Improve local biodiversity & increase habitat for pollinators within Windsor rd

From "Environmental Improvement Programme 2023-24: New bidding round"

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Proposed budget

GBP 5,000

Description

The project is to plant wildflowers along the vergers at Windsor Road which will improve local biodiversity but also provide much needed habitat for pollinators. This will help slow and reverse the decline in wild bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators.

“To restore stability to our plant, we must restore its biodiversity.”…we must rewild the world.” David Attenborough

Official updates

Last update: 19 January 2024

Thank you for your project application idea, the project concept would contribute towards improving local green assets and biodiversity. This project was taken to the West Central Area Committee 16/11/2023 for consideration within the funding and criteria for EIP area funding. Following West Central Area Committee consideration and Officer recommendations this area project was unfortunately not approved. The key reasons for this was that the EIP programme was oversubscribed consequently the proposal was therefore not within our our overall programme budget and there was a lack of local support in fact a number of local residents where actively against the project.

James Ogle (Cambridge City Council Officer)Posted on 19 January 2024

Comments(17)

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Profile of Elizabeth Collins

Posted by:Elizabeth Collins

3 years ago

I am partially in favour. Would like to see a minimum footway width maintained to allow people to pass or walk two abreast without walking on the verges as Windsor Road gets busy especially at the start and end of the school day. Also suggest the wildflower patches occur only where there are double yellow lines i.e. not where there are parked cars. I would rather a wildflower mix than the existing weeds.

Profile of Ann Mullinger

Posted by:Ann Mullinger

3 years ago

I am not in favour of this proposal for the same reasons as others have already pointed out in their comments.

Profile of Kathryn Knight

Posted by:Kathryn Knight

3 years ago

This is an interesting proposal, but having seen how the lovely wildflower patch in Histon Rd Rec has deteriorated since it was put in, I am not filled with optimism that this is a good idea. As others have pointed out, the road’s front and back gardens are a wonderful source of pollen and nectar for insects. The road is already looking super-scruffy after no mow May/summer so I would be very unhappy to see the verges replaced for the sake of month of prettiness followed by years of invasive weeds and dog mess patches.

Profile of Mary Wheater

Posted by:Mary Wheater

3 years ago

I do not think this is a practical proposition in verges frequented by people, dogs and foxes. Larger areas of wildflowers, well managed, might increase the number of insects including pollinators. If people like to plant wildflowers in their gardens, that would be excellent.

Profile of Bryan Donoghue

Posted by:Bryan Donoghue

3 years ago

I do not support this idea. I would prefer for the verges to be regularly mowed. An un-managed verge is likely to lead to a build up of hidden litter and dog-mess. I think that biodiversity is better supported in front and back gardens.

Profile of Rachel Thomas

Posted by:Rachel Thomas

3 years ago

In favour of this proposal, provided that it is clear whose responsibility rewilded verges are, and what, if any, requirements will be made of householders who opt to have such a verge. To ease access to vehicles and to leave space for wheelie bins, it might be an idea not to sow wildflower seed right up to the edge of the verge in order to provide a strip to help people get in and out of cars. Details such as who will be providing the wildflower mix, who would be responsible for guidance and maintenance of the verges need to be clearly set out before commencement of the project. If it goes ahead, some monitoring would be interesting to see if there is an increase in biodiversity, as appears to be the case with the Kings College wildflower meadow. But overall in favour...

Profile of Kate Ingham

Posted by:Kate Ingham

3 years ago

Also in agreement with comments made by Anne Jackson and Nicola Davies

Profile of Maria Armstrong

Posted by:Maria Armstrong

3 years ago

I very much agree with Anne Jackson’s and Nicola Davies comments

Profile of Patricia McGuire

Posted by:Patricia McGuire

3 years ago

I am for increasing biodiversity, so am in favour of the proposal **IF** the council manage it and don't just let it go (except for biannual mowing). By 'manage' I mean at a minimum checking if invasive species are present and taking action to remove them. The question of getting out of cars remains, for people parked on the 'wrong' side of the road. Even if we have wildflowers in our own gardens, the more places there are for species to feed and to move around in, the more robust the local wildlife will be.

Profile of Anne Jackson

Posted by:Anne Jackson

3 years ago

I am, of course, in favour of increasing biodiversity wherever we can and particularly helping the insect population. However, I am not convinced that the grass verges are the right place for this project. There is the issue of maintenance: they would need to be mown and the clippings raked at the right time of year (see the RHS advice here). Would the council be prepared to commit to this kind of programme? Secondly, anyone parking in the street has to use a space next to the verges and so passengers get out of cars onto the grass. If it is knee-high in wildflowers it will be awkward to step into (and may hide dog or fox fouling) and could be prickly and unpleasant when the plants fade, especially for small children. All the houses in Windsor Rd have substantial front gardens and most are already well looked after with abundant shrubs and flowers. And we have some fine trees already on our verges. The council has been mowing the verges less frequently this year and interesting flowering plants have flourished there between mowings. In my opinion this project is not a priority for the council's funding.