Ever wondered where your Council tax goes?

Many people think that Council tax pays for everything that a local authority delivers, however, the money collected from residents annually only accounts for 26% of total Council spending.

The majority of funding (62%) comes in the form of a ‘Revenue Support Grant’ from Welsh Government, while the remaining 12% comes from business rates which is a property tax that businesses pay to help fund local services. You can find out more about how the Council is funded on our website.

So where does your Council tax actually go? We’ve produced an infographic based on a Band D property council tax bill to help give a clear explanation of how council tax payments are used to fund the range of services for residents in the county. While this infographic gives a picture of how the money is shared between different services, understanding what residents gets for that money is really important.

As you can see, the majority of council tax spending goes towards protecting the most vulnerable in our society, with 66% spent on schools and education and adult and children’s social care.

With Education accounting for 36.7%, it means that Denbighshire can educate approximately 16,500 pupils in 44 primary schools, 2 all-through schools, 2 special schools, 6 secondary schools and 1 pupil referral unit across the county, with approximately 780 teachers delivering this education

Still in the field of education, school transport accounts for 2.9% for which the Council transports approximately 2,871 learners safely to schools throughout the county. In total, there are 650 school bus and taxi trips every school day.

Meanwhile, adult and children’s social care accounts for 29.8% of Council tax spending. For this, in 2024-2025, an average of 668 members of staff had over 25,000 contacts with the most vulnerable children and adults and provided a package of care and support where necessary giving these residents the opportunity to exercise choice, voice and control over their lives.

In other service areas, 1.9% goes towards public protection and environmental health and the Council’s teams inspects approximately 720 restaurants, cafes and take aways every year to ensure they’re operating safely for the residents of Denbighshire.

Emptying bins and recycling accounts for 1.8% of your council tax bill, which equates to £32.89 per year (based on a Band D property). That involves collecting around 73,000 containers from over 47,000 households every week across the county.

For 1.8% of council tax, we maintain 1,419km of carriageways (excluding trunk roads), 601 highway bridges and culverts, 302 retaining walls and 26,000 gullies. And for 0.8%, we maintain 11,763 street lights and 1,547 illuminated signs and bollards throughout the county.

Other services residents may not be aware that are delivered by the Council are the Countryside and Heritage Services. With 1.1% of council tax going to the countryside service, the teams manage over 80 sites and more than 1,200 hectares of public green for both recreation and conservation. These range from the Country Parks of Loggerheads and Moel Famau, the county tree nursery at St. Asaph, Brickfield Pond in Rhyl, Prestatyn Dyserth Way, Llantysilio Green in the Dee Valley and numerous smaller amenity community spaces across the county.

While the heritage service accounts for 0.9% of Council tax spending and for this, the service preserves and promotes the county’s unique history, caring for important historic sites including Ruthin Gaol, Plas Newydd, Nantclwyd Y Dre, Rhyl Museum (based in the library) and a large collection store. This work ensures Denbighshire’s rich history remains accessible for education, wellbeing, and enjoyment.

Planning and economic development accounts for 0.7% of Council tax spending and for that the Local Planning Authority processes around 1,000 planning applications each year alongside 10-20 appeals and 50-100 pre-application enquiries. We also respond to over 500 planning compliance cases.

Libraries account for 0.5% of Council tax spending and in 24-25, Libraries delivered 514 Bookstart sessions to nearly 6,500 children for this money. It also lent  2,869 audiobooks to 1,028 library members on Borrowbox (part of the Digital Offer) and printed over 56,000 pages on public access printers.

Not all Council tax collected pays for council services, 2.5% goes towards the Fire service to contribute to the funding of fire protection and prevention across the county.

Councillor Delyth Jones, Lead Member for Finance at Denbighshire County Council said, “I am pleased to see the production and release of this infographic information. It will, I hope, provide residents with the context they need in order to understand how their council tax payments are used to support the breadth of services delivered by the Council.

“In what is a continuing financially challenging climate, I think it’s important to be open and clear about the costs and the pressures. It’s also important to emphasise that many of the aspects of expenditure are, quite rightly, aimed towards the legal requirement to provide Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, and Education etc. These are the areas that support the most vulnerable in our society.”

£66m scheme protects hundreds of properties in Rhyl from flooding

The largest project within the Welsh Government’s Coastal Risk Management Programme officially opened on Thursday 9 October.

Rhyl Coast (Picture: Balfour Beatty)

The £66m Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme will protect almost 600 properties in Rhyl from flooding and coastal erosion for decades to come.

85% of the construction costs have been funded by the Welsh Government, with the Deputy First Minister labelling the project a ‘significant milestone’ in efforts to protect Welsh communities from the growing threats of climate change. Denbighshire County Council contributed the remaining 15%.

The project has also supported the local economy by employing 34 local people, creating six new jobs and supporting 132 weeks of apprenticeships, building skills and careers in crucial industries. Hundreds of students were also engaged throughout thanks to curricular activities and work experience.

The scheme will protect 548 residential and 44 non-residential properties in Rhyl, safeguarding homes, businesses and the vital tourist economy that supports the local community.

Cllr Arwel Roberts, Chair of Denbighshire County Council, Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister, and Cllr Jason McLellan Leader of Denbighshire County Council 

Attending the official opening, the Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, said:

“This investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to keeping families and businesses safe from coastal flooding whilst supporting the local economy that so many depend upon.

“The completion of this project underlines the Welsh Government's recognition that investing in coastal protection is not just about infrastructure but also protecting livelihoods, preserving communities, and ensuring Wales is resilient in the face of our changing climate.

“The people of Rhyl can now face the future with greater confidence, knowing their community is better protected against the forces of nature.”

The Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme forms part of the Welsh Government's £291m Coastal Risk Management Programme, which is responding directly to the challenges posed by climate change.

Over five years, the programme will fund 15 schemes across Wales, benefitting almost 14,000 properties and providing thousands of families and businesses with enhanced protection from coastal flooding.

The Welsh Government's annual Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme will invest £300m over the course of this government term, including additional schemes benefitting coastal communities across Wales.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport at Denbighshire County Council, said: “Having witnessed the devastating effects of the coastal flooding which hit Rhyl on December 5, 2013, this work is particularly close to my heart.

“The Council opened Rhyl Leisure Centre at that time as an evacuation centre due to the severe flooding, and the sight of my residents coming in soaking wet clinging to their loved animals will never leave me.

“I still have residents coming up to me to this day saying how grateful they are as they now can sleep at night without having to worry about their homes flooding, so I’m so pleased to see the completion of this part of the project which will now give peace of mind to residents and business owners in Rhyl.

“The completion of the coastal defence schemes in Prestatyn, East Rhyl and now Central Rhyl is testament to the excellent working partnerships developed during these three projects and on behalf of the Council I must extend my gratitude to Balfour Beatty who have done a fantastic job of delivering these three schemes ahead of schedule and under budget.”

Kay Slade, Area Director at Balfour Beatty, said: "We are proud to have delivered this vital scheme which will protect hundreds of homes and businesses in Rhyl and stands as a reminder of the positive impact that well-planned, sustainable infrastructure can have on local communities.

“Beyond enhancing coastal resilience, this project has supported local jobs, created new opportunities, and helped to build critical skills that will serve the region well into the future."

The scheme’s opening comes as Natural Resources Wales holds its annual ‘Be Flood Ready’ week, encouraging people to check their flood risk online, sign up for free flood warnings and know what to do if flooding is forecast in their area this winter. Find out more here.

Save time, save money and power Wales to No.1 in the world for recycling this autumn!

Autumn is here, the holidays are behind us, and routines are back in full swing. Whether you’re juggling work, studies, or family life, autumn is the perfect time to reset habits – especially in the kitchen. That’s why Denbighshire County Council has partnered with Wales Recycles to show how cooking smart can help you save time and money, reduce waste, and make it easier than ever to enjoy your 5-a-day …all while helping Wales on its journey to becoming the world’s number one recycling nation.

We’re already proud to be second in the global recycling league – just behind Austria – but food waste is where we can make the biggest impact. A quarter of the average rubbish bin in Wales is still made up of food, and over 80% of that could have been eaten. That wasted food costs the average household of four around £84 every month. That’s money (and meals) straight in the bin!

By getting smarter with your meals and recycling what you can’t eat, you’ll cut down on waste, save money, and easily pack in more of your 5-a-day – all while helping Wales reach the top spot. And we’re going to show you how simple it can be.

Cook once, serve multiple times: Prep it. Flex it. Recycle it!

With the evenings getting darker and time often in short supply, autumn is the season for easy, no-fuss comfort food. The idea is simple: Prep it. Flex it. Recycle it.

Cook up a simple base dish with everyday ingredients, then add a few extras to keep it fresh and tasty. Serve it up in different ways over the week so you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your meals.

And don’t forget – the bits you can’t eat, like peelings, stalks, bones or eggshells, should go straight into your food caddy. Food waste in Wales is turned into renewable energy. Just one caddy full can power a typical home for an hour! Here are 3 easy, simple recipes to get you started.

Jazzed-up stew – hearty, simple & flexible

This anything-goes stew is made for autumn evenings when you want something warming without too much effort. Start with a simple base of onion, garlic, tinned tomatoes, stock and your choice of protein - leftover meat, beans or lentils. Then add in whatever veg you’ve got to hand and let it simmer into something rich and hearty.

