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Bagillt Foreshore 鈥� Past and Present
Published: 10/11/2022
97色网 Countryside Service is celebrating the end of the 鈥楤agillt Foreshore 鈥� Past and Present鈥� project with the release of a short film celebrating the history of Bagillt. Over the past three years the project has strived to improve the wildlife value of the foreshore and raise awareness about the site鈥檚 fascinating heritage.听
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A ditch system has been created to help feed extra water into 鈥楥ondies Pond鈥� along with the removal of surrounding scrub and a hugely successful project to remove the highly invasive weed Crassula helmsii. Left unchecked this weed will decimate ponds forming a thick mat over the surface of the water, excluding light to all that lives underneath.
Scrub has also been removed to create more suitable habitat for the Natterjack Toad, one of Wales鈥� rarest amphibian. Extra sand was brought onto site to provide better overwinter burrowing for the toads too. 2022 was a record breaking year for Natterjacks in Bagillt, with the toads breeding on site for the first time. A new panel has been installed to tell people about this special species.
Conservation grazing has been introduced onto the site with five cattle spending late winter and early spring 2022 in two new paddocks created near to the dragon beacon. This grazing will, over time return the area from unfavourable to favourable meadow and increase the flora and fauna found there.
New hedgerows have been planted and events have been held with local people. Experts were also drafted in as part of a Bioblitz event to look at the plants, insects, birds and animals found on site.
As well as practical improvements, the project allowed the important history and heritage of Bagillt to be celebrated. A digital trail has been created to allow people to enjoy the rich heritage on their smartphones and online (www.northeastwales trails.com), alternatively the information is also available in a leaflet. A sundial monument has been installed in recognition of the tragic loss of life on the site when it was used for coal mining and a stone circle represents Bagillt鈥檚 historic connection with the Eisteddfod.
The final piece to complete the project is the fantastic presenting Bagillt as it has changed through time and includes outstanding听performances by local school children in character from Ysgol Merllyn. The children collected information to create a timeline of Bagillt鈥檚 coast, which was used as the basis for a drama performance shown to parents and to create the finaltelling the story of Bagillt鈥檚 fascinating history.
The project was part funded through a 拢39,300 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The grant raised from National Lottery听players, formed part of a wider project, collaborating with 鈥楤agillt for Biodiversity鈥� project, funded by Welsh Government鈥檚 Landfill Disposal Tax Community Scheme.听听
Cllr David Healey, Cabinet member for Climate change, Countryside and Economy, said: 鈥淭his inspiring project has demonstrated some听fantastic work for conservation for Bagillt Foreshore and boasts an interesting and innovative legacy.听 The funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund has facilitated the education and celebration of local heritage and nature within the local community, something which I hope will have a lasting impact.听 I extend my thanks to all those involved in the project and look forward to sharing the film within my networks鈥�.听 听 听
Notes to Editors:
Link to film
About the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales
鈥� Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK鈥檚 heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future.
鈥� Thanks to National Lottery players, more than 拢30 million goes to good causes across the UK every week.
鈥� Follow @HeritageFundCYM on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund听听
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