Council to extend 'no mow' regime to more areas

High Peak Borough Council is planning on expanding the mowing regime to more sites in the coming years

A council in Derbyshire says it is extending its "no mow" regime to additional areas.

High Peak Borough Council said it had increased the amount of designated areas of grass that would be cut once a year to allow meadow grasses, wildflowers and other native species "to flourish".

The authority said the areas would be left unmown from March before being cut in the autumn, where the grass would be collected and removed.

Councillor Jean Todd, part of the council's climate change and environment executive, said: "By adopting this reduced mowing strategy we aim to create richer and more diverse habitats which we know are good for the environment and our local wildlife."

The areas will be left unmown from March before being cut in the autumn

Working with the High Peak Biodiversity Network, the council said it would record species and monitor the changes in biodiversity due to reduced amount of mowing.

The authority said the designated sites would act as a trial with a view to expand the regime to more sites in the coming years.

Sports pitches and formal lawns will continue to be maintained throughout the year, the council added.

The designated sites are Ashwood Park, Granby Road, Temple Fields, Gadley Lane, and Serpentine Walks in Buxton, Manor Park, Bankswood Park and Glossop Cemetery in Glossop and areas in the Memorial Park in Whaley Bridge.

Damien Greenhalgh, the council's deputy leader, said: "In line with our Parks Strategy, this is an important step in ensuring we're managing our parks and open spaces sustainably and that they are supporting our nature recovery ambitions."