Nature recovery work delivers new crop of wildflowers

Orchids are seeing a resurgence in Denbighshire thanks to the support of a biodiversity project.

As the 2025 flowering season comes to an end, the Council’s Wildflower Meadows Project has logged a resurgence in one plant species across the county.

Our Wildflower Meadows Project helps and protects local nature and supports community wellbeing across the county. This project is funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project.

New orchid plants were discovered by the Biodiversity team during a survey of local meadows in the area to assess how species were faring during this growing season.

At Abergele Road meadow at Bodelwyddan, 17 pyramidal orchids and two common spotted orchids were discovered which are new records for the site. Also, at Rhuddlan’s Abergele Road side, two pyramidal orchids were found which is also a new record for this site.

Other meadows have also seen an increase in the number of orchids growing on site.

The ATS Roundabout in Denbigh saw 18 bee orchids logged, up from nine the year before, Stryd Y Brython in Ruthin recorded two  common spotted ochids , one more than last year and Ruthin’s County Hall site saw two common spotted orchids recorded , also one than more than last year.

Liam Blazey, Senior Biodiversity Officer said: “The team have found this season that orchids are resurging across the county meadows which is a really good sign. These plants offer great support for our local butterflies and moths.

“We’ve seen that pyramidal orchids are now moving inland, having previously only been found on the coastal sites in 2023. This indicates our meadows are working as a great highway for plants, insects and animals to move between these county sites, and in doing so, are helping to increase biodiversity within Denbighshire.”

“What’s a key marker as well is orchids produce seeds which 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, we won’t get the orchids.”

“Logging this resurgence of orchids shows the project is really working now in supporting the recovery of our county meadows and improving the resilience of Denbighshire’s nature.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “This is a crucial project for bringing back a habitat that has almost disappeared since the 1930s and this resurgence of orchids shows we are going in the right direction in supporting our local nature that has been impacted by climate change.

“Thanks to the work of our Biodiversity and Streetscene teams on this project, more wildflowers such as these orchids are returning to these meadows and adding diversity and colour for our communities to also enjoy, along with our at-risk pollinators who help put food on our tables.”