Green Communities Project gets off to a flying start in Denbighshire

The Green Communities team have been travelling the county over the past few months exploring different projects and supporting communities with applications to the Green Communities Fund. Many exciting opportunities for communities and individuals across Denbighshire have been put forward and seven project have been successful in their applications and started work to deliver their plans.

Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd have big plans for the old school playing field, they propose to use the field for a number of purposes that will provide benefit and amenity to the community. The three main aspects of their project are firstly to create a children’s play area using natural resources. This will include a wild play are and a space for outdoor learning. Secondly they will create a peace garden for all ages, but particularly older residents. Finally a community co-operative growing space will be created, allowing local residents who may not have growing space at home to enjoy growing vegetables.

ReSource is a social and environmental enterprise based near Denbigh town, they are committed to connecting communities through sustainable activities with a specific focus on the inclusion of often marginalised individuals that includes individuals with disabilities and learning disabilities. ReSource operates from the Cae Dai Trust site in Denbigh and provides a small community growing space, woodworking, upcycling workshop and much more, over the last couple of months they have totalled over 300 volunteering hours and are quickly running out of space. With the help of the Green Communities funding ReSource wish to expand the community areas to two adjoining fields which have been neglected for a number of years, by bringing these areas back to life. ReSurce will create a community site for nature and growing, this will include bringing the community orchard back to life, repair the community nature pond to improve biodiversity of species in the area and create a community space to sit and relax in natural surroundings for people to enjoy being outdoor in nature.

The Tidy Town team at Llangollen have been hard at work planning the St John’s wood project, another project that is benefiting from the Green Communities fund. The project will open access to a green space close to the centre of Llangollen as well as improving the aesthetic of the adjacent cemetery. Currently the site is not accessible, however the Tidy Town team will be creating access into the woodland, giving people a quiet space to enjoy wildlife and the natural habitat around them. Some dangerous trees will be removed after been affected by ash die back, oak benches will be installed where visitors can rest, open areas will be created to allow forest school activities, a small nature trail will be created with interpretation panels guiding people around whilst also highlighting the importance of ecology, biodiversity and the natural world. The site shares its car park with the cemetery and the project will improve the parking area making it more visually attractive whilst also creating more parking spaces.

Although Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd Village Hall was granted a Carbon Neutral Status eleven years ago, the village hall committee were keen to take it one step further and aim to become the greenest village hall in Wales, whilst also taking into account biodiversity and the environment. With the help of the Green Communities project they have been able to add additional solar panels to the hall, this will reduce the need for fossil fuels and to reduce the running costs of the hall. The project will also change both the indoor and outdoor lighting, all of which are fitted with sensors which will significantly reduce the time which the lights are switched on, the outside lighting will comply with the darks skies project, in order to reduce the impact of lighting on wildlife in the area. Finally, the project will fund an outside charging point for e-bikes to encourage people to reduce the use of their cars, the charging point will be available for local residents as well as passers-by who may wish to visit the local Church or the Griffin inn.

Rhuddlan Town Council have been successful with their application to the Green Communities fund and are ready to start work over the Autumn, their project has five main aspects. The first is to install power at the community allotments to allow electrical tools to be used, this will reduce noise as well as reducing pollution by using a greener energy source. Secondly they will improve the pathways on the allotments to allow safer and greater access to raised beds. Thirdly, two bee gardens will be created, one at the allotments and another at the Rhuddlan Nature Reserve, this will promote biodiversity through the introduction of more pollinators in the vicinity. Rhuddlan Town Council will also benefit from the Green Communities project by planting a berry hedge at the Bowling Club, which will encourage birdlife and wildlife. Finally, the project will fund a teacher and assistant to be trained in Level 3 Forest Skills, this will enable Woodland skills and outdoor curriculum to be delivered to all pupils at Ysgol Y Castell.

The Memorial Hall Committee at Llandegla are also benefiting from the Green Communities project to install solar panels in order to produce green energy to power the hall, it will reduce the hall’s carbon footprint and provide ongoing sustainability to the hall as a community asset to benefit current and future generations as well as the community school who have exclusive use of the hall during term time. They have calculated that by creating their own electricity they will be saving in the region of £2,500 per year. As well as solar panel installation, they are also including some environmental enhancement in their project by planting a hedge around the playground to encourage birds and wildlife, the planting will be an educational activity with the school children and volunteers.

There is still opportunity for communities to get in touch with any potential projects they may have, the project officers are always happy to advise on any potential projects and will help you along the way. Please email gwenno.jones@denbighshire.gov.uk for any further information.