Denbighshire is buzzing after being awarded a national nature accreditation.

Denbighshire County Council has been given Bee Friendly status from the Welsh Government, a scheme which aims to make Wales a pollinator-friendly country.

The council plans to work with school and community groups to create bee and bug “hotels” at Bee Friendly Denbighshire sites, reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides and identify sites to improve for pollinators by planting wildflowers and sowing wildflower seeds.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire’s lead member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment, said: “The council is just the third local authority in Wales to be awarded Bee Friendly status and it shows we are committed to protecting and enhancing environment, which is one of our key priorities.

“Bees are vitally important to the eco system and as well as pollinating plants in gardens, parks and the wider countryside, they contribute to the wider environment. Denbighshire becoming a Bee Friendly county will help increase numbers.”

The Welsh Government launched Bee Friendly to protect pollinators, including bees and butterflies, by encouraging organisations to provide pollinator-friendly food sources, provide places for insect pollinators to live as well as reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides.

The council will also create Bee Friendly Denbighshire signage to explain which areas are included in the scheme and encourage communities and school groups to carry out pollinator surveys and share their results.

Minister for Environment, Hannah Blythyn, said: “Bees play a crucial role in our ecosystem here in Wales, so it’s vital we do what we can to protect them. It’s great to see Denbighshire’s work being recognised and I hope Bee-friendly / Caru Gwenyn will result in many more communities across Wales joining the scheme and supporting our insect pollinators.”