About the reserve

Spring and summer offer an explosion of colour, highlighting how different our countryside would have looked a few hundred years ago when traditional hay meadows across the country would have bloomed in a similar way. Local volunteers, continuing centuries of traditional practices, have worked tirelessly to preserve the meadow and are now reaping the rewards: over 142 different plant species have been recorded in the grassland and nearby woodland. The abundance of flowering plants means the site is important for many insect pollinators, including honeybees and bumblebees. A visit in spring or summer sees the bright wildflowers supplemented by beautiful butterflies: large skipper, common blue, comma, meadow brown, gatekeeper, peacock, red admiral, painted lady, small tortoiseshell, orangetip and speckled wood are all to be found!

Hay meadow helpers

Maes Hiraddug was saved from development when it was bought by the Wildlife Trust in 1996.  It has subsequently been managed as a hay meadow, continuing centuries of traditional practices. The vegetation is cut in July and left to dry and shed its seed, before bailing and removing. Livestock graze the field from late summer to keep the grassland in good condition.

Directions

The reserve is North East of the village of Dyserth, between Rhuddlan and Trelawnyd. Heading East on the A5151, park in the car park on the Left (just on the village edge) for the Prestatyn-Dyserth Way. Walk 150m along the Way until you reach a stone bridge with a flight of steps signposted ‘Maes Hiraddug’. Go up the steps and turn Left over the bridge into the reserve (SJ 062 794). To avoid the steps, continue for 150m to the next bridge and exit onto Pandy Lane: the reserve is on your Left.