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Planning a day out? Discover incredible things to do in North Wales
But where to begin? Well, the north east of Wales has plenty of history and is home to North Wale’s only World Heritage Site. The coastal regions like Colwyn Bay and Conwy have excellent beaches and family attractions. You’ll find adventure in the mountains of Snowdonia & stunning locations along the Llyn Peninsula.

Picture this. An abandoned quarry, once the world’s largest, turned into the world’s fastest zip zone. Or how about the world’s first manmade surf lagoon delivering consistent two metre waves. You can even scale to Britain’s lowest point, deep beneath the mountain’s of Snowdonia. With all this, it’s no surprise that North Wales has a growing reputation as being the adventure capital of the UK. Underground, on ground or above ground, be prepared for an unforgettable adventure in North Wales.

But it’s not all about flying through the air. There are plenty of things to do in North Wales snd Betws-y-Coed for example that don’t require a helmet or wetsuit. The region has an incredibly rich and eventful history & heritage – which has to be explored. Medieval castles dominate historic towns, historical structures can be seen across the region & you can even explore a 4,000 year-old mine! For a comprehensive look at the regions history, be sure to visit North Wales’ intriguing museums.

For families, North Wales and Llandudno in particular has a great array of attractions. Adventure parks provide an array of things to do in North Wales including roller coasters, slides and experiences. For a day of discovery, head to one of the regions zoos & aquariums – here, the kids can be introduced to animals from all over the world. With so much going on, you might forget to take it all in so why not make your stay a bit longer? Whether you are looking for seaside hotels, traditional bed and breakfasts, quirky glamping and campsites, family friendly holiday and carvan parks or just basic self catering accommodation, all needs and tastes are catered for in North Wales!

And in terms of dining out, Don’t worry. With a wide variety of excellent restaurants, pubs and bars to choose from, you can be certain your stay in North Wales will be a fantastic one!

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Grab a cauldron and create the perfect spell! Young sorcerers are invited for a day of Magick and Mayhem at Selby library to help a trapped witch break free. Based on the bestselling children’s series, The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol, Selby library has created an escape room for budding witches and wizards aged seven to 11.

In teams of five, players will enter the world of Arianwyn, the apprentice witch, and try to save her from her nemesis, Gimma. By solving puzzles and quizzes read by James, they will need to find the right spell to release Arianwyn and escape from the room. James Nicol, author and library supervisor, said: “It’s very exciting to see my books being adapted into an escape room event. I’m a huge fan of board games and escape rooms, so this is a dream come true. I’m really excited to be involved with being a virtual presence dishing out helpful clues to the participants.”

The escape room is running on Monday, 17 February, with morning and afternoon slots. Tickets cost £2.50 and must be pre-booked. The Magick and Mayhem programme of activities is continuing on Friday, 21 February, from 10am to 4pm, when York Bird of Prey will bring owls to the library. At 4pm, James Nicol will talk about the world of The Apprentice Witch, sign books and host the game show Which Witch is Which?

Tickets for the talk (ages 6+) are £2.50 and must be pre-booked. Anybody who is taking part in the escape room will be able to buy tickets for £1. “If you’re looking for something to entertain the kids this half term I would urge you to support your local library and get involved in these unique events,” said County Councillor Greg White, Executive Member for Libraries. “We are very lucky to have James as a member of our library staff, willing to share his writing skills and helping to run the exciting escape room.

The game gives children the chance to socialise and test their problem-solving skills with a magical twist.” For more information and to book your tickets, contact Selby library.

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The winner of MasterChef 2019 has been confirmed as a special guest at the forthcoming Lakes Hospitality Show on 25 & 26 March 2020, where she will be creating special dishes made from nationally and internationally renowned local Cumbrian produce.

Irini Tzortzoglou hasn’t been wasting any time, having already highlighted local products including Kin Vodka, Hawkshead Relish, beverages from the Lakes Distillery, Claire’s Handmade and even Windermere Artisan ice cream as potential ingredients for her creations.

