Councils urged to follow Rochdale and adopt bee friendly grass-cutting

Wild flower meadows include Middleton bus station, Hopwood Park and Sudden junction

Councils are being urged to do more to do more to help Britain’s bees and other pollinators – such as cutting areas of grass less often in parks and roadside verges to allow wild flowers to grow.

Friends of the Earth and Buglife are urging North West councils to follow in the steps of Rochdale Council which has adopted naturalising grass verges and open space plans.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/119840/-wildflower-planting-creates-a-buzz

Buglife and Friends of the Earth have produced a comprehensive guide for councils setting out policies that would help pollinators in their area. Habitat loss is a major contributor towards pollinator decline, and the guide includes easy, cost-effective measures to protect and restore pollinator-friendly habitats in their local areas.

One policy suggestion is reducing grass-cutting on road verges and areas in parks, and creating areas rich in wild-flowers. Many of the councils contacted say they are already taking action in this area – with some indicating this has also saved tens of thousands of pounds each year (see below).

 The introduction of local pollinator action plans is likely to prove popular with the public. A YouGov poll for Friends of the Earth and Buglife, published last year, revealed that nearly two thirds (63%) of the public agreed councils should be doing more to help protect our bees. 81% of the public backed calls for councils to help Britain’s under-threat bees by cutting areas of grass less often in parks and roadside verges to allow wild flowers to grow.

Friends of the North West campaigner Helen Rimmer said: “Councils across the North West have an important role to play in protecting our bees and other pollinators.

 “It’s fantastic that Knowsley Council has introduced a pollinator action plan, and Burnley is developing one. We know other councils are taking steps to help our under-threat bees too, but we need every council to act.

 “Measures such as allowing patches of grass to grow longer in parks and on road verges aren’t just good news for pollinators; they can save money for local councils too, with Burnley council saving tens of thousands of pounds each year.

“From boosting precious wildlife habitat to encouraging residents to take action, our handy guide for local authorities sets out the action councils can take to help save Britain’s bees.”

 Paul Evans, Buglife Pollinator Advisor, added: “Although it is great to see more action being taken for pollinators there is so much more that could be done. Local authorities need to be leading the way, both by demonstrating good practice in their parks and verge management and by enthusing and helping their local communities to take action themselves.

 “By developing a Local Pollinator Action Plan, local authorities can ensure that the needs of pollinators are considered across all their functions, and that positive action is embedded in their work into the longer-term.”