It’s not a wildflower project: our mower broke, says council
A WALKER who was so impressed with the overgrown grass at a disused golf course that he thanked his council for “rewilding” it has been left “a bit depressed” after he was told it was actually the result of a faulty lawnmower.
Steve Walters said that after winter mowing had ceased at Western Golf Course in Leicester, allowing a wildflower meadow to spring up, attracting butterflies, badgers and birds.
Mr Walters, who has walked around the abandoned course for 26 years, wrote to Leicester city council to offer thanks.
But the council responded in a letter: “Sorry to disappoint you, but there have been no changes to our mowing policy, our mower has broken down.”
The grass has now been cut, with officials insisting they have a duty to maintain the course, which is earmarked for a 446-house development.
Mr Walters, from Glenfield, said he was “a bit depressed about it all really”.
A council spokesman said: “We try to strike a balance between ensuring safe access points and rights of way, and providing for some natural habitat.”