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09
Jul 2021
Knaresborough's grass verge vigilante fed up with council
A Knaresborough man is so frustrated at Harrogate Borough Council not cutting grass verges in the town that he's picked up his shears and done it himself.
Daniel Perkins, who is 26 and works as a landscaper, has been tidying up his hometown for the last two weeks and estimates he's spent around 20 unpaid hours scything down the tall grass, weeds and nettles.
He said:
The Harrogate district’s wild new look 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.
Mr Perkins has so far taken his shears and pitchfork to areas in Knaresborough including by the allotments, the corner of the Spinney field down to Hay a Park bridge, Charlton ginnel, Aspin Lane and from the railway track to Hambleton Grove.
HBC has previously defended its rewilding strategy, saying they have left areas uncut to improve biodiversity and attract bees and other insects.
Read more:
- Harrogate district’s wild grass verges continue to divide opinion
- Big thumbs-up for Harrogate district’s new wild look
Mr Perkins said rewilding is the right approach for large fields or meadows, but to suggest leaving verges or ginnels uncut would make a difference to biodiversity is a "bogus" argument. He believes it's off-putting to visitors and could damage Knaresborough's image to tourists.
He also says when the council does cut grass they do it with a motorised strimmer or mower, which he thinks can damage wildlife and animals.
The proud Knaresborough resident also accused the Harrogate-based council of "neglecting" the town ahead of its "crown jewel" of Harrogate.
Many passers-by have offered him the same advice:
A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman was unable to confirm whether the areas cut by Mr Perkins are owned by the council or privately. Although the spokesman believes some of the verges are owned by Network Rail.
He said:
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