wild about erewashA greener borough, it’s in our nature

Your questions answered

What does rewilding mean – and what are the benefits?

The council’s mission to boost our natural environment follows a collapse in UK biodiversity. Insects including vital pollinators such as bees have declined by 60 per cent in the past 20 years. Nature can recover but not unless we change the way we manage our precious green spaces. Rewilding means many grassy areas will now not be so close-clipped. They will also not be mown as often. Longer grass, including on roadside verges, provides crucial habitats for wildlife.

Wild about Erewash aims to:

  • Improve people’s health and well-being;
  • Improve biodiversity;
  • Reduce the council’s carbon footprint.

Is it just about letting grass grow longer?

Cemeteries, sports pitches and many major traffic islands are among areas where grass cutting will continue largely unchanged.
In a lot of areas across the borough grass will be longer – and this is deliberate. Open spaces will appear less like lawns and more like meadows. We will also be placing less emphasis on formal bedding plants – which will mean a new look for many of our parks. We will be seeding wildflowers in some areas instead. The aim is to create colourful meadows which encourage rare native plant species to regain a foothold. Butterflies and other wildlife will also get a boost.

Will I still be able to walk my dog where the grass has grown?

The borough’s green spaces will continue to be maintained and monitored. Where grass is being allowed to turn into a meadow, a strip that is closer-mown will form a margin around the area. Many sites will see paths mown through them.

What plants and wildlife are being encouraged?

Information boards are being placed at eight sites as the council monitors the impact on wildlife such as bees, butterflies and hedgehogs. The sites are:  Petersham open space, Long Eaton; Bare Lane, Ockbrook; Dallimore Road, Kirk Hallam; Wyndale Drive, Kirk Hallam; Barling Lagoon, Ilkeston; Beauvale Drive, Cotmanhay; Granby Park, Cotmanhay and Larklands, Ilkeston.

Won’t the borough look less neat and tidy?

It is likely to be two years or more before we begin reaping significant rewards in terms of biodiversity. One key aspect will be far less mowing of roadside verges, which will become green “corridors” for wildlife. The use of weedkiller such as glyphosate will be reduced.

Less mowing? Is this about saving money?

The council is having to find ways of cutting expenditure to balance its budget – and less mowing will save money. But just because a strategy is cost-effective does not mean it is a bad one. As part of our rewilding mission a £35,000 investment has been made in new mowing equipment that will cut grass less closely to the ground. At the same time we are showing our commitment to the natural environment by creating a brand new nature reserve called Pewit Coronation Meadows Local Nature Reserve where Ilkeston’s former Pewit golf course stood. The money for this is coming from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and section 106 money from the New Stanton Park development.

How will rewilding combat climate change?

To start with, there will be a drastic reduction in the council’s use of fossil fuels simply by using its mowing equipment less. Growing bedding plants like the council did at its nurseries was not environmentally friendly, in part due to the large number of plastic pots used and the environmental cost of heating the glasshouses.
Longer grass – alongside plans to plant 2,250 trees at Manor Floods Nature Reserve and adjacent land – can help mitigate the threat of flooding. Rewilded areas act as a sponge – while roots suck up water.

Why do the rewilded areas look untidy?

Verges will be cut three to four times a year.
Initial implementation will have areas of long grass during the establishment of long-term project management at eight sites.

Paths will be cut to ensure public right of way, this will enhance areas for people to enjoy walking, exercise and be closer with nature.

How have people been informed about rewilding?

As part of the council’s commitment to climate change it was decided that rewilding would be implemented. This includes the development of eight rewilding project sites, supporting pollinators and interlinking mosaic habitats

Find out about the long-term goals and benefits of rewilding across the borough.

The council will respond to feedback through engagement sessions with the public, and signage will soon be displayed at key locations across the borough.

What is the council’s policy if residents cut verges?

Most verges belong to the highways authority, which in our county is Derbyshire County Council.  Erewash Borough Council would advise residents NOT to cut grass verges without speaking to Derbyshire County Council.

Derbyshire County Council do receive requests from people wanting to take over the maintenance of highway verges. You can contact them by email using This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to ask about a cultivation licence.

Land owned by Erewash Borough Council should only be maintained by the borough council or one of our contractors.

Will litter be removed?

Yes.  Litter will still be managed by our hardworking green space and street scene teams.

Have bulb displays gone forever? 

Yes, however EBC is happy to engage with sponsors to continue with roundabout displays (naturalised bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses and snowdrops.)

Have there been redundancies because of the rewilding project? 

No council staff job roles have been lost due to the implementation of the rewilding project. 

I'm concerned about visibility at road junctions. What do I do? 

Please report any highway visibility issues to Derbyshire County Council who will then inspect and/or report them to Erewash Borough Council for action.

Is there a risk from ticks?

Erewash isn’t considered a tick hotspot. This is because there are more ticks in areas where there is a higher population of deer. As Erewash does not have a high population of deer, this does not apply.

The sites in Erewash with a reduced mowing regime are not populated by farm animals and have few or no recorded deer populations, resulting in a much lower risk of tick bites than other areas.

However, ticks are part of our natural environment, and something that people need to be aware of.  We recommend that residents are ‘tick aware’ and remember that you could be exposed to ticks whenever you spend time outdoors, including when in your garden or a park.

More information can be found in the ‘Enjoy the outdoors but be tick aware’ leaflet:

Tick awareness A5 leaflet for printing (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Does long grass mean an increased risk of fire?

Most wildfires are related to human error and/ or deliberate action. Huge areas of the UK are covered by uncut vegetation and some types, such as gorse, peat and moorland present more risk of fire.

For further information see Fire Kills Lets Prevent It: Fire Safety Outdoors (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Will there be more rats?

Rats can be a problem in urban, suburban and rural areas but are much more attracted to an urban environment where there is more food available. To reduce the risk of rats:

  • Store rubbish in rodent-proof containers. Make sure your bins have tight fitting lids so dogs or wildlife can't tip them.
  • Store pet food in rodent-proof containers. Clean up spilled, unused pet food and your pet’s mess.
  • Do not scatter food for wildlife. Use rodent-proof bird feeders. If rats are a serious problem, remove bird feeders.
  • Compost piles should be properly managed to ensure fast break down of potential rat foods.
  • Clean up fallen fruits or nuts from trees. Prune seed pods from lilac and other shrubs.
  • Store garden/lawn seed and bone meal in tight lidded containers.

For further information visit: Pest Control (erewash.gov.uk)

Will there be more harmful/ invasive weeds?

If an area is overrun by one plant species, for example ash seedlings or bramble, this will be monitored to see what the impact could be on the overall site.

Harmful weeds such as Japanese Knotweed or Ragwort will be monitored and dealt with. Giant Hogweed will be removed from site at the earliest opportunity to minimise the risk to the public.

What about dog mess and litter?

The council has not seen an increase in dog fouling or litter. 

Residents are responsible for picking up their dog’s mess.  Find out how to report dog fouling.