Why 'let it grow' scheme should stay

It concluded that some areas would be cut again, but what are the benefits of leaving other areas to grow?

Dr Chris Watson, an ecologist and professor at a university in Quebec, recently published research on the benefits of urban green spaces being cut less, and says there are many.

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Speaking with the Echo, Dr Watson said: “Our study provided a statistical compilation summary of individual studies throughout the world that investigated the effects of lawn mowing intensity.

“We found that the effect on biodiversity, especially beneficial insects and plants, was overwhelmingly positive

“By mowing less the floral resources used by pollinators are being retained and species that grow taller than the mower are able to flourish."

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The ecologist said lawns managed less intensively were more resistant to invasive weeds, particularly ragweed, a dominant hay fever-inducing plant.

One of the concerns about letting grass areas grow is that ticks will be more common.

However, Dr Watson carried out a study, mirroring another, on urban grass areas and no ticks were found in both, reinforcing the idea that the biting arachnids were not interested in urban areas because their primary food source, large mammals, were not found there.

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The Echo also spoke with Megan Lock, biodiversity advisor at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), who said: “Cutting verges and other grassy areas less frequently, where it is safe to do so, has the potential to help reverse Britain’s wildlife declines.

“Reduced cutting or more appropriate cutting regimes could increase biodiversity, reduce management costs, provide ecological connectivity and ecosystem services such as pollination, which are beneficial to us all.”

She said 720 different flowers vital for pollinators, small mammals and birds, can be found in road verges which, if left, can create an “ecological network”.

A spokesperson for the Dorset Wildlife Trust told the Echo it may take “a few years “ to see a “noticeable improvement in the appearance and biodiversity, providing more flowers for pollinators and corridors for wildlife".

“These kinds of changes don’t happen instantly but in the longer term, good management will have great benefits for both our environment and the appearance of our urban areas.”