Editor

I have been informed that because of budgetary restraints our council has been forced to restrict the mowing of some of the roadside verges in Ceredigion.

In and around Aberystwyth this seems often to have been done by cutting only the metre next to the road or the path. It is good to see this lack of action, with its potential benefit to pollinators and insects, even if the reason for it is not knowledge of nature but lack of money!

I extend my thanks to those in the council responsible for this decision, and hope that it will be followed by appropriate management of the uncut grass – that is, left until after the end of July, strimmed or mown, and the cuttings removed. The population of insects has declined drastically during the last few decades, and roadside grass verges are one of the habitats that can help to halt this decline.

Many other councils have taken similar decisions, but most have done so because they have pressure from, and the support of,conservationists among the public.I therefore ask those of your readers with any love of nature to contact Ceredigion council and ask that they continue to manage roadsides in this way.

John Davis Llanfarian

Have your say on the local issues affecting you - email [email protected] or join in the conversation on our Facebook page