Grasscutting

UPDATE - WILDFLOWER VERGES

The Parish Council has arranged for Parishioners who are interested in helping our village to become more biodiverse to meet with Leicestershire County Council Project Officers on July 31^st 2020 at 10.00am on the Village Green (weather permitting).

If you would like to come please contact clerk@swinfordparishcouncil.gov.uk and let Katherine know so that the meeting can be managed safely.

We will discuss which of the verges in the village are best suited to not being mown and allowed to develop as wildflower areas. It is important to recognise that some Parishioners have mown verges near their homes for years and wish to see them remain as cultivated. We need to make sure that we take account of a range of views.

There is a map on this website showing the verges that could be considered as part of the project. Those identified will need to have a 'champion' for each section who will keep an eye on them and add wildflower seeds and plants at appropriate times. Please look at the map and the information sheet from LCC.

Siobhan Woodward (LCC Project Officer) has suggested that as a community we may also want to look at the 'Blue Campaign' https://bluecampaignhub.com/ which suggest ways in which we can all make our gardens and outdoor spaces more wildlife friendly.

We look forward to taking this forward with your support.

Jane Robson (Chair Swinford Parish Council)

2020 Season

The urban grass cutting of the verges around Swinford ia undertaken by Leicestershire County Council. The link below takes you to the grass cutting information available on the Leicestershire County Council website:

Leicestershire County Council - Grass Cutting Information

2021 Season

There has been significant interest from parishioners regarding the creation of urban wildflower verges on some of the areas that are currently cut by Leicestershire County Council. DUring the 2020 season, 12 parish councils are involved in a pilot scheme in conjunction with Leicestershire County Council to develop wildflower verges.

Swinford Parish Council is considering taking part in the project in the 2021 season. There will need to be parishioner support in order for the project to succeed. Below is a guide produced by Leicestershire County Council detailing the project and what is involved:

A map showing the areas that are currently cut by Leicestershire County Council is shown below, these are the areas that could be considered for wildflower verges:

The link below takes you to The Good Verge Guide - a different approach to managing our waysides and verges:

If you are interested in being part of the project or have any views you would like to be considered please contact the Parish Clerk.