Wells City Council is changing how some grassed areas are managed, with selected sites set to be left longer as meadow.

The council says the move will help encourage nature and biodiversity, while still keeping areas neat and safe with a clear-cut perimeter.

Under the approach, the outside edge of the grassed area will continue to be cut short.

The centre will be left to grow for longer and cut later, creating what the council describes as a meadow management approach.

Wells City Council says traditional close mowing creates a neat appearance, but can limit the ability of grasses and flowering plants to complete their natural cycle.

Allowing selected central areas to grow for longer is intended to create better conditions for wildflowers to emerge.

Residents should expect to see a neatly cut perimeter around the edge of each space, a taller centre left to grow during the season, more grass and naturally occurring wildflowers, and a clear difference between formal spaces and biodiversity-focused areas.

The council says sight lines will be kept clear at junctions, access points and other locations where visibility is required.

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The meadow approach will also be applied carefully and appropriately, with public safety and access remaining a priority.

Not all land will be managed in the same way.

Formal areas used for recreation, access, events or visual presentation will continue to receive normal cutting.

The council says meadow management will be used only where it is suitable and where it can provide a clear biodiversity benefit.

The environmental benefits listed by the council include greater biodiversity through a wider range of grasses and flowering plants, improved support for pollinators and other invertebrates, natural seeding and regeneration over time, more varied and resilient green spaces across council-owned land, and a balanced approach that supports both people and nature.

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