Overzealous Council mowing?
The fringes of Middleton Woods, Ilkley are great for wildflowers in spring and a popular spot to find butterflies, especially in those south-facing areas. Unfortunately Bradford Council’s mowing team have been a bit overzealous again this year and have mowed right up to the woodland near the Swimming pool (see featured image). They may wish to slow down the encroachment of the woodland but these areas of scrub are valuable habitats for many species.
The term ‘scrub’ typically describes temporary habitat which is in transition from one form (such as open grassland) to another (such as woodland). If it is not managed then it can rapidly take over grassland or heathland. You could argue either way but if you have an opinion on this please let us know your thoughts. It seems a shame to tackle the scrub in this manner when all the spring flowers are coming through.
It’s nothing short of dumb, thoughtless and inconsiderate in my view…Where i live, huge verges have just been strimmed and mowed..For what? Neatness is an affront to life, when is this vandalism going to end? When will people wake up and see the value in these strips of ground, both to the insect life they support and the flood water they can absorb when managed effectively and mindfully.