Tidy Towns funding is transforming Shotton nature reserve

Work is gathering pace to revitalise the Taliesin Nature Reserve in Shotton.

Local schools, college pupils, local businesses and community groups are working together to restore the nature reserve using over £17,000 of funding from Tidy Towns.

A group of pupils from Coleg Cambria, Deeside, recently worked alongside Flintshire Countryside ranger Tim Johnson, scattering six kilograms of seed and raking it in over an area of 1200 square metres. Seed species scattered were common nap weed, red campion, white campion, ox eye daisies, cow slips, wild carrot, yarrow, bird foot trefoil, as well as an annual mix for some extra colour.

Cllr Ann Minshull and Tim Johnson, Countryside Ranger, are employees from McDonald’s.

Staff from a number of local McDonald’s stores have also been helping plant 400 trees in the area. The tree species being planted are guelder rose, hazel, hawthorn, holly, crab apple, cherry, pear, elder, and rowan. All stores involved are owned by local franchisee Stewart Williams,

Rangers and volunteers have also been busy creating disabled access paths and improved path surfaces. as well as planting wildflower seeds and trees. They will also be upgrading entrance points and erecting marker stones at the nature reserve.

Tidy Towns is a Keep Wales Tidy initiative funded by the Welsh Government and supported by local authorities to improve the amenity, accessibility, biodiversity of areas that have fallen into disrepair.

Feature image:  Students from Coleg Cambria