The beauty of this dish is how it can change through the week: enjoy it first with crusty bread, then ladle it over mashed potato the next night, and later in the week top it with pastry or mash to turn it into a pie. And remember, any onion skins, carrot tops, pepper stalks or bones go in your food caddy to be turned into green energy.

Mix ’n’ Match Curry – big flavour, minimal effort

Begin by frying onion, garlic and ginger, then stir through curry spices or paste. Add your choice of protein, whether that’s chicken, lentils or tofu, before pouring in tinned tomatoes or coconut milk. Bulk it out with whatever’s in season - pumpkin, peppers, mushrooms, spinach or beans all work brilliantly.

Once cooked, you can enjoy it with rice for a classic dinner, wrap it up in a flatbread for a quick lunch, or spoon it over a baked potato when you need something speedy. Don’t to recycle what you can’t eat to power Wales to No.1.

Healthy Fruit Crumble – simple, warming & versatile

When it comes to autumn comfort, nothing beats a fruit crumble. It’s simple to make and surprisingly versatile too. Just mix oats, flour and a little honey or syrup with butter to create a golden crumble topping, then bake it over soft seasonal fruit like apples, pears, plums or blackberries, with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg for extra warmth.

Once baked, you can enjoy it hot from the oven with custard or ice cream, serve it cold with yoghurt for a wholesome breakfast, or even use it as a crunchy topping on toast spread with nut butter. As for the apple cores, pear stalks and plum stones - they all belong in your food caddy, ready to be recycled into clean, green energy.

Take the Smart Food Challenge and win a delicious Welsh prize

Head over to Wales Recycles to take the Smart Food Challenge, discover more smart recipes that will save you time and money, and be in with a chance of winning a delicious Welsh prize.

Working Denbighshire helps residents overcome barriers to employment

Working Denbighshire provides tailored support to residents across the county who are facing barriers to employment, including low confidence, anxiety, and limited work experience. Through mentoring, volunteering opportunities, and skills development, the service helps individuals build confidence and move closer to their goals.

One example of this support is Derek, who was referred to Working Denbighshire through the Job Centre a few years ago. At the time, Derek was experiencing low confidence, anxiety, and lacked the skills and experience needed to enter the workforce.

With guidance from the Working Denbighshire team and through a volunteering placement at St Kentigern’s Warehouse, Derek has made significant progress. He’s now actively working towards a career in IT support or administration.

Derek, Working Denbighshire participant said:

“At one point I was extremely shy, with bad anxiety and no confidence.

“I never thought I’d get to where I am now, but with support from Working Denbighshire and through volunteering, I’ve overcome so many barriers.

“I know the younger me would be proud of how far I’ve come.”

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation, said:

“Derek’s journey is a brilliant example of the positive impact Working Denbighshire can have on people’s lives.

“It’s about more than just finding a job, it’s about helping people unlock their potential, overcome personal barriers, and feel confident in their future.

“We’re proud to support residents like Derek on their journey towards employment.”

Derek continues to build his skills and experience through volunteering and is determined to secure a full-time role in the near future.

His journey forms part of the Working Denbighshire Complex Disabilities and Mental Health Team’s wider “Work Works” campaign, which highlights the positive impact that working, or taking steps towards work can have on people’s lives. Whether it’s improving wellbeing, gaining confidence, meeting new people, or learning new skills, the campaign shares real stories from across Denbighshire to inspire others.

Working Denbighshire is a free service that helps residents access training, find employment, and build confidence in their job search. Anyone looking for support can get in touch by visiting our website.

Working Denbighshire is part funded through the Welsh Government Communities for Work Plus Programme which supports those most disadvantaged in the labour market to overcome the barriers preventing them from gaining employment.

Working Denbighshire is part funded by UK Government.

Lost habitats are back to breathe life into nature

Nature’s been given a helping hand in Denbighshire for the last six years thanks to a project working to restore lost habitats.

Our Wildflower Meadows Project which started in 2019, aims to restore and increase this habitat in the county as since the 1930s. The UK has lost 97% of its meadow land, with Wales in particular having less than 1% left. This loss has impacted heavily on nature and communities.

The project is also part of our wider Bee Friendly campaign aimed at supporting the recovery of bees and other pollinators across the county

Our meadows are usually left uncut between March and August, except a small border mown around each site, allowing the flowers to set seed, and ensures that the meadow provides the greatest benefit to wildlife.

Cut and collect is carried out at the sites to help to lower the richness of the soil, and create the low-nutrient ground that our native wildflowers and grasses need to thrive.

Grass and wildflower seeds collected from areas around the county have been used to enhance our meadows. Some of the seeds have also been grown on at our tree nursery to produce plug plants. Only using local seeds ensure the plants which then grow are genetically suited to Denbighshire and will be the most beneficial to biodiversity in the area.

Here County Voice takes a look back at some of the project highlights that have benefitted both plant and wildlife across Denbighshire.

During 2021 the Biodiversity team recorded a nationally declining species on the Prestatyn Beach Road West site.

Hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) and was previously only recorded in Denbighshire 18 times within the last 116 years.

Seeds were taken from the site to the Council’s tree nursery and thanks to the effort of the staff, new plants germinated for planting on other coastal meadow sites to help expand its range in Denbighshire.

In 2021 Bithynian Vetch, a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae grew on a single project site managed by the Biodiversity team. Since 2019, this was the only place in Wales it was recorded growing in the wild.

During June staff collected a small number of seeds from the Bithynian Vetch. These were taken back to the Council’s tree nursery at St Asaph to be grown on site to help boost the plants dwindling numbers.

An innovative organic method was carried out as well in 2021 to help control the length of grass in a Denbigh meadow.

The site was treated with locally sourced Yellow Rattle seeds. Yellow rattle is a parasitic plant, tapping in to the roots of grasses and other neighbouring plants and stealing their nutrients. This reduces the dominance of grasses within a meadow, allowing more native wildflowers to take hold.

During the 2022 season the Biodiversity team inspected the site and found a reduction in grass length and an increase in wildflowers.  The successful trial meant more food for pollinating insects and their predators

‘Bee Friendly’ really came into its own in 2023 after the Biodiversity team found a new resident at a Ruthin meadow.

A female Tawny mining bee was found resting in a nest on the site. The spring flying bee with dense orange and red hair feed from a variety of flowers which make wildflower meadows the perfect area to locate to.

Tawny mining bees are usually seen from March to June and are common throughout south and central Britain. This showed how designated sites are providing support for local nature to flourish as well by providing plants for pollinators and grass for insect food.

The team also discovered during this season pyramidal orchids at two coastal sites at Prestatyn which was recorded as a first.

And last year a pyramidal orchid was discovered inland at a meadow in Ruthin indicating the network of meadows were really starting to help nature fightback.

This year extra bee orchids were discovered at a meadow in Denbigh which shows the meadows  are working as a combined highway for plants, insects and animals to move across the county, increasing biodiversity as they go.

Orchid produce seeds which are incredibly small (also known as dust seeds). These seeds must come in contact with a special type of mycorrhizal fungi that will help the orchid seed germinate and aid it in its early growth. Each orchid tends to have a particular mycorrhizal fungi that it partners with, so unless the soil conditions are right for the fungi, orchids won’t grow. The resurgence of orchid shows the project in 2025 is heading in the right direction, and the meadows are continuing their journey to recovery.

The school that does Sports Day differently

Nestled up on a hill, sitting just beneath a Medieval castle in Llangollen, Ysgol Dinas Brân’s Sports Day, which this year falls on the last day of term, is a little different than what is traditionally offered.

Arial view of part of the field on Sports Day

An assembly kicks off the day, with a presentation of the year’s achievements displayed on the Sports Hall wall, supported by a soundtrack provided by a pupil-formed band, who impressively cover a number of Oasis’ greatest hits. The presentation also included teacher’s stories of their sporting pasts, signifying the importance of sport throughout school.

Once the presentation is over, the Sports Day (which has also formerly been referred to as ‘The Dinas Brân Olympics’) commences.

Pupil-formed band playing at presentation

Setting up the day is a big task, and starts early in the day, with the Head of Department for P.E., Neil Garvey, and other staff arriving at 6am to prepare.

By 9am, set up in the middle of the school field are a number a 5-a side pitches, a mini golf course with multiple holes, and an inflatable obstacle course. Further along the field sits a massive inflatable dart board for ‘foot darts’ (played with footballs in place of the more traditional darts), a tall climbing wall, and both football and rugby target practice, respectively. Also on offer is a Tug of War contest, canoeing at the nearby canal, Just Dance sessions, and more traditional events such as running races (100m, 400m) and shotput.

Climbing Wall

An Ice Cream Van and a snack stall are the menu of the day with teachers getting to choose the soundtrack to the events. Although an element of competitiveness will always be the case with some events, this day is ultimately set up to have fun and try new experiences.

Once on the field, some pupils rush to get all geared-up to scale the climbing wall, others grasp tightly onto their putters as they traverse the mini-golf section of the field. The variety on offer means that a whole host of hobbies and activities are represented on this Sports Day.

There are no leaderboards, charts or placements for a vast majority of the activities on offer today, as participation is the aim for this sports day, with the idea being that the wide array of activities will help with pupil participation and engagement.

