Green projects coming to life in Flintshire

Flintshire County Council has completed several green infrastructure (GI) projects in its key town centres.

These projects will help improve the physical landscape of the towns, while simultaneously delivering biodiversity, carbon reduction and air quality benefits to the community and wider environment.

Green infrastructure (GI) is a network of multi-functional green space and other green features, both urban and rural, which can deliver quality of life and environmental benefits for communities. It includes parks, open spaces, playing fields, woodlands, urban street trees, allotments, private gardens, green roofs and walls, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and soils.

GI can be designed into schemes and buildings upon creation or retrofitted into existing buildings and infrastructure. It can take the form of individual trees and/or wildflower areas at its simplest or more innovative installations including green roofs and green walls.

To date, most of the urban GI enhancement in Flintshire has been through tree planting, wildflower sites and reduced mow areas within our public estates.

After successfully bidding for and being awarded funding through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Flintshire County Council’s Regeneration team has worked closely with colleagues in the council’s Biodiversity team to design and deliver projects across town centres in Flintshire.

Building on existing work, this funding has ensured that a green infrastructure audit has been completed for Buckley, Connah’s Quay, Flint, Holywell, Mold, Queensferry and Shotton. The purpose of each is to assess the existing green infrastructure in each town, identify the opportunities and challenges of improving green spaces and develop a set of potential interventions which could improve the towns, aligning with current and future programmes of work.

These documents will allow projects to be considered when future funding becomes available with supporting case studies and delivery opportunities. The UKSPF alongside a successful Natural Resources Wales (NRW) grant award, is also supporting the investigation into the feasibility of addressing surface water flooding in Buckley, through the utilisation of greening opportunities including water retentive planters and tree pits.

As part of the wider programme of work being overseen by the Council’s Regeneration team, a recently finalised property improvement made possible with funding through Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme incorporated the delivery of a “green gateway” project for the town of Queensferry. As a result, alongside the property at 85 Station Road, grant funding was available for the installation of 7 tree pits in Queensferry.

Earlier in the year, with combined funding from the UKSPF project and Welsh government Local Places for Nature, a project to install living green screens to Croes Atti Primary School in Shotton was implemented. The aim of the project was to add biodiversity value, mitigate air pollution and enhance green spaces within the school grounds and the wider Shotton area. As a result of the funding, 45 planters with ivy screens were introduced to the site, much to the enthusiasm of the school, the children, parents and locals alike.

Ongoing monitoring will look at the long-term impacts of the project in terms of air quality improvement. The provision of greenery and biodiversity into a school environment allows the integration of this into learning outcomes and opportunities to engage with the students on wider issues of biodiversity, environment, wildlife and emission reduction. The ongoing maintenance of this on site will not only benefit current students but those in the future attending the school.

A range of Welsh Government policy objectives identify green infrastructure delivery as a key to supporting planning, climate change, biodiversity, and regeneration work. For many years there has been a strong emphasis on protecting and enhancing our natural environments, and the recognition that in doing so associated social and economic benefits can be achieved. A key focus is on taking a proactive approach to green infrastructure provision given its close alignment with securing the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity and the resilience of ecosystems.

In 2022, the Welsh Government outlined its strategic direction and approach for Place Making with each local authority asked to develop ‘Place Making Plans’ to set out how they will identify, plan, and deliver Place Making in each of their towns. This approach is closely aligned with the Welsh Government’s ‘Town Centre First’ plans, launched in 2020 and the delivery of green infrastructure improvements is a key aspect of these plans which are aimed at putting the health and vibrancy of town centres at the heart of their policies and decision making, and the delivery of services at an operational level.

As part of the approach to Place Making Plans for the towns, current and potential green infrastructure is considered including its potential benefits and alignment to the needs of the town. The fact that projects are already completed, underway or in key planning stages shows the focus on this aspect of the regeneration of Flintshire’s towns. Recent public engagement has seen the focus of green initiatives, the environment and well-being from the environment be a key consideration for many people.

Cabinet member for Climate Change and Economy, Councillor David Healey said:

"These projects to regenerate the environmental, visual and physical aspects of our towns, are a welcome approach to delivering change in our approach to public health, wellbeing, environmental issues and making our towns more vibrant.”

In April this year, Flintshire County Council was honoured with National Bee friendly award status by the Welsh Government for commendable efforts in supporting pollinators. This is reflective of the ongoing focus on the importance of Flintshire’s green spaces, the work on wildflower planting and grassland maintenance and the key focus on delivering key green projects in and around key towns in Flintshire and the wider area.

Key collaboration across teams within Flintshire County Council is ensuring projects are delivered and maintained and opportunities for enhancement to projects are identified and developed.

As projects are developed, more information, opportunity for engagement and the key benefits will be shared and equally look to support the development of key locations for residents and visitors to enjoy.