TWO areas of parkland in Northwich and Winsford will stop being mowed this summer to help create permanent wildflower meadows.

New ‘urban meadows’ will be created in Saxons Lane, Greenbank, and Knights Grange, Winsford.

It is part of a Cheshire West and Chester Council trial taking part in 13 areas across the borough, which will see more than 11 hectares of wildflower meadows created in total.

Cllr Karen Shore, deputy leader, said: “Early summer is an important time for biodiversity as the first nectar-rich flowers are helping to sustain the emerging insect population.

“The creation of these wildflower meadows also supports the council’s climate emergency declaration by reducing carbon emissions.”

The new urban meadows will have nectar-rich plants like oxeye daisy, field scabious and knapweed which will provide nectar for bees and other insects into late summer.

Sites will be identified with signage to explain why the area of parkland is being left to grow, and what to look out for while walking through the meadow areas.

Councillors discussed planting more wildflowers last October to help wildlife thrive and bring grass-cutting costs down.

Cllr Mike Baynham, Conservative member for Winsford Over and Verdin, said: “It is so important – it’s important for me, it’s important for everybody in here and it is important for our children.”

Members were urged to consider planting flowers across more parts of Winsford in particular, with resident Alan Halpin telling councillors wildflowers are the ‘powerhouse behind the habitat’ for insects and birds.

He added: “Let’s work from the root up and get the fabric of our landscape back in place.”

The Guardian has asked CWAC whether more sites could follow.