Nursery nurtures new knowledge for Prestatyn volunteer

A growing band of community volunteers are finding their nature knowledge is blooming thanks to supporting a project designed to help local biodiversity.

The Council’s local provenance tree nursery at St Asaph is not just growing trees and plants found across Denbighshire, but also a strong community of volunteers who are nurturing new skills and knowledge thanks to visiting the site.

Janet Davidson, of Prestatyn, joined the community in June last year due to the strong social wellbeing aspect and flexibility that volunteering provides at the tree nursery.

She said: “I was new in the area, and I was looking for a volunteer activity that suited my personality as I’m not terribly a people person. I’ve always had an interest in horticulture and so this was ideal really. The times that are available for volunteers suited my needs so it all just seemed like a win-win really.

“It’s also really flexible so if you can’t make it one week, it’s very very easy going. “You get to do a variety of things which really does suit me. “

Becoming a member of the nursery’s community of volunteers has opened the door to new skills and knowledge for Janet who comes from a food manufacturing background.

“It’s like the use that trees are put to, the types, the varieties. For instance, I hadn’t appreciated the different terrains the two native oaks required. We have opportunities to learn each week here. There’s always something like learning about the black poplars, the challenges the team has tracking and making sure everything is traceable… that’s particularly interesting.”

The community of volunteers at the nursery are also bringing their own career skills to the site which is giving staff the chance to work with them to really shape the future of the nursery, explained Janet.

“Some elements are transposable from different industries, so traceability between food and trees, there are large chunks of it that are applicable. It all provides the team here another resource to bounce ideas around.

Turning to the new friends made at the tree nursery since last June, Janet added: “They are a very friendly bunch of people here and you feel it has a really good purpose to it and feels like it’s worthwhile.

“There’s usually a different crowd as not everyone can make it every week, you don’t know who is going to be here, but you know everybody that might be. That’s really good from a social point of view.  There’s a real good diverse group of people that come and I think it’s better for that.”

Since blooming into life, the community of volunteers has become a staple fixture at the nursery grounds and they all enjoy rolling up their sleeves with the staff to make a difference for local biodiversity, Janet explained.

“Anything here is really a team effort. It’s not about individuals; it is about just chipping away, getting the stuff either in the pots or out of the pots or there’s quite a bit of maintenance stuff that you need to be prepared to do if you are here.

“You can’t expect to be planting oak trees every week, but when you do it’s a privilege, it is quite satisfying, I think it’s rewarding just turning up here. The team will direct us to what the week's activities are, and you just crack on then, and it is also nice and informal, and I really like that.”

Janet added: “Coming here you just feel better for it, I recommend it really, it’s no strings attached as well so you can come and do your thing and have a really nice time and then go and come next week and not have any stress associated with it.”

If you would like to volunteer at the tree nursery, please email with your details biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk