Halloween wood craft session at Prestatyn nature spot | Rhyl Journal

Snakes have been created from wood offcuts at a Prestatyn nature spot.

The spooky creatures were crafted during a Halloween wood craft session led by Denbighshire County Council's Countryside Service for the Nature for Health volunteers at Coed Y Morfa.

The wood used to create the snakes was sourced from coppicing, a traditional woodland management technique that involves repeatedly cutting trees or shrubs at the base to create a coppice stool.

This leaves enough for regrowth and a sustainable supply of wood.

Countryside rangers carry out this practice locally and the offcuts are then repurposed for crafting or to create new habitat piles.

These piles provide nesting material for birds and habitats for reptiles, supporting wildlife.

Sasha Taylor, countryside ranger, said: "Coppicing is a great traditional method in maintaining woodlands and also creating a sustainable supply of wood for other means.

"It’s been fantastic to combine this with wood crafting with the volunteers to create a slithering scary celebration to welcome in Halloween."

Coppicing also mimics the natural process of large mature trees falling due to old age or strong winds, allowing light to reach the woodland floor and encouraging the growth of other plant species.

This, in turn, increases the diversity of plants and wildlife in the area.

Councillor Alan James, lead member for local development and planning, said: "Our countryside rangers really value the support of the volunteers who help them through Nature for Health to look after our local nature areas.

"It’s great to see them combine woodland management skills for a celebration of All Hallows' Eve."

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