Historic eco-friendly fencing shapes woodland gateway

Parts of a Prestatyn woodland are set to be spruced up with age old eco-friendly fencing.

Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service has worked this week to create a new sustainable sourced fencing boundary next to the Coed Y Morfa Gateway area.

Rangers with the help of Nature for Health Volunteers used renewable materials to create a wattle fence on the boundary next to the Gateway.

Wattle fencing, which dates back to Neolithic times, is a lightweight build made of thin woven branches supported by upright stakes, commonly built to create boundary enclosures.

This technique can also help prevent soil erosion by the elements and provide the ground with organic matter and nutrients through the materials used.

Countryside Ranger Sasha Taylor said: “We are continuing to work to develop Coed Y Morfa for the benefit of the local nature on the site and the well-being of the surrounding communities and visitors who come here on a regular basis.

“This centuries old eco-friendly technique is a great traditional method of creating boundaries and we have used locally sourced coppiced hazel to construct them. Its also great to be able to help and inspire our Nature for Heath backed volunteers by teaching them the technique.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “I am grateful to Countryside Services and the volunteers for carrying out this sustainable piece of work to improve this area of Coed Y Morfa for visitors and also give a helping hand to the biodiversity of site as well thanks to this traditional eco-friendly skill.”