More on the conservation area

Audlem Online has received the following response on the issue of mowing the grass and cutting back the trees in the conservation area. It comes from Parish Councillor, Peter Morgan:

"In response to the criticism regarding the management of the conservation area, the Parish Council has to try and please all parties concerned. The problem is one of achieving a balance between the desires of nature in its untrammelled abundance on the one hand and on the other, maintaining an acceptable degree of tidiness that meets with the approval of those property owners that live in close proximity and to whom the prospects of dense thickets of brambles and nettles may not be so appealing. Not to mention the unwelcome forms of wildlife, some with fewer than four legs, that such a haven might attract. Likewise, the presence of two footpaths on the boundaries necessitates the cutting back of the shrubbery to allow free passage and light.

"The current management regime involves the use of a contractor to maintain the area, leaving the outer perimeter uncut but keeping the grass shorter in the centre to allow public access, particularly by the school and Audlem Treehouse who visited a couple of weeks ago with a party of young children. The three hazel bushes were also cut back this year but will rapidly regenerate.

"I certainly agree that the current management plan provides little encouragement to wildlife beyond what is to be found in the average suburban garden and in many cases, far less. I would like to see more of the grass area left un-mown until the middle of July in order to encourage greater diversity. Also, if anyone would like to provide any native species wildflower seeds from their own gardens to enhance the area, please contact me at the appropriate time.

"Whilst on the issue of conservation, I have always regarded the canal as an area that has always been over-cut to the detriment of flora and fauna: tourist neat through the village centre is fine, but beyond, confine strimming to the immediate path and lockside only and let nature do the rest. "

Peter Morgan

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