One of the region’s biggest trade events of 2020, the Lakes Hospitality Show is Cumbria’s longest-running show of its kind and is organised by The Lakes Hospitality Association (LHA) alongside Cumbria Tourism. Irini, who impressed MasterChef judges in early 2019 thanks to her ambitious cooking methods, says, “Coming from Crete, which is acknowledged by many as the European seat of eagerness to show hospitality – as well as a foodie island, I feel that I fit right in in Cumbria.

It is a wonderful county which welcomes millions of visitors every year and its tourism industry has such a strong culinary focus. “I have always considered myself extremely fortunate to have homes in two very different places, Cumbria and Crete, where nature is stunning, the people are warm and hospitable, and much time is taken by many to produce amazing culinary delights.

This is my hope for this year’s LHA show where I will create dishes that I love using great, world-famous local produce. “I was honoured to be asked to participate at the LHA show this year and I will very much enjoy bringing together the abundance of wonderful Cumbrian produce made by passionate artisans and elements of my culinary heritage, demonstrating what is possible with only a small amount of effort and time, along with a lot of enthusiasm.”

Cumbrian hotelier and Director of the Lakes Hospitality Trade, James Tasker, says, “We’re so pleased to announce Irini as one of our special guests, especially so soon after she brilliantly won such a prestigious TV cooking show.

We’re delighted and have no doubt that Irini will come-up with some amazing ideas and we’re all very excited that she’s planning on using local produce to come up with what are sure to be extremely tasty creations!” The 2020 event will celebrate the show’s 45th anniversary, at the Junction 36 Rural Auction Centre. Just a one minute drive from the M6 motorway, the show is not only one of the biggest in the north of England, but one of the most easily accessible.

More than 1,250 delegates from across Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and beyond were welcomed through the doors during last year’s two-day event, where the show hosted a record-breaking 136 stands for a wide range of hospitality businesses including tourist attractions, food and drink suppliers and support services such as IT technology and catering equipment. For 2020, even more exhibition stands have been made available, giving businesses from across Cumbria and the north of England the chance to showcase their products and services to hospitality industry businesses from all over Lancashire, Cheshire, Manchester, Liverpool and the North East.

The 2020 Lakes Hospitality Trade Show will also include the introduction of ‘Level 1’; 17 new stands created for smaller or start-up businesses, for just £225+vat for both days. Also appearing at the Lakes Hospitality Show are wine expert Joe Wadsack, whose TV credentials include regular appearances on shows including Great Food Live, Saturday Kitchen, Ladette to Lady and Richard and Judy. A columnist for The Sunday Express, Joe also writes for magazines including ‘Waitrose Food Illustrated’, ‘Red’ and regular articles in the trade press. Joe also judges at various international wine competitions and acts as a consultant to numerous companies in the wine trade.

Meanwhile, Andrew Coy will bring his tales of his 50+ years working in the hospitality trade to the event, putting a focus on how to deliver the very best customer service.

Andrew is Proprietor at Simply Banqueting and undertakes consultancy contracts in Private Houses, Villas, Hotels and Venues. Andrew also manages VIP areas at major events, acts as a mentor for young managers, leads courses for those undertaking customer service training; and also trains and develops butlers in both private and corporate service.
To find out more about exhibiting at the Lakes Hospitality Trade Show, visit: www.lakeshospitalitytradeshow.co.uk

