Words:  Rebecca Hardy The Creative Core, a leading interpretation design company for museums, heritage and culture, has been selected to deliver the design and build of Stori Brymbo a new visitor attraction in North East Wales This ambitious, community-led project is set to develop a world-class visitor attraction at the former Brymbo iron and steel works site. Its centrepiece is an internationally significant fossilised forest The experience will begin at the purpose-built Fossil Forest centre where visitors can watch the meticulous live excavation of ancient trees they will embark on a visitor journey spanning over 300 million years from the prehistoric environment to the trailblazing industry of the Brymbo Ironworks a Scheduled Monument with a 200-year history The Creative Core will work with Brymbo Heritage Trust and the local community to create an engaging visitor experience revealing surprising connections and echoes through time says: “The Creative Core were awarded this contract because we loved their energy their innovative approach and their pragmatism They will not only design the spaces with us but will build them too We’re incredibly excited to work with them and benefit from their wealth of experience.” “We are excited to be joining the Stori Brymbo project at this critical point on its journey to becoming a world-class visitor attraction,” says Nichola Ward “Our design will support the project’s mission to save creating a visitor experience that connects prehistory to our world today We look forward to working with the project team and local people to bring these stories to life.” See also: The Creative Core designs Museum of the Year finalist Museum of Making Stori Brymbo is expected to open in Spring 2026 and will include interactive and immersive exhibitions and a community space for cultural activities and events visitors will get a close-up view of the Fossil Forest and watch expert palaeobiologists and community volunteers at work The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund The Creative Core recently designed and built a visitor experience at the Peace Museum in West Yorkshire The design employs a Think Feel Do approach which uses storytelling and artefacts to engage visitors and inspire action and flexible displays that can accommodate growth in both the venue’s visitor numbers and collections Get the latest attractions industry news direct to your inbox More from this author Visit author's website Blooloop is taking climate action and is now B Corp Certified speed and the best experience on this site DOLGELLAU started the new cricket season with an away win at Brymbo 2nds in Division 1 of the Readers North Wales League, writes Opting to bat first Dolgellau totalled 177 with three balls remaining of their 45 overs. Brymbo were restricted to 120 for 8 to give the visitors a 57-run victory. Dolgellau lost a wicket at 14 in the 8th over, Jonathan Lloyd caught by the keeper Henry Lunn in Jack Bettis' first over. There ensued what proved to be the highest partnership of the match, between opener Dave Jenkins and South African Lafras Van Vuuren who has returned for his second season at Dolgellau. They had a stand of 89 for the second wicket before Jenkins was run out for 26; 103 for 2 from 27 overs. Three balls later, on the same total, Lafras' stay at the crease ended, well caught in the covers by Jake Hughes. Lafras struck 53 from 60 balls and hit eight fours. Sion Francis and Jack Williamson had an alliance of 41 for the 4th wicket, Francis bowled by Ross Roberts for 12 to make it 144 for 4 in the 35th over, Williamson on 24 at the time. During the last 10 overs Jack Williamson added 25 runs to his score, but at the other end six wickets went down as batters six to 11 only troubled the scorers three times and just 33 runs were scored in those 10 overs. Williamson was left on 49 not out, three balls of the innings not used. Earlier he got off the mark with a four from his first ball faced and went on to hit 2 sixes and 3 more fours, his unbeaten 49 coming off 47 deliveries. When it was Brymbo's turn to bat they were reduced to 42 for 5 from 22 overs and never threatened to get anywhere near the Dolgellau total. Opening bowlers Francis and Joe Williamson bowled their nine overs apiece without a break, taking two wickets each. Francis bowled Pugh and had Taylor caught in the slips by Lafras while Joe bowled both opener Smith for 15 and Lunn for 8. The best bowling of the day was the off spin of Lafras whose spell of nine overs, four maidens, only yielded seven scoring shots, finishing with 2 for 8 from 9 overs. He had Owain Pryce caught by Callum Taylor before Hughes and Sheldrake took it to 62 at which Hughes was stumped by Rob Humphreys for 12 to give Lafras his second wicket. There followed a stand of 40 for the 7th wicket between Sheldrake and Bettis. Sheldrake top scored with 25 including 3 fours, bowled by Taylor while Bettis made 16, bowled by Jaco Oosthuizen on the same total of 102. Ross Roberts and Shaun Edwards added 18 to leave it at 120 for 8 when the 45 overs ended. Dolgellau's Jonathan Lloyd travelled to Chard CC in Somerset to play for Wales Over 50s 3rds against a Somerset Over 50s side on Sunday in a friendly. Lloyd opened the batting and scored 40 from 61 balls, hitting 7 fours. Wales advanced to 185 for 3 in the 33rd over to defeat their hosts who had made 184 for 8 from their 45 overs. Comments Tel: 01970 