Nature on your community doorstep

New nature sites are springing to life in the heart of Denbighshire communities as we move into warmer days.

In 2024 four new community nature spaces were created across the county to provide stronger habitats for nature and a place for local communities to enjoy the delights of the outdoors.

All are very easy to find whilst out walking and here you can find a snapshot of what each site has to offer nature lovers.

Ysgol Henllan pupils rolled up their sleeves to help create a slice of natural history for their village.

Nestled on land behind Meifod Road, Henllan Community Nature space was created with the help of the pupils alongside Denbighshire Countryside Service rangers.

The pupils dug deep to help plant over 1,700 trees on the site which also saw the creation of new footpaths, a pond, wildflower meadows, a recreation space and picnic area, an insect hibernaculum (aka a “bee bank”) and an outdoor classroom.

Countryside rangers also use a unique technique at the site to protect and strengthen the growing trees.

Fleece was used as a replacement for mulch around the trees as it offered an eco-friendlier and carbon neutral way to support the work at Henllan. You can still see areas covered by the fleece which helps release nitrogen into the soil as it biodegrades and holds moisture well in the soil around the trees.

Down the road on the outskirts of St Asaph another community nature space is growing strong.

Thanks to the support of the city’s football club youth teams and Elwy Care Group, Glan Elwy Community Nature Space is home to nearly 2,000 trees on the site. The area is providing stronger habitat spaces for nature to benefit from as well as community spaces for residents young and old to enjoy and learn from local wildlife.

Situated alongside the River Elwy, you can check out the wildlife of the area by hopping on the viewing platform next the land, there’s many animal residents here you may catch a glimpse of.

Ysgol Bryn Hedydd in Rhyl helped breathe life into the new Llys Brenig Community Nature Space.

Located adjacent to Ffordd Elan Park, the pupils with the help of countryside rangers helped to plant 1,885 trees, a mix of native broadleaved varieties appropriate for the local conditions.

This gem amid a bustling community also saw the creation of a pond and wetland area to support local wildlife, installation of new fences around the pond and around the site boundary, and, to allow local residents to connect with nature on their doorstep, construction of footpaths and installation of benches.

Visiting today you might catch a site of feathered friends already enjoying the new area.

And a great little community nature space with a big heart can be found just outside of Clocaenog.

The Clocaenog Community Nature Space saw 18 trees of different varieties planted on site, along with four fruit trees and boundary hedges.

Other work at the land included the installation of a footpath, fencing and an entrance gate, two benches, one picnic table and the establishment of a pond area, making it the perfect place to watch the wildlife world go by this summer, especially as colourful wildflowers planted begin to make an appearance.

The Community Nature Spaces work during 2024 to 2025 alongside woodland creation work at schools across the county received funding out of an £800,000 grant from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

All the community nature spaces are developed to create stronger species-rich habitat for nature to benefit from as well as an area for the local school pupils and residents to enjoy and learn from wildlife that will visit this land.

These areas also bring other benefits including improved air quality, urban heat cooling and opportunities to support community physical and mental wellbeing.