Update on biodiversity trials in local parks and open spaces

Nov 6 2012 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser

A pilot scheme to improve the level of biodiversity in municipal parks and open spaces has been undertaken during the past two years.

And tomorrow’s meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s environment committee will hear about the outcome of the trial initiative and the next steps for work to encourage a greater range of plants and animals in local green spaces.

The committee agreed in March 2010 to testing different methods of managing and maintaining grassed areas to assess whether the number of species found at each site increased as a result of reduced grass cutting and natural regeneration, in a similar way to other local authorities around Scotland.

Councillors will consider the results of the trial scheme in meadow grass areas. A range of wildflower species were identified that could not have flowered if the test areas had been mown shorter, as well as increased insect activity.

Some of the meadow areas were created as part of park improvement projects, for example in Larghan Park in Coupar Angus and Kirkgate Park in Kinross.

Members will be asked to agree that where biodiversity levels have improved, the meadow areas continue to be maintained, and that other areas be returned to the previous grass cutting programme.

Environment convener Alan Grant said: “Overall this pilot has shown a positive level of success in enhancing the biodiversity of our green spaces.”