Areas of the Recreation Ground that will be left uncut during the growing season. The areas that the community play, sit on and enjoy will continue to be maintained.
Stowmarket Town Council have taken the decision to extend areas of rewilding on Town Council land to include a total area of 6,124 square metres on the outskirts of the Recreation Ground.
Letting grass grow encourages wildlife, particularly pollinators, to thrive and by introducing the Recreation Ground to our existing rewilding programme we are creating even more wild spaces. We will manage these areas to help wildlife to thrive, through reduced cutting and the sowing of wildflower seeds. Any financial savings from these measures will be re-invested in other projects that form part of the Town’s Environmental Action Plan (which will be published in due course).
The areas for rewilding on the Town Council’s estate where grass will be allowed to grow longer and wild flowers left to flourish will now include:
| Site | Coverage (Square Metres) | Management |
| Milton House Grounds |
596 |
There is a programme of reduced cutting to stimulate the growth of wild flowers. |
| Melford Road |
98 |
The grassed area outside the fenced play area is left uncut. |
| New Cemetery | 15,360 | There is a programme of reduced cutting to stimulate the growth of wild flowers. |
| Old Cemetery | 12,730 | This site is cut once per year by means of a power scythe to encourage areas for ’natural habitats’. |
| Recreation Ground | 6,124 | There is a programme of reduced cutting to stimulate the growth of wild flowers. |
| Total | 34,548 |
Within the next few weeks people can expect to see our new signs which will be displayed to indicate the areas that will be left to grow wild.
Local resident Dan Garrard has kindly voluntarily designed the new Wild Area sign for the town. Dan is very passionate about our environment, the beautiful town we live in and the surrounding countryside. He said “after reading about all the projects Stowmarket Town Council are doing for our environment, I contacted Karl Daniels (Communities & Partnerships Manager) to see how I could get involved. After speaking to Karl, I am delighted to now be joining the Environment Forum, participating in planned community action events and because of my work as a graphic designer, being able to design a Wild Area sign for the Rewilding Project. It’s amazing to be part of bringing more wildlife to our town!”
The areas detailed are managed by the Town Council, however not all public land in Stowmarket is owned by us. Mid Suffolk District Council and Suffolk County Council also manage and maintain land in Stowmarket. In particular Suffolk County Council are responsible for roundabouts and roadside verges and are currently working on a Roadside Nature Reserves project. Find out more about this project at www.suffolk.gov.uk/planning-waste-and-environment/suffolks-countryside-and-wildlife/landscape-and-wildlife. If you would like to become a voluntary warden for the project please contact the Town Council in the first instance.
Mid Suffolk District Council recently launched their Biodiversity Action Plan, and will be implementing their own programme of reduced cutting. The Biodiversity Action Plan can be found on the District Council website along with their responses to the climate emergency at www.babergh.gov.uk/environment/climate-change.
If you have any questions relation to our environment projects please email info@stowmarket.org.