Calls for Wrexham Council to allow wildflowers to grow on grass verges

Wrexham Council has been urged to allow wildflowers to grow on grass verges throughout the county.

The local authority first planted flowers on a grassed area at the side of Cefn Road in 2016, which garnered nationwide attention, including praise from TV presenter Chris Packham.

However, Cllr Ronnie Prince, who was behind the initial scheme, now wants to see it rolled out more widely in the area. He is calling on the council to adopt a policy put forward by conservation campaigners Plantlife to allow roadside verges to bloom.

Cllr Prince said he wanted the issue to be explored as a large number of species are in danger of dying out because of the loss of a significant proportion of the UK’s wildflower meadows.

He said: “Three years on from planting the wildflowers on the grassed verges along Cefn Road, the wildflowers are still looking great and also helping biodiversity.

“However, we’re facing a biodiversity crisis according to a landmark U.N. study. The report concludes that we are facing a global biodiversity crisis with up to one million species facing extinction.

“Humans action is both the cause and the potential solution to the biodiversity problem.

“There is an opportunity to help biodiversity if local councils adopt the Plantlife policy for maintaining road side verges and grassed areas.”

Wrexham Council attracted criticism last week when its workers accidentally cut back wild flower verges outside the Village Bakery’s premises on Wrexham Industrial Estate.

It led to an apology being issued for their actions, which were blamed on ‘human error’.

Cllr Prince previously put forward a request in May for discussions to be held on adopting the Plantlife policy, which calls on councils to adopt a “cut less, cut later” approach.

It was backed by members of the authority’s homes and environment scrutiny committee, who are expected to receive a presentation from the charity in September.

Kate Petty, Plantlife’s road verge campaign manager, said 61,000 people had signed a petition calling for better management grassed areas by all UK councils.

She said: “Plantlife’s vision for Britain’s road verges is one where verges remain entirely safe for motorists but are managed for wildlife as a matter of course, restoring and expanding flower-rich habitats along our road network and enhancing biodiversity.

“Road verges are both a last remaining refuge for some unbelievably rare plants and absolutely crucial to bee and butterfly populations now left with no meadow to call home.

“We are actively supporting local authorities all around the UK, sharing information and guidance on wildlife-friendly verge management.

“I look forward to presenting our management guidelines to and sharing case studies of successful projects in other local authorities with councillors in Wrexham later this year.”

In response to Cllr Prince’s original request to discuss the issue, the authority’s lead member for environment and transport said he was supportive of protecting wildlife.

However, Cllr David A Bithell added that the cost of implementing such a policy would need to be considered, along with public safety issues.

He said: “The council support the environment act 2016, but in considering any policy members would need to be aware of the significant issues of grass cutting schedules, safety and visibility and the potential cost to the local authority in adopting Plantlife’s recommendations.

“All grass cutting has been adopted via our streetscene service standards.

“We do follow the biodiversity models in our country parks and work in partnership with the North Wales Wildlife Trust to re-seed our roundabouts with wild seeds.

“We have identified Minera as high value conversation areas for road side verges.”

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme).