City wildflowers . . .

Wild flowers should now be blooming across Plymouth, following a successful trial last year in which some verges and boundaries were left to grow wilder.

Some of the results were spectacular with wonderful patches of colour appearing where once there was just green - but parks and open spaces will still be managed and some areas still cut to keep roads safe.

A spokesman for Plymouth City Council said: ‘Where we’ve got grassy areas that are of more use to wildlife than people, like steep banks and verges, we’ll be cutting around the edges and then leaving the rest to grow wild. We’ll then cut them later in the year to allow more types of plant a chance to grow.

Cllr Sue Dann, cabinet member for street scene and environment, said: ‘This strategy is just one of a number of ways that we are trying to do things a bit differently to help the environment and tackle the climate emergency

‘In 2021, we’ll be building on last year’s success, where we began to tip the balance by increasing the grassland managed for nature from 15 per cent to 40 per cent. 

‘I can’t wait to see the blooming purples, yellows, blues and pinks; a city awash with colour that not only looks beautiful, but also creates homes for the wildlife vital to our fight against climate change.’ 

Longer grass and flowers provide food and homes for pollinating insects like bees and butterflies – and all manner of wildlife, helping reduce our total carbon footprint.