“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!