A community partnership helping nature thrive at a popular Rhuddlan venue has received a national award.

The Council's Countryside staff have worked closely with Rhuddlan Reserve Management Advisory Group to develop a bustling nature habitat at the Rhuddlan Nature Reserve.

Countryside staff have helped manage the site since opening in 2011 on behalf of the group, breathing life into a number of initiatives for nature and the local community.

The nature reserve has expanded over the years with the introduction of initiatives which include 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 site’s Sensory Area which involved the local Dementia Group and the nature reserve group working with Countryside staff.

Last year the partnership was honoured for its commitment to nature and the community by winning the Wales in Bloom `Overall It’s Your Neighbourhood 2022 for Wales’ and the RHS National Certificate of Distinction.

For 2023 the teams looking after the site are celebrating again after picking up the Outstanding It’s Your Neighbourhood award alongside another RHS National Certificate of Distinction.

Anita Fagan, Chair of the Rhuddlan Reserve Management Advisory Group, said: “As the wife of Raymond Fagan who was instrumental in creating this wonderful site in collaboration with Denbighshire County Council's Countryside services team, I feel honoured to chair the Management Advisory Group of the Reserve.

“The Committee enjoys a supportive partnership, continually learning how best to encourage biodiversity for the health of the area, in conjunction with reaching out to the local community and visitors with educational walks and wild life adventure hunts to promote interest and to take pleasure in the Natural World.

“My special thanks go to Garry Davies, Jim Kilpatrick and Bradley Shackleton, the countryside services team, for their consistent and outstanding nurture and management of this wonderful resource for Rhuddlan.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It is such a great team from the community and our Countryside Service that manages and enhances this fantastic site both for local nature to thrive and local residents to enjoy while visiting.

“This collaboration has really put in a lot of passion to improving the habitats on the site and giving the local community something to be proud of and I am pleased their hard work has been recognised once again.”