Sir, – It was great to see that Dublin City Council is changing its grass-cutting regimes (“Grass verge cutting curbed to aid biodiversity”, News, July 22nd). However, I worry that they have not fully realised that the best biodiversity comes from a carefully managed cutting regime, not a complete ban. Varying the cutting regime for adjacent areas is far better than a complete stop. Grass, if not cut, will outcompete many wildflowers. I’d also disagree with the principle of leaving grass cuttings in situ to rot and enrich the soil, in this situation. Impoverished soil will have poorer grass growth, and better wildflowers. All grass cuttings should be removed for this reason. Fertilising old-style floristic meadows is the quickest way to ruin them for wildflowers. Establishing and maintaining a wildflower sward is not as simplistic as leaving the mower in the shed!
Of course any grass cuttings removed are valuable additions to composting systems, preferably mixed with more woody material.
I’d imagine council gardens, local allotment holders, or keen gardeners would be happy to avail of a supply of good compost material. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN BUTLER,
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Dublin 20.
