A Green councillor who has long championed wild verges was disappointed that two key areas were not included in a recent expansion of a local scheme.
Brighton and Hove City Council said that it was adding five areas to its array of wild verges for wild flowers, taking the number to 29 across the city.
In June, Councillor Pete West raised concerns that the council had abandoned its previous “no mow May” policy, resulting in “bowling green” short grass which left areas at risk of becoming dust bowls in dry weather.
When he was cabinet member for the environment and sustainability during the Green administration more than 10 years ago, Councillor West introduced the rewilding programme, excluding 25 verges from the six-times-a-year mowing.
He asked the council to include Carden Hill and Surrenden Avenue as part of its latest review.
The council extended the scheme to include verges on the Bristol Estate and in Kemp Town, Queensway, Craven Vale, Finsbury Road, Hanover, Marine Drive, Roedean and Greenfield Crescent, Hollingbury.
Councillor West said: “Many of the city’s verges act as wildlife corridors and could better contribute to biodiversity gain if rewilded.
“While it is good to see some further areas have been recognised as wilder verges, I cannot understand why Labour are not choosing to do much more on this.
“Instead, what we are seeing is verges that were on a single wildlife-friendly annual cut are now being mown regularly.
“Labour have also stopped abiding with the No Mow May scheme. Altogether, years of improvement of many natural habitats is being sacrificed to Labour’s failing attempts to make everything look neat and tidy.”
Labour councillor Alan Robins, the council’s cabinet member for sports and recreation, said that the sites were added to the wilder verges project as they were considered more suitable for supporting wildlife and insects.
Councillor Robins said: “Volunteers from Brighton and Hove Wildlife Forum have been carrying out surveys this year on potential new sites, including on Carden Hill. These will be assessed in the autumn with a view to adding another five sites next summer.
“Several factors need to be considered when choosing new sites, including the existing species representation.
“Some verges may not be suitable due to the dominance of types of grasses, lack of existing wildflower species as well as factors such as sightlines and access to utilities.
“We’re taking a strategic approach to this project so they can be managed in the best way for wildflowers and ensure new ones are put into places that have the biggest impact for nature as part of a wildflower network.”
So it’s coming, and he’s getting what he wants; he just has to wait?
Most of the City residents want the City to look tidy and not like some over grown zombie City. Great to see people enjoying the cities wide open spaces this summer with grass maintained cut short like a football pitch just how it should be.
Are you kidding !
Honestly can’t tell if this is satire
Urban nature recovery and tackling the biodiversity crisis should be a cross – party priority. Stop politicising it, work together and collaborate . Nature recovery is all about building ecologically beneficial habititats and networks. That needs to happen city – wide, cross party! The wilder verges project is being expanded. Celebrate that , don’t moan about it and pick holes. There are certain criteria needed for sites to be viable, these things take time and they are doing the best they can. Other projects I am sure will be considered with enough community support.
Think the council replaced “no mow May” with “whoops we accidentally sprayed toxic weedkiller in the wrong place May”
Surely if they wish to see all this they should move to the countryside rather than attempt to turn the place into the countryside ?
Those wishing to see some wildlife-friendly considerations in the city should move to the countryside. Right, got it.
Are trees OK? Do you draw the line at daisies? What’s your stance on peonies?
If everyone in the city moved into the countryside, it wouldn’t be countryside anymore, would it?