Year groups all take their turn throughout the day taking part in the numerous activities spread across two school fields (and part of Llangollen’s famous Canal) as they run, climb, kick, putt, paddle and jump in the name of a tweaked and different Sports Day, which feels more of a celebration than a competition.

In the afternoon, staff take their turn, with staff sack races set up, where teachers hop head-to-head to reach the finish line first, with pupils cheering them on.

Neil Garvey, Head of Department for P.E. explained:

“Our Sports Day is a little different than your traditional Sports Day. We changed our approach to Sports Day around 12 years ago to try and increase the number of pupils participating in the events.

The previous Head of Department, Helen Davies, set this up, we sat down as a team to come up with ideas to help change the whole idea of a ‘Sports Day’ to get more pupils involved. This was her idea, and is something that we have built on year on year. Each year we have added new events, and partnered up with local businesses in the area to get things such as a big inflatable obstacle course and the climbing wall.

Since we made the tweaks, the number of pupils participating have gone through the roof. You can see on their faces, the pupils really enjoy this approach to Sports Day.”

Jimi, pupil at Ysgol Dinas Brân said:

“I think Dinas Brân’s sports day is actually the best sports day you could ever have! You have all sorts of events like rock climbing and football, anything you’d want to do really.

This year I’ve most enjoyed the climbing wall, as I’d never really done it before and some of the athletics.”

Pupil tries Foot Darts

Maggie, another pupil at Ysgol Dinas Brân said:

“Ysgol Dinas Brân does an excellent Sports Day as it gives a chance to pupils who don’t usually do sports a chance to try new activities.

I’ve really enjoyed the inflatable obstacle course with my friends and the races.”

Mark Hatch, Head Teacher at Ysgol Dinas Brân said:

“The whole purpose of this format is for health and wellbeing, and getting out there. It’s an inclusive day which has everyone trying something new, being active and enjoying themselves.

It’s all about getting the pupils out there, enjoying something different and giving them a whole new set of experiences, and to create a really fun day too.”

Nurture of nature experience brings all-round help for biodiversity

Across Denbighshire’s land and waters, work is ongoing to help nature recovery in the face of the ever-increasing pressures from man-made and climate change impacts.

County Voice sits down with Biodiversity Officer Evie Challinor to find out what has fuelled the steps to the post she holds today to support the nature we have across our county.

Evie spent the first part of her life exploring what Mid Wales outdoors had to offer for a young adventurous spirit.

She said: “Mid Wales is very agricultural; it was a bit different from up here in that way. There are conservation sites there, but not many that were local to me. However, I spent many hours of my early life adventuring, wading in ponds, climbing trees, and following rivers; wherever I could find to explore.”

Pondering her A-Levels, the prospect of taking on an outdoor career inspired by early outdoor adventuring began to form in Evie’s mind.

“I’d always loved Biology and the natural world, especially studying ecosystems and the connectivity of the natural world. I had always been academically minded up until then and the natural progression from here was to pursue Biology in some form, as a career.  

“After a bit of research, I found Zoology and decided that was the course for me. I went to Bangor University where I spent 3 years studying Zoology. It was fantastic having Eryri and Anglesey right on the doorstep for both learning and recreation… it was a brilliant Uni.”

People who love animals often tend to take on Zoology to keep their passion for conservation alight.

Evie explained: “I think it’s quite common when you get there to realise that can’t study animals in isolation. You also need to know your plants and that’s very true of what I am doing now in this role I am in. Plants underpin everything.”

“During my undergraduate, I was fascinated by comparative zoology, the study of animal’s unique adaptions, and with animal behaviour. These led me quite far down the anthropology and evolution route, including looking at how animals and plants are adapted to their surroundings. Slowly that came round to conservation, ending with my decision to stay on and do a Masters in Conservation and Land Management.”

Building up her experience while at Bangor, Evie also spent some time volunteering with the North Wales Wildlife Trust and the Snowdonia Society.

“The Snowdonia Society were quite active in the area and were a really good organisation for a student to get involved with. They provided transport which was a massive help to a student without a car. I went and did a lot of practical habitat management with them as a result.

“I also had friends who were quite heavily involved in the Amphibian Reptile Conservation Trust across that way, so I did some habitat management for them on Anglesey. The other organisation I spent time with was North Wales Wildlife Trust, who I was fortunate to do some water vole survey training with. I really started leaning into the volunteering more towards the end of my Masters.”

Just before graduating with her Masters, Evie secured an all-Wales role with the National Trust.

“It was based on a strategic level; they were trying to bring together the management plans they had for all their different portfolios and begin to make the practical conservation a reality by starting to match up projects up with funding.”

