Natural Beekeeping Network

[Sky]

I wonder if this is going on all over the UK and all over the world? I've seen it done in Indiana, USA but not this early in the Spring. Surely the practice needs to be stopped immediately.

29 May, 2010

The Hartland Parish Council



I wish to add my support for the item that Clare Gurton brought up at the Council meeting in regards to cutting the roadside grass verges at the height of wildflower blooming.

Council members must be aware that the UK and American governments have earmarked major funding towards protecting honeybees, bumblebees and other pollinators. Should I have to remind council that pollinators are essential to food production? Although I was not present at the discussion, it was reported that the reason the verges were cut was for road safety.
Please, what possible safety hazard could result from Spring grass and wildflowers along the side of a road?

May I request that you seriously question this practice to the view of eliminating such needless expense. If you cannot bring yourself to support the elimination of this practice, I urge you to at least wait until the wildflowers have gone to seed. This will have a double-barreled effect of allowing the bees their food and enabling wildflowers to continue to flourish.

Of course, there is also the grand aesthetic and pleasure for some in simply seeing the beautiful Spring display of our native wildflower species. I am not suggesting that members of council should enjoy seeing them, but perhaps it might cross your minds that many other residents and visitors look forward every year to observing this beauty. Perhaps there might be some validity to the idea that preservation of beauty has value in itself.

Kind regards,

Sky McCain
Ball Cottage
Hartland

[Tavascarow]

It's also bird breeding season as well.
Those flowers will attract insects that are needed to feed young.
The longer wilder grasses & flowers are home to field voles & field mice that feed kestrels & owls young through the summer.
_________________
Don't worry
Bee happy.
Member of Cornwall Natural Beekeepers
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Natural_Beekeeping/index.php?showforum=4
http://www.fotothing.com/Tavascarow

[meegosh]

Safety - every single day I turn out from our single width roads onto a 60mph "normal" road (where you can happily do the speed limit btw). And whilst I have a good view to the left, when the verges are left to grow then it blocks the view and makes it pretty difficult to see what is coming towards you on the side of the road closest to you. Spots such as this I think do need to be kept cut.

That said, that's one junction on one stretch of road. Perhaps cutting immediately by junctions there's an argument for - but not cutting it all back. As said, letting wild flowers grow is good for the bees and beautiful too. And that's as good a reason as any to let them grow.

[meegosh]

Apparently I wasn't alone in my thinking - the corner has been cut, allowing for a safer turning and yet leaving a lovely long verge for wildlife.

[biodynamicbees]

I think every street should have wildflowers along its borders.. and I think the council could save a lot of money but not needing to cut twice a year.

The safety issue needs to be respected, as in some lanes it is very dangerous when the grass is too high.

If flowers that do not grow high would be sawn this would make the difference. A local farmer got rid of some grass edges by taking of the grass and you see nwo the bare soil. if this is easy to do, it could be done step by step by local groups, wildflowers woul dbe sown (low growing).. and we could have a lot of forage sapces.. I think we need these spaces..

... and open spaces in parks and in villages.. there is so much we could saw.... where to start..?