Ysgol Henllan pupils have rolled up their sleeve to help plant the future of a new space for nature and residents to enjoy together.
The pupils got to work this week with Denbighshire Countryside Service rangers and volunteers to start shaping the new Henllan Community Nature Space at land behind Meifod Road.
This area is one of four new community nature spaces – alongside similar areas at Rhyl, St Asaph and Clocaenog – that Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service and Climate Change teams are creating in the county this year to boost benefits for both local wildlife and residents’ wellbeing.
The Community Nature Spaces work alongside woodland creation work this year at schools across the county has received funding out of an £800,000 grant from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Pupils dug deep to help plant over 1,700 trees on the site which will also see new footpaths, a pond, wildflower meadows, a recreation space and picnic area, an insect hibernaculum (aka a “bee bank”) and an outdoor classroom before the end of this year.
Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “What a fantastic effort from these youngsters to help create a stronger species-rich habitat for nature to benefit from as well as a brilliant community space for local residents young and old to enjoy and learn from wildlife on the land.
“This new community nature space in the village will also bring other benefits including improved air quality, urban heat cooling and opportunities to support community physical and mental wellbeing by dropping by this great new asset.”
The Henllan Community Nature Space will also help support the Council’s drive to reduce the county’s carbon footprint by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed) in vegetation and soils.
Editors Notes
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus