SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has welcomed work to support a haven for nature and communities on the Clwydian Range.
Work is currently underway by the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley National Landscape team, in conjunction with Denbighshire County Council, to develop this area.
Mr Rowlands, a keen supporter of the environment and the countryside said: “I am always happy to support and promote any developments which ultimately help to enhance and improve this beautiful part of North Wales which is popular with local people and visitors alike.
“It is absolutely vital that we look after our habitats and make sure that our woodlands and hedgerows continue to thrive.
“It is great to see all the work which is being carried out in this area by rangers and volunteers from the surrounding communities to help create new diverse, species-rich habitats.”
Nearly 18,000 native, broadleaved trees have been planted at Moel y Plâs, near Llanarmon yn Iâl, and works are underway to restore moorland, improve ffridd, create wetland habitat and maintain woodlands (including mixed native broadleaved, upland oak woodland and a wet woodland coppice).
This development is part of the Council’s work to tackle the Climate Change and Ecological Emergency declared in 2019 and its drive to become a Net Carbon Zero and more Ecologically Positive local authority by 2030.
For this project, woodland and hedgerow creation has been designed to improve connectivity between existing surrounding habitat as wildlife corridors.
The woodland creation project has received funding out of an £800,000 grant awarded to Denbighshire County Council from the UK Government.
Alongside the current site set-up and leading volunteer events, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape ranger team will continue to manage the site in the long term as part of its role to ensure that the environment of the area of outstanding natural beauty is improved and protected and that the land is made more accessible.
To support the wellbeing benefits for visitors, rangers will maintain accessibility along Rights of Way to assist walkers using the Offa’s Dyke National Trail and local footpaths that run through the site.
Stiles are being upgraded to kissing gates with easy-access latches and larger boxes in line with the National Landscape objectives to make the outdoors a more inclusive and accessible space to improve community wellbeing and visitor experience.
Boundary fencing has also been replaced to ensure it is livestock-proof ready for seasonal grazing on the site.
