Walkers recently enjoyed a sunshine filled snowdrop walk to welcome in Spring.

The Clywdian Range and Dee Valley Rangers with the Nature For Health team led a Spring walk to see the snowdrops at St Tysilio's Church, Llantysilio.

Rangers held a talk about all the improvement works going on at the Horseshoe Falls site before heading down to the church.

Attendees were welcomed into the church by a warden to learn about the history of the site, the famous people laid to rest there and to enjoy the spectacle of the snowdrops around the grounds.

Councillor Alan James, Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “It is really important that people have time aside to enjoy being out in nature and there are countless studies which prove why connecting with nature and the landscapes and history surrounding it is so good for us.”

The rangers would like to give a special thanks to the wardens of St Tysilio's Church for welcoming the group and holding such an interesting talk about the site.

Nature for Health is a collaborative project that engages with individuals and communities to promote the role access to nature can play in improving health and wellbeing. The programme welcomes people of all abilities to get involved with conservation and healthy outdoor lifestyle activities on your doorstep. The project is funded by the UK Government

If you missed this walk and would like to join a future event, or if you would like a copy of the Nature for Health timetable of free events, please get in touch by emailing naturerbuddiechyd@sirddinbych.gov.uk / natureforhealth@denbighshire.gov.uk or visit the Nature for Health Eventbrite page via the link: https://shorturl.at/XSVSU

Countryside walkers and their dogs visiting a popular park during half term were provided with helpful guidance and handy accessories for tackling the area’s routes.

Rangers from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape team manned a stall at the Penbarras car park, Moel Famau Country Park during the Wales half term holiday.

The stall is part of an information campaign aimed to help inform dog walkers about the need to have their pets on a lead whilst walking through the countryside with lambing season around the corner.

Rangers and volunteer rangers chatted to visitors before they went walking on the Offas Dyke path in the direction of the Jubilee Tower to help them understand the restrictions and guidelines in place to keep themselves, their pets and others safe.

They also offered dog poo bags and holders, slip and clip leads if people had forgotten their own lead for their pet, treats for each animal already on a lead and trail maps to help navigate the area safely.

The team also took time to meet people further on up the Offa’s Dyke to help them understand how to stay safe with their pets on this part of Moel Famau Country Park.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said: “The response we have had from dog walkers going up to Moel Famau has been really good and I hope we have been able to help and support them, to give them stronger awareness of countryside restrictions in place in certain areas for when they next go out with their pet.

“If you are bringing your dog to one of our countryside walks, please always plan ahead, know the land you are going to walk through, respect the countryside code and always keep your dog on a lead.”

For more information, visit https://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/ and follow the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape on Facebook and X.

A group of artists are celebrating a special milestone at a countryside park.

The Loggerheads Country Park Painters are back exhibiting their art in the Oriel Gallery located between the Tea Gardens and the stone bridge at Loggerheads Country Park.

They are a small group of local amateur artists that work in a variety of mediums ranging from acrylics, watercolours, pastels, calligraphy and much more.

The art group have been coming to Loggerheads to hold their weekly workshops since 2006 with this latest installation being their 20th exhibition held at the Country Park.

Much of the members artwork is inspired by the diversity and natural beauty of the environments found within the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape.

This year’s exhibition features the special addition of Curlew Corner; having been inspired by the Curlew Connections Wales Project the art group have created an array of curlew inspired artwork to help raise awareness for the Eurasian Curlew, a culturally important bird species that is declining rapidly in Wales.

The goal of these community efforts, happening across the wider landscape of Wales, is to prevent the extinction of curlew as a breeding species, currently set to happen in Wales by 2033.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said: “If you do venture down to Loggerheads Country Park to view the incredible pieces of artwork in this year’s exhibition please cast your vote for your favourite piece of work, as each year the artist gaining the most votes wins the Loggerheads Country Park Painters Trophy and chooses the charity to which all proceeds from the exhibition is awarded.”

Last year’s winner chose Hope House.

The exhibition will be running until the 20 March.

Low carbon work has helped a Denbigh primary school become more energy efficient.

The Council's Energy Team has helped Ysgol Twm o’r Nant improve energy efficiency and lower long term costs following low carbon work at the school building.

The team has managed projects across Council owned buildings including a number of schools, to help improve building energy efficiency, reduce emissions and also usage costs over the longer term.

The Council’s Energy team assessed the building to help focus on what areas of energy use could be improved by introducing new technology on site.

This included the installation of a (14.94KW) solar panel system on the school roof. Each Kilowatt generated and used by Ysgol Twm o’r Nant will save around 22pence. This capacity not only reduces substantial carbon emissions it also reduces strain on the local grid infrastructure.

Storage batteries were also installed alongside the solar panel system to help the school harness excess energy generated by the panels to use on site.

LED lighting was installed inside the school building to also help improve energy efficiency and drive down usage costs.

This work is estimated to save annually around 13664kWh, over 5.6tonnes of carbon emissions and over £5,997.00 per annum in reduced energy costs, paying back what has been invested in a short space of time.

Martyn Smith, Property Energy and Carbon Manager, said: “It’s been great to bring together various pieces of energy technology to help bring down the school’s usage, carbon emissions and long-term costs. This will also help improve the building environment for both the pupils and staff.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, added “The Council is committed to reducing our own buildings carbon emissions and we thank the Energy Team for their continued proactive work and the support from pupils and staff at Ysgol Twm o’r Nant for allowing this project to be completed.”

Prestatyn High pupils have helped extend a helping hand for nature on the school grounds.

Pupils recently joined with the Council’s Biodiversity Team and Countryside Rangers to help extend existing hedgerow at the site to provide stronger support for local nature.

Work has continued across county schools in the last 12 months to help increase biodiversity and tree canopies across school grounds for supporting nature’s recovery and to provide an educational wellbeing outdoor area for youngsters. This work has been funded from a UK Government grant.

By planting trees at school grounds, it also helps to support the Council’s drive to reach net carbon zero by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed).

Pupils helped fill in the gaps of existing 110 metres of hedgerows by planting 16 standard trees and supported the development of a new 60 metre area of hedgerow.

They also helped with the planting of 19 large trees to create a woodland area on the backfield and also 16 fruit trees.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “We are really grateful to Prestatyn High School for their brilliant support in helping our Biodiversity Team create extend help on the grounds for local nature to enjoy and also for providing better outdoor wellbeing and learning for all the youngsters involved.”

A new woodland area is taking root at a Rhyl secondary school.

Christ the Word pupils recently rolled up their sleeves to help create a new haven for nature on their school grounds.

Pupils recently helped the Council’s Biodiversity Team and Countryside Rangers develop new hedgerow and woodland areas at the school.

Planting has taken place across county schools to help increase biodiversity and tree canopies across school grounds to support nature’s recovery and provide an educational wellbeing outdoor area for youngsters. This work has been funded from a UK Government grant.

Increasing the number of trees on school grounds also helps support the Council’s drive to reach net carbon zero by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed).

Pupils helped create a 260-metre-long hedgerow, included 14 standard trees within it, consisting of rowans, Field Maple, Cherry Plum, Wayfaring Tree, Wild Cherry, and Bird Cherry

The forest school area Christ the Word Pupils also helped plant is an oak, alder and willow mix of trees. The total area of planting achieved by the pupils with the Biodiversity Team and rangers is 400 square metres.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “We are really grateful to the Christ the Word pupils for their fantastic support in helping our Biodiversity Team and the rangers create this new area on the grounds for local nature to enjoy and also for providing better outdoor wellbeing and learning for all the youngsters at the school.”

Work is underway for the creation of a new Denbighshire based nature park.

Phase one has started on the development and regeneration of woodland and parkland surrounding Bodelwyddan Castle.

Funded by the UK Government, renovation work at Bodelwyddan Park will see the reopening of park lands, woods and orchards to the public once again.

