Rewilding in Sidmouth: the green spaces where nature will be allowed to flourish

Signs are going up around Sidmouth announcing a rewilding initiative in which the district council will leave some green spaces uncut, for environmental reasons.

The initiative, taking place across East Devon, will provide habitats for insects and wildlife, reduce CO2 emissions by not using mowers, improve biodiversity and help promote sustainable landscapes.

By encouraging native wildflowers to grow, the measure will benefit bees and other pollinators, as allowing vegetation to flower can provide up to 10 times more nectar for bees and other pollinators.

The sites in Sidmouth chosen for rewilding are: the Tyrell Mead area, Sidmouth cemetery, The Byes, Peak Drive, Manor Road, Knapp Pound, Brownlands, the Station Road wildflower bank and the Arcot Road bank.

There will also be rewilding sites in Sidbury's Furzehill and Newton Poppleford's Capper Close.

Controversy over rewilding at Sidmouth Cemetery

The district council began drawing up plans for environmentally-sensitive management of green spaces last year, before the Covid pandemic took hold. But before the proposals had been put before councillors, the first lockdown happened and, with council maintenance work at the cemetery suspended, rewilding happened by default – particularly in the lower section.

During the summer, this provoked several complaints from people with loved ones buried there, who said they were upset to see the graves covered in weeds. Some started bringing their own gardening tools to tidy up.

In response to this, the council said it would cut the grass in the lower section, and embark on a 'sensible management' plan to get the balance right.

At the end of September, a report on plans to create 'nature recovery networks' and progress with rewilding projects went before the Cabinet and was agreed by the councillors.

Praise for the rewilding initiative

Councillor Denise Bickley, EDDC's Assistant Portfolio Holder, Climate Action and Emergencies, said: "I'm delighted with this policy which will allow our pollinators to flourish.

"We all need to adapt to a new kind of beauty, which may not tick the 'neat' box but will allow nature to recover from the harsh treatment it has had for many years.

"Allowing some areas to grow longer, and reducing our need to kill weeds with chemicals, will allow for species enrichment and I look forward to the wonderful sounds of buzzing and the sight of beautiful native wildflowers during the summer months.

"If residents can be encouraged to leave some of their gardens to nature, to allow for spaces to connect in 'Nature Recovery Networks', we will all benefit."

How to do your bit to help the pollinators

Throughout this month, people are being encouraged to leave their gardens unmown to allow wild plants to flourish, in the National Trust's No Mow May challenge.

At the end of the month, participants can count the flowers on their lawns and visit Plantlife's Every Flower Counts website to find out how many bees their garden is helping to support with the extra nectar produced.

For more information, click here