Perth and Kinross Council is under fire in Highland Perthshire because it plans to let the grass grow tall at a Pitlochry park.
There is a new policy to promote ‘rewilding’ of grass areas maintained by the authority.
Measures outlined by PKC for alternative grounds maintenance trials to alleviate climate change across a number of sites in Perth and Kinross include leaving some areas with longer grass, reducing the use of weedkiller and reducing strimming around trees.
But in Pitlochry residents are up in arms to hear the undergrowth will be left to flourish at Tom-Na-Moan park.
The space above the main part of the town was until recently known as ‘Delta Park’ and is a popular sledging spot in winter.
Residents are concerned that plans published on the PKC planning website appear to show most grass will not be cut and apart from the children’s play area, only a three foot wide strip will be cut at the side of paths.
One person posting a comment on Pitlochry News Facebook page said: “Wild flowers will be lovely around the banking, but kids use the park for football, dogs run around chasing balls, families have picnics, knee-high grass will be a mess full of unpicked up dog mess. Wild meadows are great but parks are parks, not meadows.”
Dog waste also worried one local: “Much as it sounds environmentally appealing, but sadly doing this may create even more of a dog poo problem than we already have as irresponsible owners might be even less inclined to pick up if it’s hidden in long grass.”
Another commentator wrote: “If you rewild an area properly by sowing yellow rattle and then other seeds, it is great in the summer, although not sure how this looks if it is constantly trampled and then covered by fallen leaves in autumn. Another own goal by the council.”
A post on the council’s website declared it was addressing climate change by, wherever possible, reducing grass mowing.
It says: “This will help create habitats for wildlife, insects and pollinators and by stopping strimming around trees, this will reduce some damage that can occur.
“We are planting more native species of trees, both grown from seed or locally sourced, and we are using cuttings from our existing sites to grow on our own shrubs to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce the risk of pests and disease.
“We are also trying to leave selected areas to rewild as this lets nature take its course in the most natural way.
“This alternative approach will help support our statutory duty to address climate change.”
Resident Carol Aitken said things were changing in Pitlochry to help accommodate wildlife: “Some folks from the local climate cafe and community council have been in contact with PKC about allocating some space for allotments and for some fruit tree planting in areas around the town.
“We have also been talking to them about reducing the amount of weedkillers and verge cutting they do too and thinking of other solutions they can adopt.”
A person opposed to the council’s ‘leave it long’ grass policy added their viewpoint: “It is stupid when Pitlochry is in the wild.”
