Ruthin nature space receives Wales award honour

A Ruthin nature space has been recognised for its contribution to supporting local nature.

Llanrhydd Street Nature Space was honoured at the recent Wales in Bloom 2024 awards ceremony held at Abergavenny.

Denbighshire Countryside Services alongside Denbighshire County Council’s Climate Change Team and volunteers originally breathed life into the old school field next to Ruthin Hospital in 2022, both for nature and for the enjoyment of the local community.

Local school children rolled up their sleeves to help plant nearly 800 trees on the site as part of the part of the Council’s continuing effort to reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity

And in keeping with the school theme, an outdoor classroom area was also built on the site not only to help the children learn about biodiversity but also give a helping hand to local nocturnal residents.

The classroom constructed of wood by local craftsperson Huw Noble incorporated a ‘Bat Roof’ which was specially designed to provide the features bats need to roost during the day.

Paths were created through wildflower meadows on the site, a pond developed to support nature and picnic benches added for community us.

The site has been managed since by Countryside Rangers with the support of volunteers backed by Nature for Health.

Entering for the first time, Llanrhydd Street Nature Space has been classed as Level 4 ‘Thriving’ under the Royal Horticulture Society and Wales in Bloom It’s Your Neighbourhood awards 2023. This area of Wales in Bloom is a scheme for volunteer-led community gardening groups which are focused on cleaning up and greening up their local area.

Senior Countryside Ranger Jim Kilpatrick said:” We are really pleased that through the work of all volunteers young and old alongside our rangers has helped this fantastic site for nature and the Ruthin community be recognised.

“It’s developing really well since we began in 2022 here, the meadows are thriving in season and the trees planted are really coming on strong.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Council Biodiversity Champion, said: “The volunteers and staff have made a real positive difference to what was once an old school field at Ruthin thanks to their dedicated work to improving biodiversity and the surroundings for the community. It’s brilliant that they have received this recognition for all their hard work.”