DCC no longer cutting grass verges, reasoning…..biodiversity.

Want to add that the verges (not the hedgerows) are not being cut on country type roads also. To the point its becoming dangerous for anyone walking or cycling with vicious brambles pointing out onto the road pushing you further out. They need to address this, 1 foot of cutting would not affect the bio diversity. What happens if someone is injured?

Thats the right way to do it, cut the verges and let the larger areas grow wild. Be nice if they decided to plant more trees in this large open areas, now that would really help with biodiversity. Trees, not weeds.

Agree, and contrary to popular belief, i think animals may be smarter than humans, because they tend to nest in the centre or field side of the hedge, not on the side that is close to traffic whizzing by at up to 80kph.

Yeah, I suppose to be fair weeds is a bit of a bad catch all term. Wild flowers aren't a problem, its when areas become over grown with gorse and briars that it starts getting out of hand.

This term 'biodiversity' has been getting on my wick lately and I think I now know why after reading this: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/12/what-is-biodiversity-and-why-does-it-matter-to-us

It's basically a made up word that don't really mean anything. Well, it doesn't mean anything new, it's just referring to organic life and we kinda knew we had that on the planet already, we don't need a new term for it.

This term 'biodiversity' has been getting on my wick lately and I think I now know why after reading this: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/12/what-is-biodiversity-and-why-does-it-matter-to-us

It's basically a made up word that don't really mean anything. Well, it doesn't mean anything new, it's just referring to organic life and we kinda knew we had that on the planet already, we don't need a new term for that.

I think I'll just read it as specifically meaning weeds from now on, at least then it will make some sense.

FCC are no longer clearing road drains, there's grass growing up over surface level of some I pass every day, must be frogs or some long lost protected snails they are leaving be. You have to laugh when the same road floods and the first thing they will cough up as the cause is climate change and not their own gross incompetence. I remember growing up as a kid around every August/September all the drains would be opened and debris removed from them, this doesn't happen any more.

There's is one thing about local authorities not doing basic maintenance as cost saving etc. That's valid criticism.

But we have a ecological and biodiversity crisis going on in Ireland. It's happening even people want to sleep though it.

You have it backwards, it's the concrete and tarmac that is ugly. Manicured lawns are part of our bourgeoisie past!! :pac

Depends what its made from. Its very unlikely old concrete is the exactly the same mix (recipe) as new stuff.

They have been leaving some parks and areas partly uncut to encourage plants and insects.

It has happened here mainly in gorse and such.

Have to say, I've seen a good increase in insects since they stopped spraying so much pesticides in my area. Big increase in Dragonflies, butterflies, moths resulting in lots of bats at night and birds like tree creepers that I wouldn't have seen a decade ago.

You're quite naive if you think even after a short 2 -3 week dey spell roadside grass/scrub doesn't become dry enough to burn.

Exactly. Diverse planting of shrubs etc can provide diversity, but it also involves work which is why we have these unsightly weed strewn verges.