worst time of the year for many people – here come the January Blues

Perhaps that’s what my mind wants to

again - but I think there’s a bit of magic in the

recapture when I think of white-blanketed

air about now. As soon as the calendar hits

Scandinavia, but it’s certainly a much cheaper

January, my mind tends to drift northwards; I

idea to pray for a dusting of snow and head

start hankering after all things Scandinavian.

out to the wilds of North Wales for a long

They do ‘cold and snowy’ properly up there.

trek. Some friends of mine went to Lapland recently. As much as I was deeply envious,

I first became infatuated with Scandinavia

when I asked them how much a bottle of wine

a few years ago at the time when BBC4

cost over there, they started crying. n

NWM 2020 Page 41

MAGAZINE

RECIPES VENISON WITH BLACKBERRY & CASSIS SAUCE MOULES MARINIÈRES

Game comes into its own at this time of year and Venison is the king of game meat. It goes especially well with fruity sauces like this. It’s also a very lean and

Conwy mussels are, in my

healthy meat, so you can make up for that by serving

view and in the opinions

with something incredibly unhealthy like Dauphinoise

of many chefs, the best in

potatoes.

the country and they are absolutely at their peak

Serves 4

right now. They are highly

J 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

versatile – soups, risottos, you

J 1 tablespoon redcurrant jelly

name it – but to enjoy them at

J 170g blackberries (frozen is fine)

their best, this remains the

J 300ml chicken stock

classic way to go.

J 2 garlic cloves, crushed J 2 juniper berries, crushed

Serves 4 to 6

J 4 sprigs of thyme

J 1 bag of mussels (approx 2kg)

J 600g venison steak cut into 12 medallions about

J 1 onion, chopped

50g each

J 2 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped

J 2 tablespoons olive oil

J 1 knob of butter

J 50g butter

J Freshly ground pepper J 2 handfuls of chopped parsley and a sprig of fresh thyme J 300mls Muscadet sur lie (You need a big sauce-pan with a lid) Wash the mussels in clean water, pulling any bits of beard out and scraping off any barnacles. Put them in a deep pan of water and chuck out any that float to the top. If any are open, tap the shells and you will see them close. If they don’t, discard them also.

Drain off the water and reserve.

Melt the butter and get the onions and garlic going on a low heat stirring occasionally to stop them catching. When you are happy that the onions are properly cooked, add half the parsley, plenty of pepper and the thyme, together with a cup of water and a cup of wine. You will need a lot less water than you think because the fish will release a fair bit of sea water when they open, and for that reason, of course you shouldn’t need to add any salt.

Now you can add the mussels, put the lid on and turn up the heat a bit for about five minutes during which you stir them up once or twice to make sure that they are all open. When they are open they’re ready. Sprinkle over the rest of the parsley and serve them in deep bowls with the onion broth poured over them.

Chunky bread is essential.

Page 42 NWM 2020

Heat the olive oil and butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Increase the heat to high and add the meat, cooking for two minutes on each side, leaving them somewhere warm to rest – they really should be pink and not well-done.

Add the balsamic vinegar to the pan and scrape up any meaty bits. Then add the juniper berries, the garlic, the thyme and the redcurrant jelly. Stir, then pour in the stock and the blackberries. Cook until the sauce reduces by about a third, by which time the blackberries will have softened. Remove the thyme sprigs.

Arrange the medallions on serving plates and pour the sauce around.

Don’t fancy cooking?

01492 582079 @PaysanneDeganwy www.paysannedeganwy.co.uk

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Raise your glass

Get over the screwcap

As we head out of the madness that was December, the Christmas rush and the run headlong into the New Year celebrations things start to settle a little here in the shop.

We had a conversation the other day about things customers have said that stuck in our minds.

Several were about recommendations of style, either similar to ones we know and like, or what to match with food. The ones that stuck in my mind particularly were around two subjects – labels and screwcap versus cork.

I will leave the label debate for another time, and today I will concentrate on the screwcap versus cork debate.

First point there are different kinds of cork now. Corks that are made of cork, plastic corks, sustainable corks and even ‘bottle closures’ that are made from sustainable, renewable

then shipped, but also with a screwcap. We have several

sugarcane-based raw materials. Then there are plastic

bottles of familiar varietals of wine, in screwcap bottles at the

closures for sparkling wines and metal screwcaps.

£16 to £20 price point. All good quality, all really good value.

Not inferior, not mass market, bulk wines.

So this is no longer a simple discussion of traditional cork versus screwcap. In the not so distant past, this debate

At the same time we have a large number of wines in the £9

would have been one of quality wines in bottles with real

to £15 market that have corks, some of them real corks.

cork from a tree, versus wines bottled locally and with a screwcap. Yes, a large part of that was dependent upon price

So the days of judging the quality and cost of wine based

and quality.

on the bottle closure are gone. I haven’t even touched on the what’s better real cork or the plastic ‘corks’, both have

But those days are gone now. So I will say this here and at

environmental issues that the newer sustainable closures

several other places, the closure on a wine bottle has very

address. We even have bottles in the shop currently that

little relevance to the quality or price point of the wine

have crown tops, like the lemonade bottles of yore (to those of

within the bottle. Here in the shop we have wines at a

us old enough to remember) or the glass large brand shapely

number of price points and quality levels, from producers at

cola bottles have.

several points on the quality spectrum.

So lets make a resolution for January. Stop the hating on the There are a lot of wines that are around that are bought in bulk,

non-cork bottle closures. Judge the wine on the maker, the

shipped from their country of production to the UK and bottled

variety and what you like, not on its closure. n

on arrival here. It is an easy way to transport wine efficiently and effectively. The majority of this ends in screwcap.

Iechyd da!

Alongside this sits wines produced and bottled at source,

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NWM NWM 2019 2020 Page Page 45 45

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Page 46 NWM 2020

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“Every workman was on time, knowledgeable and friendly. The workmanship is of a very high standard.

I must say a special ‘Thank You’ to Andy, the Surveyor. He has been very approachable and nothing has been too much trouble. I highly recommend Conwy Valley Windows.”

- S.Lloyd “Provided sound, practical and budget-friendly advice on the best ways to double glaze The fitters were polite, knowledgable and experienced... The windows and doors are of excellent quality, and heating bills have reduced since fitting. Sound-proofing is top notch. Finally, this was an on-going project over 18 months; we used Conwy Valley Windows for all the work because we were confident and happy they would provide the best service.

- S. Gow “We are more than happy to continue to work with Conwy Valley because the support was honest, authentic and the price was so fair, and to top if off the quality of the work was absolutely superb.”

- I. Urbat NWM 2020 Page 47

MAGAZINE

Page 48 NWM 2020

HOMES & INTERIORS REDUCED TO CLEAR - 1/2 PRICE ON ALL STOCK RUGS

NWM 2020 Page 49

Ein Pobl, Eich Tîm Our People, Your Team

CYFREITHWYR•SOLICITORS

Swyddfa Newydd yng Nghonwy New Office in Conwy

Cyngor a chefnogaeth ymarferol am bris tryloyw gan arbenigwyr cyfreithiol yng Ngogledd Cymru, Swydd Amwythig a Swydd Henffordd Transparently priced, practical advice and support delivered by legal specialists based in North Wales, Shropshire and Herefordshire Mae ein cyfreithwyr corfforaethol, eiddo masnachol, datrys anghydfodau a chyflogaeth arbenigol yn darparu cefnogaeth i’ch helpu chi i dyfu a diogelu eich busnes, gan roi sylfaen gadarn i chi adeiladu arno

Our specialist corporate, commercial property, dispute resolution and employment lawyers provide support to help you grow and protect your business, giving you a solid foundation to build upon

Rydym ni’n cynnig ystod eang o wasanaethau cyfreithiol, sy’n cynnwys:

Offering a wide range of legal services including:

• • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • •

Eiddo Masnachol a Phreswyl Amaethyddiaeth Ewyllysiau, Ymddiriedolaethau a Phrofiant Cyfraith Teulu Cyflogaeth Corfforaethol a Masnachol Anghydfodau Troseddau Moduro Niwed Personol ac Esgeulustod Meddygol

Commercial & Residential Property Agriculture Wills, Trusts & Probate Family Law Employment Corporate & Commercial Disputes Motoring Offences Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Cysylltwch â ni i gael gwybod rhagor am y gwasanaethau rydyn ni’n eu cynnig Contact us to find out more about the services we offer Swyddfa Conwy Office

1 & 2 Connaught House, Riverside Business Park, Benarth Road, Conwy LL32 8UB

01492 557070 info@lblaw.co.uk www.lblaw.co.uk Yr Amwythig • Bromyard • Conwy • Henffordd • Llwydlo • Croesoswallt • Telford

Shrewsbury • Bromyard • Conwy • Hereford • Ludlow • Oswestry • Telford

Property of the month

Maitland Cottage is a delightful detached bungalow on the outskirts of Conwy that offers fantastic views of the surrounding area. This three-bedroom home is located within a small hamlet just four miles from the historic walled town, and boasts absolutely spectacular views over the Conwy Valley.

The accommodation itself is very spacious and is immaculately presented throughout. The open plan living/dining/fitted kitchen area is a particular feature, as it all faces the spectacular west aspect views of the rolling hillside of the Conwy Valley and, in those colder months, you can light the log burner and be as snug as a bug in a rug.

The three large bedrooms are all doubles, the master benefitting from an en suite wet room. A utility room, store room, landscaped terraced garden and a parking area for 2/3 cars complete the package. This property is a lovely home or will make a great rural retreat or even a popular holiday let. n

For more information Maitland Cottage is currently on the market with Anthony Flint Estate Agents for ÂŁ249,950. For further information visit www.anthonyflint.co.uk

NWM 2020 Page 51

MAGAZINE

The Selling & Letting Agents

Sales / Lettings - 3 Lancaster Square, Conwy LL32 8HT • Tel 01492 583100 Sales - 1a Penrhyn Avenue, Rhos-on-Sea LL28 4PS • Tel: 01492 549178 email: conwy@fletcherpoole.com

email: rhos@fletcherpoole.com

website: www.fletcherpoole.com

LLECHWEDD, CONWY

DEGANWY £595,000

£675,000

• Superb Detached Six Bedroom Family Home • Far reaching views to the front taking in the mountains, Conwy Castle, the estuary & countryside • Large gardens & grounds extending to approximately 1 third of an acre • Original Charm & Character with Modern Living

• Stunning Stylish & Contemporary Stable Conversion with 3 bedrooms & open plan living space • Superb grounds including slate patio, garden room & ample off road parking • Beautiful views over the lake, Conwy Valley and beyond • Exceptional property sits within easy reach of all amenities yet retains a feeling of a country retreat

EPC

F

GLAN CONWY

LLANDUDNO £785,000

£475,000 • This lovely cottage has been extended over time to provide flexible 3 bedroom accommodation • Set in lovely, spacious grounds, parking & garage • With sea & countryside views, Situated in a peaceful spot, yet just a short distance from Llandudno • Having been a family home for many years it is now ready for the next chapter of its history to be written

• Beautiful detached 4 bedroom home, on a small prestigious development on the outskirts of Glan Conwy • Enjoys a large beautifully landscaped plot extending to approximately 1 acre, to include a small paddock • Architect designed in 2002 by Vale Heritage to an exceptionally high standard • Electric gated entrance takes you onto a large driveway, double garage

OPENING HOURS: MONDAY – FRIDAY 9.00-5.30 SATURDAY 9.30-4.00

INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENTS

Page 52 NWM 2020

VALUATION - If you are thinking of moving at anytime in the near future please do not hesitate to ask for a FREE SALES VALUATION www.fletcherpoole.com

The Selling & Letting Agents

Sales / Lettings - 3 Lancaster Square, Conwy LL32 8HT • Tel 01492 583100 Sales - 1a Penrhyn Avenue, Rhos-on-Sea LL28 4PS • Tel: 01492 549178 email: conwy@fletcherpoole.com

email: rhos@fletcherpoole.com

website: www.fletcherpoole.com

COLWYN BAY

PENRHYN BAY £725,000

£795,000

• Stunning Four Bedroom Detached House • Newly Built With Immaculate Finish • Prime Sea Front Location Enjoying Sea & Coastline Views

• Impressive Five Bedroom Detached House • Countryside Location With Stunning Views • Exceptional Outdoor Space Including Paddock, Stables, Orchard & Fishing Pond

EPC

F

RHOS ON SEA

UPPER COLWYN BAY £264,950

£395,000 • Four Bedroom Detached House • Spacious & Well Planned Accommodation • Situated on a Corner Plot Enjoying Far ReachingSea, Coastline & Countryside • Views

• Three Bedroom Detached Dormer Bungalow • Light & Spacious Accommodation • Situated In A Sought After Area

OPENING HOURS: MONDAY – FRIDAY 9.00-5.30 SATURDAY 9.30-4.00

INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENTS VALUATION - If you are thinking of moving at anytime in the near future please do not hesitate to ask for a FREE SALES VALUATION www.fletcherpoole.com

NWM 2020 Page 53

MAGAZINE

Ffordd Llanfynydd, Treuddyn Ref: WM557

• Generous plot with ample off road parking

£395,000 • Double garage

• Four bedrooms and large games room to the rear • Peaceful semi-rural setting • Ideal family home

• Short distance to Mold

• uPVC double glazing and oil fired central heating • EPC Rating D - 62

£399,950

Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd Ref: RN1611 • • • • • • •

Large detached farmhouse with truly stunning surroundings Far reaching views over open countryside and farmland Many original features throughout the property Living/dining room, snug, kitchen, utility room & conservatory Four double bedrooms and family bathroom Outskirts of the picturesque village of Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd Off road parking & private gardens surrounding the property • EPC F24

£525,000

Llanrhaeadr Ref: WM185

Page 54 NWM 2020

• Beautiful Country House Built In 1936

• Set Within Stunning Private Gardens

• Semi-Rural Location

• Four Double Bedrooms

• Four Reception Rooms

• Detached Garage with Car Port

• Simply Must Be Viewed

• EPC Rating E41

£895,000 Bodelwyddan

Moelfre

Ref: WP8222

£269,950

Ref: WR9045

• Detached house

• Seven bedrooms

• Grade ll listed character house in Bodelwyddan Village

• Approx 1 acre paddock

• Stunning panoramic views

• Lounge & Dining Room

• Spacious kitchen

• Driveway for ample parking

• Three reception rooms

• 2 En-suites

• Ample parking

• Oil fired central heating

• EPC Rating D 62

• Gardens to the front & rear

• Close to the A 55

• EPC RATING D-55

NWM 2020 Page 55

WINDOWS • DOORS • ORANGERIES • CONSERVATORIES • SOFFITS • FASCIAS • CLADDING

VISIT OUR

BRAND NEW

2340 sqft SHOWROOM VIEW A WONDERFUL RANGE OF DOORS, WINDOWS, ORANGERIES, GARDEN ROOMS AND SO MUCH MORE

VISIT OUR LARGE LIFESTYLE SHOWROOMS IN MOLD Monday - Friday: 9.00am - 5.00pm Saturday: 10.00am - 4.00pm

TELEPHONE: Mold: 01352 758812 Chester: 01244 879818

Email: reception@snowdoniawindows.co.uk

MOLD: Bromfield Industrial Estate, Mold Flintshire CH7 1HA

www.snowdoniawindows.co.uk

INSIDE OUT North Wales Magazine brings you the latest products from the world of interiors

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Picture of health

The Afonwen Craft Centre has a fabulous collection of

This People’s Choice Best in Show and RHS Gold Medal

Tiffany style lamps in stock with various styles and shapes

winning garden was based on a young man’s journey

to choose from. These lamps look beautiful when off and

with Crohn’s Disease and his recovery. The shaded

stunning when lit up, making your room really come to life.

(illness) area created by the twisted metal pergola and

The Tiffany lamp is a collection of coloured glass blended

black inky water feature led down the steps into the

together to create beautiful pictures and patterns, usually

light, bright walled garden with gentle water features,

fused together with a metal strip or fused into a pattern. The

sculptures and seating areas with colourful, scented

style originates from the Art Nouveau movement, this style

planting – all of which promoted physical and mental

today is still being made into many stunning designs. The

well being. Judges comments included how well this

lamps start at £70.00.

would sit in a domestic environment.

www.afonwen.co.uk

www.actuallandscapes.co.uk

Making a statement Ella is a statement sofa inspired by glamorous American Art Deco interiors. This unique design features a brass finish base and elegant fluted velvet upholstery. The sprung base and backrest with deep foam and fibre filling and feather filled scatter cushions provide a luxurious level of comfort. www.my-furniture.com

NWM 2020 Page 57

MAGAZINE

C

M

True reflection

Y

CM

Môn Interiors offer interior design services for both residential and commercial premises across North Wales. Môn Interiors believes that your home

Eternal Flame

should be a reflection of you – and your workspace

Eternal Flame’s showroom in Mochdre has a huge

should be a reflection of your business. They aim

selection of fires and fireplaces to help keep you

to instil confidence and provide inspiration in

warm during the cold winter season here in North

creating stylish, original and functional spaces that

Wales. Unique to the area, Eternal Flame offers its

enhance life and experiences; bringing the best

customers a made-to-measure service as well as an

out of you or your business while remaining at the

in-house Gas Safe engineer and fireplace installer.

forefront of great design. Here’s a shot from one of

So why not call in to their showroom, and make sure

their most recent projects, set in a fantastic period

that you are warm as toast this winter…

country house in North Wales.

www.eternalflamefiresandfireplaces.co.uk

www.moninteriors.co.uk

Carefully designed The team at Just Imagine Interiors were inspired by the location of the beautiful seaside town of Porthmadog and its surrounding areas when working on its latest project. The team designed the interior of the Hafod-y-Gest extra care housing scheme, managed by Grwp Cynefin, with the aim of making the residents feels at home from their very first visit. www.justimagineinteriors.co.uk

Page 58 NWM 2020

MY

CY

CMY

K

SALE STARTS 10am FRIDAY 27th NOVEMBER

OPEN 11am-4pm NEW YEARS DAY PRESTATYN STORE ONLY

Millbrook Beds

Compton 1400 pocket Sprung mattress in Firm Tension 4’6” ASP £539 sale £399, 5’ ASP £599 sale £449

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Relyon FREE UPGRADE on all Divans and Mattresses

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INTEREST FREE CREDIT by KLARNA over £500.00 Visa Etc

www.NowtoBed.co.uk

NWM 2020 Page 59

MAGAZINE

Page 60 NWM 2020

Walking

world

DYSERTH FALLS AND GRAIG FAWR

This walk starts and finishes at the car park for Dyserth Falls. This is a very popular tourist attraction as the cascade is so easy to reach from the car park and there are often lots of people there on sunny summer’s days - there is a small charge for visiting the falls. Dyserth Falls are well signposted and located on the aptly named Waterfalls Road in Dyserth (near Prestatyn) next to The Red Lion Inn. The

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW J 3.65 miles/5.87 kilometres J Time: Allow 2.5 - 3 hours J Start: There is a free car park with toilets

by Dyserth Waterfalls on Waterfalls Road facing the Red Lion Pub

J Grid Ref: SJ 056793 J Nearest postcode: LE18 6ET J Ordnance Survey Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 265 – Clwydian Range (Prestatyn, Mold and Ruthin)

Falls are very impressive and drop about 70 ft/21 metres in a rocky

J What to expect: This is a fairly strenuous

chasm. They are formed when the River Ffyddion (which rises 4.5

walk that has plenty of ups and downs

miles/7.24 Km to the east at Marian Mills) tumbles down a vertical

on it. The paths and tracks are generally

drop in a noisy cascade.

straightforward to follow and there is some quiet lane walking on the route where

From the waterfalls this delightful walk explores the area around the

children should be carefully supervised.

village of Dyserth in an energetic circuit that uses a pleasant section

You should also take care with children

of the old Prestatyn to Dyserth railway line that was once used to

on the summit of Graig Fawr as there are

serve the mines and quarries in the surrounding area. The trains

some steep unfenced drops not far from

and carriages transported lead, zinc and limestone and for a short

the top. Some of the going can be muddy if

period also carried passengers. Up to sixteen passenger trains a

it has rained and the descent steps back

day ran at the railways peak but this service closed in 1930 because

to the start can be very slippery if they are

of increased competition from local bus services. After 104 years of

wet (an alternative is given). You should

usage the line finally shut in 1973. Today 2.5 miles of the original

wear boots and sensible walking clothing

railway have been turned into a cycle and walking route known as

and choose a day of settled weather. Take

‘The Dyserth Way’.

a walking stick along in summer as some of the paths can get a bit overgrown.

You can’t spend long in this area without your eyes turning to the large lump of rocky hillside above Meliden. This little summit is Graig Fawr and rises to 502 ft/153 metres above sea level. It is owned and maintained by The National Trust and the view from its summit is superb. Today’s walk includes an ascent of this ‘mountain in

J Suitable for: Regular walkers who are used to uphill and down hill paths. The walk could be enjoyed by older children

J Dogs: OK on a lead J Refreshments: The Red Lion Inn and The

miniature’ which is often referred to as ‘the guardian of Meliden’.

New Inn are at the start of the walk and

Although you could easily complete this route in a couple of hours

there are plenty of facilities in Prestatyn,

its worth taking longer over it and choosing a day of settled clear

Rhuddlan and nearby Dyserth

weather when you can soak in the view as you eat your sandwiches on Graig Fawr’s rocky summit!

NWM 2020 Page 61

MAGAZINE

WALK DETAILS

Points of interest on this section

START

owned and maintained by The National Trust and the view

Exit the car park to go right past The Red Lion Inn using the

from its summit is superb. This ‘mountain in miniature’ is often

left side of the road. There is no sidewalk initially so take care.

referred to as ‘the guardian of Meliden’.

J Graig Fawr rises to 502 ft/153 metres above sea level. It is

Pass a church right and once you have crossed the side road of Maes Esgob there is a sidewalk that can be used. Just before

4) With your back to the sea and view (and the drop) drop

a bus stop is reached cross right over the road to take a lane

off the summit to take a path going right towards the quarry

uphill. Climb through houses and continue climbing beyond

on the hill of Moel Hiraddug. Shortly curve left to continue

them. As the angle becomes leveller (just before another

downhill. Descend over a dip and continue towards houses and

house) cut back half right to pass through a kissing gate into

a road beyond a wall. Continue ahead as the angle levels and, as

woods. Follow the path through the woods and just before you

you reach a telegraph post and a marker post left (just before a

reach another kissing gate leave the path to go left taking a

gate near a road ahead), go right down a descending grass path

steep uphill path in trees. As you exit the trees the path ends.

to drop to another gate. Pass through a kissing gate to the right

Continue ahead towards a marker post above. From here cross

of this gate to pass through a car park to a lane. Go half left to

the field to descend slightly and cross a stile at a fence and

take the right lane at a junction and very shortly go right down

wood corner left of a white house. Beyond the stile continue

a minor lane with a weight limit on it. Descend this lane and

through woods on boardwalk and when this ends continue

just before a bridge go left through a metal barrier to descend a

ahead on a woodland path to emerge onto a lane. Cross over this

path to reach the old Prestatyn to Dyserth railway line again. Go

and climb up steps to pass through a kissing gate. Follow the

left on your outbound route to pass under a bridge and when

grass path across the next field to pass through a kissing gate

your outbound route goes left after it, stay ahead on the track.

by a bench. Take a tarmac track to cross a bridge. When you

Follow the track to pass left of a gate to a car park.

reach the next kissing gate don’t go through it but cut sharp right instead to drop down steps to a track that was once the

5) Exit the car park to a road and go right uphill. Use the

line of the old Prestatyn to Dyserth Railway Line.

sidewalk to continue through the village of Dyserth. Continue to just before traffic lights and a road junction signposted for

2) Go right under the bridge following a sign for ‘Prestatyn’ and

‘Prestatyn’ and take a marked footpath on the right which is

follow the track under another bridge. Follow the track past six

surfaced. Rise to shortly descend and when the fences for

benches to pass through the remains of an old bridge. Continue

the houses end start to descend more steeply through woods.

past two more benches to cross a bridge over a road. Continue

Continue to go left down steps at a junction and follow the

on the track past a further three benches and a footpath left

descending path to cut left just before a bench descending

signposted for ‘village of Meliden’. As you reach buildings at a

more steps behind a house. Join an access drive and cut left to

sign for ‘Prestatyn’ and ‘the Dyserth Way’ (near a footpath left

reach Waterfalls Road. Go right to walk past Dyserth Falls and

for ‘Meliden’) watch for a fork in the track right.

go right back into the car park.

