ABERPORTH community councillors are instructing grass-cutting contractors to tiptoe around the wild flowers following complaints that orchids had been mown down.

Although the early flowering orchid is not a rare flower, councillors agreed that contractors should cut around any wild flowers in bloom.

“It’s best to leave them to flower and then cut them down after they have dried and seeded,” said Cllr Gethin Davies.

Visitor Ingrid Maugham, of Meifod, Powys, said in an email she had been “really shocked and disappointed” to see that the early purple orchids had been cut down on the slope above Dyffryn Beach.

She enclosed photos of how the slope formerly appeared to contrast with its current look.

“Over the last few years, I’ve stayed in Aberporth a few times each year,” she said. ”Four years ago, I was there in mid May.

“There was a floral delight on this slope – bluebells, cowslips, remains of primroses and a beautiful show of early purple orchids.

“When I came the following year it had already all been cut down – again, I was really shocked.

“Due to the rapid decline in biodiversity, and insects, councils’ thinking over the last few years is that areas like this are now almost considered ‘meadow’ and shouldn’t be cut until at least July.

“Obviously, all the spring flowers on your slope, especially if your contractor has cut it this early for the previous two years as well, will not have had the chance to seed."

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