615000[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 two contestants compete against each other to see who will be crowned the week's Sixty-Second Challenge Champion This edition of the quiz features Ceris Phillips from Penmaenmawr and Kevin Jeffreys from Brymbo How many of these music questions would you get right in just one minute studio@deeradio.com You can find out more about Dave Phillips and his Sunday Show here: https://www.dee1063.com/on-air/dave-phillips/ We want to remind our residents that the closing times switch to winter hours in October at two of the household recycling centres Brymbo and Plas Madoc recycling centres will close earlier at 4pm These winter hours stay in place until March 2025 Bryn Lane recycling centre doesn’t change its operating times for winter and closes at 8pm throughout the year All three recycling centres are open every day except Christmas Day Before setting off to your local recycling centre so you have them ready to deposit straight into the correct bays This is one of the biggest ways you can help us out If you arrive with your recycling unsorted you will be on the site for much longer as this will really slow your visit down Our recycling centres are only to be used by Wrexham residents so upon arrival at the sites you’re asked to show us some ID so we can make sure you are local Remember to make sure you bring some with you and having it ready for us will to check will also help to speed things up If you’re bringing any black bags to the recycling centres mistakenly placed inside have been removed and placed in your kerbside recycling or they can be recycled in the respective recycling banks at the recycling centre You can donate to the re-use shop at any of the three recycling centres; just speak to one of the attendants who’ll point you in the right direction Did you know you can order recycling equipment through our online form and then collect it at your chosen recycling centre Once you have submitted the order you’ll be provided with a reference number and confirmation email which you’ll need to collect the containers You will also need to show some ID that matches the information provided on your form You get 5 days to collect the items from the date ordered If you wish to order equipment for delivery or pay for a new garden waste or general waste bin, please use this form instead You can find out more about visiting the recycling centres on our website Get recycling tips and info straight to your inbox – Wrexham Council News When are my bins collected? Check your bin day and sign up for reminders Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest news and info from Wrexham Council This edition of the quiz featured Trudie Powell from Wrexham and Kevin Jeffreys from Brymbo Thanks to a £4,147,200 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund this five-year project will bring new facilities It will also protect and make open to visitors the 300-million-year-old "fossil forest" The internationally important site was discovered during open cast coal mining in 2003.  The Brymbo works was founded by industrialist John 'Iron Mad' Wilkinson (1728–1808) Wilkinson made his fortune pioneering the manufacture of cast iron goods Following his successful iron smelting business and the invention of new technologies Business boomed over the following decades Brymbo suffered heavily during the decline of industry in the 1970s and 1980s The site was left largely abandoned and the local community devastated Expected to attract up to 37,000 visitors per year Restore and repurpose the Machine Shop as a visitor centre rentable office/workshop spaces and a flexible space for learning and meetings Repurpose the Pattern and Joiners’ Workshop as an exhibition and function space protected environment for the excavation and public presentation of the Fossil Forest. This will enable visitors to take a chronological trip through Brymbo's story, from fossils to coal Refurbish and repair historic structures These will include the Grade II* listed Agent’s House, the Blast Colliery and a series of ironworks buildings including the Foundry Deliver a series of activities for volunteers people with disabilities and people on low incomes Watch "Coast and Country" on ITV Wales tonight (19 March) at 9pm to find out more about Brymbo’s exciting project If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team We urge you to read our privacy policy which gives you more control over your information and clearly explains how we use it © Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund PProperty / Construction Plans for a major new heritage project and visitor attraction for Brymbo, near Wrexham, have been safeguarded following a recent agreement between the site owner, Brymbo Developments Ltd (BDL) and local community regeneration charity, Brymbo Heritage Trust (BHT). The two parties have signed Heads of Terms agreeing a 25-year lease over a 65-acre site. BHT will operate the site and deliver restoration works and projects which will preserve and celebrate Brymbo’s industrial past, conserve a 300-million-year-old fossil forest and provide an area for community events, activities, and all-age learning. This agreement is a significant step in facilitating £10m of direct investment into community-led heritage in Brymbo, the majority of which is awarded by the UK’s two largest National Lottery distributors, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund, alongside