A major step forward has been taken by Three Rivers District Council in its climate change objectives by agreeing to fund a new grassland management plan from April onwards.
The council already maintains 54 per cent of its grassland as long grass, and agreed in November to cease regular mowing of up to 50 per cent of the grassland it owns, replacing this with hay meadow management, mowing and lifting the grass at least once a year.
A detailed independent Biodiversity Opportunities Audit report had been commissioned from Countryside Management to identify opportunities for biodiversity improvements across the district, but its recommendations and Action Plan were not due until mid-March.
Rather than awaiting the outcome, the council decided in advance to include funding in its budget to enable the recommendations from the audit to be carried out as from this year rather than risk any delays. The council budget is set to be agreed on 22 February.
Councillor Phil Williams, the council’s Lead Member for Environmental Services, Climate Change and Sustainability said: “We already have many areas of grassland in Three Rivers where we are cutting the grass less frequently in order to increase biodiversity.”
The council has agreed to public consultation after it has implemented a revised regime to assess its impact rather than delay implementation when the normal cutting season starts in April.
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