A Biodiversity project has breathed life into the future of a wildflower species during its 2024 season.

The Council’s Biodiversity Team has recorded an increase of orchid types across the county wildflower meadows following surveys carried out last year.

The team’s Wildflower Meadow Project started in 2019, aiming to restore and increase the amount of habitat available throughout the county for pollinators and wildlife.

This project includes just over 70 acres of meadows helping and protecting local nature and supporting community wellbeing across the county. It has also been funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project.

In 2024 the team discovered a pyramidal orchid at the meadow outside County Hall in Ruthin which had never been recorded at the site before.

This was first of a resurgence of orchids across the county according to Liam Blazey, Senior Biodiversity Officer.

He explained: “Last year was a good year for orchids on our sites. We recorded pyramidal, common spotted and bee orchids across several of our sites that had no previous records of orchids. The distribution of these new records was spread from the north through to the south of the county.

Our meadows are managed to help bring back an important piece of biodiversity that we have lost over the years which helps nature to thrive and our pollinators to keep being able to support the food chain that we as humans rely on.

“It’s also really good for the local communities in these areas, as these meadows are bringing back plants that our future generations can enjoy once more alongside the positive support they are bringing for local nature.”

Since the project began the Biodiversity Team has recorded 17,716 individual wildflower records across the county meadows through carrying out 1,423 site surveys.

During the 2024 season 297 different species were recorded working out at 5,269 individual wildflowers logged.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Our meadows are crucial for supporting local nature that has been impacted by the effects of Climate Change. As more wildflowers such as the orchids return to sites they will help increase diversity and colour for communities to enjoy and better support pollinators at risk who help put food on our tables.

“Given the time they need to establish, all of our meadows will be for the equal wellbeing of residents and wildlife to both enjoy now, and most importantly, for our future generations in the shape of our younger Denbighshire residents.”