Ysgol Henllan pupils have rolled up their sleeve to help plant the future of a new space for nature and residents to enjoy together.

The pupils got to work this week with Denbighshire Countryside Service rangers and volunteers to start shaping the new Henllan Community Nature Space at land behind Meifod Road.

This area is one of four new community nature spaces – alongside similar areas at Rhyl, St Asaph and Clocaenog – that the Council’s Countryside Service and Climate Change teams are creating in the county this year to boost benefits for both local wildlife and residents’ wellbeing.

The Community Nature Spaces work alongside woodland creation work this year at schools across the county has received funding out of an £800,000 grant from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Pupils dug deep to help plant over 1,700 trees on the site which will also see new footpaths, a pond, wildflower meadows, a recreation space and picnic area, an insect hibernaculum (aka a “bee bank”) and an outdoor classroom before the end of this year.

The Henllan Community Nature Space will also help support the Council’s drive to reduce the county’s carbon footprint by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed) in vegetation and soils.

Ysgol Glan Clwyd pupils have helped grow stronger help for nature at the school.

Roots have been put down for a new woodland area on the schools ground by pupils working alongside the Council’s Countryside Service biodiversity officers and rangers.

The youngsters took part in the work which is ongoing across county schools to help increase biodiversity and tree canopies to aid nature’s recovery and provide an educational wellbeing outdoor area for the pupils.

Ysgol Glan Clwyd is one of eight schools that overall will receive over 8,000 trees, including hedgerows and fruit trees, to provide better habitat spaces to support local nature s well as outdoor spaces for learning to help pupil wellbeing.

This work has received funding from an £800,000 grant from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This year’s crop of school tree planting also helps Council’s drive to reduce the county’s carbon footprint by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed).

Increasing the woodland canopy at Ysgol Glan Clwyd and other schools will also help improve air quality, provide urban heat cooling, support improved physical and mental wellbeing for pupils and staff, and areas of mixed interest for education and play.

The Council’s Biodiversity and Climate Change teams are also continuing to work with schools throughout the year to help develop areas on school grounds to further improve support for nature and the learning and wellbeing for pupils and staff.

Over 2,400 trees are this week being planted at Ysgol Glan Clwyd , a mix of native broadleaved woodland species and local Welsh variety fruit trees.