The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape Team secures grant funding  for the Clwydian Limestone Links Project

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape Team are  thrilled to announce that it has successfully secured a grant of £872,676 from the Lottery Heritage Fund, facilitated through the Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.

The Nature Networks Fund is a vital component of the Welsh Government's Nature Networks Programme, designed to enhance the condition and resilience of Wales' protected land and marine sites while fostering community engagement and supporting the recovery of nature.

The Clwydian Limestone Links Project aims to improve habitat conditions and connectivity among five significant limestone grassland Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) located in the northern Clwydian Range, part of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape.

The project will implement a series of capital works, including the control of invasive species such as cotoneaster and buddleia, management of rare calcareous grassland, hay cutting, scrub control, and bracken management. Collaborating with private landowners, it  will create habitat and wildlife corridors across the broader landscape, connecting the SSSIs to other nature reserves, including Coed Bell in Gronant.

In addition to ecological improvements, the project emphasises community engagement through volunteer opportunities, training sessions, guided walks, talks, and events, encouraging local involvement in nature conservation efforts.

To facilitate the project's delivery, the Nature Networks Fund will finance two full-time positions: a Nature Networks Ranger and a Project Manager, both of whom will be engaged until the project's completion in March 2028.

This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing the natural heritage of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, ensuring that these vital ecosystems are preserved and enriched for generations to come.

There is more information about the project here.