Community turns out to support famous bird colony

Community members have flown in their support this year for an under-threat bird.

Denbighshire Countryside Services, the North Wales Little Tern Group and other volunteers are currently looking after the 2025 intake at the Little Terns Colony at Gronant Dunes.

The site welcomes the birds all the way from the west coast of Africa. A 3.5km perimeter fence and three kilometres electric fence is in place along the beach area to protect the birds from ground predation. These will be removed at the end of the season to ensure a no trace policy on the area which is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Last year saw 166 breeding pairs recorded and a total of 158 fledglings at the colony, a slight increase on the number of young seen during the 2023 season.

The visitors centre and bird hide at the colony have enabled people to watch the birds from a safe distance.

This season the colony has received two visits from pupils at Ysgol Y Llys, one from the Prestatyn Running Club and a Prestatyn Walking Festival visit to the site.

North Denbighshire Coastal Ranger Claudia Smith explained: “Its been great to have this local support for the colony this season. Everyone has been so supportive an enthusiastic while here on site wanting to hear about the work we carry out to protect these brilliant little birds.

“The colony is a really important asset here in Denbighshire and Wales for giving the Little Terns a fighting future to thrive and survive, to have great local support such as this helps highlight how much the site contributes to protecting these birds.”