Rewilding, a group of residents in Derbyshire fight back.

Leaving grassed areas to grow unchecked is not rewilding. It does however sound like cost cutting.

What’s wrong with residents tidying up their own areas rather than wait for “the council” do it? Good for them. There is a lot of “guerrilla gardening “ around in my area- they even have a FB group. They have transformed an overgrown roundabout into a floral display and many verges have become wildflower meadows ( managed, not just left) . If more people took pride in their immediate surroundings there wouldn’t be so much litter, dog mess etc. I do litter pick and tidy up the area in my road , as do other residents.

vegansrock

What’s wrong with residents tidying up their own areas rather than wait for “the council” do it? Good for them. There is a lot of “guerrilla gardening “ around in my area- they even have a FB group. They have transformed an overgrown roundabout into a floral display and many verges have become wildflower meadows ( managed, not just left) . If more people took pride in their immediate surroundings there wouldn’t be so much litter, dog mess etc. I do litter pick and tidy up the area in my road , as do other residents.

I think there is nothing wrong with it, and such areas always look lovely. But considering people pay their council tax to cover the maintenance of public areas I imagine many are feeling rightfully miffed about this.

Trouble is, most councils have been squeezed by cutbacks and an increase in demand for their services whilst having their budgets slashed. Some are even on the verge of bankruptcy. So the choice is in maintaining grass verges, supporting vulnerable children or adults, libraries, refuse collection or sports facilities, I’m guessing mowing grass is down the list of priorities. So it’s not so much “ residents fighting back” as “ residents making an effort in their immediate environment when stretched councils are unable to maintain them.

Marmin

Leaving grassed areas to grow unchecked is not rewilding. It does however sound like cost cutting.

It is cost cutting but in certain locations it can be very dangerous. Road junctions/roundabouts/driveways all concealed by high grass simply put divers and pedestrians alike in danger.
I would have no reservation whatsoever at cutting any overgrowth back where I live.

Where I live has flats, no sheds or outside storage, so nowhere to store gardening equipment.

The dogs mess and rubbish comes from the private houses across the road, as a rule, too.

Rewinding or cost cutting?

Cost cutting, if they are anything like the council here.
I was on the phone yesterday to them, once gain having to ask for the easting line area to be weeded.

It's been about 20 odd years now, I've had to phone them throughout each summer.

My fingers have a different language, today.

I hate to see these ugly, unkempt areas. Penny pinching by councils and churches which they call rewilding. Pathetic!

There were wide areas of grass in the road where I grew up, the Council didn't cut it for years in the 1950s
No-one seemed to let their dogs roam there and we children used to love playing and hiding in the long grass in the summer.
I don't remember rodents or any ticks.

Of course, there were few dogs then and even fewer cars.

Rewilding has to be very carefully managed, the Council here have tried it but not very successfully as they mowed at the wrong time of year.

The 30 mph limit sign in the next village is completely obscured, as is the sign directing people to the A50/M1. Do they just assume that everyone uses sat nav?

Allira

There were wide areas of grass in the road where I grew up, the Council didn't cut it for years in the 1950s
No-one seemed to let their dogs roam there and we children used to love playing and hiding in the long grass in the summer.
I don't remember rodents or any ticks.

Of course, there were few dogs then and even fewer cars.

Rewilding has to be very carefully managed, the Council here have tried it but not very successfully as they mowed at the wrong time of year.

In the 1950s we had a village road man who used to cut the roadsides with a scythe, what he didn’t cut the local farmers cut and baled for hay, ( no poisonous ragwort in those days), the village green and cemetery were grazed with sheep.
We also has a resident district nurse too.

Such is progress

I need to go and check today, actually, because our washing line area has thigh high nettles, blackberries and prickly weeds all over it.

I phoned them yesterday and spoke very firmly.

I've only been phoning for the last 25 years or so.

Well done them!

There are many areas surely where the council could rewild, but not in residential areas or roads where signs could get covered up. When close to houses it gives the area a look of dereliction and shabbiness, and it isn't the kind of mix you see in a meadow, is just grass and non flowering weeds near us.
I suggest residents grab their mowers and take action.
Will be getting on my neighbourhood forum suggesting this.

I’m sure that the weeds growing on the road are going to add to the pot hole problem. Years ago we used to travel to Bangor on Dee once a year and, on the way there was an area next to the road that was full of wild flowers. I always thought how lovely it looked and how I wished that more places did the same. But what we have now doesn’t look like that. It just looks a terrible mess.

So many good points on here about hidden signs, damage to road and pavement surfaces, ticks, ragwort etc.

Rewilding doesn’t mean just letting things grow unmanaged and unkempt.

NB. The danger of doing it yourself is a bit like the danger of clearing snow off paths.
If someone can claim they were injured because of your actions-tripping over the lawnmower/flex, falling over the bit you didn't cut etc, you can find yourself in trouble.

“Rewilding doesn’t mean just letting things grow unmanaged and unkempt.”

It does here, there is a 10 acre field alongside a local estate, designated as “public open space” it’s solid brambles with a couple of dog walking trails. Hasn’t been touched for 30yrs.

Once upon a time, people looked after the areas in front of their homes. Cut the grass, cleared snow, cleaned dirty patches, unblocked drains. Now it is all about the council doing it, well councils have no money and it is time for the public to step up, not wait for someone else to do it, whilst complaining

The service charge I pay for my flat very clearly states what I need to do, and what the council need to do, one of which is keeping outside areas free from weeds, and maintained.

It is clearly stated that I own the walls, ceiling, floor, and everything contained within, and that the council owns everything else.

I don't feel I should need to pay the charge AND do the maintenance for them.

karmalady

Once upon a time, people looked after the areas in front of their homes. Cut the grass, cleared snow, cleaned dirty patches, unblocked drains. Now it is all about the council doing it, well councils have no money and it is time for the public to step up, not wait for someone else to do it, whilst complaining

A strip of the front gardens here belongs to the Council but we are supposed to maintain them.

I am not unblocking the drains in the road, it requires a man person with a proper suction machine to do that!

I'm all for local residents taking a pride in their area and all that, but the councils should be keeping with essential maintenance. I've never known of anyone unblocking the drains in their street, for example - that needs specialist equipment. We were just remarking the other day that it's no wonder the roads flood every time we get heavy rain, because the drains are choked with weeds. Likewise, road signs obscured by trees etc need specialist equipment to cut them back. It's all very well locals picking up litter and tidying up where they can, but the councils should be paying attention to the areas where these things become a safety issue.

If local residents begin to tidy, clear up, weed and dig, then the Councils will immediately take this for granted and never resume this service when funding has improved.