I was sorry to read in ‘A Cut Above, August 8, that residents in Merley opposed the council’s laudable (even if done for financial reasons) initiative to reduce mowing to give wildlife a chance, they fail to appreciate the danger, particularly to our bees, but also other insects and wildlife are in.

Anyone who wants to gain some insight into the problem should read Dave Goulson’s A Sting in the Tale about the peril facing bumble-bees – growers are actually importing foreign bees to pollinate crops. Some will inevitable escape into the wild.

In the article, the protest organiser, Mrs Webb, says: “This isn’t a rural idyll, it’s an estate.” There is plenty of countryside around here for wild animals and insects. I suspect many people think the same. But actually, farmland doesn’t have many wildflowers, which is why we need urban and domestic meadows. Personally, I’d rather live in a rural idyll than on an estate.

The dog fouling and littering complained of is not the council’s fault, the blame for that lies with other Merley residents. It takes grassland many years to revert to flower meadow, but while there are not yet the chocolate-box meadow images people delight in, your photograph showed the delicate grass flowers quite clearly. Dandelions, yarrow, ragwort and buttercups would soon follow. Look more closely at the beauty in the emerging meadow.

While it may also be down to the weather, my garden is buzzing with bees, butterflies and bush crickets since the council stopped mowing the patch opposite my home. A diversity of wild flowers is vital to inspects.

Poole Council needs to get people caring about the wildlife they’re saving rather than resentful of the money they’re saving.

The Dorset Wildlife Trust has a ‘Wildlink’ initiative protecting and extending our wild areas. Domestic Meadows are surely an important aspect of creating an urban living landscape in Dorset. I’d like to urge the residents of Merley and other areas where grass is growing longer to put their energies into cultivating meadows that are both beautiful to look at and support our struggling wildlife.

EDNA HOBBS, Symes Road, Poole