Protecting Denbighshire's Biodiversity
In 2019, the Council passed a motion to declare a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency. A cross party-political working group was established to oversee the development of a Climate and Ecological Change Strategy.
The Council also committed to becoming become Net Carbon Zero and more Ecologically Positive Council by 2030.
Part of this work includes a Council Biodiversity Champion role to help drive forward work to protect our local plants and nature for future generations, and Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, is our Biodiversity Champion.
We recently asked him some questions about his role.
Why is protecting our biodiversity important to you?
I take my role as Biodiversity Champion very seriously because if we don’t all pull together, we are heading for disaster. We can see year on year how our landscape is changing, and we need to do something now.
Do you have any early memories of how the land you know locally used to be for plant / nature life?
I remember as a child being out in my garden when there was an abundance of butterflies, unfortunately these have diminished. We have to do something about butterflies and all the other species that have declined over the years. Our hedgerows used to be full of life and it is not too late, but we have to act now.
What are we doing in Denbighshire to boost our local biodiversity?
Protecting Biodiversity is so important to me for the future of our children and grandchildren. We have to show them a different way of living. Instead of taking everything, we must give back to nature, it’s the only way.
The Council is giving back. We have around 115 wildflower meadows that are starting to reap benefits by bringing back the bees, butterflies as well many other species.
We also have our own tree nursery where we are growing around 500 trees and around 500 wildflowers per year. We have also planted around 17,000 trees this year, especially in our school grounds and getting the pupils and teachers involved.
What has been the support for improving biodiversity from local communities?
I have been overwhelmed by the help of our local communities in volunteering to help plant the trees and the wildflowers. Some communities have really come together with the biodiversity challenge; I can’t thank them enough.
What has been you experiences helping out with the volunteers?
I have volunteered on a number of occasions myself and it has been good to meet and talk to our other volunteers who give their own time to this much needed work.
What would be your message to those wanting to do something to help with biodiversity in the county?
My message to everyone who lives in the Denbighshire is to please volunteer just a little of your time - I guarantee you will enjoy it. If you are unable to join in some of our planting sessions, please plant a tree in your own gardens - it will go a long way with biodiversity.
We can all do our little bit for the planet especially the county of Denbighshire.
If you would like to volunteer your help to ongoing biodiversity work in the county or suggest places that can support new biodiversity initiatives, please email: biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk
Greener transport grows at The Oaktree Centre
A Rhyl childcare centre is providing a greener mode of transport for youngsters using the facility.
The Oaktree Integrated Children’s Centre has moved to a more climate friendly transport fleet as part of the Council’s drive to reduce carbon emissions.
The Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 and committed to seeking to become a Net Carbon Zero and more Ecologically Positive Council by 2030.
Part of the drive to reduce carbon output across the Council includes supporting the reduction of carbon emissions from fleet vehicles.
Electric vehicles (EV) will now take charge of transporting the children who are part of Little Acorns Childcare which is located in the centre.
These include two Citroen e-Spacetourer nine seat minibuses with a range of up to 136 miles and also a Peugeot e-Expert van with a range of 143 miles.
The centre will be using the buses four times a day to transport children to and from schools and also Christchurch School will be using them for transporting their children to events.
They will also be used during the school holidays to take the children and holiday club on trips.
The Play Ranger Team also based at the centre deliver open access play sessions in community areas across the county have also taken charge of an electric Play Ranger van to support their service. The van will support how the Play Ranger Team use loose parts and upcycled items incorporated in their play sessions to model to children how to use and recycle everyday items in their play.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “We are working very hard to reduce our fleet’s carbon footprint by replacing fossil fuel vehicles with greener alternatives where it is appropriate for the service.
“It’s great the centre now has these vehicles as it will also help educate the older children about how important is to tackle climate change for their future when travelling around the catchment area in the EV transport.”
Hub charges business support for greener transport
A Denbighshire electric vehicle (EV) charging hub is giving a helping hand to local businesses working to switch to greener modes of transport.
