Well Connected Project

As the second year of the Well Connected project comes to an end we reflect on what was achieved in the most challenging of circumstances. Despite the set-backs there have been many things to celebrate and the project has continued in all possible ways through the work of the diligent teams, both the Council rangers and Keep Wales Tidy officers.

Prestatyn wetland is now looking more like a wetland, with excavated ponds, grazing, an accessible viewing platform, the wading birds are already prospecting! Prestatyn wetland is central to this project, as it is a key urban green site along the green/blue corridor, and as such these large scale works are cause for celebration. Now this work has been done the site can begin to grow and mature into a wetland this spring and summer, with more work to be done on grazing and interpretation signage for visitors to improve the site further. We will see substantial changes in the next few months so be sure to take a visit.

At the Rhyl Cut, another key project site, a new accessible fishing platform has been installed by Elwy Working Woods, a local sustainable timber supplier. Alongside this the fishing platforms along the rest of the cut have also received repairs and the local Help for Heroes fishing club have been supplied with timber and tools to enable them to carry out further repairs. The club will be custodians of the fishing platforms and will become active along this section of the cut once lockdown restrictions ease. As well as this we are working with a local fisherman to set up a new fishing club to engage with the kids in the local estates, connecting them to their landscape and the green/blue corridor, providing them with skills and a positive outlet for energy.

Schools play a major role in the Well Connected project, and despite restrictions inhibiting our engagement work we have spent the winter improving school grounds through our tree planting campaign as well as SUDS projects across the whole project area. 8 schools received tree planting this winter, ranging from Kinmel bay to Gronant, in the form of hedges (600m in total), small woodland areas, mini orchards (with local fruit strains) and willow circles. Alongside the PLANT project at Glan Morfa, which is another site along the green/blue corridor, 6,300 trees were planted this winter. In addition to this, we have a SUDS (Sustainable Drainage Solutions) project for each year of Well Connected (3), and this year it was carried out at Christ the Word in Rhyl, and work began at Ysgol Gronant who will receive the 3rd year SUDS project. Christ the Word received a timber outdoor classroom structure with a green roof, also made by Elwy Working Woods, raised beds, a water collection system, and tree planting in the form of hedges, a small woodland area and local strain fruit trees.

With restrictions set to ease this spring we are hopeful of a more engaging year with the community, where we can show off our new and improved green spaces and get the community involved in the care of their local landscape.