Concern after 'beautiful' meadow in Chesterfield park 'ruined by excessive mowing'

Concern has been raised after a wildflower meadow in a Chesterfield park was ‘ruined by excessive mowing’.
Tim Paget
By Tim Paget
Published 17th Aug 2021, 12:02 BST
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Dog walker Dave Cory says the ‘beautiful’ area of Poolsbrook Country Park had become a haven for bees, butterflies and other wildlife.

However, when he arrived for his regular walk in the park last week, Dave was shocked to discover the flowers and grass had been cut back and ‘absolutely gutted’.

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He said people are being ‘bombarded’ every day with messages to save nature not destroy it, and Chesterfield Borough Council should be less ‘obsessed with everything being tidy’.

Chesterfield dog walker Dave Cory shows how the nature reserve and meadow at Poolsbrook Country Park used to look.Chesterfield dog walker Dave Cory shows how the nature reserve and meadow at Poolsbrook Country Park used to look.
Chesterfield dog walker Dave Cory shows how the nature reserve and meadow at Poolsbrook Country Park used to look.

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A council spokesperson said a formal contract between the authority and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) meant it had to carry out the work and it was intended to ‘effectively manage the long-term biodiversity’ of the area.

Dave, 82, who lives in Tapton, Chesterfield, but travels to the park to walk his dog, said: “I went up there on Monday and it was beautiful.

"The next day it had all gone. It looked completely barren.

Dave Cory's picture of the nature reserve at Poolsbrook Park before it was cut back.Dave Cory's picture of the nature reserve at Poolsbrook Park before it was cut back.
Dave Cory's picture of the nature reserve at Poolsbrook Park before it was cut back.

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"It is beautiful in the park. You can spend a couple of hours there and you would not even know where you were.

"This little nature reserve area was perfect. There is no need to mow it but it looks like the council has paid a contractor to do it.

"It may have looked a bit rough but the bees and butterflies didn’t mind. I don’t understand why they had to do it.

Chesterfield Borough Council says the work at Poolsbrook Country Park is necessary for the long-term future of the meadow area.Chesterfield Borough Council says the work at Poolsbrook Country Park is necessary for the long-term future of the meadow area.
Chesterfield Borough Council says the work at Poolsbrook Country Park is necessary for the long-term future of the meadow area.

"Other people I have spoken to at the park agree that it is such a shame.”

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A spokesperson for Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Managing the grassland area in Poolsbrook Country Park is carried out in accordance with a formal contract with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England known as high level stewardship.

"This programme is targeted to effectively manage the long-term biodiversity of an area.

"Under this arrangement, this site along with several others in the borough must be cut between 1 August and 31 September.

"Whilst we appreciate that it may be disappointing to see these areas cut back, this work ensures they will grow again next year and will help the area continue to thrive.”

Related topics:ChesterfieldChesterfield Borough CouncilMission Impossible 7Derbyshire