The Greenfield Valley has seven national heritage monuments - more than any other area of its size. Today, priorities in valley have changed; industry is no longer the driving force and the area has become a place of recreation. A museum, environmental centre, and farm provide opportunities for visitors to learn about the industrial heritage of the area. An old village school has been reconstructed on the site, and information boards along the valley walk give details of the various mills and manufacturing processes.
The valley is managed by the Greenfield Valley Trust under and agreement with Flintshire County Council, providing the locals as well visitors with a unique glimpse into the past.  The old millponds and buildings of the Greenfield Valley create a haven for wildlife, and the valley sides support a semi-natural woodland of mostly oak and beech, with a host of flora and fauna.
To date, 107 species of bird and over 20 species of butterfly have been counted in the valley. During the winter months Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Pintail and Mandarin Duck can be spotted on the ponds. Early morning visitors can include Common Sandpipers, Cormorants, and Heron.  The woodland areas contain all three British Woodpeckers, and five species of Tit can be seen.. Buzzards, Peregrine, Sparrow Hawk, Merlin, Kestrel, and Red Kite may be spotted circling the skies, and there is a resident Tawny owl. Along the stream, look for Dipper, Water Rail, Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher.
In the summer months the woods are alive with bird song including Grasshopper Warblers, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. In the late summer Swallows, Swifts and Martins can be seen Darting around. In the ponds there are carp, and eel that are reputedly 3 feet long. In and around the woods are Pipistrelle, Horseshoe and Daubenton's bats, squirrels, stoats, weasels and hedgehog. The butterflies of the valley are logged weekly during the period March to October as part of the national Butterfly Conservation survey and twenty species have already been seen including:- Purple Hairstreak, Brimstone, Small Copper, Small and Large Skippers, Holly and Common Blue. There are also several species of Dragonfly including Common Darter and Common Blue Damselfly. |
