Rewilding haven or eyesore? Thousands of overgrown parks are dividing Britain
Rewilding haven or eyesore? Thousands of overgrown parks are dividing Britain
Posted by topotaul
Rewilding haven or eyesore? Thousands of overgrown parks are dividing Britain
Rewilding haven or eyesore? Thousands of overgrown parks are dividing Britain
Posted by topotaul
29 Comments
I don’t see the problem, costs less to maintain good for the environment, no brainer
Seems like a good excuse for councils to save money on the upkeep of parks.
Reform have already started turning it into one of their Anti Woke issues so, y’know. Even managed to work a “think of the children!” into it.
[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cew02dr4w72o](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cew02dr4w72o)
I wonder if the people moaning about it, are the same people who love nature so much, they also oppose any planning proposals? Would be an interesting data analysis piece
People who feel a need to see only perfectly manicured lawns and consider any sort of long grass or overgrowth as messy are just going to have to find a way to rewire their brains. What they consider to be a nice view is actually an incredibly unnatural one, devoid of nature.
Overall it’s one of a few positives that came from austerity, but equally it could look substantially better if it got properly maintained, often it can end up looking like a mess needlessly.
I think they look great and are great for the bees, most other wildlife and the environment in general. Manicured lawns are unnatural and are terrible to maintain. As long as it’s a nice mix between space you can hang out in, and space that’s given over to wildlife then it’s a win for all.
My local park has started “tidying” and it’s meant they’ve got rid of loads of underbrush and natural habitat for squirrels, hedgehogs and badgers, etc. plus losing wildflowers which were huge bee and butterfly attractors which is terrible from an ecological perspective. I personally think it’s really sad.
Unless people actively use it, let nature have it.
But the deal is that when we need something, or somewhere, we get to use it.
Say no to bat tunnels, say yes to wild areas.
the kids play area near me is now unusable and full of dog shit.
I think they look great and love walking through them. You can pretend you’re on an epic adventure. It’s also natural so you know, how things are meant to be. Plus, if the bees go they’re taking us with them so there’s some motivation.
I’m all for rewilding but does that have to include letting stinging nettles grow across all the pathways?
Surprise! This is what nature actually looks like when we don’t micro manage it.
I’ll give you a few minutes to adjust to the idea that most of the outdoor space you’ve even seen is a human construction in the same sort of way as the indoor space.
They’re both, because nature isn’t perfect and manicured. Yes they’re an eyesore, that’s the point. They’re meant to be wild and unruly, as nature intended.
I’ve said for ages councils should stop cutting alot of grassy areas that essentially aren’t used, just keep the edges that touch pathway’s tidy.
I remember in the 80s we finally had to chop all this down due to the hundreds of rats
“Rewilding” is just an excuse for councils to slash their maintenance budgets.
If the rewilding ensures that the land isn’t made up of monocultures, and encourages biodiversity, then it’s a good thing. Sadly many green spaces left to go wild are simply made up of long grass, which doesn’t contribute to wildlife in any positive way.
It also needs to remain accessible, so maintaining paths, play equipment and other amenities whilst still keeping wildflowers and trees for everyone (human or not) to benefit from.
Funny thing is, it’s only quite recently that we’ve got to a state where most parks actually are being kept nice. Even bits of verge or awkward patches of greenery seem to get maintained. In the past, they mostly were left to get a bit wild, but they didn’t look like in the picture. Usually just a mass of weeds and those things that tangle round your legs.
And the truth is we have so few places that are really that biodiverse left thanks to all the (quite useful) farm lands that I imagine doing this in parks is providing a significant impact to the environment.
“Nature is an eyesore.”
Headlines from a dying planet.
Looks like my next door neighbour garden ..the knob never cuts his grass ….it’s for the cats it’s shade ….no mate you’re lazy c
I don’t think it’s an eyesore at all. How can wildflowers, grassland, meadows, various types of plants, insects etc. be an eyesore?
I also appreciate the extra greenery these rewilded areas provide during this drought.
It proves they’re much more ecologically resilient and beautiful than a field/lawn.
Sorry but climate breakdown is already here and it’s time we started acting accordingly.
If the *natural state* of our land pisses you off, you have first-world problems and need to get over yourself.
My local park tried this but it just looked overgrown and untidy after a while so the council went back to mowing.
If it’s done well and tastefully it’s great. Prepare the ground and get a load of suitable native wildflowers and grasses and plants in there, stick a couple of info boards up with some facts and info about why it’s good and species to look out for etc.
I’ve been to a “wild camping” campsite where after a year of almost complete coverage of ox-eye daisies a few years later one of the fields was literally just ragwort and tall rust coloured dock seedheads by July. It was awful. So with a park it’s like still a park ya just gotta steward it a bit and set it up right cos on its own nature’s plan for the land might not be that attractive or beneficial.
There is a need to balance function and benefits, the purpose of a park is to be a park and usable by the public. Its not a wilderness space, its an amenity space that may include wild areas.
It shouldn’t be less work, if you have wild flower meadows you should maintain them and their parts. You should have glades, you should be planting trees, you should have space for playing games and sports. Just having all one thing and none of the others is a poor park.
People need to learn to just get on with their lives instead of moaning about every thing.
Its looks nice, its good for nature and it saves councils money.
Not cutting the grass is not ‘rewilding’.
Rewilding is purposely planting a load of native plants, trees, and wildflowers to grow and improve biodiversity.
It’s just an easy way to mislead the public and make more cuts to services.
The council has been rewilding my local roads for years, supporting all the wildlife with holes in the road to catch rain water to support local wildlife.
Doesn’t have the same spin on it now, does it?
As long as they make sure it’s not full of rubbish, go for it. I think most areas should have access to both types if possible.
Our local parks have a mix of both, there is still space for children to play or to have a picnic. The areas that have been rewilded are largely inaccessible now so if the entire park was left to grow out then the park would become and unused space.