Reply to THIS thread
Start a NEW Talkback Thread
Talkback Home

Grass verges are just messy! - James (2nd Jun 2021 - 07:58:43) Enough is enough Liphook council, please cut the grass verges in Liphook. I understand a desire to cultivate the wild flowers, but it just looks a mess now and like village that is totally unloved. I feel sorry for the Liphook in bloom team that have been working hard to make the village look beautiful.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - George (2nd Jun 2021 - 09:55:18) Please don't cut the verges!!! Unless growth is dangerously obstructing the sight line at junctions, it is so important to leave these areas as wildlife corridors. Invertebrates are under huge pressure with our ever-increasing desire to manicure any green area. Without them, the whole food chain comes under pressure.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - L (2nd Jun 2021 - 10:38:46) Fully agree with George. We have let our lawns go wild in Chiltlee Manor - masses of wild flowers and, consequently, insects. Verges, and lawns, will be cut soon enough. Give nature a chance. Humans do enough damage. L

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Jen (2nd Jun 2021 - 10:47:15) I agree with George! The verges should not be cut unless absolutely necessary for reasons of public safety. It's sad that people cannot see beauty in the natural world and view nature as "a mess". It's true that natural verges are not neat and tidy and that's what makes them so beneficial to wildlife. When verges are cut, like a lawn, it discourages biodiversity and grass predominates. The grass monoculture thus created does not support all the various butterflies, moths, bees and other insects that depend on the the wild flowers for their existence. By all means cut the grass in your own garden, if you must, but please leave the natural areas as they are.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - er (2nd Jun 2021 - 11:54:07) Question please for any gardeners: Wildflower meadows and verges sound great. My question is, if you leave a grassy area alone, or even seed it with pretty flowers, ultimately would you end up with a beautiful wildflower area populated by pretty butterflies etc or a weedy bit of scrubland populated by nettles and dandelions etc? Is the alternative to lawn and flowering borders, more akin to something were used to seeing at the sides of motorways, full of giant hogweeds or whatever they are? It's interesting point, because I'm all for wildflower meadows in theory, just saying it sounds great!

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Penny Williamson (2nd Jun 2021 - 13:30:20) Totally agree, George

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Ian (2nd Jun 2021 - 13:52:58) James, do you not read the news or look at the Internet? The bee populations in the UK are on the verge of crisis? It is essential that we should reduce our management of open grass areas, verges etc to encourage flowers to bloom so our bees can thrive.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Spenc (2nd Jun 2021 - 15:51:38) Hi there For someone that actually works for Bramshott and liphook parish council in the grounds maintenance team, we do not cut the grass verges because they provide a perfect habitat for small invertebrates and insects and because the verges are maintained by contractors they are contracted to maintain the verges by the council. These contractors can take as long as they like to cut the verges and what to do with them. The councils ground team have nothing to do with the maintenance towards the verges. Liphook and bloom spend a lot of time and effort working on there allocated verges and they look very smart once it’s the right time of year. If you have any problems James please come to the millennium hall where I’m sure we can consider your issues.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - sarah (2nd Jun 2021 - 21:42:42) er Just for info… Nettles are the larval foodplant for commas, small tortoiseshell and red admiral butterflies-therefore vital. Dandelions are one of the earliest flowering plants so are vital for early pollinators, and there are over 400 species of fauna that are associated with scrub, many of which are threatened. Any scrubland, wildflower meadow etc will need some form of management to prevent it from taking over but the more variety we can provide the better-and that includes borders, grasses and hogweed (not giant hogweed-that’s non native).

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Claire (3rd Jun 2021 - 07:33:04) The grassy verges are lovely!! All we need to do is each pick up and bin 5 pieces of litter a day. Make it the new “Liphook 5 a day” :)

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Sam (3rd Jun 2021 - 08:39:40) This human obsession with tidiness is killing off nature, nature does not require tidiness, nature does nature perfectly by itself. This even extends to cut trees, you shouldn’t clear all cut trees as nature does not clear it either, those dead logs form a vital dead wood habitat that would exist naturally with fallen trees so cutting and removing everything is stupid human behaviour. James am afraid your hugely wide of the correct mark here, and it’s views like your own that are causing unnecessary harm to the environment, am very glad so many others chipped in and stood up for nature on this post.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Mary (3rd Jun 2021 - 09:01:26) That’s a great idea Claire. I know some people pick up a lot of litter for the benefit of the community but it would be so much better (and fairer) if everyone did a little bit every day - better still of course if it wasn’t dropped in the first place! And I LOVE the natural state of the verges at the moment. Chiltlee Manor looks beautiful!

