WARRINGTON Borough Council has issued an apology after rare orchids on Birchwood Way were mown down in error and plans action to protect them moving forward.
The issue was flagged by former Mayor Geoff Settle, Chair of Warrington Nature Conservation Forum who expressed regret that the town is unlikely to see any rare orchids this year – because the grasses they thrive in have been mown down for a second successive year.
Mr Settle has been trying for several years to protect the orchids after receiving complaints from residents when he was a Poulton North borough councillor.
Despite a promise last year from Warrington Borough Council that grass verges where the rare Bee orchids and Northern Marsh orchids grow would not be mown, the same happened again this year.
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We’re very sorry to confirm that a section of wild orchids on Birchwood Way were cut down in error.”
“We plan to protect these areas in the future by installing physical barriers to prevent mowing until the end of the summer when the plants have flowered and set seed.”
Meanwhile, Mr Settle said: “Hopefully next year we can see the bee orchids once more in their full glory!
“What I am pleased about is the fact that the mowers haven’t been out in Cinnamon Brow and there are lots of wildflowers popping their heads up!”
Wildflowers at Cinnamon Brow
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Stop press since sharing the details of the Warrington Worldwide press release on Facebook site two people have contacted me about spotting three orchids in Birchwood Park about half a mile away from where the much larger colony have been mowed down. In addition another person has let me know that they have spotted some at Airlift Hill. Both new sites have three orchids. Another person has shred new details of Marsh Orchids that I’ve yet to run to.