Grasscutting in Tipperary is ‘not a walk away and do nothing situation’

The council will not just leave grass to grow and “walk away”.

That was the message from a presentation by Biodiversity Officer Ann Marie Fleming at this week’s sitting of the Thurles-Templemore Municipal District Council. 

Ms Fleming told elected members that a plan for grass management in Thurles is in the process of development and that public engagement was a priority. 

“It’s not enough to have one amazing area of the town. We need to create an ecological network throughout the town,” said Ms Fleming. 

At the July sitting of the council, elected members called for the council to cut the grass in housing estates where it had been left long to promote biodiversity. 

They said at that meeting that they and the residents were in favour of biodiversity initiatives. But those initiatives must be done in a planned way, and in consultation with communities.

Ms Fleming told the council that she often hears people say that biodiversity is just an “excuse” for the council to do less work. 

But, she said, grass can be managed in a sustainable way that promotes pollinator development and preserves the area for residents’ use. 

“It’s not a walk away and do nothing situation,” said Ms Fleming. 

Ms Fleming said options include changing the settings on the mower so grass stays a little longer, longer timeframes for cutting, allowing dandelions to seed over and creating meadow areas in the town. 

Grass cuttings should not be left on the ground but collected. She said leaving them to breakdown does not help to grow wildflowers but just makes fertiliser for more grass. Meadows are not suitable for recreational areas in estates. 

And any plans for estates should allow residents to continue to use green areas.The plan when it is developed will consider issues like dog fouling, litter and the management of noxious weeds.

The biodiversity officer also said that they needed to move away from the idea of a “green parkland vision to something more natural.”

She said the benefits of this would be the preservation of bee species, 30% of which are in danger of extinction. 

For people it will mean more sensory garden, more wildlife and would help meet carbon and climate goals.

A POSITIVE RESPONSE

Ms Fleming’s presentation was met positively by the councillors at the meeting. 

Cllr Jim Ryan welcomed the biodiversity officer and reiterated his call that residents in housing estates and the wider community be consulted before a plan is put in place. 

He said it was a “huge mistake” this year to leave longer periods between grass cutting and not at least explain to the councillors what was happening. 

“There was World War three in the housing estates in Thurles,” said Cllr Ryan. 

Cllr Sean Ryan agreed that greater consultation was needed to ensure much-needed biodiversity plans were accepted. He suggested working with the local Tidy Towns groups.

Cllr Ryan said that many groups fall down on biodiversity at the national competition because they are not sure what measures are needed. 

Working with the council would not only promote greater cooperation but help Tidy Towns with the biodiversity goals. 

Cllr Peggy Ryan welcomed the biodiversity officer but said it was a “pity” the presentation could not have happened earlier.

Cllr Ryan said there was a lot of “dissatisfaction” locally with how biodiversity was being managed.

But, she also said there was a lot of good work and interest in learning in the community.

“There is a huge amount of work going on in the background but it's about bringing that to the fore,” said Cllr Ryan. 

Cllr Micheál Lowry said that the main message should be that there is a plan on the way. But, he said that plan needed to give the public a realistic view of how biodiversity areas grow. And the council needed to chose “appropriate locations” for their development. Cllr Lowry said that most people have an idea of a mature meadow and they don’t look that way from the beginning.

“What people perceive of a meadow is from pictures that are seven or eight years old.

“I think everyone is on board but we have to be sensitive about it,” said Cllr Lowry.

Cllr Kay Cahill-Skehan said it was clear while canvasing this year that there was a great deal of education needed. The council she said needed to work with the community. 

“If we don’t educate them with us, then we are not nothing,” said Cllr Cahill-Skehan.

COMPROMISE AND PERCEPTION

Ms Fleming said she agreed with what the councillors had said. 

She said as part of the local and national plans, greater community engagement would be an action point. Ms Fleming said there is already a consultant and they are just awaiting the draft plan. 

However she said there would have to be compromise and a shifting of perception. 

“We are not going to get those meadows with the lovely blue cornflowers or red poppies. That is just not in our natural seed bank,” said Ms Fleming.

She also said that wildflower seed packets were not an appropriate way to promote wildflower growth and that it would take around three years to see results. 

District Administrator Sharon Scully said the consultant has already visited Thurles. When a draft plan is available, it will be presented to councillors.