Tree Nursery opens doors to Prestayn pupils

Pupils have been given a taste of a Denbighshire biodiversity initiative.

Prestatyn High pupils recently visited the Council’s local provenance tree nursery at Green Gates Farm, St Asaph.

The site aims to produce 5,000 native wildflower plants a year alongside 5,000 native trees and has been funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project and Local Places for Nature grant.

Denbighshire’s biodiversity team gave the pupils a tour around the poly tunnels on site where the plants and trees are grown from seeds sourced across the county.

They also took up the chance to test out their green fingered skills by re-potting some of the wildflowers grown on site.

The biodiversity team also gave an insight into other initiatives at the tree nursery which include a species rich hedge, a large native wildflower meadow, and a great crested newt hibernaculum all designed to support local wildlife.

Pupils were also shown the rain garden and large wildlife pond, installed as part of a sustainable drainage system designed to boost biodiversity and reduce flooding.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It was great to welcome the pupils to our tree nursery and give them a chance to see first-hand and also experience the work our biodiversity team is doing to help maintain and improve our local environment.

“It was great to see and hear such an interest from the pupils about biodiversity and how they can support it and we hope they took away some really useful learning to help their own local areas.”

Following the Council’s declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019, this project is part of an ongoing commitment to enhancing biodiversity across the county.

If you are interested in visiting the tree nursery or helping out as a volunteer on site, please e-mail: biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk.