Newly planted meadows will make up 60 acres of wildflower habitats in Denbighshire

Denbighshire County Council has identified an additional 29 sites for its Wildflower Project, which will carry out wildflower planting on highway verges, footpath edges, cycleways and amenity grasslands.

It brings the total number of managed sites to 54, including locations in Prestatyn, Rhyl, Meliden, Rhuddlan, Dyserth and areas across south Denbighshire. The sites are managed in line with Plantlife’s Managing Grassland Road Verges guidelines, which prohibit grass cutting between March and August each year, giving wildflowers enough time to grow, flower, and set seed. They are given a full cut in early September.

Wildflowers provide a vital food source for pollinators, such as butterflies, bees and other insects.

The Wildflower Project sites, along with the council’s 11 Roadside Nature Reserves, make up almost 60 acres of provenance wildflower habitat.

Common wildflowers include the daffodil, cowslip, primrose, buttercup, and sweet violet

Emlyn Jones, DCC head of planning, public protection and countryside planning, said: “The sites are managed in line with Plantlife’s Managing Grassland Road Verges guidelines which sees the grass cutting at these sites prohibited between March and August each year, giving wildflowers enough time to grow, flower, and set seed.

“A cut and collect regime has been implemented to reduce soil fertility and provide the wildflowers with the best conditions possible.

“These sites will be monitored and borders cut around the sites to ensure there is no impact on the highway network or road safety.”