Rare flower has space to grow

A rare flower growing on a footpath on land at Cefn Mawr quarry has been fenced off to give it a chance to grow more strongly.

The work included scrub clearance to create an alternative route to the 20 metres of path which is home to the spring sandwort (minuartia verna) and putting up signs explaining the change to walkers.

Ecologist Pauline Michell said the delicate plant, which is listed as “nationally scarce”, had thinned out a lot in recent years due to hot summer temperatures and erosion from people using the popular pathway.

“We hope our temporary measures will give it time to replenish itself,” said Pauline, who partners with Flintshire County Council and National Resources Wales to safeguard the ecology of the North Wales site.