In an effort to make its horticultural practices more environmentally sustainable, Westmorland & Furness Council is moving away from the traditional planting of summer annuals, to a more sustainable perennial planting regime.
Five beds within the areas of Great Dockray and Castle Park in Penrith were recently planted with sustainable perennials, replacing annuals that require renewal, each year.
Westmorland and Furness council said “These changes will increase biodiversity by providing stable habitats for wildlife, whilst reducing the need for maintenance and the reliance on purchased annual plants used in more traditional seasonal displays.”
In another sustainable initiative trailed by the Council, spring flowering bulbs - which would usually be removed once flowering has ended - are being left to re-flower the following year. Initial results have been encouraging and could provide considerable financial savings, as well as a more environmentally friendly option for spring flowerbeds.
Cllr Dyan Jones, Westmorland & Furness Council Cabinet Member - Customer and Waste Services, said: “I’m delighted that these two initiatives will not only deliver savings on plant purchase costs and ongoing maintenance, but thanks to the judicious choice of perennial plants, they’ll also provide sustainable, bio-diverse habitats for wildlife, delivering on a key priority for the council – enhancing biodiversity.
“Once established, these beds will provide year round fauna and we hope to extend further planting across the area, year by year.”
Westmorland and Furness council announcement comes in the same week as members of the public voiced criticism of the council’s failure to plant up flower beds around the corner square area of the town and the dead monkey tree as the only form of planting.
One resident used social media to voice there frustration at the council saying “Penrith Cumbria is obviously not important to you guys what a view coming into town not one flower bed done and a dead palm tree outside town hall”
In response Westmorland and Furness Councils contracts team has said “The summer bedding plants have not been planted yet due to the exceptionally dry conditions which would have meant that they would have died and been a complete waste of money. We are keeping an eye on the weather forecast over the next two week period and planting when conditions are favourable for them to flourish.We've been waiting to see if the tree would make a recovery (advised by a RHS judge that it might) before the last resort of removing it. It has now been decided to remove it in the next couple of weeks prior to the summer bedding plants being put in.”
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