Council to let grass grow to ease nature emergency

A council in Derbyshire has said it will cut back on its mowing regime as part of a drive to put nature at the heart of its decision making.

Amber Valley Borough Council has declared a "nature emergency" and has pledged to build the recovery of the natural world into its strategies and policies.

Communities, street pride and wellbeing lead Amina Burslem said residents can expect to notice "changes" in how council-owned spaces are managed.

She said grass will be left to grow in some areas to "create space for wildlife" and "provide food and habitats for pollinators and other wildlife, while giving landscape teams time for work such as planting trees and wildflowers".

The Labour-led council, which covers towns including Alfreton, Belper, Heanor and Ripley, said it was drawing up a formal Climate Change Action Plan to cover the next two years, which will sit alongside its Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

It also plans to create a Nature Network to support residents and community groups, councillors and nature organisations with work to support "nature recovery".

By contrast, last year an aim to tackle the causes and impact of climate change was scrapped by Reform UK-led Derbyshire County Council.

Burslem said: "Declaring a nature emergency is about much more than making a statement.

"It is a commitment to put nature at the heart of the decisions we make and make sure that commitment is reflected in what we actually do."

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