Protect Earth is enhancing biodiversity at our site, Nannerch (pronounced nannac), in North Wales, by creating homes for wildlife while ensuring the local community can enjoy the green space for recreation and well-being. This project blends biodiversity enhancement with community use, providing a shared space that benefits nature and people.
About Nannerch
Nannerch is a hillside site—sitting at an elevation of 240m—right in the middle of the Clwydian and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site is approximately 11 hectares in size. The majority of the site is currently semi-improved grassland and has been grazed by livestock for many years. There are a few rocky outcrops, and the surrounding landscape is quite rugged and spectacular, with the bracken-covered slopes of Moel y Parc (398m) dominating the landscape to the west.
There are some areas classed as Lowland Dry Acid Grassland. These areas are not particularly botanically rich but do appear to have some interesting grassland fungi. There are also some interesting areas of gorse and scrub to the north and south of the main planting areas. Nearby, there are fragments and patches of ancient woodland with Oak, Ash, Wild Cherry, and Hazel.
Protect Earth’s plan for biodiversity enhancement
Protect Earth is planting nearly 8 hectares with a mix of native broadleaf species. We want to plant around 11,000 trees at a density of 1,600 per hectare. The main woodland creation will be Oak over Hazel with areas of Birch, Aspen, and Wild Cherry. The periphery of the woodland will be Rowan, Hawthorn, and Crab Apple.
The areas classed as Lowland Dry Acid Grassland will not be planted, but will remain open grassland.
The objective (as with most of our planting projects) is carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity enhancement.
Protect Earth’s long-term vision
Eventually, the site will be predominately woodland, but overall, there will be an interesting mix of other habitats—scrub, open grassland, gorse, bracken—on site, providing habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and providing space for the community and visitors to enjoy Nannerch.
The main woodland will eventually provide habitat for western Oakwood bird species, including the quintessential trio of this habitat: Pied Flycatcher (a bird that was listed as red on the UK red list but has since stabilised and is now listed as amber), Redstart, and Wood Warbler (in the red category on the red list). All are summer migrants that spend the winter in Africa, and all are declining.
The tree species on the periphery of the woodland will provide a source of nectar in early spring for newly emerged butterflies, along with a source of fruits and berries for birds and other wildlife in autumn and into the winter.
Areas of scrub, bracken, and gorse will provide habitat for summer warblers, butterflies, and other invertebrates, contributing to biodiversity enhancement.
The grasslands will hopefully remain rich in fungi and become more botanically interesting as the heavy grazing regime changes. It will also continue to provide foraging areas for badgers, which are currently found on site.
Support Protect Earth’s mission to create new woodlands and natural habitats in the UK by purchasing trees and shrubs from our shop. Your contribution will help enhance biodiversity and build homes for wildlife.
