Calls for community to preserve Denbigh's Top Woods

Oct 1 2008 By Andy Davies

Top Woods

URGENT action must be taken to help preserve community woodland near Denbigh.

The call to arms comes from youngsters at the town’s Ysgol Heulfre after they visited Top Woods.

They complain the picturesque area has been targeted by vandals and has become filthy with rubbish and dog dirt scattered everywhere.

Members of Ysgol Heulfre eco-committee went to the woods as part of a habitat project.

In a letter to the Visitor they say: "As a class everybody was disgusted how much litter and dog muck there was scattered all over the place. Somebody even threw poop bags up in the trees when there was a dog waste bin not far."

The class went on to explain it was not just dogs tarnishing Top Woods.

"We were also disgusted in the way teenagers broke the fence and vandalised the information boards.

"Could we ask that all visitors to Top Woods respect the area and not throw rubbish and damage information boards and also to pick up all litter and dog muck."

Back in 2005 around £80,000 was allocated to a project to transform what was an overgrown piece of land into a community woodland.

Cllr Colin Hughes (pictured), who opened the area, says: "The problem is the dog litter bins. They were put in by request and we’ve even upped the bin emptying schedule.

"It’s a problem all over the town and people have been fined. All we can do is try and deter dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets by telling them that they can and will be fined. The potential damage this can do is awful."

Cllr Hughes says that while the vandalism is unfortunate, more facilities should be provided for the young people of Denbigh.

"Anywhere which is an open space is going to attract kids who are bored," he said.

"We need to perhaps look at a youth internet cafe and expand what we have for the children in the town. We need to take this forward as the castle also suffers from similar problems."