Improved reserve walkway ready for visitors

Work has been completed on improving a Rhyl nature reserve walkway to enhance visitor experience.

Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Services with the support of Nature for Health volunteers is carrying out a programme of improvement work and conservation at Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve.

Nature for Health is a collaborative project that engages with individuals and communities to promote the role access to nature can play 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 and the volunteers have also worked together to help people enjoy the benefits of the reserve for physical and mental wellbeing by enhancing the area for both nature and the surrounding community.

A programme of work has seen the regeneration of a community orchard area, development of new habitat sites to support water vole populations and the clearing several trees mainly black thorn that have died to improve viewpoints for visitors.

Now the finishing touches have been completed to work to replace the old boardwalk at the north side of the reserve to improve the route for the many people who use the reserve own health benefits.

And the continuing conservation work has also heralded the spotting of a popular bird species at the site.

Countryside Ranger Vitor Evora said: “Volunteers have helped finish off the new boardwalk, and they alongside us have carried on improving Brickfields through conservation works as well as maintenance.

“Biodiversity at the site is also increasing, more birds can now be seen on site, including the elusive kingfisher which can be seen here at the nature reserve and also the Rhyl Cut site near the college during the winter months when the rivers around the Clwyd Catchment area are running high.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “It’s great to see that not only is biodiversity flourishing at Brickfield Pond thanks to this fantastic work but also the ongoing development is really making the reserve a great place for people to visit and enjoy a walk around to benefit their physical and mental wellbeing.”