NEWTOWN residents were dismayed to find that the concept of No Mow May had been ignored by council contractors.
In recent months, a group came together to create a community garden in the cut through between Amity Road and Cumberland Road.
The area had been ignored in recent years, and the aim of the group is to create a vibrant space that allows nature to flourish in the densely populated east Reading neighbourhood.
But earlier this week, an area set aside for rewilding was mown down, much to the ire of residents who were enjoying seeing Mother Nature get to work. The area had sprouting alliums, dahlia and lilac.
And there was a hand-painted sign nearby asking people not to mow the area. Unfortunately, they hadn’t placed one in the rewilding patch.
One of the people behind the scheme, Leslee Barron, revealed the news in a tweet, using angry emojis to express her disappointment.
“When you create a #rewilding project in the middle of an #urban area with the support of the local council (and) then the sun-contracted mowers cut down the sprouting alliums, dahlias & lilac,” she wrote.
She told Reading Today: “I was devastated to learn the grass had been mowed, we were promised that the area was taken off the mow list. We have made signs for the main area but sadly hadn’t got round to making signs for those areas yet.”
Her disappointment was echoed by Park ward councillor Josh Williams (Green), who remembered that in November 2019, the council’s contractors accidentally mowed down 800 saplings planted in Palmer Park.
He said: “It’s hard to watch as the community does something for its local area, and for the planet, and then the council literally mows it down.
“This isn’t the first time, but hopefully it’s the last – the wonderful hand-painted ‘DON’T MOW HERE’ signs had some effect, and the local gardeners will be back, alongside the wild flowers, lilac, and bulbs.”
A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said that the actions had been “regretful”, and wanted to say sorry to Newtown residents.
“Following a visit by our grounds maintenance team today, we can confirm that the main garden, which is clearly identified by signs created by the community was untouched, but some outer verge areas have regretfully been mown,” they said.
“We apologise for the upset this will have caused to local residents who care for and cultivate this area.
“We will look to work with the community to introduce further checks to prevent this re-occurring such as discussing and agreeing extensions to areas that they wish to re-wild and ensuring that any such areas agreed are properly signed.”