NOTE – The steps descended to the road are very slippery if

Points of interest on this section

wet. In these conditions it is best to stay ahead at the junction

J The Prestatyn to Dyserth railway line was once used to serve

for them to cut back left at the next steps and drop down to

the mines and quarries in the surrounding area. The trains

the house and access drive this way.

and carriages transported lead, zinc and limestone and for a short period also carried passengers. Up to sixteen passenger

Points of interest on this section

trains a day ran at the railways peak but this service closed in

J Dyserth. The village has a population of about 2,500. Its main

1930. Today a 2.5 mile section of the old railway is a cycle path

features are the extensive quarrying remains, the waterfalls,

and footpath known as ‘The Dyserth Way’

the former Dyserth to Prestatyn railway line and Moel

3) At the track fork go right leaving the main track. Go right

J Dyserth Falls are very impressive and drop about 70 ft/21

through a kissing gate in a few paces taking a footpath past

metres in a rocky chasm. They are formed when the River

the ‘Graig Fawr’ National Trust sign. Rise steadily to go right

Ffyddion (which rises 4.5 miles/7.24 Km to the east at Marian

at a path junction following the sign for ‘Graig Fawr’. Climb

Mills) tumbles down a vertical drop in a noisy cascade. n

Hiraddug.

steadily through woods using steps in places. Stay ahead at a ‘Dyserth Circular Walk’ sign left and pass under overhead cables. Shortly stay ahead at the next junction left to climb up the upper reaches of Graig Fawr passing through fern and brambles. Keep ahead on the main path ignoring any paths going off. As the trig point on the summit of Graig Fawr comes into view, stay ahead to climb to it.

Page 62 NWM 2020

A WORD OF CAUTION Walking in the outdoors can be a strenuous activity and it is up to you to ensure that you are fit and healthy enough to undertake the route described and to approach the venture with caution and care. You should wear appropriate footwear and suitable clothing, take along food and drink plus carry the relevant map and a compass and be able to use it. The details given here are believed to be correct at the time of going to press. However, neither North Wales Magazine nor the author can accept responsibility for inaccuracies encountered.

Community

News

Third time lucky for North Wales landmark

Impressive start for local law firm

Less than 12 months after buying Plas Maenan Country

A law firm which opened an office in Conwy

House in the Conwy Valley, a former nurse and soldier has

in 2019 is celebrating a successful year after

transformed the five-star venue. Jane Harris is the hotel’s

expanding to a team of seven within months of

third owner in less than three years, but is determined to stay

opening. Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors opened its

the course and has already made incredible progress since

North Wales office in Conwy in May, and say they

December last year. Recruiting Great British Menu star Jason

have been delighted with the level of demand

Hughes as head chef was one of her first big decisions, and

for legal services in the area. Edward Nutting

the move has already paid dividends in laying the foundations

(pictured), commercial and agricultural property

for a fresh reputation based on fine dining and locally sourced

lawyer, who heads up the firm’s Conwy office,

Welsh produce. “I had only been to see Plas Maenan three

said it had been an extremely busy start. “We

times before buying it, so I was not familiar with the area

have had a presence in Conwy since March 2018

and had no idea what lay ahead,” said Jane, who is a former

and we knew the demand was there, which is

soldier, nurse and a fully trained teacher. “The hotel was

why we decided to open a fully-staffed office in

closed, there were no staff, no guests, no suppliers and there

2019,” he said. “Over the course of eight months

was no handover. The building was in disrepair - a serious oil

we have grown into a team of seven staff based

leak had shut down the boiler - and the log fire was obsolete.

in Conwy, assisting individuals and businesses

The kitchen was filthy, and we were not compliant; there

all over North Wales. I specialise in commercial

was so much to do, and I questioned my decision to give up

and agricultural matters, and we also provide

everything at my time in life for this. But there was something

employment, corporate and dispute resolution

about the place, and I honestly believe Plas Maenan chose me,

for companies; and wills, trusts and probate,

not the other way around. It was a spiritual feeling, a positive

family, clinical negligence and personal injury for

energy, and that combined with these breath-taking views

private clients. It’s been a fantastic start and we

of the Valley made me take a leap of faith.” What followed has

are looking forward to working with even more

been almost a year of improvements, more than £250,000 in

people during 2020 and beyond.”

refurbishments and additions – notably Hiraeth, a European

www.lblaw.co.uk

and Welsh tapas restaurant, and terraces with underfloor heating. “Plas Maenan Country House has a rich and important history, but I truly believe the best is yet to come.” www.plas-maenan-hotel.co.uk

Page 64 NWM 2020

Travel agent refurbishes bereavement room North Wales’s most haunted

A little boy from Wrexham who lost two much-loved

A village inn in the Vale of Clwyd claims to be the most

grandparents just months apart has thanked a travel agent

haunted pub in North Wales after being home to seven ghosts.

for helping to refurbish a special bereavement room which

An exorcism a few years ago whittled that down to three

has helped him cope with their sudden deaths. Ethan James,

but the Salusbury Arms in Tremeirchion, which features in

11, of Caia Park, has been one of the first youngsters to visit

the Domesday Book, is still certainly spook central. A former

the new-look Sunshine Room at Nightingale House Hospice

landlady, Glenys Taylor, who passed away in an upstairs

in Wrexham which has been transformed with a grant

bedroom over 30 years ago, is still a presence although

from the Hays Travel Foundation. The foundation focuses on

the pub is now run by Richard and Sue Green, of Dovecote

projects which support young people. The newly decorated

Brewery, in Denbigh, who live in the village and took over the

space, which is used by the hospice’s Release bereavement

Salusbury earlier this year, breathing new life into it after it

service, has been designed to create a much homelier

closed for 14 months. Richard, an industrial chemist originally

atmosphere, with comfy sofas, soft lighting and a colourful

from Walsall, in the West Midlands, and Sue, from Rhyl, set

light projector. The aim is to provide a safe and secure space

up Dovecote Brewery in Denbigh two years ago when they

for young people to talk to trained social workers who run

decided to turn his home brewing hobby into an alternative

the hospice’s Release service. It helps children and young

career. There are now Dove pubs in Rhyl and Prestatyn with a

people, up to the age of 18, who live within the hospice’s

Taproom in Denbigh and The Hoptimist pubs have popped up

catchment area and have lost someone they love very dearly.

in Abergele, Rhuddlan and Llangollen and it was this success

Ethan said he was very impressed with the new Sunshine

that led to locals persuading them to take over the running of

Room and said: “It is a big improvement from the last room

the Salusbury and its resident spirits. “The exorcism got rid

and it feels more uplifting and it feels like it is a fresh new

of four of the ghosts but we’ve still got three including an old

start which is a good way to feel when you come in here.

spirit in the cellar who once shoved one of the barmen down

It’s a nice and safe space to sit and have a think about and

the steep stairs and a little boy in one of the bedrooms, but the

remember my grandma and grandad who I miss a lot.”

spirit most people report seeing is Mrs Taylor,” said Richard.

www.nightingalehouse.co.uk

“She’s protective, and if she thinks you’re doing a good job in the kitchen which was her domain, she gives you a pat on the back which Sue and her kitchen team have felt more than once…”

Awards success for Adventure Parc Snowdonia

judges, and then readers

Adventure Parc Snowdonia has won the One for the Kids

vote for their favourites.

