Dune work drives wellbeing help for nature and residents
Rhyl harbour coastal care work is regenerating the wellbeing of nature and volunteers taking part.
Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service is working together with Nature for Health to help people enjoy the outdoors for physical and mental wellbeing and offer more physical activities.
Nature for Health is a collaborative project that works together with individuals and communities to highlight the role access to nature can have in improving health and wellbeing.
The Nature for Health Programme has received £703,854 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Countryside rangers together with Nature for Health Volunteers recently worked to replace timber on the boardwalks and repair benches around Rhyl Harbour.
Now the rangers with the help of the volunteers are helping to improve the ecology of the dunes surrounding Horton’s Nose.
More Marram grass has been transplanted to areas of the dunes to help tackle the impact of climate change and improve the environment surrounding the harbour area.
North Denbighshire Coastal Ranger Claudia Smith said: “Many people will recognise Marram grass across all costal sand dunes surrounding our beaches. This hardy grass plays a very important role in stablishing the dunes. The roots help bind the sand down which in turn better supports the colonisation of other plants in that area which is important to help local nature thrive.
“It is brilliant to see our volunteers really getting involved in helping their local communities by improving and developing outdoor environments for them to enjoy and great to know that their own wellbeing is getting important support by getting involved in these activities.
“Coastal and countryside volunteering is a brilliant way to boost your own health, gain experience and also care for the environment you live in as well.”
Councillor Win Mullen James, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “Getting outdoors and experiencing our fantastic environments we have is so important for helping physical and mental health and we are grateful for this important work carried out by the rangers and the volunteers who I hope have found the experience beneficial for their own well-being.
“It’s also important to protect the nature we have on our coastline, and this will help preserve the area around Rhyl harbour for people to continue to visit and enjoy.”
Anyone interested in volunteering helping can contact Claudia on 07785517398 or email Claudia.Smith@denbighshire.gov.uk