A new ecology co-operative has been launched in Wrexham.

The Wrexham Ecology Co-operative, formed by FI Real Estate Management (FIREM), United Environmental Services (UES), Enfys Ecology, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and Butterfly Conservation, aims to boost biodiversity in the area.

The partners will work together to create an ecology plan for Wrexham Industrial Estate.

This will involve surveying land, assessing net biodiversity, and implementing a long-term management plan across 75 acres of land.

The focus will be on six pieces of land around Wrexham Industrial Estate, which is home to 340 businesses and 16,500 employees.

The work will include a base survey to identify biodiversity net gain potential and the production of a management plan for bee conservation and wildflower planting.

The programme will also engage with the community, collaborating with businesses, schools, colleges, and universities.

The co-operative's initial focus will be on a 30-acre ecology zone located next to Wrexham 1M, FIREM's forthcoming one million sq ft industrial and logistics development.

The area aims to provide enhanced habitats for local wildlife, with around £350,000 being invested into the creation of the ecology zone.

The project will allocate substantial resources to relocating the estate's population of great crested newts, more than two decades after Wrexham Borough Council initially developed an action plan to protect and enhance the species within the county.

Mark Adams, head of development and construction at FIREM, said: "We’re delighted to come together with our partners to create a long-term plan for sustainable biodiversity and to manage the legacy of ecological spaces at Wrexham Industrial Estate.

"This co-operative will really enhance the way we work to protect ecological spaces in our developments, and I’m excited to work collaboratively with this collective of experts across our portfolio in Wrexham."

Adrian Lloyd Jones, head of living landscapes at North Wales Wildlife Trust, said: "Forming the Wrexham Ecology Co-operative is another important milestone for the trust in realising our longstanding ambitions for the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

"Our team are well-placed to continue to provide credible, expert advice and deliver ecology management across the estate, working with our range of partners to bring positive benefits for both people and wildlife, locally and globally."

Tim Knowles, founder and managing director at FIREM, said: "As a business we’ve invested in Wrexham for almost 20 years, and we’re proud of the work we’ve done here to create economic value by attracting and retaining jobs in the region.

"However, this co-operative is a landmark part of our journey at Wrexham Industrial Estate, allowing us to transform the area, protect the wildlife, and create purposeful spaces for the nature and the community.

"Being able to consult with experts who know the region’s habitats and species so well is fantastic, and I look forward to seeing how far we’ve come by this time next year."

The Wrexham Ecology Co-operative has held its inaugural meeting, and plans are now underway for the next 12 months, including the first phase of work focused on relocating the newts.