Harrogate Borough Council has apologised this afternoon for not doing a better job explaining its decision to put fake grass  in the town centre.

The statement, which can be read in full below, outlines the council’s reasons for choosing to install plastic grass.

It also reveals the council will place planters with flowers on top of the plastic grass — something it has already begun to do.

Early today campaigners from Extinction Rebellion Harrogate removed fake grass from one of the raised beds in Harrogate’s Cambridge Street, and replaced it with plants in protest at the council’s use of plastic.

The council statement says that although it recognises Extinction Rebellion’s reasons for its action, it would have preferred the group to speak to the council first.

It goes on to explain that the current installation is a trial, and will be removed if it turns out not to “make the town look better and bring more plants into the town centre”.

The statement adds the council has plans to plant trees on three sites totalling 17 hectares.

It says:

“We haven’t explained this well and we are sorry about that. We concentrated too much on getting the trial in place and not enough time explaining the totality of what we were doing.”

Read more:

• Extinction Rebellion replaces fake grass with flowers in Harrogate
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A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion Harrogate explained why it engaged in direct action this morning:

“We felt really shocked and disappointed and just a bit baffled by the fact that plastic grass had been put down in the first place, we’ve all spoken to lots of people, locals and visitors, and they all say it looks hideous.”

She denied the group had committed any legal offences, saying it had not damaged the plastic grass and will return it to the council in due course.

Asked about the council’s statement, she said it was more interested in aesthetic issues than environmental ones:

“What about the micro-plastics that are going to be layered on the soil? All you have to do is to plant plants that are shade loving, they’re ones that members grow themselves. Why bring plastic into the equation?”

“We don’t want Harrogate to be this plastic town and the council seems to be sending out such a strong message that neat and tidy is much better than biodiversity.”

Extinction Rebellion Harrogate removed the fake grass and planted flowers this morning.

Here is the council’s statement in full:

“While we recognise Extinction Rebellion Harrogate’s reasons for removing the artificial grass and installing plants, we would have preferred them speaking to us first so that we could have explained the full scheme and how it enables even more plants right into our town centre.

“Traditionally, we’ve put plants in the beds beneath the trees, but these rarely last very long because the trees soak up all the moisture and nutrients in the soil, leading to the plants looking rather sorry for themselves.

“Inevitably, this means the beds end up being visually dull and nothing more than a magnet for cigarette butts, empty coffee cups and fast-food takeaway packaging. They look a mess and prompt almost as many complaints as we’ve had about the artificial grass.

“The artificial grass is a base for planters that will sit on top of the beds.

“These planters – that have already started to be installed – will have their own water source, separate from the tree roots, so that the bedding plants can thrive on their own. This will result in a vibrant display of colour all year round. Using the artificial grass as a base means we can have more and more plants in our town centre and make the area more attractive.

“We’ve been asked why we didn’t put down stone or bark. We ruled this out because, regrettably, it will be most likely end up being used as an ashtray or messed-up because it is loose. Surfacing with stone, or something more substantial, would also compromise the tree root system.

“This is just a trial though. If, when the beds are fully installed, they don’t make the town look better and bring more plants into the town centre then we will remove them and try something else.

“We share the passion people have for Harrogate’s award winning floral displays and is something we will continue to support.

“We are also have further plans to reduce carbon emissions having recently identified three new council-owned sites, covering some 17 hectares, for new tree planting schemes.

“We haven’t explained this well and we are sorry about that. We concentrated too much on getting the trial in place and not enough time explaining the totality of what we were doing.”

Environmental campaigners have removed fake grass from one of the raised beds in Harrogate’s Cambridge Street, and replaced it with plants.

Extinction Rebellion Harrogate claimed responsibility for the action in a sign posted on the bed reading, ‘Grow plants not plastic’.

The group also posted a poem on the bed titled ‘We Did This’. It reads:

“Just ordinary people

Made this ordinary stand”

The poem goes on to explain what they have done with the plastic grass:

“We haven’t stolen it

You get your plastic back

We have rolled it up and tied it

And put it in a sack”

Read more:

• Huge backlash against ‘cheap and tacky’ fake grass
• Turf wars: Harrogate council spent £800 on fake grass

It is not known precisely when the group performed the stunt, although it is thought to have taken place last night or early this morning.

The controversial plastic grass first appeared last weekend, and has been widely condemned. Criticisms included the lack of aesthetic appeal and the anti-ecological nature of using plastic grass instead of real plants.

The Stray Ferret has approached Extinction Rebellion and Harrogate Borough Council, which installed the fake grass, for comment.

Extinction Rebellion Harrogate picked the Prince of Wales roundabout today to hold a demonstration highlighting the climate emergency.

The group told The Stray Ferret it had chosen the location as it wanted “somewhere striking” to draw attention to its cause and to re-ignite the group after lockdown.

It is hoping the demo will lead to more people wanting to join its ranks. Drivers blew their horns as they passed the group of around 20 demonstrators.

