Nature focused project boosting biodiversity in Wrexham communities

A nature focused project is helping to boost carbon literacy and biodiversity in communities across Wrexham.

The Go Green 4 Nature project, funded by Natural Resources Wales’s Resilient Communities Grant, saw improvements to a number of green spaces across the county – including Tŷ Pawb’s rooftop garden, the Lodge Valley slopes at Brymbo, Nant Mill and Minera Country Parks.

The project also worked with schools to educate pupils around carbon literacy and biodiversity, and it provided several free, public events.

These included creating raised beds, improving habitats through woodland and grassland management, creating wildflower areas, and general maintenance tasks and tidying.

Volunteers also came together from a range of backgrounds to help, and gained valuable new skills and experience.

Other projects included WildWatch – created by the Xplore! development team . Just over 600 Year 5 and Year 6 local pupils enjoyed the session between January 2023 and March 2024, including 60 home educated children.

As part of WildWatch, children were introduced to the topic of biodiversity; specifically what it means, what eco-systems and food webs are, what the importance of biodiversity is and how it can be measured.

The children headed out into the city centre to follow a biodiversity trail around Wrexham. Children were encouraged to identify plants and animals, take a photo of them with their tablet and record findings on a survey sheet.

They then stopped at Llwyn Isaf where they got to put their surveying skills into practise.

Katie Williams, Xplore! Business Development Officer, said: “With school budgets so stretched currently, we’re always thrilled when funding enables children to go on a much-coveted school trip.

“This project gave us the opportunity to develop a workshop like no other, enabling us to get out into nature come rain or shine whilst providing children with a better understanding of different local wildlife habitats.”

Pupils from a range of schools in the Wrexham area took part in carbon literacy workshops and practical session to improve areas of their school grounds for biodiversity. This included tree planting, grassland management, wildflower sowing, pond creation and creating hibernacula.

A range of public events were also provided throughout the project, all with a carbon or biodiversity theme.

These included learn how to scythe workshops, palaeontology walks, foraging walks, autumnal nature crafts sessions, log scapes craft workshops and natural wreath making sessions.

The events were open and free to attend, and they helped to improve people’s skills and increase knowledge around biodiversity and carbon literacy.

Cllr David A Bithell, Deputy Leader and Climate Champion, said: “The Go Green 4 Nature project did some excellent work around carbon literacy through education in schools and through the many free, public events that were delivered.

“Important projects like Go Green 4 Nature really help to bring awareness of the climate emergency.”

Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Environment, said: “The Go Green 4 Nature project brought improvements to a number of green spaces in Wrexham, increasing our biodiversity, and it helped to bring understanding of the importance of looking after the environment.

“We’re delighted with what the project has managed to achieve.”