(family experience) award at the National Geographic

Adventure Parc Snowdonia beat off competition from The

Traveller Reader Awards, in association with Audley

Bear Grylls Adventure in Birmingham and Tiger Lodges

Travel. The awards ceremony, which took place at The

Reserve in Kent to win in its category. “It’s a big honour for

Montcalm Hotel in Marble Arch, London on Wednesday

us to be recognised by the National Geographic Traveller

night, showcased industry innovation and expertise

and its readers in this way, and we’re grateful to everyone

from attractions and destinations across the planet, from

who voted for us,” commented Andy Ainscough, managing

Snowdonia to Antarctica, China to Patagonia. Regarded as

director of Adventure Parc Snowdonia. “The award is

the last word on the best places, experiences, hotels and

testament to the exceptional work of our dedicated team

operators which go ‘above and beyond’ to make travelling

who are passionate about delivering engaging, family-

meaningful and memorable, the National Geographic

friendly experiences to encourage and celebrate the

Traveller Reader Awards celebrate the best new additions

instinct for challenge and adventure which is in all of us.”

to the world of travel. Candidates are shortlisted by

adventureparcsnowdonia.com

of the National Geographic Traveller are asked to

NWM 2020 Page 65

MAGAZINE

An exceptional academic and enriching education from Pre-School to Sixth Form

Excellent examination results • High academic value added Outstanding Pre-School provision for 2-4 year olds • Wrap around care included Year 7 scholarships available • Exceptional Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme Forest School and Coastal School initiatives for Prep School children RYA Accredited Sailing Centre • Remarkable Performing Arts opportunities Fully funded day places for Year 7 and Year 12 available for 2020 entry

www.rydalpenrhos.com Page 66 NWM 2020

For more information email admissions@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155

Learning by heart If you’re a parent of a pupil in secondary school, chances are

depend on how much you have to learn before your exams, but

your teen will be sitting their mock exams soon.

the key is to make a goal that you’ll stick to no matter what.

While different schools sit them at different times, almost all

It can’t be too big or you run the risk of slipping up once and

schools in the country have some form of mock/preliminary/

then ditching the habit all together.

practice exams coming up – if they’re not happening already.

While an average learner will spend hours rehashing things As teachers, we’ve found there’s a lot of confusion surrounding

they already know and ignoring everything that they don’t,

mock exams from both parents and pupils alike. Do they

an effective learner will quickly evaluate the concepts they’re

actually matter? What do they mean? How much effort should I

struggling with and spend time overcoming their weaknesses

put in? Does it count for anything?

before moving onto their strengths.

As a result of this confusion, often times students will resort

When you play sport, you’re often told to practice like you play.

to either apathy or anxiety. This is a shame, because mock

The same logic applies to exam performance. When we’re

exams have more value than pupils might imagine. While

under pressure, our brain’s default to what’s called “automatic

they’re not the most important exams in the world, they can be

thinking”, meaning we read situations with the same

incredibly beneficial.

habitual mental strategies that we use during our practiced repetitions.

Simply put, mock exams are practice exams designed to prepare students for the “real” exams that usually take place in

What this means is that if you practice at 70% focus and

Term 4 (NCEA, Cambridge, IB, school exams, etc).

intensity, you’re more likely to perform at 70% focus and intensity during the big sports match.

Most schools will try their best to make mock exams as close as possible to the “real thing”. This means an allocated day for

Your mental performance will always default back to what it’s

the exam; a period of “study leave” whereby pupils can revise

used to when the pressure’s on – there’s no way of magically

from home; strict exam conditions; and a period after the exams

boosting your brain power when it matters.

where teachers will mark and moderate pupils’ work.

One way to ensure you can easily tap into your game-brain Mock exams are designed to serve as “back-up-grades” if

when the pressures on is by mimicking the same exam

pupils cannot sit their real exams at the end of the year.

conditions you’ll be working under from home.

But although mocks have some importance, we should try to

Exam-taking is a skill, and like any other skill, it gets easier

dispel the myth that mock exams are a cruel trick to judge

with practice. The more study you complete under exam

pupils’ ability for no reason other than early stress.

conditions, the less daunting they become. When you practice, make sure that you do at least some of it timed, and without

Instead, we should try to view mock exams for what they are:

your notes available.

an opportunity for pupils to prepare, learn and make mistakes before the stakes get high in “real” exams.

While mock exams are only a small component of your overall school experience, you shouldn’t lose sight of their value.

Think of mocks like an insurance policy: probably not going to

Mock exams don’t have to be a source of premature stress. If

be used in the end, but worth the investment for good coverage

you plan right, study smart and take good care of yourself, you

in case things go belly-up.

might even find yourself enjoying the process. n

For many pupils, mocks will be their first encounter with formal exams, and self-directed study is a hard thing to get right first time.

Depending on how soon your mocks are, set aside a small amount of time (between 10-25 minutes) every day to revise for

Sally Ann Harding is Senior School Head of Rydal Penrhos. She is about to embark on her 28th year at the school and her 40th in the teaching profession

your exams. The frequency and duration of your sessions will

NWM 2020 Page 67

MAGAZINE

Rydal Penrhos student makes national sailing squad

Job offer received for St David’s College pupil

A talented sailing squad member

Louis Dalton, a St

at Rydal Penrhos has secured a prestigious national

David’s College

squad selection for the second consecutive season. Llion

pupil, has always

Morris, a Year 9 pupil at the school, will once again be

had an interest in all

part of the ITCA GBR National Topper Squad for their

things technical and, over the last two years, has developed

winter training programme in the coming months. This

his interest in 3D CAD (engineering) to a professional level.

represents a significant milestone for the pupil as there

With this in mind, St David’s College approached one of its

are only 25 squad places available for the programme, and

industrial partners (Helical Technology, based in Lytham,

Llion will now embark on a series of additional training

Lancs) and arranged a two-week placement for Louis. They

sessions to further enhance his development. It has been

have since offered him a full-time position and a place on

another campaign full of significant achievements for

their technical/graduate apprentice scheme. St David’s has

the teenager, who has developed his skills considerably

developed schemes that allow it to partner with a wide range

since his involvement with the school’s RYA accredited

of industries. The college has several companies ‘on its books’

Sailing Centre. This has resulted in a series of impressive

who are actively looking for students in order to offer them

competition triumphs over the summer, which culminated

employment, either as technical or graduate apprentices,

in a tremendous victory in the Topper fleet at the British

particularly in the field of engineering. Over the past three

Youth Sailing Welsh Regional Championships, meaning

years, St David’s has placed six students into industry and

Llion now currently holds all three national Topper titles, a

all of them are thriving in their chosen careers, proving to be

feat only achieved by two other sailors previously.

great assets and excellent ambassadors for the school.

rydalpenrhos.com

www.stdavidscollege.co.uk

EDUCATION NEWS Myddelton College’s budding writer Oliver Lewis, currently in year 10 at Myddelton College, has just had his second book, Bloodcross, published. In Oliver’s own words the book is a “twisted tale of a mother and son who risk everything to stay together and test themselves against the rising power of the technological world.” Fusing the gothic and dystopian genres together Oliver is hoping to hit the right tone in our world of increasing reliance on technology to run our lives. After reading Oliver’s book it might be that we never look at our Alexa or Hive devices again in the same light! This is only volume 1 in a trilogy that Oliver is hoping will help take him along the road to becoming an established author in his own right in the future. www.myddeltoncollege.com

Page 68 NWM 2020

Wrexham students raise money for charity Students at Wrexham Glyndwr University have rowed the length of Wales to raise funds for charity – without leaving their student union. The charity fundraiser was organised by Wrexham Glyndwr University Students’ Union to help raise funds for mental health charities. Five rowing machines were set up in the Students’ Union’s Lazy Lion bar on the university’s Plas Coch campus and over a twelve hour period students, lecturers, university governors and more each took turns in a series of fifteen-minute slots to row as far as possible. Rowers were sponsored and donations were taken on the day to help raise money for the Counselling Hub, a mental health charity based in North East Wales. In total, rowers racked up 229 miles – further than the distance between Holyhead and Cardiff – and raised almost £400 for charity in the process. www.glyndwr.ac.uk

diwrnodau agored.

29 Chwefror 6 Mehefin

open days.

29 February 6 June

Archebwch nawr / Book now 01978 293439 wgu.ac.uk/openday

NWM 2020 Page 69

MAGAZINE

Talhenbont Hall is a family owned estate on the stunning Llyn Peninsula, North Wales.

Situated in 100 acres of private ancient woodland and gardens it is an exclusive wedding venue that offers a bespoke service to any couple.

With a stunning terrace, perfect for an outdoor ceremony overlooking the river, and newly renovated Coach House, there is a lot of flexibility and the option of exclusive use of the whole estate with accommodation for 42.

Are you still looking for your perfect venue?

Join us for our Talhenbont Hall Wedding Open Day – Saturday 25th January 2019 from 12pm – 3pm.

Enjoy fizz & canapes, meet with the team and industry experts and see our beautiful hall and grounds dressed for a wedding.

Talhenbont Hall, Chwilog, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 6SZ. Tel 01766 810247, enquiries@talhenbonthall.co.uk www.talhenbonthall.co.uk Page 70 NWM 2020

The

Wedding planner

ENGAGEMENT TIPS Did you get engaged during the festive period? Christmas

your venue. Don’t get carried away trying on wedding

and New Year’s Eve can be very romantic, and January is

dresses, picking cakes or booking your photographer. Your

a busy time for any venue in terms of showing newly engaged couples around. What an immensely exciting period you have ahead of you! Planning a wedding is a

choice of wedding venue is crucial to your big day. Your venue should suit you as a couple. At Talhenbont the bespoke wedding service and flexible

lot of fun, however, it can sometimes

nature of the spaces on offer

be a daunting task to embark on

mean that every wedding

with lots of major decisions to

is different.

make and a budget to consider.

I work with couples and their

Draft your guestlist

families year around and have

Once you know how where

great deal of experience in

your wedding is going to

helping them to plan for their

be, it’s time then to sort

big day. I have a few tips to

out your guestlist. It may

get you going and make it all

be that you decide upon an

run smoothly.

intimate wedding breakfast and huge evening “do.” People

Set a timetable As soon as that announcement is made, people will be keen to congratulate you and will ask the question “so when is the big day?” Before you can make any major choices and set a date one of the most important decisions to make is choosing and booking your dream

often want to invite more guests than is affordable, so part of my job is to work with a couple and their budget and offer advice on how best to cater for everyone. There are money saving options from a catering point of view and so it’s important to work closely with your caterer.

venue. As a wedding planner I work with the couple to find a date that works for not only them but their friends and

Work with your Wedding Planner.

family. A few things to think about include major events

Perhaps the best bit of advice is to work closely with your

or family holidays that you may want to avoid. If you are

wedding planner. They are there to offer expert advice and

thinking of a mid week wedding, people may have to take

support from the moment you book. I aim to go that extra

time off work not only for the wedding day, but a day either

mile for our couples, from bespoke tasting evenings with our

side. It is important to think about how long you want to plan

caterer to putting you in touch with our carefully curated

your wedding, you often need longer than you think!

list of brilliant companies and individuals that we know are great to work with. A good wedding planner is also a great

Set your budget

sounding board for any ideas that you may have.

It is important to talk through financing your wedding. This

Follow my tips for your big day and your wedding will be

may involve just you and your partner or your families too.

what you have always dreamed of. n

You need an overall figure which you can then begin to work with on how you will spend it. There are some great money saving options, such as mid-week weddings or out

Alicia Cox is the wedding director of

of season dates.

Talhenbont Hall, a luxury wedding venue on the Llŷn Peninsula that is

Choose and book your venue

available for exclusive use

Before you do anything else, you need to choose and book

NWM 2020 Page 71

PRICE MATCH SALE NOW ON

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Getting back

to Nature

Credit: Jacob Spinks

There’s plenty of wildlife across the region in January, says Julian Hughes, if you know where to look.

Three places to visit in January Llyn Coron, Anglesey This privately-owned natural lake near Aberffraw is popular with anglers and birdwatchers, and can be viewed from a nearby road and public footpath. January is the peak month for waterbirds visiting Wales from Russia and

Robins are not just for Christmas

Iceland. Look for Tufted Ducks,

The tinsel is down and the afternoons are getting longer, and

Pochards and Shovelers on the

although there’s plenty more winter to come, signs of spring are

water, and the nearby sand

already here. Robins are unusual for two reasons: they hold feeding

dunes can be a good place to see

territories through the winter and sing to tell other robins to keep

Short-eared Owls hunting for

away. And females sing, not just the male as with most other birds.

mice and voles.

They have a slightly mournful song, simpler than in the breeding season when they will have to compete with other birdsong. Robins even sing at night, under artificial lights, so it

Horton’s Nose, Kinmel Bay

might well have been the first nature you heard as you walked home on New Year’s Day.

This local nature reserve is dominated by sand dunes at

Blowin’ in the wind

the mouth of the Clwyd estuary,

Last year’s leaves are gone, but some trees are starting to bud.

protecting the harbour from

Hazel trees, with their smooth grey bark, burst into life by the

winter storms in the Irish Sea.

end of January. Male and female flowers grow on the same tree:

Winter might not seem the best

female flowers are tiny red buds that grow on the twigs, but

time to go to the beach, but

the male catkins are bright yellow and hang from the branches.

you might find Snow Buntings

They rely on the breeze to disperse their pollen, which is an

feeding on the seeds of the dune plants, and sometimes a Black

important food source for early bees and flies that are tempted to wake up on a sunny winter’s day.

Credit: Rob Mitchell

Credit: Malene Thyssen

Fox news: listen for the screaming

Foxes are at their most vocal in January, as dogs bark and vixens scream to attract a mate. But it’s an urban myth that the scream is during mating – they do that quietly. It’s the time of year you’re most likely to hear foxes if you’re out late at night, or even be woken by them. They are social animals, living in groups of two to six, but each animal forages independently. They call to communicate to other foxes and defend their territory, but also rely on their sharp eyesight and sense of smell.

New year’s resolution: BirdTrack it!

The New Year is a clean slate for birdwatchers, the keenest of whom maintain a list of all the birds they see or hear in a year. Many will have a ‘big day’ on 1st January – 100 bird species on a winter’s day in North Wales is possible with a bit of planning, clear weather and some luck. Whether you’re trying for a ‘big day’ or just want to note birds while walking the dog, there are a couple of ways to record your sightings and make them available to science. For birds anywhere in the world, I recommend Birdtrack.net, and for all other wildlife (in North Wales), visit cofnod.org.uk. Once registered, each has a mobile phone app that makes it easy to note nature on the move.

Redstart winters here, while waders roost at high tide.

Glaslyn Valley, near Porthmadog The floodplain of the Glaslyn Valley is one of the few regular haunts of Whooper Swans in Wales, which gather here from Iceland each winter. Around 50 Whoopers feed in fields around Llanfrothen, but you’ll need to pay close attention as resident Mute Swans can flock here too.

Mute Swans have an orange bill, while Whoopers are yellow.

They arrive in family groups, last year’s grown up chicks having duskier plumage, not pure white.

Julian Hughes grew up in North Wales, which instilled a lifelong love of nature. He lives near Llandudno, manages the RSPB’s public affairs work in Wales, and writes about the region’s wildlife.

NWM 2020 Page 73

You & Your

Pet

OBESITY IN PETS IS ON THE RISE As pet owners, we want to spend as much time with our

Use your imagination, get creative, it could be as simple as

cats and dogs as we possibly can but overfeeding can lead

playing with their favourite toy for five minutes, a belly rub

to weight gain which can have a major effect on your pet’s

or chin scratch.

health including decreasing their life expectancy, arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer.

Exercise may not always be possible but this is something most pets truly love. It may be the last thing on your mind

In the UK alone, it’s estimated that 40% of dogs and 53% of cats

when you wake up on a bitter winter morning and may be the

are overweight or obese. This is only set to get worse as pet

last thing on your mind when you have just finished work, but

obesity is on the rise.

it’s as true to our pets as it is to us that the best way to keep that extra weight off is to exercise.

Overweight animals tend to be less energetic and willing to play. Whether it’s due to a lack of exercise or incorrect portion

If going out is not an option there are lots of toys and games

sizes, there are lots of factors that can lead to pet obesity.

you could choose from to use within your home. For example, a hunting game is a great way for your pet to use their natural

Are you treating your pet too much?

instincts to seek out their favourite toy or treat, providing

It’s easy to fall for their meows or puppy dog eyes but just a

excellent mental and physical stimulation.

little treat here and there will all add up to an overweight pet – not a happy pet.

When it comes to feeding, look at the type of feed you are providing and make sure it is suitable for the age and breed

We are not talking about cutting treats out completely, it’s more

of your pet. Most importantly, follow the feeding guidelines on

about knowing your pet and understanding their feeding

the packaging.

habits - after all you know your pets better than anyone.

If you need any further advice, don’t hesitate to come in to the Spoiling your pets with treats for just being themselves is a

store and ask one of the team. We have a large selection of

great way to show love. But, if they get a treat every time you

toys, feeds and healthy treats to help keep those pounds off. n

want to show affection, those pounds could easily start to add up.

Obviously, we don’t want to put you off giving your pets treats, it’s about giving something else as a reward or using part of their daily portion as their treats instead.

How to reward your pet Instead of giving a treat as a reward every time, how about giving them your undivided attention. Treats don’t have to

Meurig Davies is the Buyer for the Dog & Cat departments at petplace. He has worked in every part of the company over the last 21 years and, as a passionate pet parent to Libby his Labrador, he knows the importance of providing a well balanced diet along with a good exercise regime for Libby.

be edible, your best friend will appreciate them all the same.

NWM 2020 Page 75

Cato Crane Auctioneers MAGAZINE

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Our main offices and two auction rooms are located in Stanhope Street, opposite the Liverpool Marina. There is free on-road parking. Visits to clients in Wirral, Chester and North Wales are made every week. Evening and weekend visits to clients homes can be made by prior arrangement.

To book your appointments simply call John Crane personally on either 01766 771777 or mobile 07836 209995 Cato Crane Auctioneers Liverpool Auction Rooms 6 Stanhope Street Liverpool, L8 5RF

Wirral Valuation Office 48 The Mount Heswall Wirral CH60 4RD

Chester and North Wales Tel: 01244 680055 Wirral Tel: 0151 342 2321

Email: info@catocrane.co.uk & sell@lowerpercent.co.uk

www.catocrane.co.uk

Telephone Soon For Home Visit Appraisals

Page 76 NWM 2019 2020

All Things

Auctioneering On the 31st December last year it was 142 years since one of the greatest British artists was born who had a great influence on younger artists who studied in the great City of Liverpool.

William Charles Penn was a painter and influential teacher at Liverpool School of Art from 1911 until after World War II. Born in London, he studied at the Lambeth and City and Guilds Schools of Art from 1895, subsequently winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy from 1900-1905.

Penn subsequently studied at the Académie Julian in Paris in 1908 and the following year in the Netherlands and

In excess of 50 of Penn’s paintings are held within national

Belgium. As well as being a member of Sandon Studios Society

public collections of British art, including The Walker Art

located at the old Bluecoat school near Church Street and the

Gallery in Liverpool, University College London, Williamson Art

Liverpool Academy. He belonged to the Royal Institute of Oil

Gallery and the University of Liverpool.

Painters from 1908 and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters from 1952, as well as the Royal Cambrian Academy based in

It is always worth scouring the auctions online as Penn’s

Conwy. I have Illustrated an oil painting by him entitled Castell

pictures do come up for sale occasionally and some of his

Dinas Bran in North Wales.

smaller works are actually still affordable. When you are in Liverpool do call into our Auction Rooms or our valuation office

Penn was a prolific artist and showed 38 works at the Royal

in Heswall with pictures you may have for sale or, as usual,

Academy, with numerous others at the Royal Glasgow Institute

I can visit you which is generally more convenient for our

of the Fine Arts, and for many years at the Liverpool Autumn

clients here in North Wales.

Exhibitions. I think it is often a misconception that artists have not lived in the ‘real world’ that most of us do. Certainly some

It is with delight that I occasionally discover David

artists have come from privileged backgrounds but Charles

Lloyd George memorabilia. This Butter dish was made

Penn lived a ‘normal’ family home life and, as many other

in Staffordshire and urges people to be frugal in their

brave men did, joined up to serve his country in WW1. Charles

consumption of food in WW1. This is a growing area of

Penn served with the 57th Division in France in the First

collecting interest now for many people in Wales and beyond.

World War, he was awarded the Military Cross in 1918.

Finally, I spend most weekends visiting clients in Wales and our removal van and team of auctioneers and removers collect

I like Penn’s work for its varied subject matter from portraits

throughout Wales for our city centre auction rooms. You will

to interiors to landscapes and his wonderful flower paintings

find that nothing is too much trouble for our experienced

– Google him to see for yourself! Following his retirement from

polite teams.

teaching but not from painting, William Penn moved from Liverpool northwards with his family, to Brampton, Cumbria,

May I wish you a very happy New Year and look forward to

where he lived until his death in 1968

meeting you soon. n

John Crane runs Cato Crane Auctioneers which offers a free pre-sale valuation service at its busy Valuation Office in Wirral. It also offers a home visit valuation service throughout North Wales, which is ideal if you would like advice on a few objects. Cato Crane’s selling commission rates are competitive, and a rate of 8% (or lower for very high value items) is available to clients in North Wales during January 2020. You can call Cato Crane’s head office in Liverpool on 0151 709 5559 or their office in Wirral on 0151 342 2321 for further information or, alternatively you can ring John directly on 07836 209995 if you would like any auctioneering advice. You can also follow Cato Crane on Twitter and Instagram. www.catocrane.co.uk

NWM 2019 Page 77 NWM 2020 Page 77

Kitchens

OF CONWY

Kitchens / Utility Rooms / Bedrooms / Dressing Rooms Home Offices / Games Rooms

Rhos-on-Sea

01492 472122

Professional Installation Service Supply and Fit or Fit Only

info@kitchensofconwy.co.uk

@Kitchensofconwy

For the love of all things

vintage...

Confessions of a modern day magpie If chocolate be the food of love, read on…

Mmm… who doesn’t love yummy chocolate?

Tatty does, and over the Christmas period I have gratuitously overindulged on the stuff. In my opinion tearing open an orange net bag of chocolate gold coins is one of the great joys of the festive holidays – and a temptation too much to resist. My name’s Tatty and I am a self-confessed antique dealing, vintage obsessed, chocoholic.

In the world of antiques, the one item that has always eluded me, the one item I’ve always wanted to get my chocolatey sticky fingers on, more than a Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket, is an Edwardian era, confectioners glass cabinet. The perfect combination of my two great loves, chocolate and antiques. It is one of those items that’s on every decorative antique dealers “want list”. They are a timeless classic that are never out of vogue and nearly everyone wants to own one, whether they’re in retail and want one as a shop centrepiece or a private collector.

All the great names in confectionery produced their own version of a glass cabinet during the first half of the 20th Century such as Fry’s, Rowntree’s and Cadbury’s and they were common place on the grocers or

bountiful untapped source, and a quick sweep can turn up

sweet shop counter. Often emblazoned with beautiful gold

the most unexpected of items. Like an antique Cadbury’s

sign writing baring the manufacturers name, and inside the

display cabinet! In perfect condition with two royal warrant

cabinet a white ceramic slab on the top and bottom, to keep

crests – what a beauty. So next time you pass by a poster

the confectionery cool.

saying “antiques fair on today” go and take a look, you never know what you might find…

So where did Tatty find such a rarity? Well, I firmly believe in attending small local fairs, the ones that are held in

Happy New Year

townhalls, sports centres, church rooms and such like. High end dealers often overlook them, but for me they are often a

Tatty is constantly searching for new stock and would love to hear from you if you have any of the

Love Tatty x

Ali Hough (Tatty) is a dealer in fine

following for sale: fine vintage, decorative antiques,

vintage and antiques. Based at: Tatty

vintage textiles/quilts or Welsh blankets.

HQ, No. 12 Ivy Street, Colwyn Bay. For all

You can catch Tatty on Insta @tattydivine.co.uk

enquiries please contact 07940 730421

or Twitter @tatty_divine

or email sales@tattydivine.co.uk

NWM 2019 2020 Page 79

Sea life

Planet Earth not Planet Plastic!

