The Harrogate district’s wild new look this summer continues to divide opinion, as swathes of land are left to grow several feet high. Now that some areas have been cut the contrast is really starting to show.
Harrogate Borough Council‘s bid to encourage rewilding has won plaudits but there is also concern about the state of some verges that have grown up to three feet tall in buttercups and wildflowers — sometimes hampering visibility at junctions.
A recent Stray Ferret post on Facebook about whether the grass should be cut attracted more than 300 comments.
Some praised the council for biodiversity but others raised concerns about aesthetics and safety.
Here is a selection of the hundreds of comments, in no particular order.
Maurizio Hales said:
“I really like it. Natural looking, good for wildlife.
“Don’t think of us all the time. Think of the wildlife that lives around us as well.”
But Lynne Oliver-walsh was less enthusiastic. She said:
“It’s a mess! Not safe for children to play in as it’s full of dog mess that to be fair to the owners it is difficult to clean up when the grass is so long.
“We pay a lot of council tax and it should be kept neat and tidy in residential areas so children are safe to play on it.”
Ben Askew, however, said:
“I love that the verges are being left to grow. Good for a bit of biodiversity and interesting to see what is coming up naturally.”
Abi Fulford raised the issue of road safety. She said:
“I’m not against it but do find pulling out at certain junctions very difficult! Some have been cut back slightly but not enough.”
Paul Mayfield gave a thumbs down:
“Absolutely scruffy scruffy scruffy. There’s plenty of greenery around without turning the Stray into a hay meadow.
“Perhaps the council support it because it reduces maintenance costs.”
Karl Richardson objected not only on the grounds of how it looks but also on the impact it has on dog owners.
“Certain areas look fine but the whole lot just looks scruffy.
“Plus as a responsible dog owner trying to pick up your dogs crap when you eventually find it is a task in itself. Stand in more than you pick up.”
Gill Thompson-Hammell said:
“Love love love it, more flowers, more crazy wildness, please stop spraying, let it grow, grow, grow!
“The ‘right’ place for wildlife is everywhere! Newsflash – buttercups and dandelions are flowers too!”
Read more:
- Volunteers plant wild flowers on Harrogate’s Stray
- River Nidd pollution: hopeful signs for fish and wildlife
Should Harrogate adopt the Rotherham approach?
Some readers urged Harrogate Borough Council to follow the lead of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, which plants wild flower verges.
For the last three years the Rotherham council has worked with Pictorial Meadows to create an eight=mile long stretch of colourful roadside meadows.
It has received praise for its environmental approach and saved about £25,000 in ongoing management expenses.
The colourful verges in Rotherham. Photo: Pictorial Meadows
What do you think of the new look for Harrogate’s verges? Send your thoughts to be included in Stray Views by sending an email to [email protected].