a comprehensive co-funding package from various government agencies, local government, and national charitable trusts The former steelworks site and 440 acres of surrounding land was acquired by BDL in 1994, following its closure in 1990 and has since formed part of a viable and sustainable proposal to deliver vital new community infrastructure – unlocking land, connecting the villages of Tanyfron and Brymbo and creating a true village centre that has been lacking. The heritage project forms part of Brymbo Park, a wider regeneration of the former British Steelworks site at Brymbo. In addition to the proposed 450 new homes, which are vital to meeting Wrexham Council’s housing targets, Brymbo Park will also deliver a new local 425 place primary school, a new foodstore with ancillary retail, medical centre, village pub/restaurant, children’s play areas, public footpaths, landscaping, and public open space. Ian Bancroft, Chief Executive of Wrexham Council said, “It is great to see the coming together of partners to make this project a reality. As a Council we have worked hard to ensure the foundations have been laid for a successful and sustainable future and local councillors and the community council have been key to achieving this”. Nick Amyes, Chair of BHT’s Board of Trustees said “This is fantastic news for everyone in Brymbo, giving us the commitment that will allow our community’s story to be told proudly for generations to come. We’d like to extend our thanks to everyone involved in arriving at this milestone, and look forward to welcoming residents, volunteers, learners, performers and visitors to our enjoy our wonderful heritage”. Dawn Bowden, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, said; “I congratulate everyone involved in the Brymbo Heritage Project for reaching this important milestone. I am delighted that the parties involved have been able to establish an agreement that will enable this important heritage project to progress. This will breathe new life into the industrial heritage of Brymbo and bring considerable benefits for the local community. I know that everyone has worked tirelessly to reach this agreement”. James Cannon, Head of Property for BDL said: “It has always been the intention of the Cornes Family and BDL to ensure that the some of the land for the former Brymbo Steel Works would be gifted to the community to preserve the site’s heritage and to ensure that there is access for the local community. The Heads of Terms agreed with BHT allow for both those aims and we look forward to working with BHT to deliver this lease. “We all look forward to continuing to work with other key stakeholders including the Welsh Government and Wrexham Council to deliver the final pieces of this vital development, including a new primary school and medical centre.” Stantec (formerly Barton Willmore) is advising BDL on the planning, while Knight Frank has been appointed as agents on the entire scheme. Grice Collins Long are acting as leasing agents on the supermarket, retail, and pub. and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond Sign our campaign for a grant funding review Planning permission has also been secured for a primary school and district centre all set to be built within the second part of the former Wrexham steelworks site The proposals come from Brymbo Developments which is advised by planner Barton Willmore on the scheme The firm said it will now look to work with housebuilders to deliver the project Redevelopment of the 234-acre former steelworks site has been a long-term project Outline consents for segments of the site have at various times been secured for uses including commercial according to a report by Wrexham council officers An earlier phase of 469 homes, on 31 acres, has already been built out, along with 1.8km of highways to access the wider site. A community events space and heritage centre has also been progressed as the site owners looked to major on its heritage aspects 62 acres of open public space have been cultivated Earlier plans for 450 homes within this plot have previously been advanced and refused Wrexham’s chief planning officer said that the proposal which as well as the housing and a 425-pupil school includes 15,000 sq ft of retail and a surgey and ancillary care facilities along with 4,000 sq ft of pub/restaurant space “presents a significant opportunity to secure the redevelopment of one of the largest areas of previously developed land in the County Borough “In addition to making a significant contribution to the supply of housing land Brymbo Developments spokesman James Cannon said that “as a long-term investor in the area we have worked tirelessly with local stakeholders to deliver a scheme that delivers vital new amenities which unlocks a key strategic development site and now look forward to working with housebuilders to transform the vision into a reality.” Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Chief executive of Redrow for five years up to the housebuilders’ mega-merger last year Matthew Pratt will step down from that position and the new company’s board at the end of June What will happen if planning can no longer be blamed for the lack of viability in housing schemes Plus: Greater Manchester’s game of Cluedo and office-to-resi pivots Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. 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