Wildflower Borders are here to stay in Rochdale despite concerns that attempts to create nature-friendly floral elements in the community have failed.
The Council has moved away from mowing roadsides to take a “naturalized approach” to improve appearance, reduce pesticide use and attract bees and other insects.
As early as 2018, the first ten locations were selected to host annual flower meadows, including Middleton Bus Station, Hopwood Park and Sudden Junction.
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And the following year, the council removed grass from several roadsides throughout the district and replaced them with “nature-friendly zones”.
These “informally blooming lawns” are similar to wildflower meadows, but they grow at a low level and are therefore better suited to urban areas.
Neil Emmott said while serving as environmental director these would provide a sanctuary for vital pollinating insects while striking a balance between preserving our beautiful neighborhood, keeping drivers safe and caring for the wildlife.
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As President of the Council, he is no less committed to the project.
When asked by Conservative Alderman Peter Winkler – who said the state of some of the peripheral areas suggested the initiative had failed – Coun Emmott insisted there would be no going back to politics.
He said, “There are a number of reasons why we brought meadows of wildflowers.
“First, it’s part of our commitment to the environment. One of the problems our society faces in general is the lack of pollinating insects and the loss of the habitats that pollinating insects, especially bees, use.
“We wanted to create more rooms for this.”
(Image: Alan Hamer)
He accepted that some margins were “a little dilapidated” – but said this was due to staff shortages during the pandemic, which meant they were not being serviced as usual.
“I’m telling you now, we’re not going to be walking on the grass again,” he said to Coun Winkler
“Because grass is actually more expensive, we have to maintain the grass over and over again and it costs a lot to keep mowing it. And it also costs a lot for the TROs [traffic regulation orders] when we have to close the autobahn.
“I’m afraid we’re not going back to the grass, Herr Graf Winkler. But what we’re going to do is start a program to make sure these wildflower borders are properly cared for. “
The Rochdale community maintains 500,000 square feet of freeway edges across the borough – that’s the equivalent of 100 soccer fields.
In 2018, ten locations across the district were selected to host annual flower meadows, including Middleton Bus Terminal, Hopwood Park and Sudden Junction.
And the following year the Council removed grass from some of the edges to make them “nature-friendly areas”.
These are areas where flowers filled with pollen and nectar are planted to create natural corridors for bees and insects. They allow entire ecosystems to flourish by providing shelter for bees and insects and providing a place to hunt, feed and breed.
- According to the Royal Horticulture Society, 97 percent of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been lost since 1945 and one of the biggest problems for pollinators is the shortage of flowering plants, especially those filled with pollen and nectar. Therefore, it is important to create new areas for flowers to grow.
- The European Commission says 10 percent of pollinating insects are critically endangered and a third of bee and butterfly species are declining. We hope these zones will increase the number of insects in the community.
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