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the Council responded to the Climate Emergency in March 2019 and made efforts to manage operations in order to have a green sustainable city that cared about the environment;

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when the nation went into lockdown in response to the Covid19 pandemic it was decided that the Council would follow the National Trust’s ‘No Mow May’ campaign with only the priority amenity areas having one cut during the month to maintain condition and access for the public. This left more green spaces to grow wild, increasing biodiversity. The Council increased its percentage from 15% to 40% of green space managed for nature, with 60% being managed for people to enjoy in their urban environment;

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the Council managed 1300 hectares of green space with over 560 hectares of grass; closely mown grass limited species diversity. Covid brought this to the forefront especially as the Council was required to prioritise resources;

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the Council maintained several categories to differentiate its grass cutting regime, including sports pitches and greens (which had closely mown grass), formal play areas, high intensity and amenity (for example Plymouth Hoe), highway verges that were less than 2 metres (which were very narrow sections on residential streets), and highway verges that were more than 2 metres (like Western Approach);

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the Council had received national recognition from conservation charities and the National Trust because of how it approached the grass cutting regime to encourage biodiversity; on a local level the majority of feedback from local residents was largely positive.

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the Council’s biodiversity programme and if anecdotal evidence regarding increased plant and bug diversity was being measured in a quantitative way; if people were categorising and cataloguing frequency of special and biodiversity outcomes as a whole; if this information was available could it be shared with the Committee?

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had the Council investigated the possibility of planting a variety of seeds  along verges and in meadows that bloomed at different intervals in order to maintain more attractive wild flowers?

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an update on the re-categorising of land in the city which was used by residents as a sort of garden for their properties other than green space;

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did the Council have plans to bio-diversify grass verges?

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if the Council had considered putting more colourful flowers into areas where jut tall grass had been left to grow?

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that it was important to encourage local residents to let their gardens grow wild to encourage wildlife;

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that the Council should ensure they cut paths through fields and open spaces where grass was left to grow;

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that the Council should be encouraged to put information boards out to say it was a community meadow, if applicable, as it would help to engage people and educate them as to what was happening;

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short grass also had benefits as Thrushes feed from the ground and couldn’t feed from long grass;

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were Officers aware that Pyramid Orchids were growing along Billicombe Road?

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with regards to baling – were bales used to re-seed other areas?

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were officers investigating sites with dual management in terms of grass cutting?

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had the Council been able to baseline the carbon sequestration associated with grasslands and tracking in terms of carbon capture?

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areas still used for general playing areas – how often would the grass be cut in those?