Friends oppose plan to let park grow wild

RESIDENTS overlooking Dundee’s oldest park have spoken out against proposals to leave parts of it uncut to support wildlife.

Catherine Fairweather, chairwoman of the Friends of Magdalen Green, has asked for the organisation’s name to be removed from the public consultation on plans to create wildflower meadows in the park.

Despite initially offering a “cautious” welcome to the plans, the group believes they will not work on Magdalen Green.

Mrs Fairweather has written to consultation organisers the West End Community Council “clarifying” the group’s position.

She said: “Biodiversity will work in many of the proposed areas in Dundee but not on Magdalen Green.

“It should remain a well-cut, safe, accessible open space for people to enjoy as it has done for many years.”

She added: “We are so lucky to have a huge area of biodiversity just over the railway bridge to the west of the changing rooms.

“It has been this way for years. It’s beautiful, full of insects, birds and plants.

“It has natural paths through it and it changes every season.

“I feel this should have been mentioned as part of the survey because by letting the public know this area is just 30 seconds over the bridge, it may have greatly changed the survey outcome.”

The Friends of Magdalen Green is a community group that exists to protect and enhance the green for the benefit of present and future generations.

West End Community Council is consulting on plans to create biodiversity zones in the city’s oldest park.

The conversation comes as part of local authority plans to create similar areas in at least 26 parks across the city under its biodiversity action plan published earlier this year.

Natalie Mackland, a Dundee City Council communities officer working with the community council on the consultation, said it would not be appropriate for the group to comment.