A nature recovery project to increase biodiversity has been launched by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils.

The ‘Let It Bee’ project will see wildflowers and plants allowed to grow on 17 council-owned sites across the districts.

It follows the success of last year’s ‘No Mow May’ trial on seven council-owned sites. 

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Councillor Sue Cooper of South Oxfordshire District Council said: “The pilot we ran last year allowed wild plants and flowers to grow, which was good news for insect life, particularly pollinators such as bees and birds.”

The 17 sites will be monitored with the aim of increasing wildlife and will be cut less regularly to allow existing plants to thrive.

The councils have chosen locations which do not impact on pedestrians or sightlines for drivers. They are also near shorter grass areas and pathways for people wishing to exercise, play or relax.

The ‘Let It Bee’ project is part of a wider programme of managing council-owned land for nature.

The parks team actively sow native wildflower seeds in existing wildflower meadows and work on the land to encourage growth.

This year, the councils are creating two new wildflower meadows at Cronshaw Close in Didcot and Heron’s Walk in Abingdon to add to the 11 existing wildflower meadows managed by the councils.