Grassland management plan aims to make Stafford more nature-friendly

Varying of mowing regimes and planting wildflowers are just two of the ways Stafford Borough Council plans to look after grassland in the coming years.

More than 40 areas in the borough have already been identified for the management plans in a protocol presented to cabinet members on January 9.

A report to the cabinet said the protocol would help towards the authority’s goal of becoming net zero by 2040 by sequestrating and storing more carbon, with increased re-wilding of locations and reducing the amount of fuel the council uses.

Councillor Ian Fordham, cabinet member for environment, said: “This will direct management of council-owned grassland in the future. The protocol will ensure that officers, elected members and residents have a clear understanding of how the aims will be achieved and it will help fulfil our biodiversity obligations under the Environment Act 2021.

“We will seek a varying of mowing regimes, planting or seeding shrub species and developing areas of wildflower planting. This will also provide an opportunity for planting of trees, which will be considered alongside the emerging Tree Strategy which is planned for implementation in 2025/26.

“There will be a three-phased approach required; firstly to identify relevant locations, secondly to implement the protocol and thirdly to review and refine where necessary. Throughout this approach, effective communication, consultation and engagement with stakeholders is key.

“Communication with residents will include signage at designated areas to inform of which areas are being managed differently and why. The entirety of open space is not necessarily required for grassland management – it is likely to be designated areas of open space.”

Councillor Tony Pearce, cabinet member for climate action and nature recovery, said: “This follows in the wake of Stafford being awarded the Bee-Friendly Town award. Part of that was a number of projects in the town where local residents worked with Streetscene to make some of our open spaces more wildlife-friendly.

“This isn’t about just leaving all our open spaces and not cutting the grass. It’s about creating areas within those spaces which are more friendly to wildlife.

“It does mean a different regime to mowing but it will contribute; not only to an increase in the number of insects and pollinators but also to other wildlife which prey on them. That’s so important these days because we know there has been a massive drop in the number of insects in this country.

“I very much welcome this report. I think it is a very important step in our work to becoming a nature-friendly town.”

Councillor Ant Reid, cabinet member for economic development and planning, added: “I also welcome this, the signage boards educating the community in what’s going on and why, and involving them in the decisions and any creative ideas they have. I really look forward to seeing this in action.”