Edition: July 2024
The Wilder Horsham District initiative has been making great strides to create a Nature Recovery Network.
Creating this natural network involves connecting private land, gardens, schools, Parish Council owned land, and highway verges as well as our own sites to develop wildlife corridors which allow species to move freely from place to place. One of the ways in which we have been collaborating this spring and summer, to add to these wildlife corridors, is through the Wildways Project.
A collaborative approach
Working with large landowners and community partners through Sussex Wildlife Trust, as well as with local groups such as Horsham Green Spaces Forum, BilliGreen, Wild about Warnham, and Greening Steyning, we have allowed the grass to grow in several selected council-owned sites.
This will encourage more native wildflowers, attract bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators as well as providing food for many birds. This is in addition to our established meadow areas at our countryside sites including Southwater Country Park, Warnham Local Nature Reserve and Chesworth Farm.
A careful balance
Only selected areas at each of the sites are being managed in this way. We have continued to mow pathways and retain short amenity grass for other uses, be that walking, sport, play, picnicking or simply having somewhere to relax. The grass in the Wildways areas will be cut later in the summer.
This approach enables the wildflowers to out-compete the grass in time as it continues to grow and set seed. As the wildflowers become well established, they will look more abundant.
Further Information
Our Wildways sites across the District where selected areas have been left to grow longer are marked with Wildways Project signage. They are also listed on our website where you can read more about the project.
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