Lesley Griffiths MS Member of the Senedd for Wrexham

I’m proud to support a Wrexham community which is pulling together to save a much-loved lake for future generations to enjoy. Gresford Lake is a unique feature and clearly holds a special place at the heart of the community, however, it has been slowly deteriorating for decades.

The Friends of Gresford Lake and Gresford Community Council are determined to restore and enhance the area’s natural habitats, recently securing over £48,000 from the Welsh Government’s Landfill Disposal Tax Community Scheme to help the project advance.

Once a thriving oasis, the introduction of carp in the 1980s has led to a steady decline of Gresford Lake. Feeding bread to ducks and fish has, unfortunately, also contributed, resulting in these populations exploding and eating any remaining water plants and insect life. Harmful algal blooms have thrived and the lake is now a pea green soup, void of life.

The Friends of Gresford Lake and Gresford Community Council recognised urgent action was needed to halt the decline and help preserve the naturally occurring greenspace for future generations. Removing the nonnative carp is a crucial first step and the partnership ultimately hopes to encourage the return of wildlife in all forms, such as tadpoles, newts, water beetles and waterlilies.

Working together, the Community Council and Friends of Gresford Lake recently applied for, and successfully secured, funding from the Welsh Government’s Landfill Disposal Tax Community Scheme, administered by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

The grant of over £48,000 will help restore the biodiversity of the lake. Work will commence this month, with the funding allowing the group to remove the invasive carp, install a solar-powered ultrasonic algae remover, purchase safety equipment and introduce aquatic plants.

As well as writing a letter of support for the funding application, I recently visited Gresford Lake to meet the volunteers and help raise awareness about the project.

In a relatively short amount of time, they have taken huge strides towards saving the lake and I am pleased they were able to secure significant Welsh Government funding. It will help restore the natural habitat and hopefully transform the lake into a thriving ecosystem the whole area can enjoy.

There may be plenty of work still to do but the determination, knowledge and passion demonstrated by the volunteers is inspiring, and I will continue to do all I can to support the project.

If you’re a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me.