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - liz (3rd Jun 2021 - 19:06:02) Very well put, Sam.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Justin Case (11th Jun 2021 - 15:02:34) L - Chiltlee Manor looked great when in full bloom and I can now see that patches have been left to flower after. Bravo! Out of interest, did your neighbours make a conscious decision to allow the green to grow? If so, did you get unanimous support or did you have some who preferred for it to be mown over? How did you convince those who weren't in favour to not get their mowers out? Sam: Well put indeed. Do you have any suggestions on how to convince those of an older generation that have always mown their lawns that it is perhaps not such a good idea? Asking as my son tried to encourage their neighbours to do no mow may on their village green but without any success as everyone preferred it neat and tidy.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Penny Williamson (11th Jun 2021 - 17:01:38) I think that the reason for keeping areas such as village greens and play areas mowed is because long grasses harbour ticks. I was in South Harting yesterday at the green and the lawn mowers were out, but when I saw the number of children playing there I think this is sensible. The areas round the lakes were left though. The English have always had an obsession with immaculate lawns and they do look great. However I have compromised and have created a wildflower meadow on what was the old vegetable patch (not used for many years and grassed over).. The first couple of years were disappointing but this year the wildflowers are in evidence and hopefully will increase in future years. I agree verges on roadsides should certainly be left. The areas round Chiltlee Manor look great as well.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Jen (11th Jun 2021 - 17:40:45) @Justin Case - I don't think it's an "age thing", it's more down to the individual's personality and preferences. There are plenty of younger people who prefer things rather too neat and tidy for my liking! I'm an older person (I'm in my 60s) and like a higgledy piggledy garden. Half of the "lawn" (I use that term somewhat loosely!) is not mown until the end of the summer. Actually, most of the garden is a bit wild. My flower borders are now wildflowers only. I've always liked wild gardens but have grown to like them more as I've got older and more aware of the need to maintain biodiversity in nature.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Rob (11th Jun 2021 - 20:51:37) I agree with James, it's looking worse than bordon

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - L (13th Jun 2021 - 12:54:42) Justin Case - good question! I’m a director of the Chiltlee Manor Residents Association and took the decision together with my co-directors. We then discussed it with the Estate gardening contractors and agreed what should be cut, and when. We’ll tidy it up a bit on their next visit, but will leave the largest clumps of daisies for as long as we can. J

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Jane (13th Jun 2021 - 22:27:02) As long as the council get their way, that’s all that really matters.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - joe (14th Jun 2021 - 08:52:50) There is a nationwide local authority policy of 'no mow May' so the areas belonging to ehdc and hampshire highways have been unmown in the same way. I think nature needs some help these days and that is one small way we can help our planet.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - er (14th Jun 2021 - 09:18:29) I think it's one thing to let the verges go to weed, some of which are quite pretty and who knows, if it helps save Earth all well and good, but I think they should at least maintain the roads, the grass is getting quite high on some, filling in the cracks right across the middle, especially in the lesser used roads. As the roots dig in it will make these cracks bigger, come winter the rain will fill in, the ice will open them up into potholes, so I think it will either cost the councils dear in the long run or the residents will have to live with potholed roads. I understand this may please those who believe humanity has outlived its usefulness on this planet and we should all live in tents growing dandelions and nettles for tea, but in my experience they are often the same people whose parents have made millions selling their gardens for housing and are planning to jet off to the sun as soon as possible with their mates, or as we call them, millennials😁

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - raymond (14th Jun 2021 - 21:07:22) I have just returned from a week in Somerset and have driven though some beautifully kept villages. On returning to Liphook our village looks sad and neglected, the white gates on the approach to Liphook in London road are a disgrace never been cleaned since the day they were installed. Wake up Liphook show some pride. Is there a date when the grass verges are to be cut.?

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - liz (17th Jun 2021 - 10:32:27) Raymond - I'm sure no-one would mind if you spruced up the white gates.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Don (17th Jun 2021 - 10:49:31) We probably need to have our council tax increased then! On the one hand we want improved local services and infrastructure yet we continue to vote for those who promise us lower taxes etc. Cake and eat it springs to mind....

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Pete (17th Jun 2021 - 16:02:42) Well said Don.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - raymond (17th Jun 2021 - 18:31:49) Hi Liz.In answer to your comment " spruce up the gates",3years ago with the help of a younger neighbor we spent a best part of a day trying to clean them but the dirt is so ingrained. It possibly needs a portable steam cleaner,something i do not have only an electric.one. Great idea installing them and putting Liphook in letters on the main approach to our village,but they need professional cleaning not sprucing up as you suggest. R .

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - D (17th Jun 2021 - 18:49:45) I'm sure if there was an accident today where the lack of visibility caused by uncut verges could be a contributary factor, then every verge would be cut tomorrow. The junction opposite Passfield Stores comes to mind. Uncut verges, Your Honour? What uncut verges?

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Gr (21st Jun 2021 - 10:41:16) Who is responsible for verges Parish council or Hampshire cc?