“I was brought into that team to help with the co-ordination. It was a fantastic role to have, especially straight out of university - some really valuable experience.”

Unfortunately for Evie, like many thousands of people, the Covid Pandemic put an end to this part of her career after she took voluntary redundancy due to the huge impact of the time across many organisations in the UK.

However, she soon picked herself back up and joined Cheshire Wildlife Trust, working in the membership department, simultaneously picking up a role as a forest ranger with another company at the time.

Evie’s first steps into Denbighshire came shortly after when she moved into the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as a ranger down in the Dee Valley.

After a summer in the Dee Valley team, she spent the next nine months at Loggerheads, before moving on to working for the Canal and River Trust.

She explained: “I loved the ranger role in many ways but felt it didn’t give me enough time to dedicate to developing some of the skills that I felt I was missing. The role change to ecological advisor for the Canal and River Trust allowed me to gain some of this experience whilst supporting the restoration of the Montgomery Canal.”

Evie admits after a year with the Canal and River Trust, her ‘dream role’ appeared in the form of the job she holds now.

She said: “I had the practical habitat management experience and plenty of advisory experience, but one of the things I really wanted to get to grips with was the species and habitat surveys, which are a really rewarding part of the sector. 

“I feel like my surveying expertise has come on leaps and bounds by just spending that time out and about. You just feel so good; you come back at the end of the day and you are happy. I feel with the projects we are doing that I’m actually making a difference. I think job satisfaction wise you can’t really get much better than that.”

Highlights working as a Biodiversity officer so far for Evie include finding her first great crested newt on one of the sites she works on, and her first dormouse encounter.

“I’m also loving doing the dormouse surveys. We’ve been doing box checks, bringing all the sites up to scratch… you are just lifting the lids and peaking in, waiting to see if there’s anything there! It’s just a really nice thing to do. Especially when you get the tell-tale signs of occupation by seeing a little nose poke out”.

For the many nature supporters out there, Evie’s advice about following in her footsteps is to start ‘getting out there and volunteering’.

She explained: “That foot in the door also shows that you’ve got a passion. Building those connections with the right people will teach you a lot.”

And her ambitions whilst taking on this role?

“I’m currently working hard to get my first license in the form of a great crested newt licence. Getting my first licence under my belt will be a very big milestone for me, with hopefully more to follow in the future.

“I’m also looking to do a ponds project; I’ve got many aspirations for this one. Creating new ponds and a network of people to share knowledge with across Denbighshire and creating a propagation wing for it.

She added: “So I’m currently out doing lots of surveys, and a little digging around sites, trying to find plants to be able to bring back to the tree nursery to propagate to give us a local seed source. It’s great fun!”

A new mural on its way to Rhyl

Artists are putting the final touches to a striking new mural along Rhyl’s coastal defences – a powerful visual tribute to the town’s ongoing regeneration.

Led by artist and facilitator Ffion Pritchard, the project invited creatives from across Denbighshire to contribute to the Ein Rhyl/Our Rhyl campaign.

Supported by Rhyl Neighbourhood Board – an independent collective made up of residents, business owners, politicians, council officers and grassroots organisations - and Balfour Beatty, the mural aims to showcase the heart and heritage of the beloved seaside resort, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.

“The response has been incredible,” said Ffion, from Bangor.

“We’ve worked with a wide range of amazing community groups and seen just how much creativity and pride exists here.

“From young people to older residents, everyone has had something valuable to share. This project has brought people together in a powerful way, allowing them to express their vision of Rhyl - what it means to them, where it’s been, and where it’s going. It’s been a joy to help guide that process.”

The mural will span up to 60 pre-cast units and be printed on durable materials such as aluminium.

Alongside the main installation, workshops with local schools, youth groups and families have helped shape a vibrant mural trail reflecting Rhyl’s past, present and future.

Craig Sparrow, Chair of Rhyl Neighbourhood Board, added: “We’re incredibly grateful for the dedication and creativity that’s gone into this project. It’s been fantastic to see the community come together, from third sector groups to individual artists, everyone has played a part.

“Projects like this show just how much talent there is in Rhyl, and how art can help tell our story in such a meaningful and lasting way. I’m really looking forward to seeing the completed mural.

“It’s going to be something we can all be proud of and will showcase the very best of Rhyl, both for residents and visitors.”

Participants have included Ysgol Tir Morfa, West Rhyl Young People’s Project, Viva LGBT Youth Cymru, Brighter Futures, Willow Collective, Ysgol Bryn Hedydd, and families through workshops at the town library. The project is on course to be completed in August.

