How Public Outdoor Spaces will look a little different this year

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is gearing up to help nature recovery across the Moorlands in a few different ways. One way is by reducing mowing in some parks and open spaces. They have a new mowing schedule being introduced this spring to support biodiversity, which will change the look of these spaces for visitors.

Designated areas of grass will move to a once-a-year cut to allow meadow grasses, wildflowers and other native species to flourish. By increasing the variety of plants in these areas, the Council hopes to support a wide range of pollinators, birds, and other wildlife that rely on these habitats. These areas will be left unmown from April to create meadows and natural grass verges. They will be cut in the autumn and the grass collected and removed. These sites will act as a trial with a view to expanding this to additional sites in the coming years.

The Council is not reducing its normal maintenance of areas which are required for recreation – the areas that have been identified are boundaries and verges and areas of lower amenity value or sites where there is plenty of space for recreation. Sports pitches and formal lawns will continue to be maintained to the current high standards.

Head of Leisure and Environmental Services Elaine Hallworth said: “These changes support the aims of the Green Spaces Strategy to improve biodiversity in parks and open spaces across the Moorlands.

“It will help to ensure we’re managing these spaces sustainably and that they are supporting the Council’s nature recovery ambitions.”

The designated sites are at Halls Road Recreation Ground in Biddulph; Biddulph Valley Park; Stanfield Crescent Recreation Ground in Cheadle; Glebe Road/Brookhouse Way in Cheadle; Brough Park; and Birchall Recreation Ground, both in Leek. This strategy will exclude areas owned or managed by other organisations such as parish or town councils who will make their own choices.

You can read more about how the Council is supporting nature recovery in their Plan for Nature. or find out more about their mowing regime on their website.

How Public Outdoor Spaces Will Look a Little Different This Year - created 14.4.25