Caerphilly grass cutting regime promotes biodiversity

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet has approved plans to amend grass cutting regimes, with the aim of promoting biodiversity.

Cabinet members approved adopting the approach used during 2021/22 as the future standard for grass cutting in the county borough. This saw highway verges and bypass routes where mowing is kept to a minimum, in accordance with Traffic Wales guidance.

They also gave a commitment to support the UK wide ‘No Mow May’ campaign. This means formal grass cutting does not commence until June, with the exception of visibility splays and sight lines on highways, margins and access on footways / cycle routes, sports grounds, urban areas such as housing estates, municipal parks, older persons’ accommodation, cemeteries, and play / open recreation spaces, which will continue to be maintained at the current cutting frequencies.

A list of areas that will be left to flourish during the summer period was also agreed, along with a commitment to provide free wild flower seed packs to community groups on request.

Cllr Chris Morgan, the Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Green Spaces, said “This approach has been piloted previously in the borough, with positive feedback received, including a public commendation from Welsh naturalist Iolo Williams.

“As well as promoting biodiversity in our approach to managing green spaces this will also help reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change; a commitment made when the Council declared a climate emergency in 2019.”