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  1. Wrap up on walks
    It may be cosy indoors, but your dog needs regular walks regardless of the weather. When out on walks it’s important to make sure your four-legged friends are wrapped up warm. Put a dog coat on them when you go out, especially if you have a fine-coated dog, such as a Greyhound or Staffie.
  2. Check for snow between their toes
    Check your dog’s paws and dry them thoroughly after they’ve been outside. This is especially important with long-haired dogs as they are prone to snow compacting between their toes and turning into ice balls which can prove very painful. If they are agreeable, you could trim the long hair between your dog’s toes to help prevent this.
  3. Check for salt and grit between their toes
    Clean their paws at the end of your walk as salt and grit from roads and pavements can also get lodged between their toes.
  4. Keep them warm and dry
    Dry off wet and muddy dogs after walks and make sure they have a cosy bed to return to which is away from any cold draughts.
  5. Keep them active indoors
    Some dogs can be very reluctant to venture out into the cold. If this is the case, do not force them out but make sure you provide them with lots of toys for them to play and keep them occupied while indoors.
  6. Adjust their food if necessary
    If you do find that your dog is less active in the winter months, make sure you adjust the amount of food you give them accordingly to avoid weight gain.
  7. Make sure they have good recall
    Cold weather often brings reduced visibility in foggy or snowy weather conditions. If you’re letting them off the lead, make sure your dog has good recall to avoid them getting lost and, as always, make sure their microchip details are up to date with your correct contact information.
  8. Make them visible
    As the nights draw in earlier and the sun rises later, attach a small light to your dog’s collar so they can be seen when out on walks in reduced visibility.
  9. Never leave your dog in the car unattended
    Just as cars can become fatally hot in summer months, temperatures can drop very quickly in cold weather. Always take your dog with you rather than leaving them in the car for any length of time.
  10. Stay away from frozen lakes and rivers
    Keep your dog away from stretches of frozen water as it’s impossible to tell how secure the surface is. Keep them on a lead if you think they’ll be tempted to jump in.
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Thinking about marrying abroad but worried that your grandparents won’t be able to make it? Perhaps your close friends and family can’t afford an overseas holiday or maybe you’d rather just get away on your own. Weigh up your options here with our list of pros and cons to help you decide.
The biggest issue with getting married abroad tends to be that not everyone on your guest list will be able to make it. So if your grandmother has always dreamed of being at your wedding but is unable to travel, don’t be surprised if she seems upset when you drop the bombshell that you’ve decided to get married abroad. Do reassure anyone who can’t make it that you’ll have a second reception when you’re back in the UK.

Pros
You’ll be able to take your vows in the open air and celebrate your special day in an exotic or unusual location, with different food, flowers and music to complement your wedding.


Getting married abroad can often be less expensive than the average British wedding. Many couples buy their own tickets and, while the bride’s family may pay for the wedding package, it’s acceptable for guests to pay their own way.

You can invite just a small handful of family and friends to the wedding, so you’re only with people that you really want to celebrate with. It’s the ideal excuse for not inviting your 20 odd cousins and all their children.

Alternatively, you can jet off alone and get married in a romantic, private ceremony, just the two of you. If you book through a travel operator, they’ll do practically all the organising, leaving you plenty of time for dress shopping and planning your honeymoon!

If you’d rather be totally involved in the planning process, you can opt for a tailor-made wedding.

Cons
Friends and family might not be able to afford to travel abroad, or be able take the time to go further afield. You might upset people who’ve been left off your list – but you may be able to ease some disappointment by having a big bash when you get home. You won’t have as much control over the organising as you would at home.

You might end up regretting not inviting family members if you jet off alone. If it’s just the two of you, you’ll need to rope in a stranger to act as witness. Although your wedding abroad may work out cheaper initially, if you put on a second reception in the UK for all those who couldn’t make it, you can end up paying as much or more than you would have done if you’d married in the UK in the first place!

Even if you head for tropical climes, you can’t guarantee sunny weather. And remember, unless you head off for a second week somewhere else, you might be stuck on honeymoon with your friends and family!

Lancashire News, Lancs Health & Care, Lancs Leisure

YMCA Garstang Leisure Centres on Windsor Road and Oak Road are excited with the continuing investments and improvements to the facilities.
Wyre Council’s Cabinet approved a £65k investment to the centres which has included a newly refurbished foyer and reception area at YMCA Garstang swimming pool and 25 new spinning bikes at YMCA Garstang Leisure Centre. This is the latest investment that the partnership between YMCA and Wyre Council has delivered. The centres received a make-over in recent years including complete refurbishments to changing rooms at both centres and to the fitness suite at YMCA Garstang Leisure.

The latest investment signifies the intent of the partnership to ensure the whole community continues to be active. The investment into purchasing new spinning bikes and fitness experiences to YMCA Garstang Leisure Centre will allow the centre to enhance their class timetable and improve the overall customer experience.

