Rhyl pupils create habitat for nature’s future

A Rhyl school has helped create a new area to protect and support the growth of local nature.

Ysgol Tir Morfa students recently rolled up their sleeves to help create a new wildflower meadow on the school’s grounds.

This new addition is part of the school’s KS4 winning entry prize to the Council’s Postcards from the Future competition which asked pupils to deliver a message back through time to help us understand how to create a better future for ourselves in the county and across the world.

Winner Ysgol Tir Morfa pupil Macey appealed back from the future for people to protect the homes of animals, safeguarding them for generations to come.

All winners received a selection of environmental books for the school, a talk from the County Council’s Biodiversity Team and a collection of plug plants to help create or improve a wildflower area.

Biodiversity Officer Ellie Wainwright and Assistant Countryside Ranger Amy Blaker were joined by  Ysgol Tir Morfa students to carry out  wildflower plug planting at their school in Rhyl. The wildflowers were grown from seeds harvested from county meadows at the Council’s tree nursery at St Asaph, and the Woodland Skills centre in Bodfari.

Since the 1950’s, over 95 percent of flowering meadows have disappeared. The wildflower area created through this project will provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife above and below ground, and a source of nectar for pollinators which rely on them for food and the development stages of their Larvae.

Exposing the students to wildflower areas will help them engage with plant lifecycles, habitats for insects, sensory and creative opportunities and naturalize outdoor play.

As part of the Council’s response to declaring a Climate and Ecological Emergency, the students will also be involved with further tree and wildflower planting on school grounds over the coming months for biodiversity and climate mitigation.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, and Biodiversity Champion said: “Our nature is in decline across Wales and it is so important we work to halt this as it impacts on us all now and our future generations.

“It is fantastic to see the students continue to get so involved with helping their local nature in Rhyl, they are inspiring for taking time to do this and I really look forward to seeing how this new area will not only help species thrive but also help their own wellbeing too by seeing the growth of the work they have put in.