Agenda item
WILDFLOWER MEADOW PROJECT
To consider a report by the Council’s Ecology Officer (copy
enclosed) which seeks the Committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the
measures take to improve engagement and increase publicity in relation to the
project.
11am – 11.45am
Minutes:
The Lead Member for
Environment and Transport Councillor Barry Mellor introduced the Wildflower
Meadow Project Update report (previously circulated) alongside the Interim Head
of Highways and Environmental Services and the Council’s Ecology Officer.
The Wildflower
Project was a collaborative project between the Biodiversity Team, Streetscene
and other Council departments, the aim of which was to create urban and
peri-urban local provenance meadows through a reduced ‘cut-and-collect’ mowing
regime. This project was regarded as key to halt and reverse biodiversity loss
and tackle the Climate and Ecological Emergency.
The report aimed to
provide information regarding the effectiveness of the steps taken to improve
engagement and increase publicity with all stakeholders of the Wildflower
Project.
The Chair thanked
officers for attending, as the matter had been discussed at Communities
Scrutiny Committee previously, and the issues raised then had been addressed
and vastly improved.
The Ecology Officer
(EO) highlighted the main points raised previously, including the need to
improve communication and consultation. He explained that he and other officers
had communicated with elected members on all levels and that the website had
been updated. In addition, correspondence
issued to residents now included contact details for officers. There had also
been a push on social media and with the local press highlighting the purpose
and benefits of the wildflower projects. Tours had been arranged for elected
members of some of the wildflower meadows across the county.
The Committee
discussed the following in further detail –
·
Members
were confused as some wildflower meadows had been cut, such as an area in Rhewl
and surrounding the Denbigh area. It was
queried why elected members were not informed on the matter prior to the cut
being done in order that they could alleviate any concerns raised by the
public, and whether there were any internal communications breakdown that had
led to this happening. Officers advised
that there was work underway to refine the highway grass-cutting policy. They also clarified that many areas were cut
ahead of Eisteddfod yr Urdd in Denbigh, some by residents themselves who wanted
to ‘tidy’ up the approach routes to the festival.
·
The use
of volunteers and whether the project had enough resources to maintain it for
the long term – approximately 50% of the staffing resources working on the
projects were funded through grant funding on a 12-month basis, which the EO
highlighted was a challenge in terms of long term work planning and future
sustainability.
·
The
Committee raised fire safety concerns, particularly as the year had been hotter
and drier than usual. The EO did agree
that the year had been hotter than usual. Consequently, the team contacted the
Fire Service and the AONB Team to arrange fire safety and fire risk assessment
training. In future, all sites would be
subject to a fire risk assessment on a monthly basis.
·
The
Committee suggested that the success of the wildflower meadows be used for
tourism purposes; the project was a significant achievement for Denbighshire
and could attract people to the area and educate those who came to the county.
Officers assured members this was something which officers intended to pursue.
·
Engagement
with schools and Denbighshire’s housing and business/industrial tenants was
raised, and whether there had been any push to get them to plant wildflower
areas in school fields/gardens/land. The EO responded, stating that the
wildflower meadow project logo had been designed by Denbighshire school pupils;
approximately 55 seed planting sessions had been held with schools as part of
the ‘bee hotels’ initiative. Pupils were
keen to engage with these sessions. The EO was in contact with the Housing
Department who were extremely keen to be part of the project in future. The
Committee also suggested contacting housing associations/registered social
landlords (RSLs) operating in the county with a view to getting them engaged
with the project.
·
The
variety of the plants which would grow at wildflower meadow sites was raised;
the EO clarified that some plants would grow and establish themselves at
different rates dependent upon the type and quality of soil in the area. The
Green Gates nursery in St. Asaph was key in securing the success of the project
as nurturing and caring for the seeds sown there would allow more ‘attractive’
plants to be planted quicker. Since it
had opened 5,000 trees and 10,000 wildflower plants had been grown at the
nursery prior to being transplanted in woodlands and wildflower meadows across
the county.
At the end of the
discussion, the Chair, summing up the Committee’s views, emphasised the
importance of strengthening the following aspects with a view to securing the
Project’s continued success and expansion:
·
effective
communication with all stakeholders
·
working
with the Council’s Housing Department, local Registered Social Landlords
(RSLs), businesses and tenants of domestic and industrial properties to
persuade them to engage with the Project;
·
educating
residents of all ages on the purpose and long-term benefits of the project
(including using elected members as a conduit for informing and educating their
residents) ; and
·
exploring
the potential benefits of promoting the Council’s approach towards the
development of wildflower meadows as part of the tourist offer available for
people visiting the county.
At the conclusion
of an in-depth discussion the Committee:
RESOLVED: subject to the above observations –
(i) to
confirm that it was happy with the steps taken to improve engagement and
increase publicity, along with the progress made to date in delivering the
Project’s benefits; and
(ii) to
pledge its continued support for the Project.
Supporting documents:
- Wildflower Meadow Project Report 080922, item 6. PDF 139 KB
- Wildflower Project Report - Appendix 1 080922, item 6. PDF 105 KB
- Wildflower Project Report - Appendix 2 080922, item 6. PDF 845 KB