Working on behalf of Denbighshire County Council, Balfour Beatty’s redevelopment of the East Parade included removing the old promenade and sea walls, widening and raising the new promenade for improved pedestrian and cyclist access, and constructing a concrete-stepped revetment to reduce flooding risk — protecting over 600 properties in Central Rhyl.

Nursery nurtures strong future for local nature

A tree with a history of an old pub tipple of yesteryear and a plant so rare in Wales are elements of Denbighshire’s own nature finding new life thanks to a blossoming site.

Since 2021, roots have been put in the ground for the Council’s local provenance tree nursery at Green Gates Farm, St Asaph.

Dedicated members of the Council’s Biodiversity team alongside committed volunteers have helped produce a number of highlights at the nursery which is producing thousands of tree and wildflowers from locally sourced seeds to go back out to protect and boost county nature.

Here’s some of the successful projects the hands-on team at the site have grown to fruition.

In 2022 Hound’s tongue, a nationally declining species was found on the Prestatyn Beach Road West meadow. It was previously only recorded in Denbighshire 18 times within the last 116 years.

Seeds were taken from the site to the nursery and thanks to the effort of the onsite team, new plants germinated to go out to other coastal meadow sites to expand its range in Denbighshire.

During 2023 work was carried out to protect and support the future of a wise old tree in Denbighshire.

Over 15,000 acorns were gathered by the team and volunteers and planted at the tree nursery.

Oaks have an important impact on biodiversity by giving support to more life forms than any other native trees. Hundreds of insects can be hosted by the tree providing birds a rich source of food. Across autumn, squirrels, badgers and deer will also feed on acorns.

In 2024 the tree nursery turned its attention to a rare shrub in Denbighshire.

Juniper is rare in Denbighshire, known only at a location on Prestatyn hillside. The shrub is also a priority species for protection in the UK after a dramatic decline due to over grazing and loss of suitable grazing areas.

Efforts were made to protect a solitary juniper in Denbighshire in 2008 when the Council worked with Chester Zoo to put in young plants at Prestatyn hillside to encourage the existing juniper to grow.

Members of the Biodiversity Team  visited the site and harvested seeds to be taken back to the tree nursery for growing the shrub as Juniper provides valuable habitat and food for a diverse range of species, including insects, birds, and mammals.

During this year the tree nursery also raised a toast to support a rare historic tree in Denbighshire

The team at the tree nursery provided a boost for the Wild Service Tree. Over 300 out of 500 seeds collected by the team the previous year germinated at the nursery.

The wild service tree is rare across the county and historically known as the chequers tree due to the fruits that are said to taste similar to dates and given to children in the past as sweets.

Fruit from the tree was also traditionally made into a fermented beer like alcoholic drink and it is believed that this beverage influenced the naming of many ‘Chequers’ pubs and inns across the UK.

Projects this year at the nursery included producing over 1,000 elder trees from an actual elder growing on the site through cuttings. Historically, Elder which provided a source for coloured dyes, was also made to make the patterned Harris Tweed.

And a new generation of an under-threat tree is getting ready to help support a rare butterfly.

The nursery nurtured a large crop of wych elms to help the species which is under threat from Dutch elms disease. Many of the mature trees cut down due to its impact, reducing the growth and spread of younger trees.

Over 1,800 wych elm trees have been grown from seeds collected at Loggerheads Country Park last year to help the tree resurge in Denbighshire. They will be eventually planted out at the Green Gates Nature Reserve development next to the tree nursery.

Wych elms are an important larval food-plant of the rare White-Letter Hairstreak Butterfly, which was recorded at Loggerheads some years back but has since remained scarce across Denbighshire.

A tree written into Shakespeare’s musing on love is also enjoying a new chapter in Denbighshire.

Nearly 2,500 crab apple trees are telling a new story in 2025 thanks to the support of the tree nursery.

Crab apples have long had a link with love and marriage throughout history. The apple pips were thrown into fires while saying the name of your true love, if they exploded that love was true. Celts burned the tree wood during festivals and fertility rites.

And William Shakespeare continued the crab apple’s theme of love by mentioning the tree in both A Midsummers Night Dream and Love Labours Lost.

Growing up to 10metres and lasting around 100 years the crab apple leaves provide a source of food for moths including pal tussock, gen pug and the eyed hawk moth.

The tree is a massive source of food love for nature, birds love the fruits and mice, voles and badgers are also known to enjoy feasting on the apples.

Nature nurtures determination for countryside career

A long-standing love of nature has helped drive one man forward into protecting and nurturing Denbighshire’s local trees and plants.

County Voice sits down with our Tree Nursery Assistant Sam Brown to learn how since an early age, protecting nature has fashioned his outdoor career.

Born at Wrexham Maleor hospital, Sam grew up in Acrefair, a little village halfway between Llangollen and Wrexham.

