Prestatyn Roman Bath House Open Day
Countryside Services will be having an open day at the Roman Bath House in Prestatyn, on Melyd Avenue LL19 8RN.
The open day will be held on Saturday 18 March, 10am-4pm. Parking is available at Prestatyn High School, Princes Avenue, LL19 8RS. Melyd Avenue is available for disabled parking only.
Visitors will be able to view the work that has been completed on the stonework. There will be opportunities to view artwork completed by local schoolchildren. Attendees will be able to have a go at making their own Roman-inspired crafts, as well as view a collection of historical artefacts.
The Prestatyn Roman Bath House was first discovered during excavations in the 1930s. it was then re-covered and excavated again in the 1980s, during the construction of the neighbouring housing estate. The Bath House is believed to have been constructed in around 120 AD, then extended in 150 AD. There is some debate over the reasons for its location in Prestatyn. However, it is believed to be linked to the Roman legions in Chester and Caernarfon, lying around halfway between the two. It may also have been associated with a nearby harbour, due to its coastal location. The site is now managed by Denbighshire County Council.
The open day will be a celebration of all the Roman Bath House project has achieved, including:
- Works to secure the stonemasonry, which had become loose over time.
- Works to the path surrounding the bath house.
- New information panels.
- Wildflower plug planting.
- Arts workshops and site visits with local schools.
- An exhibition in Prestatyn Library to display the schools’ artwork.
Denbighshire Countryside Service aim to raise the profile of the Roman Bath House, with a long-term increased number of visitors to the site.
The Prestatyn Roman Bath House
Roman-inspired crafts
Historical artefacts
Contact claudia.smith@denbighshire.gov.uk for more information.
Birdwatching favourite samples regenerating wetlands
A feathered favourite has arrived at a developing Denbighshire wetland.
The 2nd February was World Wetlands Day which encourages the revival and restoration of degraded wetlands.
The campaign also supports the regeneration of these important areas to encourage more wildlife to return and one such area seeing revival is located at Prestatyn.
Work on the Morfa, a 35-acre wetland in Prestatyn, started in 2020 when it was purchased by the Council after securing Welsh Government funding to protect its status as a natural wetland resource. Three ponds were created on the site to expand the support for the wetland’s nature.
The benefits of this include increased biodiversity, flora and birds and a wetland attraction for bird watchers to visit from three viewing platforms each with an interpretation board about the area it looks out on.
Sitting next to the Prestatyn gutter, the wetlands forms a natural sink during times of high rainfall, acting as an important flood defence.
And now a birdwatcher’s favourite has been spotted enjoying the delights of the area along with other species including Egrets and Mallards.
Countryside Ranger Sasha Taylor, who looks after the site, explained: “It’s a fantastic habitat for lots of different bird species and other animals as well. We have had some Snipe and a member of the local environmental group actually saw a Kingfisher here which is fantastic. The smaller birds also love the little willow trees in the middle, it’s always busy in there.
“We have got some lovely new interpretation boards which explain the benefits of having this wetland system. They explain all about carbon storage and how beneficial it is for climate change.”
An endangered UK animal has also been spotted nearby the wetlands and work to help it thrive in the area will see development of water drainage ditches to provide a stronger habitat for it.
Sasha added: “With our volunteer group there is a lot of people who do spend a lot of time here and a lot of them have also caught pictures of water voles along the nearby cut.”
The Council is continuing to use Belted Galloway cattle to graze the area and support site management, and these are due to be back on the wetlands during the summer.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It is fantastic to see this area continue to revive local biodiversity. I am grateful for all the hard work local volunteers have put in alongside our Countryside staff to make this site something special for supporting our wildlife and climate.”
Community collaboration sees biodiversity thrive at nature reserve
A community partnership has helped biodiversity flourish at a popular Rhuddlan venue.
The Council's Countryside staff have worked closely with the community group behind Rhuddlan Nature Reserve to grow a thriving environment for both biodiversity and visitors to embrace.
Countryside staff have carried out the management of the site since opening in 2011 on behalf of the Rhuddlan Reserve Management Advisory Group to breathe life into a number of initiatives for the community.
This work resulted in the nature reserve winning last year's Wales in Bloom award in the 'Overall It's Your Neighbourhood' category. The group members and Countryside staff were presented with the RHS National Certificate of Distinction.
Wales in Bloom wrote in their report about the reserve that ‘In all areas of management, planning and volunteer organisation through to practical on-site endeavours the Rhuddlan Nature Reserve is a shining example of nurturing and creating habitat.’
Thanks to the green vision of the group and the skills of Countryside staff, the site over the years has grown with the introduction of initiatives including two wildflower meadows, three wildlife ponds, 300 metres of hedgerow, wildflower seeded verges, planting of 6,000 trees, a heritage species orchard, two picnic areas and a pond dipping platform.
A unique addition to the nature reserve is the Sensory Garden which has involved the local Dementia Group and the nature reserve group working with Countryside staff. A dementia friendly space with sensory, trees, wildflowers and historic landscape features such as dry-stone walls and laid hedges, as well as traditional Welsh oak timber seating has been created on the site.
Anita Fagan, Chair of the Rhuddlan Reserve Management Advisory Group, said: “The Committee has worked hard and is delighted to have been awarded the ‘National Certificate of Distinction’ in last years ‘Britain in Bloom’.
“As Chair, with the aim of enhancing and diversifying the reserves habitats for the education and enjoyment of our visitors, mostly local residents but increasingly holiday visitors, I draw on the committee’s many skills. These encompass wildlife expertise and local area knowledge, including town and county councillors and of course the biodiversity skills of Denbighshire County Council Countryside Services staff Garry Davies, Jim Kilpatrick and Brad Shackleton.
“Since its opening in 2011, Rhuddlan residents have enjoyed this safe open space. Families bring children to play and picnic, walk their dogs and take photos of bird life. In addition, we arrange bug hunts for local nursery and primary school children, support volunteers to learn hedge laying and lead guided walks for local adult groups.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It was a privilege to visit the Rhuddlan Reserve recently to see how the group’s passion for enhancing the land has been brought to life by the management of our Countryside staff.
“This collaboration has produced such an amazing area in Denbighshire for the support and improvement of biodiversity. The wealth of knowledge driving the development of the site from the group, coupled with the skills of the Council’s Countryside staff has created an area Rhuddlan can be proud of when it comes to supporting our wildlife and nature.”