Nearly one and a half miles of new disabled friendly limestone topped pathways have been developed across land from the bottom of the parkland, connecting right up to the woodland.

These paths will weave their way through newly planted woodland areas and wildflower meadows developed to help local biodiversity, complemented with views of Bodelwyddan Castle and the Vale of Clwyd. An old grounds orchard has been opened up to also walk through, interpretation boards will be provided along the paths to explain the surrounding land and new seating will be provided.

Hedgerows will be planted along new boundary fencing to also support local nature on the parkland. Access for the parkland Roe deer herd will be provided at key points in the new boundary fencing.

Work has taken place to preserve the historic First World War trenches at the top of the parkland with a new fencing enclosure protecting the site.

Woodland paths are also set to be restored with new limestone topping to improve access for visitors to Bodelwyddan Park along with new signage in the area and the parkland.

Special protective fence enclosures have been built in the woodland to protect tree and plant areas including the old Victorian Orchard from deer to allow certain species to flourish stronger going forward.

A new parking area has also been created near the bottom entrance off the A55 for people visiting the park. Work on the first phase is scheduled to be completed in May.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said: “We are really pleased to see Bodelwyddan Park starting to take shape and are looking forward to being able to welcome back the public to this fantastic area to support their physical and mental wellbeing by walking through such a rich variety of park parkland.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Council Biodiversity Champion, added: “The regeneration of the parkland will provide vital support that our local wildlife needs to survive going forward and will also give Denbighshire residents and visitors a great place to visit to experience the nature our county has to offer.”

A gateway to a nature haven will have a new lease of life this summer.

Work has commenced to boost the biodiversity benefits of the entrance to Coed y Morfa, at Prestatyn.

Denbighshire Countryside Rangers and Nature for Health Volunteers are working to expand the wildflower meadow area on the right as you enter Coed y Morfa to park.

The group are extending the meadow area further back by clearing the area of scrubland and readying the soil for a wildflower/grass mix, which includes 25 different species such as cowslip, yellow rattle, ragged robin, tufted vetch, meadow foxtail and slender-creeping Red-fescue.

This extended area will complement the existing wildflower site next to the entrance road.

Increasing the wildflower growth area will help provide a boost for local pollinators and Coed y Morfa wildlife that feed off insects.

Creating wildflower sites is important as since the 1930s, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadow habitats impacting on vital pollinators such as bees who help bring food to households.

Countryside Ranger Sasha Taylor said: “Creating areas such as this is important as it provides a highway for insects and animals across the county to help repopulate other nearby sites by carrying seeds from one to the other.

“It’s also great for the local community here as they will see this area providing a lifeline for flowers enabling future generations to enjoy this site alongside the positive support they are bringing for local nature.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “Wildflower meadows are crucial for supporting our local nature that has been impacted by the effects of Climate Change. As we return more wildflowers to the land 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 generations of the Prestatyn Community to come.”

A helping hand has been given to nature lining a popular path in Denbighshire.

Denbighshire Countryside Service and Nature for Health Volunteers have given nature along the Prestatyn Dyserth Way a new lease of life thanks to a traditional woodland craft.

Coppicing work has been carried out next to the old disused railway line, near to Y Shed at Meliden, on Hazel trees.

The woodland skills technique sees the Hazel tree cut to ground level to support the regeneration of new stems from the base to encourage the rejuvenation of the tree.

Carrying out this technique alongside the Prestatyn Dyserth Way also helps support nature in the area. Coppicing allows more light to hit the land around the trees giving other plant species more support, causing a chain reaction that increases the range of plants and wildlife in a woodland area.

Countryside Ranger Sasha Taylor said: “We have also been able to create habitat piles from the Hazel offcuts we have from the coppicing alongside the path. These are important for supporting biodiversity growth in this area as they will provide food and also shelter for local nature to thrive and survive.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Council Biodiversity Champion, said: “This traditional work is important for supporting future biodiversity growth. All credit to the volunteers and Countryside staff for helping nature flourish along this great route for local communities to enjoy.”