Council agrees to limit grass-cutting as wildflower seeds to be given to community groups

Wildflower seed packs are to be handed out to community groups as part of plans to boost biodiversity in Caerphilly county borough.

The council has also agreed to continue to keep grass-cutting to a minimum and take part in the No Mow May campaign each year.

When lockdown restrictions were imposed in March 2020, grass cutting services in the borough were paused. As a result, new wildlife habitats were created and nature blossomed, therefore the council has decided to reduce its grass-cutting.

Housing estates, older person accommodation and cemeteries are excluded from the plans in order to keep them “well-maintained”.

The report which was presented to the council’s cabinet on Wednesday March 22, also stated that wildflower packs were to be provided to community groups on request.

The packs, which include seeds indigenous to the UK, can be collected from the council’s offices.

Speaking on the policy, council leader Sean Morgan said: “I’m massively in favour of this as somebody who put forward a motion to declare a climate emergency here in Caerphilly some years ago.”

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.”