The new Schwinn AC Performance bikes and improved lighting will provide an authentic riding experience that cannot be rivaled locally.
Not only this, but customers will be able to utilise a new fitness experience within the centre in the shape of “My Zone”. My Zone aims to help people feel good about exercise through technology. It is an innovative wearable heart rate based system that uses wireless and cloud technology to accurately and conveniently monitor physical activity.

Following investment into upgrading the pool plant room in 2017, YMCA Garstang Pool on Oak Road has received a full refurbishment of their foyer including renovations to the floor, ceiling and lighting. The reception has also had a complete refurbishment and the previously enclosed area has now been replaced by a new reception area and office, creating a more open environment.

Dave Sweetman, General Manager at YMCA Garstang said, “We hope you will agree that the investments at both centres are an exciting new addition to the centres. The refurbishments at YMCA Garstang Pool will create a more positive experience for the customer. We hope you like the changes. The addition of 25 new spinning bikes will also add to the customer experience, creating more opportunity for people to enjoy our class timetable at YMCA Garstang Leisure Centre. We urge the local community to make full use of the facilities on offer. Working in partnership with Wyre Council, we continue to provide a great experience that will inspire all members of the community to get active with us.”

Councillor Lynne Bowen, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Health and Community Engagement at Wyre Council comments, “We are proud to work together with YMCA Fylde Coast to invest in state of the art leisure centre facilities and fitness equipment. The improvements made to the two centres in Garstang provide a high quality exercise experience for local residents at both the leisure centre and the swimming pool.”

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

Young people in Manchester are set to benefit from increased access to free swimming at Manchester swimming pools all year round thanks to an extension of the current swimming offer citywide. Manchester’s under 17s will be able to swim for free every weekend bolstering the current swimming offer which allows them to swim for free during the school holidays.

This new provision for young people will now complement the all year round access to free swimming enjoyed annually by more than 60,000 under 17 and over 60 Manchester residents already.

And it is the latest development in Manchester’s swimming provision which has seen numerous changes during the last ten years when the Council committed to significantly improving the swimming offer across the city. In that time there has been an increase in free swimming provision, an overhaul of the school swimming service, increased swimming lesson provision and changes to the way in which club and competitive swimming is supported by the city. Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to extend our free swimming offer for young Mancunians to all year round as it offers increased access and opportunities to take part in healthy good fun activities which contributes to improving their physical and mental health and wellbeing too. It is another welcome positive addition to the changing face of swimming in Manchester and one which I hope lots of young people will take advantage of.”

The weekend free swimming sessions will be available citywide at selected times throughout the year at each swimming pool – subject to individual pool timetables, so it is advisable to check beforehand.

For details of participating pools, sessions and how to register, visit: https://mcractive.com/free-swimming
Participating facilities:
Abraham Moss Leisure Centre, Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre, East Manchester Leisure Centre, Hough End Leisure Centre, Manchester Aquatics Centre, Moss Side Leisure Centre, North City Family & Fitness Centre, Wythenshawe Forum.

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

A new play area is now open in Milnshaw Park, Accrington ready for the long summer school break.

The £120,000 playground includes an aerial runway, basket swing, large rotator, swings and a ‘skynet’. The ‘skynet’, the first of its kind in Hyndburn, is the centre piece of the play area where children can climb to the top of the large pyramid shaped net before they are rewarded with a slide back down to the ground. For the younger children there is a colourful climbing structure in the shape of a train, with a slide at one end. Councillor Paul Cox, Cabinet Member for Parks and Open Spaces, said;

“Milnshaw Park has been a big priority of mine since I was first elected in 2011 and something I’m really proud to have helped achieve. The play area is already proving very popular, providing families and local children with a wonderful facility in their local park for the summer holidays.

The Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, working closely with Hyndburn Council have secured a grant from the Lancashire Environmental Fund for £30,000 and Hyndburn Council provided the remainder. Cath Holmes of the Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, said;

“It is nice to see a wonderful new play area in Milnshaw Park for the local community to enjoy. We are once again pleased to work with Hyndburn Council to help improve the parks and open spaces in Hyndburn and thank you to the Lancashire Environmental Fund for their support locally.”

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

Eight Pendle parks were awarded the international Green Flag for being welcoming places with eco- friendly environments including great natural habitats for wildlife.

“The announcement, during Love Parks Week, is a credit to hard working staff, park friend groups and people who help out on volunteering days,” explained Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council.
The parks which have retained the prestigious Green Flag status are Alkincoats Park in Colne, Ball Grove Park in Trawden, Barrowford Park, Heyhead Park in Brierfield. Marsden, Victoria and Walverden Parks in Nelson and Valley Gardens in Barnoldswick.

Councillor Iqbal added: “Pendle is very lucky to have so many wonderful parks and they have great facilities such as playgrounds, cafes, picnic areas, free tennis and bowling.

“You can find out more on Pendle Council’s website: www.pendle.gov.uk/parks “

Councillor Iqbal stressed that community involvement is an important criteria in winning a Keep Britain Tidy Green Flag award. “The judges were impressed with what’s being achieved here in Pendle despite the challenge of big reductions in our budgets over the last 10 years. “They recognise that more investment in time and money is needed and that many areas need more resources that we just don’t have at our disposal.

“This is why we are in a process of transferring some of our parks or aspects of local parks to be run by their local parish or town council.”
Thanks to friends groups and local volunteers a new community orchard has been planted at Walverden Park Nelson. And a new Pocket Park is being developed alongside Alkincoats Park, Colne including a green gym and vegetable plots.

Kieron Roberts, Pendle Council’s Green Spaces Manager, said: “We are indebted to people who volunteer in our local parks, helping with tree planting, tending flower beds , organising events and general weeding and litter picking.

“It’s thanks to our volunteers and excellent staff that we’ve been able to retain Green Flags in eight of our parks. “And we’d love more people to come forward and volunteer a little of their time to help us continue to provide these wonderful spaces.

“We care passionately about our parks which are important for the health and well-being of our local community and wildlife. “Anyone who’s interested can email us at: parks@pendle.gov.uk or ring me on 01282 661587.”

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd added. “It’s fantastic that we have more Green Flag Awards in the UK than ever before, joined this year by 131 International winners.”

“Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award”

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

Organisers of Blackburn in Bloom are keeping their green fingers crossed that they have impressed judges enough to scoop a fourth gold in the Britain In Bloom horticultural competition.

The Blackburn In Bloom team gave the judges of the highly renowned competition a tour of the town centre on Thursday, taking in the sights and scents of the brightly coloured flowers, planters and hanging baskets adorning the streets.

Blackburn hopes it can retain its run of gold awards, after scooping the top prize in its category for the last three years. This year, the town has once again entered the ‘town centre’ and ‘BID’ categories.

The Royal Horticultural Society judges visited various locations including the Cathedral Gardens, Church Street, Northgate, Exchange Garden Urban Park and Fleming Square’s Italianate Garden, paying particular attention to three key criteria: community participation, environmental responsibility, and horticultural achievement.

The Council’s green team have been working tirelessly to look after the displays, ensuring that they are watered and fed during the growing season.
The scheme was supported financially by Blackburn Business Improvement District (BID) who have funded additional floral displays and their maintenance.

Catherine Price, Blackburn BID Manager, said:
We want to attract more people into the town centre and we are doing that by making sure it looks beautiful. One of the priorities for Blackburn BID is to create a greener, cleaner area. We are incredibly proud of what Blackburn In Bloom has achieved. It has been a real team effort between all the partner organisations and the Council’s dedicated gardeners.
It goes to show what can be achieved when we work together.
Clare Turner, Development Manager at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, submitted this year’s entry.

She added:
Footfall in town centres across the country is decreasing so we need to make Blackburn as beautiful as it can to help attract visitors. Creating this kind of environment is incalculable in terms of how people perceive the town and driving additional footfall.

The winners are expected to be announced in October