Woodland classroom adds in home for mammals

An addition to a new woodland site is providing a nocturnal education theme.

Work has been carried out at an old primary school field on Llanrhydd Street, Ruthin to establish a new woodland.

Denbighshire’s Woodland Creation Project has seen 800 trees planted at the site already this year as part of a continuing effort to reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity.

This is part of a programme of 5,000 trees planted this year to also create new woodlands at Maes Gwilym, Cae Ddol and at Maes Esgob.

These new trees are in addition to the planting of over 18,000 across the county as part of the Council’s Corporate Plan 2017-22 focus on the preservation of the natural environment and also the maintaining and enhancing biodiversity within the county.

A number of school children were able to help plant the trees on their old school field in Ruthin.

And now an outdoor classroom area has been crafted on the site not only to help the children learn about biodiversity but also give a helping hand to local nocturnal residents.

The classroom has been constructed of wood by local craftsperson Huw Noble who has incorporated a unique feature.

The structure contains a ‘Bat Roof’ which has been specially designed to provide the features bats need to roost during the day. Over time, as the habitats on site develop, it is hoped that this structure will support local populations of these rare creatures

Emlyn Jones, the Council’s Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: “We are grateful to all the volunteers, school pupils and local members who have worked not just on the Llanrhydd site, but all the sites to help continue to reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity across Denbighshire.

“We are working hard to put biodiversity into the heart of our plans at the outset and this has allowed the design to be tweaked to benefit people as well as wildlife.

“This great addition to the Llanrhydd site will really help children get closer to understanding the biodiversity of their local community and what they can continue to do to help the environment.

“We are also really grateful to the joiner for installing this incredible Bat Roof which we hope will really benefit the local population and make the class room a unique place to champion biodiversity for local youngsters.”

Information:

• In July 2019, the Council passed a motion to declare a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency. A Climate and Ecological Change Strategy was approved by Council in February 2021, committing the Council to become Net Carbon Zero and more Ecologically Positive Council by 2030.
• This includes reducing the Council’s carbon emissions from several sources.
• It is not possible to reach net carbon zero by reducing emissions alone. Any carbon emissions that we cannot eliminate will therefore have to be offset. The Woodland Creation Project will help the council achieve that carbon zero goal by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed).

Volunteer opportunities at Tree Nursery

A new Denbighshire initiative is opening the doors to volunteers interested in biodiversity.

The Council’s local provenance tree nursery at Green Gates Farm, St Asaph, aims to produce 5,000 native wildflower plants a year alongside 5,000 native trees.

This project has been funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project and Local Places for Nature grant.

Already the team at the site is seeing the fruits of their labour with the first native wildflower seeds germinating at the nursery.

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.

And now the team are welcoming any volunteers to the site who may have an interest in the local environment, keen plant growers or those who generally want to learn more about the wildflower and tree planting projects the Council runs.

Emlyn Jones, the Council’s Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: “We are proud of the biodiversity work at this site and keen to open up volunteer opportunities to those who are interested in what we are doing here for the local environment. It is a great chance to learn more about Denbighshire’s biodiversity from our experienced team at the nursery.

“We are particular keen to welcome volunteers to support us with seed collecting, potting on and other general nursery tasks related to our goal to provide 5,000 wildflower plants and 5,000 trees each year.

“The nursery will also help provide trees and wildflowers to local community groups to help boost biodiversity.”

If you would like to volunteer, please get in touch at biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk. 

New woodland creations take shape

Nearly 5,000 new trees have been planted across Denbighshire to help reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity.

The Council’s Woodland Creation Project is laying down roots across the county thanks to the support work of staff, volunteers and elected members.

In July 2019, the Council passed a motion to declare a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency. A Climate and Ecological Change Strategy was approved by Council in February 2021, committing the Council to become Net Carbon Zero and more Ecologically Positive Council by 2030.

This includes reducing the Council’s carbon emissions from several sources.

It is not possible to reach net carbon zero by reducing emissions alone.  Any carbon emissions that we cannot eliminate will therefore have to be offset.  The Woodland Creation Project will help the council achieve that carbon zero goal by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed).

Volunteers and Council staff have planted 800 trees at Llanrhydd, 2,500 at Maes Gwilym, 1,500 at Cae Ddol and 150 trees at Maes Esgob. This included a number of school children who were able to plant the trees on their old school field in Ruthin, as well as enhance the Maes Gwilym woodland in Rhyl.

The project is also designed to support the Council in increasing the species richness of its land.

The Council is to plant nearly 5000 trees across the county and are grateful to the support of staff and volunteers who have worked on the sites and also elected members who have helped.

All the trees have been selected to enhance biodiversity with a really diverse hedgerow mix, as well as standard sized tree species chosen to suit each area.

Each site also has a ‘celebration’ tree, chosen by residents during our online consultation last November, planted in an area with plenty of space to enable it to grow into a magnificent specimen for the community to enjoy and be proud of.

For more information on the Council’s Climate and Ecological Change work please visit our website.

Biodiversity project grows for new season

A biodiversity project will be blooming on a larger scale this year across Denbighshire.

The Council’s Wildflower Meadow project is set to take in a larger season for 2022 following the announcement of additional sites for the environment initiative.

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,

At the end of last year there were nearly 60 Wildflower Meadows project sites, including highway verges, footpath edges, cycleways and amenity grasslands with more sites planned for inclusion this spring.

Following feedback gathered with the support of local members, the project this year has grown to now include over 100 sites managed for wildflower meadow (including the 11 roadside nature reserves). These sites are equivalent to nearly 35 football pitches worth of grassland managed as native wildflower meadows.

Emlyn Jones, the Council’s Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: “The aim of this is to increase biodiversity in line with our declared Climate Change and Ecological Emergency and Corporate Plan priority for the Environment.

“Wildflower meadow management requires there to be no grass cutting between March and August each year, giving wildflowers enough time to grow, flower, and set seed. For these sites, the biodiversity team will monitor the growth and biodiversity improvement monthly and Streetscene will cut a border only around the sites during this time. The sites will then be given a full cut in early September.”

The Council’s biodiversity team will be engaging with residents near the new sites to inform how the project works to benefit and improve the county’s biodiversity.

As well as protecting wildflowers, the meadows are also boosting the welfare of native insects to Denbighshire.

 For further information on the wildflower sites please go to our website.