Ticks thriving in our neglected parks

Bath has five million tourists a year. Many of them visit parks in and around Bath. We have a park in Bath that is fast becoming a place not to visit, although it is rated to be a beautiful park by B&NES council. It is council policies which are making this park a less lovely area for tourists/residents to enjoy as time goes by. The tree canopy of most of the trees in this particular park has not been raised for many years and is almost touching the grass. The council has allowed the grass under these shaded areas to grow calf and thigh high in places as grass cutting machines cannot get under the lowered canopy. This not only nurtures an area where ticks can breed, (they need long grass to quest for human, dog and other animals to prey on) it makes for an area where park revellers and tourists cannot shelter from the sun. There are ironical notice boards in certain grassed areas in Bath asking people to ‘enjoy the countryside.’ Alongside these signs are other notices warning of the danger from tick bites. How can anyone enjoy the countryside or parks, if our parks have long grassed areas which the council states on their notices are there to establish a colony of invertebrates? Ticks are invertebrates which can spread Lyme disease. This is a terrible illness which cripples anyone for life who is unfortunate to be affected and is gradually becoming prevalent in a UK climate which is ideal for the tick population to thrive in. Ticks have been definitely reported in areas such as Bloomfield Park and it is thought they are breeding in certain areas of Alexandra Park. Why doesn’t the council get its act together and realise that people need a space to sit in without fear of these increasing numbers of ‘invertebrates.’ The sheltered spaces in Alexandra Park are now so limited that the park is fast becoming less welcoming as a place in which to enjoy a picnic. More public money needs to be put into the parks around Bath, not less as appears to be the case over the past few years. Alexandra Park and other areas like it in and around Bath is deteriorating in appearance and beauty, as this ‘invertebrate friendly’ attitude is becoming established as a norm. Personally, if I wanted to see ticks in the grass, I’d go into the real rural countryside. David Seymour BA Bath