Green guide looks at helping town’s environment

A green guide has been published to generate ideas for improving a town’s environment.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ( AONB ) has published an illustrated guide to the Llangollen Green Infrastructure (GI) initiative opportunities.

Following on from the AONB’s 2021 publication, ‘Landscape and Nature Recovery in a Changing Climate’, the new guide looks at opportunities for adding to the existing GI network in Llangollen to managing, mitigating, and adapting to the threats posed by climate change.

Developed in consultation with the local community and led by the AONB’s climate change lead officer, the guide identifies six well known locations in the town and how they would benefit from GI additions.

Each of the locations are linked together by a GI route which is a mainly traffic free green corridor which should encourage active travel.

The guide looks at the existing situation in the town, sets out the basic principles necessary to provide a joined-up network of green spaces which benefit the local ecosystem and recommends improvements for discussion which would realise the GI objectives.

These include ecological improvements like tree and wildflower meadow planting and improved facilities such as path and signage improvements and sustainable drainage systems.

Councillor Win-Mullen James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “This fantastic publication marks the start of a longer-term objective of creating a more sustainable Llangollen. Apart from the Council, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the AONB, several local organisations and businesses have already signalled their support for the guide, including the town council and Llangollen Friends of the Earth.

“It’s also good to see Ysgol Dinas Bran pledging its full support as the involvement of the next generations is essential.

“This is a great opportunity to spark discussion and action on green infrastructure from both a community grass roots level, and strategic level and we look forward to hearing the outcomes driven by this document.”

Printed versions of the guide are available from the AONB Llangollen office and also the Loggerheads Country Park office.

“Reconnecting”

Whilst the last two years have been a time for people to rediscover an affinity for nature, this process of reconnection is now extending to people. After two years of online meetings, the chance to have face to face catch-ups is one that we are all jumping at the chance for. Here at the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Denbighshire Countryside Service we are no exception. An away day on Prestatyn Hillside we hear? Count us in!

With such a diverse team - from countryside rangers, to Nature for Health rangers, to biodiversity and tree officers – our hectic day to day can make it hard to keep up connections and keep abreast of projects in the pipeline. Strengthening these working relationships is important for us to be able to work effectively as a team to deliver the important works across the AONB and Denbighshire, with the added benefits of a morale boost to boot.

Speaking of pipelines, one of the projects to be celebrated was the final stages of a water pipe installation for grazing animals on Prestatyn Hillside. A challenging site from the offset, only accessible on foot, it is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest recognised, for its herb rich calcareous grassland and pockets of limestone heath. These are under threat from the encroachment of invasive and dominant species on the steep pockets of land. The near completion of this first stage of works to combat the encroachment problems with grazing was really was something to be marvelled at.

Prestatyn Hillside was one of the sites included in the Welsh Government and EU funded Sustainable Management Scheme - Landscape Solutions for North East Wales project, which aimed to bring 40 key sites across North East Wales into Sustainable management grazing regimes. The project has invested in the infrastructure needed to make these sites suitable for grazing including fencing, providing water supply and habitat management. As part of this, the hillside has been sectioned into 3 grazing pockets so that sheep can be introduced to the site to help us manage the wonderful limestone grassland that exists there. The installation of the water pipe to provide the sheep with water is the final puzzle piece for the first stage.

Our walk took us on a tour of the hillside with talks from the key people who had worked on this project. The balance between the habitat works, the preparation for the introduction of the grazing and the recreational access may have been hard to achieve but it will help to realise the full potential of the habitats on Prestatyn Hillside. On our return journey we took a whistle stop tour of other projects that are underway in the area, including footpath works, pond works and a community project to revive their village green which not only looks great but will be of much benefit to pollinators.

All in all, a perfect way to spend a day catching up with colleagues, celebrating their achievements and getting inspiration for future works and we can’t wait for our next staff away day!

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.