Grass verge cutting

Fri 30 May, 11:08

Lucy, I had a look recently and you're absolutely right. The other junction near the field has excellent lines of sight. However, when currently pulling out of Wychwood Paddocks, I need to drive partially onto Enstone Rd just to see if there are cars coming from the crossroads. I don't know what the "happy medium" here is and I agree about the need for biodiversity but perhaps not at all costs. Again you're right, it's not our decision but I suspect someone might just come and cut it back anyway in lieu of waiting for contractors. I wonder if some of the length could be kept and it just be squared off in a sort of split ends solution?

Thu 29 May, 20:57 (last edited on Thu 29 May, 20:58)

Liz, that's a fantastic idea. Thanks for letting me know. 

Thu 29 May, 20:39

Last night the town council approved the installation of signs around town to indicate where land is being managed for nature - "Nature recovery happening here". Those should start appearing soon on a roadside or Mill Field near you. They are very pretty.

Thu 29 May, 17:26

There is clearly disagreement here. I suppose the question is, who gets to decide? I also live adjacent to the site (which by the way is not near a pavement, so there is zero risk of tick transmission), and have had no say in this. Maybe there's a different solution to improve visibility, such as strimming the corner only, installing a mirror etc. How can we as a community take everyone's views on board?

Mon 26 May, 14:05

I think it's been done in a very considerate way, cutting the grass closer to the road edges and leaving some areas for wild plants to grow. Visibility and tidiness should be considered in a village, which is surrounded by lots of beautiful countryside anyway.

Sat 24 May, 08:34

Safety for road users and pedestrians- Keep Safe !

Sat 24 May, 08:31

TBH it's safer to have the verges all cut within the residential area, as the muntjac carry ticks, they then hang on to the cow parsley and are a risk for Lyme disease. And yes, I've had a tick bite from standing on the verge on the slade when someone went past with a pram. 

Fri 23 May, 18:20

Lucy, I agree with George being a resident in the Paddocks; and it's especially difficult to see cars coming up Enstone Road on the wrong side owing to parked cars when the parsley is up. In the grand scheme of things I and neighbours have taken, in recent years, not to cutting the verges further around the Paddocks so we are benefiting from a great display of wildflowers and biodiversity gain. 

Thu 22 May, 08:12

I find it very hard to see how the wildflowers growing there had any impact on visibility. I have to pull out of the junction at the other end of the field and it wasn't a problem. Given the dire state of UK wildlife, I think we need to do all we can to look after it, as the previous post supports.

Sun 18 May, 22:28 (last edited on Sun 18 May, 22:51)

It's worth reading this: "When managed well, road verges, whether rural or urban and whether on major or minor roads, can sustain an astonishing amount of wildlife: more pollinators are found on well-managed verges than in the neighbouring countryside and nearly 45% of our total flora is found on verges.

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Fri 16 May, 16:28

Driver visibility and 'no mow May' discuss the merits of each others priority every year.

Fri 16 May, 09:34

I appreciate the need for biodiversity but at the same time, it's incredibly hard to pull out of that junction safely when the grass etc is long. The field is often used for youth football training too meaning that whilst your point is valid, I can see why it was removed. 

Tue 13 May, 20:41

I was disappointed to see the verge next to the Wychwood Paddocks playing field has been strimmed. It was full of cow parsley and was surely good for wildlife. I find it hard to see how it could have been causing any harm. Does anyone know who is in charge of it?