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Urban meadows

Don't mow, let it grow

We are expanding our trial areas of a different style of management of some grassland in the borough.

While regularly mowed areas of short grass are appropriate for many areas, such as roadside verges and parks, longer grass and meadow areas with increased flora and fauna are better for the environment and support wildlife.

What we are doing

Longer grass is better for wildlife. We are therefore taking a more pragmatic approach to grass cutting and introducing areas of longer grass that we will only mow once a year. On some sites this will mean that we will leave longer grass around the edges, whilst on other sites we will create larger grassland meadows.

This approach is being adopted across the United Kingdom to help support our wildlife by using a more natural approach to land management and having more, bigger, better managed and joined up areas for wildlife.

 

Why we are changing our approach to grass cutting

The rationale around the reduction of grass cutting in some areas is to improve the green environment for wildlife of otherwise barren areas of grassland. In recent times there has been a loss of grassland habitats for insects and pollinators that could have a dramatic effect on our lifestyles within 10 years unless this trend is reversed. Locally our butterfly populations are monitored scientifically and when as an experiment grass cutting was reduced overall butterfly numbers increased by 159 per cent - well above the Warwickshire trend.

Long grass supports a range of species from insects, moths and butterflies to small mammals such as field mice and hedgehogs. Key wildlife areas are now often patchily distributed in our modern environment so these longer grass areas also act as important corridors between these habitats helping spread and connect colonies for a wide range of species.

An interim review of one of the trial sites in Rugby has found the following species already becoming established: Meadow Vetchling, Tares, Sow-thistles, Prickly Lettuce, Meadow-sweet, Greater Burnet, Common Knapweed, Small Skipper, Marbled White, Burnet Moth, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, and Hawker dragonfly.

Urban meadow sites

We will introduce urban meadows of different sizes and styles at:

  • Apple Grove Open Space 
  • Avon Mill Recreation Ground (banks) 
  • Boughton Road (including Flood basin)
  • Eden Road
  • Cawston
  • Hillmorton Recreation Ground 
  • Yates Ave/Fosterd Road 
  • Burnside 
  • Rokeby Open Space 
  • Dunchurch Road/Kingsway 
  • The Heath, Dunchurch 
  • Newbold Recreation Ground 

We may add more sites during the year.

These areas will receive a main cut by mid-October, although depending on the results the areas might need a further cutting. Where meadow grassland is adjacent to paths, a 2m strip will be cut along the path length to keep the path easily accessible. We will also cut desire lines where informal walking routes have been established.

The grass will be cut either with a flail or rotary unit and the cuttings removed from the surface to allow seed set and germination. On larger areas cuttings could be baled and left on site, providing a habitat for invertebrates, amphibians and small mammals.

More information on urban meadows

What will the site look like?

Some of the sites may take a few years for the fine grasses and wildflowers to become more dominant than the vigorous grasses. But with each year it will look better. Remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and hopefully through this project everyone will be able to appreciate the natural beauty of semi-natural grassland but also the increase in wildlife that will return such as butterflies and bees that currently cannot use the close mown grass areas.

Why aren't there any colourful wildflowers? Shouldn't you have sown wildflower seed?

Areas of planting of cornfield annuals, like poppy and cornflower, are commonly called meadows but are actually not meadows at all. A true meadow is an area of grass maintained by an annual hay cut, as explained elsewhere on these pages. It is made up mostly of grasses, types of daisy, pea and vetch. Are you sure your meadow is a meadow? (external link).

Why doesn't the site match the plans?

On some sites we have put together some plans of where we will cut, but these are very much a guide and are not cast in stone.  With any change in land management we need to be mindful of such things as desire lines and how people interact with the space so plans may well be tweaked as this becomes more evident. 

How will this benefit my local open space?

By improving the natural environment we will be making your area a more wildlife friendly place to live. By making more space for nature, this can improve pollination rates for flowers, fruit and vegetables in your area. Over half our food needs pollination by insects.

What's in it for me?

We all need biodiversity to allow us to live our lives. The biodiversity that surrounds us provides us with clean air to breath, freshwater to drink, clothes to wear and food to eat. Wildlife and the natural areas around us underpin our health and well-being. On top of that, you may discover new wildlife in your area, such as an exciting glimpse of hedgehogs that come to feed at night or butterflies flitting past your front door.

Will it improve things for wildlife?

Yes, there is a large body of scientifically gathered evidence to demonstrate that grasslands support a number of species from butterflies to bumblebees, hoverflies to beetles, birds to mammals. It will take a little time for the wildlife to return, but by having these areas that are managed well for wildlife will make local wildlife resilient to change by having a safe area to live and also help increase populations of rarer species that are just holding on.

Will this change save the council money?

Introducing urban meadows is a positive change to how we manage our large estate of grasslands for the benefit of wildlife and people. However the change in management will also deliver a small financial saving, and enable us to use resources differently. This way we can invest in making these areas for wildlife better through tweaking the management and perhaps improving some areas that need a little enhancement like planting wild flower species for example.

Will it encourage rats and other pests?

No. Discarded food and food wrappers attract rats, but introducing an urban meadow will not attract them further. In fact, by encouraging wildlife this can have a positive impact on pests especially in the context of gardening where hedgehogs may eat slugs and snails, and ladybirds will eat aphids from vegetables you might grow.

Urban meadow evaluation 2019

A number of sites were monitored by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Rugby Wildlife Group and Warwickshire Butterfly Conservation members, and non-affiliated wildlife enthusiasts also provided reports. These show that the projects have succeeded in increasing biodiversity.

The range of plant species, invertebrates and other wildlife increased, with a notable increase in species that would not be present on sites of just close mown turf.

The natural seedbank on sites is emerging well. With soil fertility reducing as grass cuttings are removed the meadows should become increasingly diverse. 

The marked increase in biodiversity resulted in the scheme receiving a Bees' Needs award for providing vital support for pollinators.

In this section:

  1. You are here: Don't mow, let it grow Don't mow, let it grow
  2. You are here: Urban meadow sites Urban meadow sites
  3. You are here: More information on urban meadows More information on urban meadows
  4. You are here: Urban meadow evaluation 2019 Urban meadow evaluation 2019