When lockdown restrictions were imposed in March 2020, grass cutting services in Caerphilly County Borough were paused.

As a result, new wildlife habitats were created and nature blossomed.

When grass cutting resumed in the summer of 2020, it was limited to dual carriageways – with the council only cutting the grass up to one metre from the kerb, leaving the rest untouched.

Senior councillors have now approved plans for this regime to be implemented as the norm.

The plan does not include urban areas such as housing estates, older person accommodation and cemeteries – in order to keep them well-maintained.

The move is part of the council’s Climate Emergency, which was declared in 2019.

The council’s approach to grass cutting was praised by environmentalists, including Caerphilly Friends of the Earth, Climate Action Caerphilly and television nature presenter Iolo Williams.

Through the summer of 2021, a consultation took place with councillors to identify suitable areas within their wards that could benefit from limited grass mowing.

The following areas will be marked by a wooden plaque to thank residents for allowing the areas to grow into eco-friendly spaces:

• Snowdon Close, Risca.
• Junction of Heol Adam and B4254, Gelligaer (near the Cross Inn).
• Areas within the Grove Estate, Trethomas.
• Areas around the Community Centre, Llanbradach.

Limited grass cutting and campaigns such as No Mow May, meant that flora and fauna were able to flourish in the county borough.

The Environment and Sustainability Scrutiny committee backed the proposal to limit grass cutting in a meeting on October 26.