FAQs: About grass cutting and management

Cut and collect is a method that copies traditional ways of managing hay meadows. It involves collecting grass cuttings (arisings) after mowing. This is important because it:

• prevents the build-up of dead vegetation, which can smother delicate plants
• leaves more exposed ground to allow seeds to grow
• reduces soil fertility, slowing the growth of nutrient-loving coarse grasses that choke wildflowers and finer grasses

Changing how we cut grass is about saving wildlife not reducing costs

Changing how we cut grass can create more native wildflower meadows. Even if some of these patches are small, it will all add up to a big area. Wildlife will be able to move between wildflower habitats as they become connected.

The height of the grass inhibits movement, and in fact our teams have not come across these issues significantly when cutting; mown pathways are often provided that additionally control use.

It is also important that we keep roads safe for users. For visibility, we will need to manage certain areas to ensure safety. We may cut these more often:

• junctions
• verge edges
• roundabouts

Cut and collect sites are not generally considered high risk, especially when well managed with cut margins. In some cases, we cut fire breaks if directly adjacent to housing. In fact, they can be beneficial by creating areas of higher moisture content and lower fuel loads by their diverse make up.

We are in a nature emergency. Our wildlife is declining and we need to act now to save it.

We can make road verges and amenity grasslands (parks and other open green spaces) more wildlife friendly. Regularly cut, closely mown grass may look tidy but it has little benefit for wildlife. Letting grass grow and having more meadow-like areas with wildflowers helps wildlife.

Plants

Wildflowers, including rare wildflowers, grow and produce seeds, allowing them to increase year-on-year.

Invertebrates

Wildflowers and grasses provide food for insects, including:

• bumblebees
• hoverflies
• beetles
• butterflies
• moths
• grasshoppers

Long grass gives shelter to lay their eggs and complete their life cycles. Meadow soils contain high numbers of earthworms. 

Mammals

Bats, field mice, voles, shrews and hedgehogs eat the plants and invertebrates found in meadows.

Amphibians

Frogs and toads feed on invertebrates.

Reptiles

Slow-worms and lizards also eat invertebrates, and grass snakes eat frogs. 

Birds

Small birds like goldfinches eat seeds from wildflowers. Other birds such as swallows and swifts eat insects. Kestrels, buzzards and barn owls feed on small mammals.

Mowing less often stops soil becoming too compacted. Looser soils allow plant roots to develop better. This helps soil absorb water and reduces the impacts of flooding and drought.

We work with Trunk Road Agents to look after our trunk road and motorway network. Trunk roads and motorways are very busy roads. They connect major cities, towns and ports. The M4, A470 and A55 are a few examples. More information about verges on the trunk road and motorway network is available.

Local authorities manage most other road verges. Verges around villages and in residential areas may be looked after by:

• community and town councils, and
• housing associations

Publicly-owned amenity grassland is looked after by:

• local authorities
• community and town councils
• housing associations, and
• community groups

If you are concerned that the length of a roadside verge is causing a hazard you can report it by contacting the Street Scene Team on 01495 762200.

Under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, public authorities must maintain and enhance biodiversity. Sympathetic mowing of road verges and amenity grasslands can help meet this duty.

Organisations who set out their grassland management priorities promote action:

• through corporate support and management plans
• by committing to the Bee Friendly scheme

This encourages workforces to work together and to adopt new approaches.

Plantlife has produced managing grassland road verges: a best practice guide (see resources section on https://roadverges.plantlife.org.uk). This was in collaboration with partners including ourselves.