Council embraces flower power as wild meadow areas grow in North Herts

PR Date: Friday, 4 June 2021 - 3:00pm

North Herts District Council (NHDC) is taking action for biodiversity and climate change by allowing urban wild meadow areas to grow in the district.

Areas of grass that have previously been closely mown by the Council, will now be allowed to grow wild during the summer months until they are cut in late August/early September.

By doing this the Council aims to:

• encourage more wildflower species to grow, providing food and shelter for more insects, mammals, amphibians and birds
• contribute to off-setting the Council’s carbon emissions as part of its Climate Change Strategy

Sites that have areas designated for wild meadows include: 

• Avenue Park, Baldock
• Clothall Common, Baldock
• Baldock Road Recreation Ground, Letchworth Garden City
• Letchworth Gate, Letchworth Garden City
• Jackmans Central Playing Field, Letchworth Garden City
• Cadwell Lane Playing Field, Hitchin
• Butts Close, Hitchin

These wild meadow sites follow a successful trial last year which was prompted by feedback from residents asking for urban meadow areas in the district.

Cllr Steve Jarvis, NHDC’s Executive Member for Environment said: “We have lost nearly 97% of our wildflower meadows since the 1930’s in the UK and this has had a huge impact on our wildlife and environment. Not only will this action help to sustain local wildlife, but it will also help in our fight against climate change in the district. I hope that in future years we will be able to expand wilding like this to even more locations.”

Areas which will be left for wildflowers will still be maintained to allow easy access and will not impact on social use of the space.

To find out more about the Council’s work in parks and open spaces go to our parks and open spaces webpage.  

For more information on the Council’s Climate Change Strategy go to our climate change web page.