A community partnership has been recognised for its efforts to help nature at a popular site.

The Rhuddlan Nature Reserve was honoured at the Wales in Bloom 2024 awards ceremony in Abergavenny.

The site is managed by Denbighshire Countryside Services in collaboration with the Rhuddlan Reserve Management Advisory Group.

Since 2011, the partnership has worked to create a space for nature to flourish and for the community to enjoy.

Initiatives at the reserve include two wildflower meadows, three wildlife ponds, a 300-metre hedgerow, wildflower-seeded verges, and the planting of 6,000 trees.

The site also boasts a heritage species orchard, two picnic areas, and a pond dipping platform.

A dementia-friendly space has been created in collaboration with the nearby dementia group, featuring sensory trees, wildflowers, and historical landscape features.

The reserve has been adopted by local wildlife, including otters and water voles, which are some of the UK's most rapidly declining mammals.

Wales in Bloom awarded Rhuddlan the John Woods Environmental Award and an 'Outstanding' rating in the It's Your Neighbourhood Category.

Anita Fagan, chair of the Rhuddlan Reserve Management Advisory Group, was also awarded a Community Champion Award for her role in supporting the reserve.

She said: "I want to pass my grateful thanks to all committee members for their positive, proactive work for the reserve.

"I believe all committee members go ‘above and beyond’ their required commitment.

"Denbighshire Countryside Services and their team of rangers supported by fantastic volunteers deserve very special praise and thanks for their dedication to maintaining the reserve while juggling all their other nature reserve commitments in North Denbighshire."

Councillor Alan James, lead member for local development and planning, said: "This is a fantastic collaboration that Countryside Services are a part of and it has produced a wealth of support for local nature and the community who come to enjoy this site on a regular basis.

"It is great to see this work by all recognised and I look forward to seeing this important community site continue to flourish into the future."