From next year, Congleton Town Council has decided to adopt a new approach to grass cutting, which will see their current schedule of fortnightly cuts reduced to once a year in an attempt to preserve wildflowers.

Nub News previously reported that 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.

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.

At Thursday's Congleton Town Council virtual meeting of the community and environment committee, resident Lisa Miller's question to the town council was read out: "I am thrilled to hear the amount of pesticide and herbicide usage in Congleton has been reduced and I'm wondering if there are any further plans to reduce or eradicate it's use.

"I know that Streetscape and ANSA are having meetings to review individual areas that are mown in town to see if they can be left to rewild, I'm wondering how this is progressing and are there more grass verges being left to nature now?"

Cllr Kay Wesley, chair of the community and environment committee, read a response on behalf of the Congleton Town Council team: "Congleton Town Council has set out to try a new approach to grass cutting in an attempt to preserve wildflowers and the wildlife who rely on them.

"The town council had announced that some of the roadside verges and open spaces will be cut in a different way in order to encourage the growth of wildflowers. This has been put on hold until 2021 as it was difficult to set up the scheme whilst in Covid lockdown, the scheme will happen next year and it's something we are all looking forward to doing and carrying out.

"Under this new approach the grass which the town council is responsible for will not be cut fortnightly which is the current schedule, parts of which will be left will only be cut once a year between mid-July and mid-August with the grass cuttings removed.

"This will prevent aggressive plant species from dominating the areas and will allow for the growth, flowering and seeding of wildflowers, this in turn will provide the ideal habitat for bees and other pollinating insects.

"Congleton Town Council is determined to protect and improve Congleton's natural environment and this fairly simple change to how we cut our grass will help increase the habitats and food that our pollinating insects rely on.

"Congleton Town Council's progress and progressive move towards a better management of the grass areas is part of our sustainable strategy in climate responsibility agenda."

Cllr Suzy Firkin stated that everything the town council was doing surrounding these particular topics was being carried out in a "responsible manner" and told the committee that herself and Ruth Burgess, Streetscape development manager, have a site visit this week to monitor safety concerns from a resident about the safety of a particular area should the grass become much longer and should wildflowers be a larger part of planting.

Cllr Firkin added: "We are having to take on board comments from other residents as well, not everybody of course understands the complete enthusiasm for this, but we are taking a balanced view on it."

Cllr Denis Murphy said: "Once or twice I have been asked to pass onto Streetscape concerns about grass not being cut and you have to understand to some residents a neatly, mowed and tidy grass verge is what they want.

"They are less concerned about the sustainability or the pretty flowers so factor that one in please."

Cllr Paul Duffy said: "I have residents on the estate where I live, we have an area out at the front of the estate, which is council maintained and I get quite a lot of comments around when it's going to get cut. One of the residents actually goes out and cuts the grass if it gets too long, so I think there is a balanced viewpoint that has been shared already and I would like to add my voice."

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.