New Rhyl wetland area takes shape

Work has started on a new pond at a Rhyl nature reserve to help protect an amphibian.

As World Wetlands Day is marked today, development is continuing by Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service on a new pond area at Bruton Park Nature Reserve.

The campaign supports the regeneration of these important areas to encourage more wildlife to return and this development is hoping to give a helping hand to a famous newt.

This creation on the Rhyl nature reserve which is 18m x 12m x 1.3m deep, is designed to support newts, specifically the Great Crested species.

The Great Crested newt which can live up to 15 years, is protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Countryside Ranger Sasha Taylor said: “This pond we are developing is specifically profiled to appeal to newts, it is the Great Crested newts in particular that we want to support and preserve. The pond will also be planted with native water loving plants and will support a wide variety of wildlife.

“It will support aquatic invertebrates, and the likes of dragonflies and other inverts that rely on a suitable body of water for part of their life cycle.”

All work on the pond is supervised by the Amphibian and Reptile Conservationto make sure the works do not disturb any newts in the surrounding area.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, and Biodiversity Champion, said: “It is important that we try and do everything we can to protect our local nature and I look forward to hearing how this new wetland area in Rhyl is supporting Great Crested Newts.”