Mylander - Issue 88

27 From inside the community It is possible some of these and/or other ‘wild flowers’ will be more common to see with a move towards allowing some green areas to do their own thing. This is ‘wilding’, letting nature takes its course to enable botanical species to be rediscovered and to perform their role in the bigger question of biodiversity protection. It is also the case that rare or thought to be lost species are being found, especially in remote and rural grass verges where biodiversity can thrive with a little help. The botany will attract insects that will attract birds and where tree and shrub planting is also taking place, the birds will be attracted to more nesting habitats. The wilding undergrowth will be attractive to mammals and the flowering canopies to pollinators such as birds, butterflies and moths. The combination of some tree planting with areas of wilding provides a mixed ecology of habitats to enable biodiversity recovery right here on our doorsteps. I appreciate some people prefer to see everything neat and tidy everywhere, but I find a mix of tidiness with an area of wilding an attractive scene. The area behind Bergholt Road, between the houses and the Station car park, I find pleasing. The tree planting will help feed the birds and provide roosting areas and especially next to the existing hedge, they will provide a much better nesting habitat. The wilding areas between and beneath trees are allowing wild flowers and grasses to come to the fore, again providing habitat for mammals, pollinators and other insects. Open grass areas are still mown and emphasise the difference. They provide relaxation and play areas and that is a good thing, however I personally find the tall, slim seed- headed grasses swaying gently in the breeze more pleasing to the eye, especially if field buttercups have thrust their head up and into the sunshine. Pete Hewitt