New wildflower and meadow strips are to be established in Congleton to attract wildlife and insects as part of plans for 'further greening' of the town.

Congleton Town Council is spearheading the initiative through its Streetscape Service and working with Congleton In Bloom.

Wildflower strips - areas of grass purposely left uncut for wildflowers to self-seed and grow - are planned along sections of Mountbatten Way and Newcastle Road and on Clayton Bypass and Sandbach Road and Holmes Chapel Road service roads.

"During Covid-19 establishing these wildflower strips was not considered an essential service and the plan is now to have the strips planted ready for 2021.

"The project will be led by Congleton In Bloom," says a council report.

The town council is also working with Cheshire East Council to form meadow strips on open green spaces, where some areas of grass will be left unmown for local wildlife and insects to habitat.

It has determined to meet, discuss and identify areas of open space 'to carry out less mowing and leave swafts of grass to grow which would provide more habitats for wildlife and bees'.

The town council has also committed to using peat-free compost for the vast majority of its works including the 250 town centre hanging baskets, 30 solid baskets and 24 town centre tubs supplied by the council for school children to plant up.

The remaining 30 large planters and 180 troughs will have a mix of normal and peat compost, with the latter 'holding moisture well and releasing nutrients slowly and over a long time, which is ideal for planters and containers', explains the report.

Since the town council took over the Streetscape Service in 2014, roundabouts and park beds - which were previously totally peat - have been topped up with peat-free compost.

And although not yet totally peat-free, it would be too costly to replace all the beds says the report, it is slowly being replaced.

"Congleton Town Council are committed to restoring lost habitats, not using unnecessary chemicals that are detrimental to the health of its residents and the wider environment.

"The town council will continue working with Cheshire East and Congleton Tree Group on sites for mini woodlands, in these woodlands the grass will be left for wildlife.

"Congleton Tree Group has already planted many trees across Congleton and there are plans to plant even more in autumn," adds the report.

Congleton Town Council declared a Climate Change Emergency in September 2019, but prior to this it had already implemented many green policies and working practices.