Councillors set to debate potential reductions in grass cutting in bid to increase biodiversity

This article is old - Published: Friday, May 3rd, 2019

Councillors look set to debate potential reductions in grass cutting in some areas in a bid to improve biodiversity.

It comes after calls from Cartrefle councillor Ronnie Prince last month for the local authority to leave some grass verges uncut in a bid to increase biodiversity and help the environment.

During a meeting of the homes and environment committee in April, Cllr Prince questioned Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for environment and transport over whether the council could reduce its grass cutting in some areas.

The grass and hedge cutting undertaken by the council has already begun across the county borough, however it was suggested that more ‘swathes’ of land were left uncut to encourage biodiversity.





Speaking last month Cllr Prince, stated: “There is a massive issue around the world with biodiversity being in massive decline. When we cut the grass there is pollinated flowers coming through for the insects, aren’t we adding to the destruction of biodiversity?”

“Can we look at something like a step change in what we do. I’m not saying not to cut everywhere but there are certain grassed areas where we needn’t cut on a regular basis.

“If we want to look after the environment we need to look at what we can do for biodiversity.”

At the time Cllr Bithell noted that it was “about getting the balance right” and that there are requests from the public to let the grass grow along with complaints about lack of cuts.

Now in an ‘Adoption of the Plantlife Management Guidelines for Grass Verges’ topic request form submitted by the councillor, members of the committee are being asked to consider replacing / amending the council’s policy on grass verges to adhere to those by Plantlife.

The organisation is a British conversation charity working to save / preserve threatened wild flowers, plants and fungi.

In his request form Cllr Prince explains that he aims to “highlight that biodiversity in our country is in massive decline (insects/birds/etc) and if this continues the knock on effect for the wellbeing of our future generations will be bleak to say the least” by holding the debate.

He also states that adopting such procedures will help ensure the survival and restoration of roadside verges biodiversity without compromising road safety and to highlight through education / publicity that grass verges are in fact endangered species habitat.

In a comment by Cllr Bithell it noted that Minera has been identified as a “high value conservation area for verges.”

He adds: “The council support the environment act 2016, but in considering any policy members would need to be aware of the significant issues of grass cutting schedules, safety and visibility and the potential cost to the local authority in adopting Plantlifes recommendations.

“All grass cutting has been adopted via our streetscene service standards.

“We do follow the biodiversity models in our country parks and work in partnership with the North Wales Wildlife Trust to re seed our roundabouts with wild seeds. We have identified Minera as high value conversation areas for road side verges.”

The topic request form will likely be discussed by members of the homes and environment scrutiny committee at a later date.