Hundreds of children visit rare birds at a breeding colony

Hundreds of children have been given the chance to see rare birds at a breeding colony.

More than 500 pupils from seven Denbighshire schools visited the little tern colony in Gronant, the only breeding colony in Wales.

Little terns come to the UK every year from West Africa to breed in Gronant and this year more than 200 fledglings were recorded.

Denbighshire County Council provided the visits after being awarded a grant from the Welsh Government’s Landfill Disposal Tax Community Scheme, WCVA, to introduce local residents to the site and to help with conservation efforts.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire’s lead member for Housing and Communities, said:

“These visits have inspired the children and had the knock on effect of encouraging their parents and other members of the community to visit and care for conservation efforts at sites such as Gronant.

“The response from the children and the teachers was phenomenal and I’d like to thank all those who took part and have helped protect the little terns.

“Protecting the environment is a priority for the Council and we hope to reach an even wider audience so as many people as possible can enjoy this natural wonder on their doorstep.

“We continue to work in partnership with volunteers from the North Wales Little Tern Group on the running of the colony ensuring its future. This last year has been one of the most successful yet with the second highest number of fledglings on record and we now have the largest amount of protective fencing for the birds.”

Children from Ysgol Melyd, Ysgol Tir Morfa, Ysgol Llywelyn, Ysgol Y Llys, Ysgol Bodnant, Ysgol Penmorfa, Christchurch County Primary School, as well as from Second Rhyl Beavers took part in a range of activities including visits to the colony, beachcombing, making egg-box treasure chests, building little tern nests and beach murals, painting Gronant rocks, and crafting sea creatures.