Denbighshire County Council have set up a tree nursery at Green Gates Farm, on the edge of St Asaph.

Following the Council’s declaration of a climate and ecological emergency in 2019, they have started a number of projects aimed at improving biodiversity across the county.

To help them achieve this, the Council have set a target of 5,000 trees and a further 5,000 native wildflower plants to be grown each year at the Green Gates site, which they hope to expand in the future.

Councillor Tony Thomas, the Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We are proud to have such an important facility at St Asaph which is helping us achieve our goal to maintain and enhance biodiversity across the county.

“The tree nursery will also be used to boost the fortune of less common species.

“Currently the nursery is growing juniper, wild service and black poplar trees, all of which have declined massively over the last century.”

Across Denbighshire, there are now nearly 60 Wildflower Meadows and 11 roadside nature reserves.

Furthermore, they have also established a project to look at creating four new woodland areas across Denbighshire, with planning in motion to plant nearly 5,000 trees before March this year.

All seed and cuttings for the conservation projects will be taken from plants within Denbighshire, therefore are much better adapted to our climate and conditions than plants that come from other parts of the UK.

By choosing local provenance it also reduces the risk of introducing foreign diseases and pests to the area and preserves local genetics and regional variations within plant species.

Mr Thomas added: “If you are a local landowner who has a black poplar on their land, we would be keen to come and take cuttings to grow on.

“Alternatively, if you would be interested in planting black poplar on your land please get in touch.”

Denbighshire County Council are also keen to get local people involved as volunteers.

For those wishing to get involved please contact biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk.