Council asks for residents’ views on wildflowers, green spaces and play

Cheshire West and Chester Council is asking residents to give their views on how it manages wildflower planting, Council-owned parks and open spaces, and outdoor play and youth areas in a consultation launched today.

The Council plans to produce an overarching Environmental Management Strategy, which will include a review of its current Play Strategy, a Wildflower and Grassland Strategy and a Parks and Greenspaces Strategy.

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “The Council has carried out initial engagement with staff, town and parish councils, councillors and other key stakeholders, such as Chester Zoo and Plantlife. The feedback we received has helped to create three draft strategies.  I hope as many people as possible will give their views on our plans and ideas so far.

“Parks and green spaces are a vital part of the borough, providing spaces to help improve the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of residents and attracting visitors to the area.”

The consultation also includes an on-line mapping tool where participants can help identify Council-owned and maintained green space/grassed areas where wildflower meadows could be created in the borough.

The Council has declared a Climate Emergency in the Borough and is committed to helping west Cheshire to become carbon neutral by 2045.

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency added: “A Wildflower and Grasslands Strategy is needed to help us tackle the climate emergency.  This strategy aims to improve the amount of pollinator species and conserve biodiversity in local areas, addressing how we can better manage our existing wildflower verges and including how more people can be encouraged to plant nectar-rich native plants in their own gardens that will provide food for wildlife. It will also identify green corridors in the borough, which will help link our urban and rural green spaces.”

The Council already has an existing Play Strategy, which will be reviewed and updated to reflect the present situation in relation to outdoor play and youth facilities and any gaps that currently exist.  The strategy will also include updated legislation and best practice in relation to developing outdoor play and youth areas and also an updated position on improvements at facilities undertaken by partners over the last four years of the current play strategy programme.

The eight-week consultation period starts on 30 November 2020 and closes on 25 January 2021.  Residents can give their views by taking part online at: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/environmentstrategies.

Comments can also be sent to the Council by the following methods:

• Email: EnvironmentalStrategy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

• Postal address: Environmental Strategies Consultation, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Clough Road, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 4BD

The questionnaire is also available in accessible formats (easy read, braille) upon request.