Prestatyn allotments provide haven for pollinators

A Prestatyn based allotments is providing strong support for both budding gardeners and pollinators.

National Allotments Week, which runs from August 12-18, is this year celebrating biodiversity on all UK allotments, looking at how sites can both help gardening skills and give back to local nature as well.

Managed by Denbighshire Countryside Services, the allotment site at Coed Y Morfa is a haven not only for budding gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts but also a host of important pollinators.

The site, previously a waste disposal area, has been transformed into an allotment site boasting 50 raised bed plots, a large polytunnel and numerous planted ornamental beds, pots and baskets.

Every Tuesday the gates to the allotment are open to the public 15:00pm – 16:30pm. During this time, people are free to help out with gardening tasks, learn more about the growth and cultivation of plants they may be interested in and meet like minded green-fingered folk.

Countryside Ranger, Sasha Taylor said:

“We also host a range of volunteering activities at the allotment and in the surrounding area. We have sowed peas with local primary school Ysgol Y Llys, made nettle cordage, made Christmas wreaths and undertaken numerous invertebrate surveys including those for bees, butterflies and moths.

Our moth surveys have yielded fantastic results over the years. With Scarlet Tiger, Garden Tiger, Oak Eggar, Mint moth and Poplar Hawk Moth recorded on site. Moths are an often overlooked group of insects, but recording them can tell us a great deal about our local habitats.

They are just as important as bees and butterflies in terms of plant pollination and account for around a third of all pollinator visits to flowers, trees and crop plants. Some research even suggests that day flying moths are more efficient pollinators than bees!”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said:

“It’s fantastic to hear how the work of the Coed y Morfa allotments community is boosting support for our important pollinators. These sites are a great mix for nature and community physical and mental wellbeing.”

If you would like to find out more about the allotment or volunteering sessions with Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service please email: sasha.taylor@denbighshire.gov.uk