Keep off the grass – and give wildlife a chance

FEWER grass verges should be cut across Warrington – to give wildlife a better chance to thrive and survive.

That’s the view of Warrington Nature Conservation Forum (WNCF) Chairman Geoff Settle said,:“It’s good to see some verges and green spaces not being cut except for a narrow strip.

“The remainder that is left uncut is the perfect wildlife habitat for insects and wildflowers to flourish. For example it provides shelter, food in the form of insects for birds and nectar for bees.

“Several years ago, because of austerity grass verges were not mowed and a perfect environment evolved for wildflowers to flourish to the delight of WNCF members.

“However, the council said many people complained that they appeared scruffy and unkept. These people seem to demand verges that have the appearance of a bowling green.

WNCF media manager, Dr Paul Speake said “By leaving the grasses uncut, there are places in Birchwood and Stockton Heath where you will see examples of rare wildflowers like the bee orchid.

The beautiful bee orchids (Ophrys apifera) are a remarkable example of sexually-deceptive pollination and flora mimicry as well as of a highly selective and highly evolved plant-pollinator relationship.”

Mr Settle said: “We mustn’t add to the weather problems by cutting down all the WBC grass spaces just to make them look pretty.

“Having said this, we are pleased with the creation of wildflower beds, for example at roundabouts and central reservations. Whilst they take time and effort to reproduce each year their impact is positive.

“What we are asking for is the protection of sites where naturally occurring wildflowers return every year simply by leaving them uncut?”

Two WNCF members, Catherine Fortune and Ron Davies, have been monitoring the beautiful bee orchid sites for a few years.

Cath said: “I first noticed the delicate bee-orchids when I was cycling to work on the Birchwood cycle path that runs between Crab Lane and Locking Stumps.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes there must have over 100 bee orchids. They are hard to spot amongst the tall grass but once you tune your eyes in you begin to see them more easily and they are a great sight. I have seen at least 50 this year and only just today six northern orchids.”

On the other side of town Ron discovered over 50 bee orchids at a small Stockton Heath wood off Greenall Avenue,

“You can imagine my disappointment when weeks later I discovered they had been mowed down.  Apparently, it was because a trainee miss-read his bosses’ instruction.

“Due to their sensitive nature the bee orchids never fully recovered and are down to only six spikes this year. Somehow there is a solitary northern orchid that escaped the mower.”

Mr Settle is looking forward to seeing the magnificent display of northern orchids that he saw last year at Houghton Green Pool. He describes the slopes alongside Delph Lane as being a sea of pink northern orchids in a yellow bed of buttercups.  WNCF would like to hear from anyone about other examples of pockets of wildlife. They can use the contact page on the www.wncf.co.uk web site to share the details.

@settlegfs don’t cut the grass pic.twitter.com/K4uxJYUpdj

— Geoff Settle (@settlegfs) June 25, 2019