Councils criticised as wildflower spaces destroyed

A resident and local wildflower expert has questioned Wiltshire Council and Melksham Town Council’s support of biodiversity, as wildflowers, long grass and plants have been destroyed on two Melksham roundabouts.

Howard Yardy, who is working on a wildflower and pollinator project in Melksham for a local charity, asked Wiltshire Council to refrain from mowing the roundabout near the Milk Churn pub on the A350, until later in the summer.

He has also raised concern about the ‘poor’ maintenance and type of plants chosen for the Market Place roundabout that died due to the heat, before becoming a suitable habitat for bugs and insects.

He said, “I am increasingly frustrated by the attitude of our council towards the environment.

Mown down

“On 29th May, I wrote to Wiltshire Council and asked them to let the wildflowers develop on the roundabout and to stop any intended mowing until later in the summer. The display was getting better each day and included rare orchids. The highways department said it was not possible to stop the contractors and by 14th June, the whole area was mown down, with the loss of all the plants including the orchids. Nature provided a beautiful colourful display which needed no watering or weeding and all for free. The council used our taxes to pay people to destroy it.”

About the plants that were on the Market Place roundabout Howard said, “The centre display of pansies was of little wildlife value and succumbed to the dry scorching weather. The pitiful display, designed to celebrate the crowning of the new King – a King, who is passionate about nature, especially wildflowers. I wonder what he would think of these two roundabouts?

“[It] was planted with hundreds of purchased cultivated plants, which needed time and effort to grow and plant and then water and weed, and which have now been neglected to such an extent that it is unlikely they will survive at all.”

Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for transport, cllr Caroline Thomas said, “We’ve made considerable progress over the past two years to increase areas of environmentally-managed land to improve biodiversity. We would encourage anyone who would like to recommend areas for environmental management to contact their local town or parish council who, if they support the request, can make an application for Wiltshire Council’s consideration.

Divided opinion

“Grass cutting can divide opinion and it is difficult to find a solution that will suit everyone, as some would like to see roundabouts cut, while others would like them to be left uncut. This policy enables the local town or parish council to make requests on behalf of the local community.

“Any request for environmental management on the highway would need to consider the safety of road users.”

A spokesperson at Melksham Town Council said, “The plants in the Market Place roundabout were only ever a temporary measure for the King’s Coronation, the display you see now was the planned display for this year.  The plants are watered every two days.”

In terms of what the council is doing to support biodiversity, the spokesperson said, “There is a 76-point action plan and the Environment & Climate Working Group feed in to projects which the council want to undertake (where appropriate) on matters of biodiversity.”

Wiltshire Council recently participated in No Mow May, a national conservation campaign to allow grass to grow throughout the month of May, creating a habitat for early season pollinators. This followed research showing changes in mowing habits can result in enough nectar for ten times more bees and other pollinators.

Earlier this year, Melksham Without Parish Council also voted to back a project that would turn the main road from Melksham to Semington into a pollinator corridor.

Howard said, “Nationwide, over 97% of old wildflower hay meadows have been lost to modern farming methods since the 1930s. The result has been a disaster for insects and bird numbers. The need to feed a growing population means we must use every available non-productive space to recreate those wildflower areas. Road verges, parkland and other public spaces must be utilised.”