Explore a Rhuddlan gem

Warmer days are giving bloom to nature all across the county and there are plenty of great places to visit with the family to experience this first hand.

Nestled in Rhuddlan is an area, full of life and nature to experience for all ages with fantastic views of Rhuddlan Castle as an extra.

County Voice takes you around Rhuddlan Nature Reserve, a bustling land full of wildlife and wonder thanks to a great community partnership.

Countryside staff have worked closely since 2011 with the Rhuddlan Reserve Management Advisory Group to protect and develop the land situated next to the Rhuddlan to St Asaph main road.

On entering the small car parking area opposite the entrance road to Aldi at the traffic lights, you can swiftly access the nature reserve on foot. A main path which is shared with cyclists takes you through the heart of the nature reserve but there are smaller side paths to enjoy.

The first branch you can find on your right down some steps takes you through a tree lined area through to the waters of the reserve, where if you are lucky you can watch swans, ducks or even herons enjoying the area from a wooden platform overlooking the water.

Meandering back down the main path you can discover the initiatives the partnership has brought to life over the years for the Rhuddlan community and visitors.

Small paths give you the opportunity to experience walking through two wildflower meadows, full of vibrant colour and varied flowers, all helping support the reserve’s local wildlife.

Altogether at the site there are three wildlife ponds teaming full of life and over 300 metres of hedgerow providing an important habitat for many animals.

Walking through you might also notice over 6,000 trees swaying in the breeze as you move, all planted by the partnership, alongside a heritage species orchard.

Pick a sunny day to visit and you have two picnic areas at the nature reserve to unwind in and to catch a glimpse of the wildlife enjoying the area as well.

Choose the right time of the summer to go and there is also a perfect area to enjoy for those fascinated by insect life. The reserve has its own dipping pond where you can catch a glimpse of the busy life of dragon flies.

A unique feature of the nature reserve is the Sensory Garden which involved the local Dementia Group and the nature reserve group working with Countryside staff. Together they created a Dementia friendly space with sensory, trees, wildflowers and historic landscape features such as dry-stone walls and laid hedges, complete with traditional welsh oak timber seating to sit on and experience the area.

The nature reserve has won a number of Wales in Bloom awards and is fully accessible for all.

Adoption of the specially designed reserve by local wildlife has exceeded all expectations and which includes iconic species such as otters and water voles and which happen to be some of the more rapidly declining mammals in the UK.