Changes to the way Rother District Council maintains its open spaces will support the environment, reduce pressure on water use during the summer and save money.

As part of the changes, grass may be left longer in places before cutting and some annual bedding will be replaced with wildflowers or grass in the autumn.

The decision was taken as part of the district council’s budget setting process, where cuts to Government funding, rising costs and greater demand on services has created a £3 million financial gap.

Cllr Hazel Timpe, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, Tourism, Joint Waste Contract , said: “While these changes are necessary to help us save costs, there are huge benefits to the environment and biodiversity, as well as increasing our climate resilience.

“We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the country and are committed to keeping our public spaces looking attractive, and as neat and tidy as possible within tight budget constraints.”

The grass may be left slightly longer in places before cutting, and in some locations, paths may be cut through or around the longer grass, creating a meadow-like feel to open spaces. Annual bedding, which is costly to purchase and maintain, not particularly good for biodiversity and requires a lot of watering, will be replaced with grass or wildflowers in the autumn.

Sweeping and treatment of hard surface tennis courts will reduce, as will the frequency of cleaning between games in some sports pavilions.

There will be no changes to grass cutting at Bexhilll Cemetery Garden of Remembrance, but bedding will be replaced by spring bulbs and grass, as it will in other cemeteries in the district.

Ends.

Published: 29th June 2023