No mow May, June, July….

Years ago we used to drive to Bangor on Dee once a year. There was a part of the journey that had a grass verge full of wild flowers that had obviously been put there. It was beautiful and I always wished that other areas would do the same. It was near to a brown signpost to Secret Bunker which always made me chuckle because I used to think that, if it’s signposted it isn’t a secret. So I was all in favour of areas not being cut back. But, along with all the potholes the roads are looking awful.

What was meant to help the environment just seems to have been turned into a cost cutting exercise.Is it like this all over the country?

I said just that a couple of days ago. And yes, it is.
Some is very pretty but some is Russian vine, ragwort, Himalayan Balsam etc.

I've tried no-mow for part of our lawn, spread seeds around and there were a few pretty wildflowers at first, then along came ragwort, buttercups, creeping cinquefoil etc.

It gets mowed again this year.

A wildflower garden needs a few years to establish or a professional can do it . You need to get rid of all the grass first for it to work .

Syracute

A wildflower garden needs a few years to establish or a professional can do it . You need to get rid of all the grass first for it to work .

That is what my son is doing. We have yellow rattle in the U.K. to parasite the grass. Do you have similar in the USA?

He has been at it for 2-3 years now, and the insects and birds it is already attracting is astounding.

What’s yellow rattle?

I agree, it is an excuse by councils to cut costs. Surely, there is a compromise, where signs and narrow roads/lanes are not obscured?

Patsy70

I agree, it is an excuse by councils to cut costs. Surely, there is a compromise, where signs and narrow roads/lanes are not obscured?

I agree. There has to be a way to do this that doesn’t result in everywhere looking a mess.

Yellow Rattle is ‘Rhinanthus Minor’, an annual wild flower, which self seeds.

Patsy70

Yellow Rattle is ‘Rhinanthus Minor’, an annual wild flower, which self seeds.

It also is a parasite that weakens grass and gives flowers and stuff a chance.

It is a yellow flower that when it seeds and you pick it the seeds rattle in their cases.

Totally agree with you all, looking out of my flat onto a main road it’s impossible to see what was the pavement. Brighton & Hove used to be beautifully floral towns, beautiful greens along the seafront now it’s horrendous. Totally left to abandonment!

The only things that grow in my front garden are things that self seed. At the moment I’ve got cherry, valerian, elder, nettles ivy and yew. Did have forget me nots in the spring. I scattered Californian poppy seeds from the front garden all over the back garden and they grew everywhere. Snapdragons are great at self seeding.

Syracute

The situation with the environment is very serious and these weeds are very beneficial to birds, butterflies and bees. The UK has used pesticides for such a long time on limited space that it has decimated the insect population. I prefer the neglect as the next generation will pay the costs of the true neglect of our ecosystem.

A valid arguement, but we too are part of the environment and birds, insects and other forms of wild-life can live well even if hedges are cut so we can see over them before turning corners!

Where I live householders have the responsiblity of cutting back trees, bushes and hedges that overhang a pavement or public foot path or road, or obscure corners etc.

Local councils are responsible for making sure that road signs are able to be seen, but even if you harry them they are quite capable of ignoring the problem.

Upon occasions I take a pair of secueters with me when I go out to deal with the various natural hazards.

I've seen so many rats running in the overgrown area where I live. I wondered if they were being protected too. The hedges and trees are all grown over the pavements and you risk getting stung by nettles or scratched by brambles.

Just drove back from my sons and a derestriction sign was completely obscured by trees. I do know the road so knew it was there somewhere but people from outside the area wouldn't know.

Cost cutting for councils but rates bills still rising. 12 of our local councilors went of on a jolly to Troon to see how they do golf tournament we have already had the golf open in Portrush so surely lessons were learnt why 12 😡

Walked up a path to a local viewpoint, visited regularly during the past thirty plus years. Now in the care of the National Trust. The path was overgrown and only a single track was available to walk on, not wide enough for my two size 3 feet side by side. Deep ruts covered in weeds either side; it will be impassable once it rains.
It had the (NT's) desired effect; we were the only people to visit the place and its folly today.

Syracute

The situation with the environment is very serious and these weeds are very beneficial to birds, butterflies and bees. The UK has used pesticides for such a long time on limited space that it has decimated the insect population. I prefer the neglect as the next generation will pay the costs of the true neglect of our ecosystem.

I totally agree with you Syracute. Hard to believe that so many ‘grans’ are more concerned with everywhere looking prim and proper than caring about their grandchildren’s future.

Duvetdiva

Syracute

The situation with the environment is very serious and these weeds are very beneficial to birds, butterflies and bees. The UK has used pesticides for such a long time on limited space that it has decimated the insect population. I prefer the neglect as the next generation will pay the costs of the true neglect of our ecosystem.

I totally agree with you Syracute. Hard to believe that so many ‘grans’ are more concerned with everywhere looking prim and proper than caring about their grandchildren’s future.

Can I just point out that I’ve been concerned for the environment for most of my adult life and have done everything that I can to protect it. Going right back to stopping using aerosols, recycling decades before people recycled. Paying towards set aside when farmers were encouraged to not use certain fields. I don’t want everything to look prim and proper. But, as I pointed out, when I travelled home on Sunday everywhere looked post apocalyptical. And road signs are being obscured. My grandson is currently learning to drive and I want him to drive on roads where he and other road users can see the signs.

Duvetdiva

Syracute

The situation with the environment is very serious and these weeds are very beneficial to birds, butterflies and bees. The UK has used pesticides for such a long time on limited space that it has decimated the insect population. I prefer the neglect as the next generation will pay the costs of the true neglect of our ecosystem.

I totally agree with you Syracute. Hard to believe that so many ‘grans’ are more concerned with everywhere looking prim and proper than caring about their grandchildren’s future.

It's not all about looks - it can also be a safety issue, as others have rightly pointed out. If road signs or sightlines are obscured, that's dangerous. Overgrown vegetation can also make it very difficult to walk along some pavements, especially for those with mobility scooters, buggies etc.

We live opposite a green space, the council just cut along the edges and a few pathways through. It’s full of flowers and buzzing bees . We don’t cut our front lawn from April until September,, it’s is just full of wild flowers and colour with people passing by commenting on how lovely it looks. Quite frankly I just love to see the wild flowers on the verge and roundabouts and don’t find it a problem.

Around our village the local farmers mow a swathe along the verges (about a yard wide) which helps a great deal. The council hasn't cut the verges for a couple of years now. I suppose you could say they might be damaging the environment.