Rhyl pupils shape woodland future on new reserve

Rhyl pupils have helped create a new woodland to support and protect county nature.

Christ the Word pupils recently travelled to the new Green Gates Nature Reserve at St Asaph to help out with tree planting at the site.

The tree planting is part of continuing work at the site to create a a 70-acre nature reserve supporting local biodiversity.

All of the trees planted come from the local provenance tree nursery on the Green Gates site and include species such as Oak, Alder, Willow, Silver Birch, along with some of the rarer Wild Service and Spindle

Fresh from working with Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity team to create their own woodland and wildflower areas at their school grounds, the Christ for Word pupils helped plant over 100 trees at the Green Gates site.

Ellie Wainwright, Biodiversity Officer, explained: “We really enjoyed having the Christ for Word pupils helping us at Green Gates as they have already been so enthusiastic in planting trees and wildflowers at their own school to support their own local nature.

“They have helped us add to a growing woodland site here on the reserve that will really support county biodiversity going forward.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion said, “We are really grateful to Christ the Word for helping us plan the roots of what will be a fantastic asset for local nature in our county and support the reduction of carbon emissions as well.”

Other work will see existing ponds restored, the creation of new ponds, the development of a wetland area adjacent to two small watercourses and creation of woodland, scrub and grassland habitat areas.

A new brownfield site will be developed and will help to support a variety of rare and important wildlife – such as insects and wildflowers, and a new wildlife barn will be constructed to support roosting bats and nesting birds. The site has also been identified by Natural Resources Wales as a potential Site of Special Scientific Interest for great crested newts.

An accessible permissive pathway will be created to allow local residents to visit the site and a raised viewing area will also be developed.

This work is funded by UK Government grant funding. Additional funding has also been provided from Denbighshire’s Climate and Nature Recovery Programme. Work at the tree nursery I supported by the Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project.