A FLOCK of sheep have been introduced to Prestatyn Hillside as part of a project to boost wildflowers and wildlife.

The introduction of the animals, by Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service, is part of the ‘Unique Opportunities - Landscape Solutions for North East Wales’ Project and was supported and funded through the Welsh Government Rural Development Scheme and Natural Resource Wales.

Rhyl Journal: Sign to make dog walkers aware that sheep are grazing. Sign to make dog walkers aware that sheep are grazing. (Image: Submitted by Denbighshire County Council.)

The project aims to bring all sites into sustainable management regimes and reduce the need to mechanically manage sites using heavy plant and machinery, with a large focus on using traditional grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep and ponies.

Jack Parry, Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty North East Wales Project Officer, said: “The sheep coming are a hardy breed used to grazing high grounds and are able to survive outside in extreme weather conditions, as long as they are not disturbed they are happy grazing away. By using sheep to graze it allows us the manage the site more sustainably and reduce the need to use machinery on the site.

“Our aim is to support the high number of wildflowers and wildlife on the site. The sheep will help us achieve this by removing the dense rank vegetation and opening up the sward in the autumn/winter which will allow smaller flowering plants to flourish come the summer providing a haven for butterflies and other wildlife.

“The sheep will be on the site for a couple of months and only be grazing in one compartment at a time. During this time access will not be restricted but we will ask that dogs are kept under close control when passing through the compartment with sheep in.”

Prestatyn Hillside SSSI was one of the project’s 40 potential nature conservation sites, designated for its internationally rare Limestone Grasslands.

Community consultation days were held at the Shed in Prestatyn to talk to members of the community about the plans for the hillside and botanical Surveys were carried out in June 2021.

Fencing and water were installed in January 2022 with all materials carried onto site by hand due to limited vehicle access.

Kissing gates were also put up to ensure access was not limited along Offas Dyke Path.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Supporting and improving our local biodiversity is vitally important and a priority of the council. I am pleased to see such a unique project underway at Prestatyn Hillside and look forward to seeing the benefits flourish at the site.”