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Questioned as to whether the demonstration was safe or could have been distracting to drivers, Jess Thompson, coordinator for Extinction Rebellion Harrogate’s action group said:

“Our intention isn’t to distract drivers- we know safety is paramount. The banners were large and so drivers could easily see our messages. We want to highlight that time is up – we are living in a real emergency and we demand action.”

Ms Thompson told the Stray Ferret that the police had spoken to them and asked them how many were expected and how long they were staying there but took no action to stop them demonstrating.

Today was the second rally held by Extinction Rebellion in Harrogate since lockdown – organisers say they want to make it a monthly event.

Around 70 cyclists turned up this morning at the town’s Library Gardens and looped the town centre to draw attention to the need for more sustainable travel.

It’s only 3 weeks since the group’s last rally in the centre of Harrogate. Organisers say they’d wanted to do another event quickly as many people had been unable to come on the last one.

The rally set off from the Library Gardens

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• Cycling groups “must remain realistic” says council highways chief
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Victoria Wild of Extinction Rebellion Harrogate told the Stray Ferret

“There was so much interest in the last one, people who had missed out wanted to come. Alot of people don’t feel safe on the roads as cyclists – particularly women and kids. We want to keep up the pressure to improve sustainable transport and it’s nice for everyone to get together on a rally”.

Last week, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways Don Mackenzie, told The Stray Ferret that cycling groups should “remain realistic” around improvements to cycling routes in Harrogate.

The council received just half of the £266,000 that was allocated to them by government to spend on temporary cycling and walking measures to help people use sustainable transport post lockdown.

Approximately 60 cyclists joined a rally organised by the climate change activist group, Extinction Rebellion, in Harrogate this morning calling for safer streets for walkers and cyclists.

Two community police officers looked on as the group set off from Library Gardens and circled around the centre of Harrogate.  The rally spread out and kept in groups of 6 from a household- the mood was friendly and upbeat.

Organiser Vicky Wild said lockdown had seen a big increase in people using and buying bicycles but the worry was as life returns to normal, it won’t be safe to use them:

“Now is the time to hold this rally and call for safer streets for cyclists and walkers. Let’s not go back to to normal in every way. Today we’ve been joined by ordinary people – in this group there’s a doctor, a teacher, a shopkeeper- families and people of all ages. Everyone feels strongly about it.”

The start of the rally on Victoria Park Avenue

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Carl and Jo Summerscales and their 3 children, Eva, Will and Teddy joined the rally. Dad Carl said the roads, and in particular, the school run roads, need to be safer.:

“I think the people in charge are putting their heads in the sand — they seem to want to stop cycling rather than put cycle paths in, especially as there is now extra money for this.  I think for children cycling to school it’s just so dangerous.”

Mum Jo added:

“Will in particular cycles two miles to school and we’ve worked really hard to find a safe route at peak time- it’s worrying there’s so much traffic”

Above: The Summerscales family, Carl, Jo, Eva, Will and Teddy

Extinction Rebellion flags were set out by organisers

Extinction Rebellion’s Harrogate branch is planning a bike ride in the town centre to highlight the need for change as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

The group, which only formed in Harrogate in January, says its aim is to highlight the issues facing the town, under the title No Going Back.

The bike ride will set off from Library Gardens on Station Parade at 10.30am on Sunday and complete two laps of the town centre, finishing at the war memorial. Organisers have asked participants to ride in groups of no more than six from the same household, and keep their distance from others who are not in their family group.

Anyone not able to cycle is encouraged to show their support with banners, bells and whistles, and to take photographs of the event. Organiser Vicky Wild said:

“During lockdown, an awful lot more people are cycling and walking. We don’t want to go back to the way it was.

“I’m someone who goes to work and the ships on a bike. I’ve lost count of the number of people who say, ‘I would love to do that, but I don’t feel safe’.

“It’s just trying to change the conversation a bit around public transport in Harrogate. Personally, I have certain routes I go on that I know are fairly safe. For some people, there are certain roads you just don’t want to go on.

“When I was cycling round during the lockdown at the beginning, it was heaven – it was lovely. I went twice round the Prince of Wales roundabout just because I could, because there were no cars on it. I don’t think I’ve ever been round it before.”

With traffic already heading back towards pre-lockdown levels, the group is keen to draw people’s attention to how different things have been and urge them to consider what can be done to make long-term changes.

It is also holding an online meeting tonight to discuss setting up a citizens’ assembly for Harrogate. That body would be made up of members of the public, rather than political party representatives, to look at facts and make decisions about the future of the town.

The group had held one event – a stall on Cambridge Street highlighting climate change, pictured above – before the coronavirus lockdown put paid to its plans for the year. Now, members are looking at action they can take safely in the coming months. Vicky added:

“The idea of Extinction Rebellion is things should be fun and inclusive and family-friendly. We’re trying to do things that won’t alienate people but will get people on board and asking questions.”

Full details about the citizen’s assembly meeting and the bike ride can be found on the Extinction Rebellion Harrogate Facebook page.