Pupils at Ysgol Dinas Brân recently rolled up their sleeves to learn countryside management skills.

The youngsters were supported by Education Engagement Officers from the Council's Llwybrau service to take part in outdoor education sessions run by Countryside Rangers around the south of the county.

‘Denbighshire Education Project – Llwybrau team’, supports young people in Denbighshire to reduce their risk of disengagement from education and provides support to re-engage in education or to move into employment or training at the end of year 11. The service received funding from the UK Government.

The Clwydian Range and Dee valley National Landscapes rangers have helped the pupils learn countryside management and other skills through sessions including.

• • Bracken bashing on Dinas Brân
  • Balsams pulling at Ty Mawr Country Park
  • Gardening at Corwen Community Garden
  • Craft activities at Plas Newydd Historic House and Garden with the Our Picturesque Landscape team
  • Drystone walling on Caer Drewyn Iron Age Hillfort
  • Litter picking along the Panorama

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said: “I am delighted to see the great work that has been done with the Ysgol Dinas Brân pupils to not only support these youngsters to re-engage with their education, but also sparking a new-found interest for skills that they might not have developed through mainstream teaching.

“This is a fantastic example of partnership working from the Council’s Llwybrau service, whose experienced Education Engagement Officers have done a great job in utilising skills and resources from a variety of different organisations to support these pupils in re-engaging with their education and discovering new skills and hobbies that they might not have been aware of before.”

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning added: “These sessions guided by our Countryside Rangers have really helped the pupils with building their confidence and learning new skills, and they have been rewarded with certificates to show their dedication towards volunteering on this project.”

A Prestatyn based allotments is providing strong support for both budding gardeners and pollinators.

National Allotments Week held in August, celebrated biodiversity on all UK allotments, looking at how sites can both help gardening skills and give back to local nature as well.

Managed by Denbighshire Countryside Services, the allotment site at Coed Y Morfa is a haven not only for budding gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts but also a host of important pollinators.

The site, previously a waste disposal area, has been transformed into an allotment site boasting 50 raised bed plots, a large polytunnel and numerous planted ornamental beds, pots and baskets.

Every Tuesday the gates to the allotment are open to the public from 3pm - 4.30pm. During this time, people are free to help out with gardening tasks, learn more about the growth and cultivation of plants they may be interested in and meet like minded green-fingered folk.

Countryside Ranger, Sasha Taylor said:

“We also host a range of volunteering activities at the allotment and in the surrounding area. We have sowed peas with local primary school Ysgol Y Llys, made nettle cordage, made Christmas wreaths and undertaken numerous invertebrate surveys including those for bees, butterflies and moths.

Our moth surveys have yielded fantastic results over the years. With Scarlet Tiger, Garden Tiger, Oak Eggar, Mint moth and Poplar Hawk Moth recorded on site. Moths are an often overlooked group of insects, but recording them can tell us a great deal about our local habitats.

They are just as important as bees and butterflies in terms of plant pollination and account for around a third of all pollinator visits to flowers, trees and crop plants. Some research even suggests that day flying moths are more efficient pollinators than bees!”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said:

“It’s fantastic to hear how the work of the Coed y Morfa allotments community is boosting support for our important pollinators. These sites are a great mix for nature and community physical and mental wellbeing.”

If you would like to find out more about the allotment or volunteering sessions with the Council's Countryside Service please email: sasha.taylor@denbighshire.gov.uk