What Would Change?
Today, the Council actively manages about 50 hectares of green space as amenity grass which is cut frequently every couple of weeks.
We are proposing to change our land management practice on some of this land to help restore and create more biodiverse sites and support the recovery of nature. It is likely this is achievable on about one third of the land we manage.
Listen to our Senior Specialist Rob Sekula talk about what this might mean.
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The intention is to proactively manage this land to deliver wildflowers, long grasses, and include additional tree planting where appropriate. This can support pollinators, as well as wildlife such as reptiles, small mammals, amphibians, birds and even bats, whilst even reducing long-term management costs.
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These sites will be more resilient to environmental change, they will enhance ecological connectivity and provide better ecosystem services such as pollination as well as indirectly improving our health and wellbeing by making these green spaces more enjoyable places to visit.
We anticipate changes will include:
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3.5ha of new wildflower areas at parks and verges (equivalent to around 5 football pitches)
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3.5ha of new tree planting and
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10ha of grass with a reduced cut from every two weeks to once or twice a year with collection of cuttings
This will complement work many of our parishes are already undertaking through the community action of residents including Sustainable South Brent, Yealmpton Environment Group and Wembury Environment Group amongst others.
