Footballers have helped kick off development of a new St Asaph community nature space.

The Council’s Countryside Service and Climate Change teams have begun work on developing four new county community nature spaces to boost benefits for local wildlife and residents.

Work began today at Glan Elwy, St Asaph, thanks also to local support from the city’s football club youth teams and Elwy Care Group.

The Community Nature Spaces Project has received £800,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This biodiversity improvement work will also support the Council’s drive to reduce the county’s carbon footprint by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed).

Glan Elwy will focus on providing stronger habitat spaces for nature to benefit from as well as community spaces for residents young and old to enjoy and learn from local wildlife.

Volunteers alongside Council staff have planted nearly 2,000 trees planted at the site.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We are continuing to nurture and grow our local woodlands which has already seen some fantastic areas for nature and communities created in Rhyl, Prestatyn, Ruthin, Corwen and the surrounding areas.

“These sites are not just to bring back habitats for our local nature but also to support the communities surrounding them, to give residents something to be proud of and that’s why this year’s work will be known as the Community Nature Spaces project and we are proud to start this at St Asaph.

“We are still keen to hear if residents would like to get involved with the other sites for tree planting days and any other volunteering or training opportunities.”

Those interested in helping out can email climatechange@denbighshire.gov.uk