A MORE FINELY TUNED policy is required when it comes to the ‘No Mow May’ policy in Clare according to county councillors.
Both a review of the initiative and the development of “a suitable policy” was sought by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) so that public spaces and recreation areas are maintained to match “the needs of residents and users”.
Part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, the ‘No Mow May’ initiative’s main aim “is to ensure that pollinators have safety from pesticide chemicals and have food and shelter. The Plan is not a prescriptive series of must do actions but instead provides guidelines which requires us to manage amenity areas and the countryside in a slightly different way,” senior engineer in the environment department of Clare County Council, Cyril Feeney explained.
He continued, “It is not about abandoning the landscape totally but instead we must manage it in a way that protects pollinators. With regard to open spaces, we do not need to routinely cut the entire area but instead perhaps focus our attention on areas which are widely used for amenity purposes while minimising our interventions in the surrounding areas. This is a new approach and will be kept under review. It will take time for the correct balance to be struck in what areas we maintain on a frequent basis and areas where we do not intervene to the same extent”.
Where elected representatives have particular areas of concern, they should contact their Municipal District officer “who are best placed to understand the particular local needs of the community,” Feeney advised.
Acknowledgement of the “climate emergency” was made by Cllr Lynch who noted this year was the first in which the initiative was undertaken. He referenced a document produced by Kilrush Tidy Towns on how to apply grass management and cutting within the town and suggested it be circulated to each MD.
Speaking at the June Council meeting, Lynch commented that grass cutting had been a countywide issue with Shannon able to secure contractors with none in Kilrush because it had a community employment scheme which has subsequently seen its numbers reduced. “The narrative is that the Council can’t expect to do the job of the Tidy Towns but this is a Municipal function, we are left in a situation of what to do. Kilrush a tourist destination that is trying to recover from COVID”. Consistency is essential with ‘No Mow May’, the former General Election candidate stressed.
Discrepancies exist whereby some contractors have a no collect grass contract, “they mulch the grass but don’t take it away,” Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) flagged. “It is a massive problem if they mulch the grass and leave it for six weeks. Marian Estate in Kilkee is a place to play for kids but it was a mess with all the grass left after the first cut. One local woman in Marian Estate was told to ‘F’ off by a contractor because they weren’t contracted to take the grass away”. He said part of the contract should be that the first cut after ‘No Mow May’ requires the grass to be taken away.
In Miltown Malbay, four silage bales were got from the green area following the first cut, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) stated. “We need to look across the county, this No Mow May is a very good way to maintain in a proper way a lot of green areas”.
Over three decades ago, Ennis Town Council through the collection of rates cut grass in some estates, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) recalled. “In the last thirty three years, the bulk of housing estates have not been cut by the Council, instead the residents have to gather the money to appoint a contractor themselves”.
Chief Executive of the Council, Pat Dowling labelled the initiative as “very important”. He admitted, “I’m surprised we’re even debating it, makes no sense to cut grass after 6 weeks and to leave it on the ground”. He outlined, “Where that is the case, we will make sure we’re not getting six weeks grass and leave it, all we’re doing is generating silage on public areas”. This declaration of “common sense” was welcomed by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND).
Comments from Dowling must work their way down the system, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said, “we have an award winning estate in Feakle but we will be able to cut silage there soon enough, there is a no mow anything out there”.
More awareness of ‘No Mow May’ is needed, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) believed while also pointing out the safety issue at roundabouts where grass is overgrown and visibility reduced. The public are beginning to understand why roundabouts are not cut, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) remarked while referring to the discovery of rare orchids at the Claureen Roundabout. Signage will help to educate the public, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) suggested.
