News

We’re committed to protecting the green spaces in your community. We want them to be places where flowers and wildlife can thrive, and where you and your family can enjoy being close to nature.

Last year, we started making our grounds maintenance service more nature friendly. In 34 of our communities, we managed some grassy areas less intensively and allowed them to grow into meadow areas over spring and summer. The result was that we helped to create areas which offer a habitat for wildlife and wildflowers, and we saw twice as many flower species in these spaces.

Small changes can make a big difference, which is why this year we’re extending this approach to another 160 communities.

Dan Salliss, Biodiversity and Land Manager, said: “This is one of the biggest projects we’ve ever had. It’s about creating habitats for wildflowers, butterflies, bees and other insects, and providing cover for small animals.  But this is also aimed at improving access to nature for people, which benefits their wellbeing.”

“The idea is to create stepping stones through the landscape, so nature can travel more easily from one site to another. Previously, where we have always cut the grass short, it doesn’t provide too much for nature.”

Ryan Cox, Neighbourhood Operations Manager, added: “It’s a completely new approach to how we manage our land, which is going to benefit not only the environment, but our tenants and the public.”

After mowing in April, the sites will be left to grow until the end of summer, when they will be cut short. They will be cut again in autumn, and wildflower seeds will be sown in many areas for future seasons.

Mr Salliss said: “This approach allows us to be flexible and work with the local communities. If a tenant raises an issue with a particular site, perhaps it’s an area where children were playing football before, we can change the shape of it in the summer and do what works best for the people who live there.”

This year, the land covered will span more than 10 hectares, or just over the area of 14 Premier League football pitches. Our aim is to have meadows on all our green spaces and have 30% of our land managed in a nature-friendly way. 

You can find out more about how we’re managing our green spaces on our gardens and cleaning page, and if you have any suggestions on how we can improve biodiversity in your area we'd love to hear them! Please email biodiversity@flagship-group.co.uk or give us a call.