I’ve been involved with the online workshops organised by Tayport Community Garden PLANT and Ninewells Community Garden to encourage and support people to grow their own veg, fruit, and wildflower meadows using organic methods that help to benefit the soil and all the living components of it. Whilst supporting Fife Council in this Grasslands initiative, there is a lot we can do in our own private gardens, community gardens, woodlands, allotments, and waste land to promote the aims of this initiative.
I agree this is a worthwhile initiative and I am publicising it through our Community Trust and Community Council so others have their say. I’ve already had positive response from villagers who support the proposals generally, although please keep up regular maintenance of roadside verges from a road safety viewpoint. For a small village like Strathkinness there are not too many opportunities for this style of Grassland Management other than possibly the two play parks. We have an annual wildflower meadow in one play park that we’ve been managing for 7 years with help from Fife Council. This would definitely benefit from the Cut and Collect process described. We have been managing our own, non council, areas for the last 10 years and these are described in question 2.
I live in Glenrothes and although I do not live in any of the specific areas to be managed, I wholeheartedly support the plan. It will improve the environment of those that live within those specific areas and provide spaces for the rest of the town's population to enjoy. I am glad that the smaller grassed areas within communities are still to be cut. What looks nice in an open field isn't the same as say, two or three patches of overgrowth in a small street. It would simply look a mess and encourage fly tipping in my opinion.
I agree that this new way of managing grasslands in local communities is really important, but wish it were more ambitious. I spent a lot of lockdown and the months afterwards enjoying the wildflowers in the grasslands in my local community, showing my young children the value of letting things grow wild and watching the bees and the bugs thrive. It really showed us the value of giving a little more space to nature. I wish we could do it more, and want the Council to consider making an initial commitment to 10% with a view to increasing it afterwards. Please do evaluate the measure after a year and ask people what they thought of it. I think the scheme would work really well if there was any capacity to do some public engagement along side it so that people can understand why it's so important, and give them ideas of what they can do themselves. I know it might be expensive, but a little sign next to a patch of a wild uncut verge to explain why it is like it is would go a long way. The Botanic Gardens did this in St Andrews - little signs explaining why it looked like it did, and it was great.
Recently moved to Leven and we were delighted to see the grass being left to grow down at Broom Road. Great proposals - agree with all the comments - more of the same and on the road verges please.
I do not agree with the wilding opportunity proposed in Cairneyhill in south acres - this is a place actively used by kids to play football and keep fit. Kids even bring their own goal posts here - do not take away their pitch. While I am supportive of climate change initiatives, this should not be at the expense of peoples health. With an extra 150 homes being proposed for the village of Cairneyhill we need this capacity. As a dog owner as well, I would need to keep my dog on a lead to prevent them from entering the wilding area and getting tics - or worse doing the toilet and I have no way of reasonably finding it to pick up as a responsible dog owner. I am opposed to wilding in an area that is actively used by the residents. I was also not pleased that when the proposals were issued this area had been left off the consultations - many residents were unaware that this park was under consideration.
Wilding should not affect areas where sport is played and is more applicable to town areas and not for village settlements, which are surrounded by natural wild environments
It’s great to see wild flowers but only in certain areas. The proposed area of Ravinscraig park is too large. In summer people enjoy playing in top section and amongst trees. Also feel dog owners won’t bother picking up after their dogs in long grass but wide open space for dog owners to exercise their dogs off lead is beneficial so removing that option takes away from the park.
Open answers (23)
I’ve been involved with the online workshops organised by Tayport Community Garden PLANT and Ninewells Community Garden to encourage and support people to grow their own veg, fruit, and wildflower meadows using organic methods that help to benefit the soil and all the living components of it. Whilst supporting Fife Council in this Grasslands initiative, there is a lot we can do in our own private gardens, community gardens, woodlands, allotments, and waste land to promote the aims of this initiative.
I agree this is a worthwhile initiative and I am publicising it through our Community Trust and Community Council so others have their say. I’ve already had positive response from villagers who support the proposals generally, although please keep up regular maintenance of roadside verges from a road safety viewpoint. For a small village like Strathkinness there are not too many opportunities for this style of Grassland Management other than possibly the two play parks. We have an annual wildflower meadow in one play park that we’ve been managing for 7 years with help from Fife Council. This would definitely benefit from the Cut and Collect process described. We have been managing our own, non council, areas for the last 10 years and these are described in question 2.
I live in Glenrothes and although I do not live in any of the specific areas to be managed, I wholeheartedly support the plan. It will improve the environment of those that live within those specific areas and provide spaces for the rest of the town's population to enjoy. I am glad that the smaller grassed areas within communities are still to be cut. What looks nice in an open field isn't the same as say, two or three patches of overgrowth in a small street. It would simply look a mess and encourage fly tipping in my opinion.
I agree that this new way of managing grasslands in local communities is really important, but wish it were more ambitious. I spent a lot of lockdown and the months afterwards enjoying the wildflowers in the grasslands in my local community, showing my young children the value of letting things grow wild and watching the bees and the bugs thrive. It really showed us the value of giving a little more space to nature. I wish we could do it more, and want the Council to consider making an initial commitment to 10% with a view to increasing it afterwards. Please do evaluate the measure after a year and ask people what they thought of it. I think the scheme would work really well if there was any capacity to do some public engagement along side it so that people can understand why it's so important, and give them ideas of what they can do themselves. I know it might be expensive, but a little sign next to a patch of a wild uncut verge to explain why it is like it is would go a long way. The Botanic Gardens did this in St Andrews - little signs explaining why it looked like it did, and it was great.
Recently moved to Leven and we were delighted to see the grass being left to grow down at Broom Road. Great proposals - agree with all the comments - more of the same and on the road verges please.
I do not agree with the wilding opportunity proposed in Cairneyhill in south acres - this is a place actively used by kids to play football and keep fit. Kids even bring their own goal posts here - do not take away their pitch. While I am supportive of climate change initiatives, this should not be at the expense of peoples health. With an extra 150 homes being proposed for the village of Cairneyhill we need this capacity. As a dog owner as well, I would need to keep my dog on a lead to prevent them from entering the wilding area and getting tics - or worse doing the toilet and I have no way of reasonably finding it to pick up as a responsible dog owner. I am opposed to wilding in an area that is actively used by the residents. I was also not pleased that when the proposals were issued this area had been left off the consultations - many residents were unaware that this park was under consideration.
The selection process is flawed ill thought off picking small areas directly opposite houses Glenrothes town park Willow crescent
I agree strongly
Wilding should not affect areas where sport is played and is more applicable to town areas and not for village settlements, which are surrounded by natural wild environments
It’s great to see wild flowers but only in certain areas. The proposed area of Ravinscraig park is too large. In summer people enjoy playing in top section and amongst trees. Also feel dog owners won’t bother picking up after their dogs in long grass but wide open space for dog owners to exercise their dogs off lead is beneficial so removing that option takes away from the park.