A CEREMONY has been held to mark the official opening of the restored country park at the foot of Bodelwyddan Castle, following the completion of the first phase of works that began in 2022.
Denbighshire County Council chairman Arwel Roberts carried out the formal opening, welcoming guests to the newly improved site.
The project received £900,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the investment aimed at addressing the declining condition of the parkland and bringing the area back into public use.
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As part of the restoration, nearly one‑and‑a‑half miles of new disabled‑friendly, limestone‑topped pathways have been created, running from the lower parkland up to the woodland at the top of the site. A new 73‑space car park has also been built near the A55 entrance to accommodate returning visitors.
A full‑time countryside ranger has been appointed, with a dedicated budget for ongoing management and maintenance of the park.
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Work to support local wildlife has included planting new hedgerows along boundary fencing and creating access points for the resident deer. Protective enclosures have been installed in the woodland to safeguard sensitive areas, including the old Victorian orchard, allowing tree and plant species to recover and thrive.
Further conservation work has been carried out on the historic First World War practice trenches at the top of the parkland, with new fencing installed to protect the site.
In total, the project has delivered more than 19,000 m² of green space, 2 km of footpaths, 7,150 newly planted trees, and a series of interpretation boards to help visitors understand the landscape and its history.
Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said: “The opening of this park signifies a fantastic milestone for the project.
"I’d like to acknowledge the hard work of our countryside team who have worked tirelessly to address the condition of the park in order for us to be in the position to open the site to the public.
“The regeneration of the parkland will provide vital support that our local wildlife needs to survive going forward and will also give Denbighshire residents and visitors a great place to visit to experience the nature our county has to offer.”
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