Flintshire County Council’s Coastal Unit got professional approval for its latest work this week as Sir David Bellamy dropped in to take a stroll down to Flintshire’s favourite beach, guiding guests on a circuit of sand dunes and salt marsh habitat at Presthaven Sands.
The 80m section of footpath was created after coastal rangers secured over 50 tonnes of cockleshells sourced directly from the Dee estuary. The shells are a by-product of the newly kick-started Dee estuary cockling industry and ideal for use in such sensitive habitats where stone footpaths are not acceptable.
“Getting the balance right between necessary access works and protecting nature conservation on sensitive sites such as these is half the battle!” said Sir David Bellamy, crunching his way down the path. “But using local materials like this in such a creative way puts a natural material back into the system instead of quarried limestone.”
Coastal Rangers Stuart Mathieson and Karen Rippin met Sir David Bellamy during his visit. Stuart said “It’s a privilege to have such a positive report on our work which has taken coastal rangers and volunteers a week to complete.”
The project was funded by the Welsh Assembly Government through the Countryside Council for Wales and delivered through a partnership of Flintshire and Denbighshire Countryside Services and Presthaven Sands in Gronant Dunes and Talacre Warren SSSI.
