WORCESTER residents have overwhelming been in support of more wild green spaces that have been appearing across the city.

Worcester City Council started mowing its grassy areas less this year to expand the number of green open space areas that will be left to grow naturally.

Councillor Andy Roberts said there had been some initial confusion from residents in his Warndon ward at the Dugdale Drive area - with some wrongly thinking it was neglect.

But he said the reaction he had received since had been "overwhelmingly positive".

On social media residents also backed the new look of areas that are allowed to grow wild, apart from an edge around the borders which is cut.

Eveson Joe said: "Fantastic idea - wildflower meadows have been absolutely hammered over the past 50 years. The more wild spaces the better."

Suzanne Elizabeth Perkins said: "More areas should be made wild in a time when we are all fully aware of habitat loss and loss of wildlife - a 70 per decline of insects in 30 years. We need to see more of these wild spaces where nature can have a little space to thrive."

 

WILD: Green open spaces are being allowed to grow wild across the city

WILD: Green open spaces are being allowed to grow wild across the city

Margaret Layland added: "Looks lovely. Much better for the butterflies, bees and other pollinators and much more cheery for us to look at. Makes me feel younger too because it reminds me of my youth. Walking home from school the verges were full of wildflowers."

Some of the areas of Worcester where the wild growing is underway are: Battenhall Park open space (land between rear of Ransom Avenue and rear of Battenhall Rise); Newtown Green, known as Ronkswood Field open space (land behind Ronkswood Community Centre and Worcester Woods), A38 Droitwich Road arterial (land on eastern side of A38 between John Comyn Drive and Bilford Road), Woodgreen Drive (roundabout at Woodgreen Drive/Plantation Drive), Hastings Drive (roundabout at Hastings Drive/Stafford Avenue and Tallow Hill car park (area where tree removed).

The authority has also planted a mix of wildflowers at a number of new sites this year, including Hylton Road, Bromwich Parade, City Walls Road and the Bromwich Road, with the intention to create a variety of species and colours.

Paul Snookes, from Worcester Environmental Group, said: "The UK has lost 97 per cent of its wildflower meadows since the Second World War – which is incredibly worrying because they provide essential nutrients for 270 species of native bee.

"We are pleased the council is taking this action and look forward to the programme expanding to more sites in the future.”

Councillor Andy Stafford, chairman of Worcester City Council’s environment committee, said: "Worcester City Council declared a biodiversity emergency in 2020, because we recognise that action needs to be taken immediately to stop the decline of our native species. The success of Dugdale Drive shows us that with a change in mowing practices we can turn barren grass verges into vibrant natural habitats for our native wildflowers and insects."