Biodiversity is a benefit of pandemic
Dear Editor Stirling Council has announced that it will be reducing grasscutting in parks and other spaces during the coronavirus pandemic.
This is a welcome side effect of the pandemic as it gives the public and council a chance to look at what they would like in the future. Do we want or indeed require the level of mowing of grass that happens normally? The mown green parks and open spaces have little, if any, biodiversity.
May I suggest that the following is considered for the future. It fits in well with some of the actions required to be addressed, issues raised in the council’s climate emergency resolution of October 2019. One of the plans being drawn up, in conjunction with partners, is an “Alive with Nature Plan”
In many of the larger parks there is plenty of grass that could be turned into wild flower areas and with a proper management plan would provide areas of colour and variety attractive to people. These areas need not exclude people from them, as the formal flower beds do, but could be walked through allowing people to have a closer experience of the natural world. Children would also have a greatly enhanced visual experience of the natural world.
The flowers would attract a large number of insects and following the insects birds. The biodiversity of the parks would be greatly enhanced.
The other effects of a programme like this are well worth noting.
1. The meadows would provide an educational tool for both children and adults.
2. There would also be a health benefit to the community. Engaging with nature is noted to have a beneficial benefit for those with mental health issues.
3. As wild flower meadows require less mowing this would mean cutting the council’s carbon emissions and cut the cost of park maintenance.
The future is in our hands, just one small suggestion, that I hope will be acted upon, to make life better after this pandemic we are all suffering from.
Walter Attwood James Street Whins of Milton I was wondering if I could put a wee note in your newspaper to say thanks to a gentleman for being so kind when I was at Morrisons supermarket in Stirling on Friday, April 24 about noon.
I was there with my two young children who were in the double buggy. I arrived and joined the very long queue to get in.
I was happy to queue but a gentleman who was near the front allowed me to go on front of him as I had my two young boys with me.
This meant I didn’t have to queue for a long time with them. His kindness really helped me and was much appreciated.
All I know is his name is Sammy as he happened to be in front of me at the checkout and the lady at the checkout knew him.
Also thanks to Morrisons for playing music outside to keep everyone entertained in the queue. We all find ourselves in an incredibly different world at the moment and these small acts of kindness to help each other out really mean a lot.
I hope I can help someone out and make a difference to them too
Jac MacGregor By email