In early December 2022, Rhyl’s West Kinmel car park charging hub went live.
Funded by the Welsh Government and with capacity for 36 vehicles, the creation of the hub followed the installation of chargers at King’s Avenue car in Prestatyn.
The facility provides a mix of ‘fast’ 7kwh chargers for local residents who have no access to off street parking and ‘rapid’ 50kw chargers for a quick charge top up and also to help local transport orientated firms with the uptake of electric vehicles by minimising disruption to operational work time.
Luke Packer of A&J Taxis, established in 1996, explained the charging hub has given more support to the business’s drive to provide greener transport in Rhyl and the surrounding area.
“We have the largest selection of EV and Hybrid vehicles in the area. One hundred percent electric accessible vehicles, one hundred percent electric executive vehicles, multiple Hybrids. We are now purchasing our second generation of electric cars.”
“The new charging park provides us with the ability to rapid charge during the working day, allowing us to keep the batteries topped up so we are always ready to go.
As well as the support for businesses, Luke explains the hub has an all-round use for the local Rhyl community.
He added: “For those without home driveways this provides their charging solution, for those using our trains this provides a charging solution for them when they depart for the day.
“The hub provides benefits to those who need to both slow charge (leave for the day or night) and also those who need to rapid charge…us, delivery drivers and other taxis for example.”
Guto Lloyd-Davies, Director of gwasg print, believes the hub is a boost for both businesses wishing to reduce their carbon footprint and general town footfall.
Trading since 1974 as a family business with Guto and his wife running it for the last 12 years, the Rhyl printers has become a firm beacon for sustainability.
The business’s climate friendly initiatives include paper and card sourced only from suppliers dealing with managed, sustainable forests, PV panels installed on site to generate electricity, since 2001 all waste paper, card, cardboard, metal and plastic waste is recycled with Denbighshire County Council and from 2018 they have used a Nissan Leaf 100% electric car – and in 2021 added a Skoda Enyaq iV60 100% electric vehicle.
He said: “My wife and I own gwasg print, a general print and design company, which has been trading in the town centre since 1974. Mum and dad started the business and I grew up above our old shop on Kinmel Street. For the last 12 years we have owned the business and we’re busier than ever.
The duo made the move to EV to support the environment and also make use of the cost savings it provides.
Guto explained: “We sold our old VW diesel van back in August 2018 and got our first EV, the Nissan Leaf). I wanted to make the move for eco reasons… but the financials were a no-brainer.
“In 2021 we got a Skoda Enyaq so now run two EVs on the business. I’m always quick to stress the convenience of EVs – our cars charge overnight at home most of the time, and now we can easily top up in charging stops such as the West Kinmel Street hub.
Looking ahead into the future, the family business owner feels having the hub on the doorstep will also give other businesses a boost
He added: “As the hub is such a draw to anyone visiting the town, it’s already made the West Kinmel Street car park busier… and is bound to get busier as take up of EVs continues. Anyone using the slower chargers is going to go for a walk, grab a coffee, bite or go shopping while their vehicles charge so increased footfall has to be good!”
Councillr Barry Mellor, the Council's Lead Member for Environment and Transport explained the hub offers support for businesses in the surrounding area to take a step towards operating greener transport.
He said: “It is great to see how this facility is helping local taxi firms like A&J taxis advance towards running a greener fleet, our drive towards lowering the carbon footprint of Denbighshire includes helping businesses and the hub is taking a role in that.
“You look at the West Kinmel car park hub…it has a strong multi-purpose role for giving more support to the businesses of Rhyl and the town’s attractions. There are opportunities for businesses to invest in greener vehicles and charge them here without having to worry about installing chargers at their sites.
“There’s also great opportunities for local businesses in the form of how this site can support the town’s footfall, as people charging their vehicles here can make use of the shops and establishments that are right on the doorstep of the hub and I encourage them to visit Rhyl while they do so.”