If you make just one resolution this New Year, pledge to

disposable plastic items make

stamp out Single Use Plastics to reduce our global plastic

up the majority of the top ten

pollution problem.

marine debris found, and plastic bags were consistently at the top of the league table in first or

It’s choking up our rivers and seas, killing marine life and

second place.

finding its way into our food and drink so it’s impossible to escape the reality of global plastic pollution. But we can make

Following the bag tax, plastic bag use dropped by 70% in

big changes towards protecting our precious planet through

Wales and the results were quickly apparent on our Welsh

small changes in our everyday lifestyle, and the first step is to

beaches! Two years after the bag tax was introduced, plastic

eliminate Single Use Plastics.

bags dropped down in the league table and a year later they were relegated permanently from the top ten! The results were

Single Use Plastics are disposable plastic items, also known

exciting, speedy and undisputable!

as “SUPs” which are used just once then thrown away, causing a plague of plastic pollution in seas and on beaches

If we can make such a profound difference through reducing

all over the world.

just one item, imagine what a huge impact we can make by ditching all SUPs – not just within Wales but across the UK

Some of the most common items include carrier bags, food

and beyond! Through changing our habits and switching to

packaging and wraps, cotton bud sticks, drinking bottles and

reusable items, we can knock all SUPs on the head completely

straws, disposable cups and lids and disposable cutlery. Many

in a year or two – a huge step towards protecting our marine

of these products cannot be recycled so they end up in landfill or

environment and our planet.

as litter on land or in the sea as they never biodegrade.

It is also abundantly clear that government led schemes and Astoundingly, the amount of plastic produced per year globally

taxes are the most efficient way to make everyone change

is roughly the same as the entire weight of humanity, and much

their habits. The European parliament has voted to ban single-

of this is for single use. Virtually every piece of plastic that has

use plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers by 2021,

ever been made still exists in some shape or form (with the

paving the way for a total ban on SUPs over the next five years,

exception of the small amount that has been incinerated) and

with Extended Producer Responsibility schemes and taxes to

currently 91% of plastic waste isn’t recycled.

discourage their use.

Here at the Anglesey Sea Zoo we started our voluntary

But our UK government with its focus on leaving the EU is

community beach cleans over 12 years ago and we adopted

unlikely to start prioritising environmental issues anytime

Tan-Y Foel Beach which lies at the bottom of the Sea Zoo drive

soon, so amidst the current global climate crisis it is up to us as

and stretches for several kilometres along the edge of the Menai

individuals to do everything we can to reverse our devastating

Strait. The project took off and we have continued to carry out

plastic pollution problem and protect the environment.

monthly clean-ups year-round with support and funding from Keep Wales Tidy, the Marine Conservation Society and North

So for 2020, alongside your Bags for Life, arm yourself with

Wales Wildlife Trust along with help from locals, schools and

reusable water bottles, hot drink cups, straws and sporks, and

community groups. We carry out seasonal quarterly surveys

seek out refill and recycle schemes – it will save you money and

to record and collate all the litter items we collect and this

make a huge difference to the future of our planet.n

contributes to the global Beachwatch database which monitors marine litter patterns all over the globe.

On 1st October 2011 Wales became the first country in the UK to introduce a charge on single-use carrier bags and the result was phenomenal!

The annual Beachwatch report summarises beach rubbish

Frankie Hobro is the owner and director of Anglesey Sea Zoo. She has always been a passionate advocate for conservation, and has a long history working on hands-on conservation projects with critically endangered species in difficult conditions abroad

data, broken down regionally and nationally. And every year

NWM 2020 Page 81

MAGAZINE

IN THE

STARS...

While everyone remembers Russell Grant from his Breakfast TV appearances in the 1980’s, most people don’t realise that Russell was the first astrologer in over 300 years to present a horoscope forecast to a member of the Royal Family (HRH Queen Mother). Now dubbed the “Royal Astrologer” Russell has appeared on numerous television shows, including Strictly Come Dancing.

He divides his time between London and his North Wales home near Portmeirion. www.russellgrant.com

January’s horoscopes brought to you by Russell Grant ARIES (March 21st - April 20th) Working behind the scenes will be rewarding starting on the 6th. Take this opportunity to launch an important and confidential project. Your imagination will run wild if you can escape the attention of critics and cynics. A Lunar Eclipse on the 10th marks the end of a tense domestic situation. You may decide to relocate to a more tranquil and scenic setting.

LIBRA (September 24th – October 23rd) A Lunar Eclipse on the 10th could mark a power struggle with an overbearing employer. You may decide to leave your job or start your own company because of this conflict. Working from home would be a wonderful arrangement for you. If you need start-up money, apply to a lending institution or relative for a loan on the 13th. You’ll get very generous terms for this deal.

TAURUS (April 21st – May 21st) The Lunar Eclipse on the 10th will bring some surprising news about a community concern. This information will make you see a leader in a new and different light. It’s important to remember that even the most admirable people can have feet of clay. The 11th allows you to move forward with a stalled self-improvement project. You’ll enjoy breaking free of a bad habit.

SCORPIO (October 24th – November 22nd) On the 10th, a Lunar Eclipse will bring a painful legal matter to a close.

Although you might not be happy with the outcome, you will be relieved that the situation is over and done with. Give yourself a reward for having survived this challenge; you have earned it. An unusual person from your past could reappear on the 11th, creating excitement in your personal life.

GEMINI (May 22nd – June 21st) A business or romantic partnership is worth pursuing on the 3rd. Teaming up with someone who is adventurous, curious and light-hearted will be a source of great joy. Make your desire to work together known; playing hard to get could easily backfire. On the 10th, a Lunar Eclipse will bring an end to a source of income. This will be a blessing in disguise.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd – December 21st) Becoming more active on the 3rd will give you a healthy glow. This is an ideal time to join a gym, hire a personal trainer or begin a fitness regimen.

When you move your body, creative ideas will flow like a mighty river. On the 10th, a Lunar Eclipse will bring an emergency expense to your attention. You won’t be able to avoid this big bill any longer.

CANCER (June 22nd – July 23rd) A role will come to an end on the 10th, due to a jarring Lunar Eclipse.

Although you’ll mourn the passing of this phase, it’s important to know there are even better things ahead. An important alliance will improve your personal and professional prospects on the 13th. Lean on your romantic or business partner during the middle of the month; they can and will help you realise a cherished goal.

CAPRICORN (December 22nd – January 20th) A business or romantic partnership will undergo a big transformation on the 10th, due to a stressful Lunar Eclipse. If this relationship is going to survive, some big changes must occur. A temporary or permanent separation is possible. You’ll undergo an important personal transformation on the 12th.

Give yourself permission to abandon odious responsibilities and pursue your dream life.

LEO (July 24th – August 23rd) An exciting job with generous benefits will be offered to you on the 7th.

This will be a wonderful opportunity to get the marketable skills you need to move forward. Be willing to accept an entry level position; you’ll quickly rise through the ranks of your new company. A Lunar Eclipse on the 10th brings an embarrassing secret to light.

AQUARIUS (January 21st – February 19th) A Lunar Eclipse on the 10th will prompt you to get treatment for a health concern. If you’re not happy with a medical diagnosis, get a second opinion.

You will work best with someone who is attentive to your concerns and adaptable to your suggestions. A stalled home improvement project will resume on the 11th, causing you to breathe a sigh of relief.

VIRGO (August 24th – September 23rd) A flirtatious conversation on the 2nd could lead to an exciting romance. It feels wonderful to be with someone who shares your ambitions. By joining forces, you can build a prosperous life. Are you already in a relationship?

Book a luxury vacation for you and your amour at the beginning of January.

On the 10th, a Lunar Eclipse will bring an end to a stressful situation.

PISCES (February 20th – March 20th) The start of January is a good time for checking out the possibilities of changing your job. Although the competition will be stiff, you will emerge as a top contender if you emphasise your willingness to take advanced courses and travel extensively to land this position. A Lunar Eclipse on the 10th could cause you to draw a line under a creative project.

Page 82 NWM 2020

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NWM 2020 Page 83

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Page 84 NWM 2020

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