Providing essential habitats for wildlife through revised scheme

Posted by on 24 May 2024 | Comments

A conservation scheme which created 100 spaces across East Suffolk for the benefit of wildlife is to be enhanced, with a new look and a focus on increasing the biodiversity value of the wild areas.

East Suffolk Council's 'Pardon the weeds, we're feeding the bees' campaign, where grass was left to grow longer to help wildlife thrive was launched in 2020 and aimed to boost the biodiversity on 100 pieces of council-owned land by limiting grass cutting to twice per year. The wild areas were marked with eye-catching yellow signs to make residents and visitors aware of the scheme.

Building on the success of Pardon the Weeds, and learning from local and national examples, East Suffolk Council is now revising the scheme, by increasing the number of sites and improving the biodiversity value of key sites. The scheme, which will officially launch later this year, will be rebranded as 'Nature at Work', with new recyclable signs to replace the Pardon the Weeds signs, many of which had become damaged over the years.

As well as reduced grass cutting, Nature at Work will aim to improve the biodiversity value of wild areas, ensuring key sites are seeded and actively managed. The project will also involve local schools and community groups and an informal Facebook group will be set up giving people the chance to engage with others, offering advice and seed/equipment exchanges. It may also be possible to involve local landowners, businesses and housing associations in future to add sites not owned by the Council.

Cllr Sally Noble, East Suffolk Council's cabinet member for the Environment said:

"Having been reviewed by the cross-council Environment Task Group, we are delighted that the successful Pardon the Weeds scheme will now evolve into Nature at Work, which aims to further address the ecological and biodiversity crisis by rebranding and expanding the campaign. Wildflower and grass verges are essential habitats that provide food and shelter for many species of pollinators, invertebrates, birds and mammals, as well as bees and Nature at Work will reflect that.

"This refreshed approach will include new signage, an increase in areas managed for biodiversity, and engagement with schools and other organisations, and I am looking forward to the scheme officially launching later this year."