TODAY (July 15), the Journal was invited by Denbighshire County Council (DCC) for a guided tour of one of its wildflower sites and tree nurseries.

Joel Walley, ecology officer for the council, first showed the Journal the work at the wildflower site at Plas Lorna, Rhuddlan.

This site is part of DCC's Wildflower Meadow Project, which looks to restore and increase the number of habitats available for pollinators and wildlife.

Plas Lorna, which was set up as the council's first wildflower meadow in 2019 following an innovative grass cutting plan, is now one of more than 100 managed sites in the county, which comprise roughly 55 acres of native wildflower habitats.

The sites are left uncut between March and August, with the exception of a small border mown around each site.

This enables the flowers to set seed, and ensures that the meadow provides the greatest benefit to wildlife.

Rhyl Journal: The wildflower meadow at Plas Lorna, RhuddlanThe wildflower meadow at Plas Lorna, Rhuddlan

At the end of the season, the whole site is cut, and the cuttings removed, to help lower the soil's richness and create the low-nutrient ground that native wildflowers and grasses need.

The wildflower meadows vary between sites and often contain a range of native grasses and wildflowers.

The wildflowers at DCC's sites are primarily native perennial species, which return and flower each year.

Species of wildflower at Plas Lorna include Lady's bedstraw, Cowslip, and Orchids, while insects such as bees and grasshoppers are also prominent.Since the 1930s, the UK has lost 97 per cent of its wildflower meadow, while in 2019, DCC declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency. 

Indeed, just one per cent of British countryside now provides this home for pollinators like butterflies and bees.

This has also affected the wildlife that relies on these meadows for food and shelter, namely hedgehogs, birds, badgers and hares.

This is part of the council's Bee Friendly campaign, having received such status by the Welsh Government in 2018.

Later, the Journal was welcomed to the tree nursery at Green Gates Farm, on the edge of St Asaph, which opened a year ago and is being used partly to aid the growth of rarer species.

Following DCC's declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019, it has began numerous projects aimed at improving biodiversity across the county.

This is one such scheme, with the council and the Welsh Government funding the project together.

A target has been set of 5,000 trees and a further 5,000 native wildflower plants to be grown each year at the Green Gates site, which it hopes to expand in the future.

Rhyl Journal: The tree nursery at Green Gates Farm, St AsaphThe tree nursery at Green Gates Farm, St Asaph

All seeds and cuttings for the conservation projects are taken from plants within Denbighshire, meaning they are much better adapted to the climate and conditions than plants from elsewhere in the UK.

This is because the risk of introducing foreign diseases and pests to the area is far less, while it also and preserves regional genetics and variations within plant species.

Cllr Barry Mellor, lead member for environment and transport, said: “We declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 and the Wildflower Meadows project, alongside our tree nursery, is part of an ongoing commitment to enhancing biodiversity right across the county.

“When I was younger, we used to see meadows all the time, the butterflies flying through them, but somewhere along the way, we lost sight of how important protecting this type of land is.

“I’ve visited a number of our sites now including Plas Lorna and it is amazing to see what a difference the work has made; the butterflies, bees and insects all enjoying the importance of this biodiversity work.

“Climate change is a priority for the council and I am proud of the work our biodiversity team has put into all the sites we currently have across the county to improve and protect our local environment.

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“The tree nursery is another great example of taking the initiative to help maintain and grow our local biodiversity.

"It is fantastic to see how seeds collected from our wildflower sites are grown and then put back into the system to help boost certain areas in in our county.

"It's created a very important circle that helps our team continue to grow this important project.

Rhyl Journal: Plants being grown at one of the tree nursery's three polytunnelsPlants being grown at one of the tree nursery's three polytunnels

“The other aspect as well is the huge volunteer support we get from communities, schools, groups and local members towards the wildflower project.

"Their efforts have been brilliant in helping us establish some really amazing sites across the county containing a variety of flowers and helping us grow our plants at the tree nursery.

"I can’t thank them enough for their continued support towards helping us safeguard Denbighshire’s environment for the future.”

DCC is also encouraging residents to get involved as volunteers.

For those interested, please email: biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk.