Sustainable wood skill creates new additions for reserve
A sustainable crafting method is creating new nature reserve additions as well as supporting local biodiversity.
Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service and volunteers have worked together to create new ‘hazel hurdles’ to be used at Rhyl’s Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve.
Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve was honoured at the recent Wales in Bloom 2024 awards ceremony after receiving the class ‘Thriving’ under the Wales in Bloom It’s Your Neighbourhood awards.
Countryside rangers and volunteers supported by Nature for Health have worked to improve the site both for nature and for the enjoyment of the local community.
Ongoing work has seen a new community orchard and pond opened up, improvements to the walkways, removal of dead trees and the tidying up of the viewpoints around the main waters.
Areas have also been improved around the nature reserve to encourage more water voles to make their home at the site.
Rangers and volunteers have been coppicing Hazel grown at the reserve and Bruton Park, which sees trees cut to ground level to help regeneration of new stems from the base to rejuvenate the tree.
The sustainable technique also helps support biodiversity by either creating new habitat pies to support local wildlife or allowing more light to hit the floor of the woodland giving other plant species the opportunity to thrive, causing a chain reaction that increases the range of plants and wildlife in a woodland area.
Countryside Ranger Vitor Evora said: “These hazel offcuts from the coppicing we have carried out are perfect for creating sustainable fencing around the reserve. The branches are flexible and uniform which supports the creation of each panel using what is a skill going back to the Neolithic period
“Once all finished and in place they will bring a natural nature friendly look to enhance areas around the site.
Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Council Biodiversity Champion, said: “It is fantastic to see work continue at Brickfield Pond to support local nature and the look of the site for those visiting. All credit to the volunteers and Countryside staff for continuing to make this site an important biodiversity asset for the nature reserve.”