Early memories include a helping hand from his parents for learning about the importance of the outdoors.

He said: “Mum and Dad brought me up to love nature, we used to go to National Trust properties, RSPB reserves, we have Erddig on the doorstep, Chirk Castle, Ty Mawr Country Park. Basically, they brought me up stomping and walking around in wellies most weekends and outside of school…loving nature was instilled in me at an early age.

“I was a junior ranger at Ty Mawr Country Park with Wrexham Council, they basically ran it as a club, I was eight when I started and around 15 when I finished. They ran it after school, so you would get changed from your school uniform, you would get down there in your wellies for four o’clock and they would run activities for you for an hour.”

Sam honed his countryside skills as a junior ranger by tackling mucking out the animals, to pond dipping to surveying butterflies at the park.

“I really got stuck into it, they instilled quite professional values into us, like how to look after the animals, being friendly chatting to people and training as well, such as a river safety course.”

At school Sam coped with a diagnosis of Dyspraxia while studying but his love for nature helped him through.

He explained: “I liked school, but I didn’t get on with the academics, I was always looking out of the window watching the sparrows and the whitetails and the pigeons outside. I was far more interested in that than the lessons.

“But a few teachers, one of them Miss Mills, my science teacher tapped into that once. When everybody else was doing another science practical she sent me and my friends out to do a bird survey on the school fields. She also ran an after-school gardening club where I got to do all sorts of things.”

Options weighed on Sam’s mind following school after he pondered the choice of a career in Mechanics or Marine Biology which had always been on his mind since a youngster, but the love of nature and the countryside always remained a driving force in the background.

“I was also a bit of a petrol head, really into engineering and cars but I couldn’t do maths very well and that took me off the engineering track because I knew I found it difficult.”

However, nature remained by his side and Sam admits the steps into the career he enjoys today happened quickly.

He explained: “We were just flicking through courses at Coleg Cambria and found a course at Llysfasi College which was Countryside Management and Conservation and Forestry was another option for me as well.”

Sam took part in an open day at the college doing some work and found he loved the activity involved. Joining the Level 2 stage of the course he spent three years at the college working through to achieve Level 3.

“I met some really good people that I'm still in touch with now. Even now sometimes I work with some of them as well. And yes I really, really enjoyed my time at the college. My tutors were really inspiring, really helpful.

One of his tutors was a botanist and helped Sam develop his knowledge of plants and another gave him the skills to work practically out in the countryside.

“When I finished College, I was in two minds as to whether to go to university, I felt I was too young even though most people went at my age… I didn’t feel very ready to move away from home.”

Sam admits he tussled with the idea of going to Aberystwyth University or Liverpool John Moores to study Marine Biology but the continuing call of the nature of the countryside gave him an opportunity that he has never looked back from.

“I ended up going to a job interview for a countryside ranger in the Dee Valley team, I didn’t get that job, but they put me on the relief ranger list. I’d do a day with them here and there, the busy seasons, tree planting, things like that, so I got a good bit of experience with them.

“I know my love was the land, the people on the land and the things on the land. I discovered I loved trees; with my Dyspraxia you do sometimes get fixated with things. I was able to memorise all the native tree species straight away and I got really good at wildflowers as well. From a young age it’s always been there in the back of my head what I really wanted to do.”

Faith is also important to Sam who is a Christian and to him, nature together with his beliefs is a big driver for his commitment and work.

“I’m really passionate about nature…I’m a Christian, I believe God created nature and it deserve respect, the animals…the plants. It’s an amazing resource for our spiritual health, our actual health, we need to recognise that and that the Earth is a precious resource, and I want to look after it.”

Becoming a passionate gardener since leaving college growing plants at home, Sam admits his happy place is in his garden.

Sam also experienced time caring for an under-threat bird at the Little Terns colony at Gronant Dunes as a warden.

“I enjoyed my time with the Little Terns. I loved looking after them, they were lovely animals.”

Following his warden duties, Sam got his current Tree Nursery Assistant role in September 2023 and has been using his skills to boost the county’s local plant and tree population ever since.

“I've been absolutely loving it. Having the opportunity to put all my skills to use here and enjoy making a positive difference to something so close to my heart is so worth it.”

And his tips for anyone wishing to follow in his footsteps?

Sam added: “What you need to do is you just need to volunteer wherever you can. No matter where you are in the country, you're going to have a local Wildlife Trust, you'll have a National Trust property nearby and you'll have a local council countryside service which may do volunteering.

“Also, when you volunteer…its showing a willingness to volunteer. I learnt a lot from volunteering. I'd say more so than any other part of my education. So volunteering is important and of course… just having that determination to keep going.”