Our story
As Ards & North Down Council, we have taken some significant steps to benefit our Borough's biodiversity by converting approximately 21,700m2 of closely mown amenity grasslands to managed grassland habitats, capable of supporting a much more diverse range of floral species, pollinators and insects.
As well as altering our grassland management regime under the rewilding scheme, we have also taken steps towards more sustainable annual planting schedule. The move towards this type of planting has expanded significantly and the use of direct sowing annual flowers throughout the Borough's flower beds has proven a great success. Annual wildflower planting is significantly less expensive and produces displays of greater impact with greater longevity. Species in these mixes are specifically chosen for their pollinator-friendly flowers. With careful planning and consideration, officers hope to build on what has already been achieved and extend sustainable annual planting to include additional areas.
To promote the initiative and to inform members of the public of the benefits of the altered management practices, informative signage was placed at each rewilding location.
The power of community buy-in cannot be underestimated. There is tremendous scope in harnessing the energy and commitment of local groups, and we have ongoing discussions in relation to the volunteer management and recording at some of the sites.
It is important to note that the principle driver of projects such as this should be environmental rather than financial. A significant reduction in CO2 emissions as a result of a reduction in grass cutting frequency further reduces the Council's carbon footprint. It is therefore considered that this management change is financially cost-neutral but substantially beneficial to the biodiversity asset of the Borough.
Our advice
Rewilding is the restoration of natural ecosystems, encouraging a balance between people and the rest of nature where each can thrive. It is not something that is solely focused on rural landscapes and the creation and maintenance of meadow grasslands is taking place in public open spaces across the UK.
By altering and reducing our mowing practices we have converted large areas of closely mown, species-poor amenity grasslands to grassland habitats capable of supporting a much more diverse range of floral species, pollinators and insects.
As well as the biodiversity benefits, studies have shown that conversion from species-poor to species-rich grassland can significantly increase the soil carbon sequestration rate. In addition, a significant reduction in CO2 emissions as a result of a reduction in grass-cutting frequency reduces the Council's carbon footprint.
The Rewilding project has created opportunities for education by creating outdoor classrooms, where schools and local members of the community can discover the natural world and develop an understanding of environmental issues through first-hand experience. Educational activities can also be enabled in a meadow grassland including bug hunts, flower species identification, sketching flowers etc. Regular positive feedback on the benefits of these sites from constituents and visitors highlights the positive impact this scheme has made to people's lives in addition to the obvious biodiversity benefit.
It is critical that the rewilding parks work in harmony with the overall use of parks and that a balanced offering is available across the parks portfolio. As such, the schedules for ongoing maintenance of the rewilding parks are altered when needed to take account of infrequent event use on certain sites.
Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the increase in number and variety of floral, pollinator and insect species; the area of land converted and maintained as rewilding sites; and the mental and physical well-being benefits of being outside and immersed in the natural world.