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Joe (21st Jun 2021 - 10:55:21) H CC normally unless the land itself is owned by the Parish Council. There are a few areas it is responsible for.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - M (21st Jun 2021 - 17:22:24) Actually the grass verges within the 30mph zones are the responsibility of EHDC. BLPC are responsible for any land they own, such as The Millennium Green. HCC aren't responsible for any grass cutting but are responsible for the actual roads and pavements.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Joe (21st Jun 2021 - 20:33:15) Thanks for the info Bill but who are responsible for the areas outside the 30 mph limit then?

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - M (22nd Jun 2021 - 09:04:10) Try this....think it tells who is responsible for grass cutting? https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/grasscutting

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - lac (22nd Jun 2021 - 10:18:32) The grass verges controversy shows how fashions and attitudes change. Neat lawns and carefully manicured verges were all the rage in my younger days, now country cottage gardens and wild flowers are all the rage. Hopefully, the latter fashion remains as manicuring grass verges wastes resources. It also prevents our wildlife from having somewhere to live. By all means cut verges where traffic sight Ines are impeded but a verge full of grasses, insects and the rest of the food chain is good for us all. PS I've posted this before, but I remember when driving your car meant a covering of insects and keeping your house doors closed to keep flies out. There are so few insects about now, little car cleaning is required and few flies invade our houses. It's a natural world red flag - there are too few insects about. No scientist really knows why but we need to pay attention rather more than the Extinction Rebellion worry about CO2, when they should be worrying that one of the main pillars of the animal food chain is in serious difficulty.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Gill (22nd Jun 2021 - 10:38:25) I've been exasperated in past years trying to keep cabbage white butterflies off the veg. patch. Haven't seen one this year and now I'm really sad

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Joe (22nd Jun 2021 - 11:43:16) Lac maybe the demise of butterflies and insects are also to do with the rise of carbon dioxide.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - er (22nd Jun 2021 - 11:49:54) I read that a major killer of insects is not just loss of habitat, but even worse intensive use of pesticide, or often both in intensive farming. With 8 billion people needing cheap food, the WHO estimates world population will peak at 12 billion this mid century (and that's based upon an optimistic forecast of population growth neatly and conveniently stalling to zero by then without any major conflict), there is an increasing need for food crops, but also things like ethanol etc for non food crops. Anyway, the result of intensive pesticide use since the 1950s has been an eco disaster mainly because the surviving insects have become resistant to them (evolution by predation) and the world has answered by increasing the dosage of pesticide, firms like Monsanto etc are not selling less, but many times more pesticide year on year. These are 2 issues that aren't talked about and are often labelled fringe or conspiracy theories, but really I don't think pesticides are good for human health either, although the results are less instantaneous, it still can't be good for us!

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Joe (22nd Jun 2021 - 13:59:50) I agree with most of what you say ER but query the “ needing cheap food” a lot of the rainforest has disappeared due to raising crops to feed cows for MCdonalds. I have only eaten one once never again. I am not eating the amount of meat as I used to. If more people did the same the planet would benefit.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - James (22nd Jun 2021 - 15:26:03) I agree with what you say up to a point Joe. We should all eat a bit less meat, but a veg based diet is not the answer to saving the planet. The carbon miles covered in importing soya, nuts, edamame, avocados, pineapples etc etc from all around the world vastly outweigh those that are amassed if we just all eat local. Buy what our own farmers are growing for us in the season that they are available, rather than demanding exotic foods from all around the world

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Don (22nd Jun 2021 - 16:04:37) Each to their own, I will continue to eat meat at least once a day! Fed up of being lectured about what to do and what not to do by namby pamby do gooders who are destroying the ozone layer by talking a lot of hot air out their backsides!

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Joe (22nd Jun 2021 - 17:57:46) James a veg based diet does not always mean imported food. I would quite happily adapt to eating food which was locally produced do not know though if I could give up tea and coffee. I am assuming that goods shipped in leave less of a carbon footprint than a plane so maybe I would not have to!

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - D (22nd Jun 2021 - 19:38:37) "Buy what our own farmers are growing"? The nearest farmer to me just across the field wants to sell all his land for housing.

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Joe (22nd Jun 2021 - 20:47:28) D what does this farmer currently grow or rear on the land near you?

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - D (23rd Jun 2021 - 07:40:37) Joe, low grade maize (animal food).

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - gr (23rd Jun 2021 - 08:36:20) footpaths need clearing near the bus stop portsmouth road you have to walk in the road as brambles all over the place footpaths full of weeds these will break up the tarmac and cause more problems

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Joe (23rd Jun 2021 - 11:15:06) Well Bill Mouland from EHDC has given us the information link online I think we have to report it there?

Re: Grass verges are just messy! - Gr (23rd Jun 2021 - 17:22:50) Tried the link for over 30 mins council web site as much use as a chocolate tea pot sends you around in circles

Reply to THIS thread
Talkback Home