Tag: thistles

Now Private Eye magazine highlights scale of muddle over York Council grass cutting policies.

~ Steve Galloway ~ Leave a comment

Seems the York Council is being criticised from all sides with even Private Eye magazine taking time to comment on another bizarre mistake.

It seems that Council – or more likely one of its contractors – has cut a wildflower verge just as the carefully cultivated plants were beginning to bloom.

Something similar happened in Foxwood, where the Council failed to cut the Foxwood Park wildflower meadow in the spring. Without regular maitenance the wildflowers have little chance of getting established.

A request, for a 1 metre wide footpath to be cut round the perimeter of the madow, has also been ignored. The path would have allowed park users to avoid trampling down the wildflowers.

Elsewhere residents have criticised the Council for failing to cut back hazadous weeds on public footpaths (see below).

The Council claims that its new “no cut” policies are aiding biodiversty.

In reality, the reverse is the case. Dominant weeds like nettes are smothering the very types of flowers which are most important for pollinators.

Those currently in charge seem to have honed their environmental credentials from the most cursory use of Google search.

Getting the balance of nature right is complicated. It is also expensive and not something therefore that the Council leadership are likely to embrace with any enthusiasm

Adding insult to injury, the Council are currently bombarding social media with”Get York Buzzing” propaganda messages. They show a staggering lack of self awareness

Earlier: Is this a record? Examples of poor public service standards in – York 6th June 2024

2 metre high thistle on residential verge in Kingsway West.

Potentially hazardous weeds like these are supposed to be treated by the York Council, but the strimmg and weed control programme has been chaotic this year

There are many other examples of poor maintenance standards around the City

Westfield
Osbaldwick
Westfield
Westfield
Lowfield Green
Rawcliffe – cycle access obstructed
Holgate weeds
Westfield weeds
Holgate verges uncut

Cattle back on main Hob Moor

~ Steve Galloway ~ Leave a comment

Warning for dog walkers

A small herd of cattle has now returned to the main Hob Moor pasture. Cattle grazing helps to ensure a bio diverse environment.

So far this summer, we have seen an increase in the number of thistles growing on the moor (and elsewhere0. Although attractive to some insects, thistles can become a dominant weed effectively crowding out other diverse plant varieties. It is cited in the 1959 prevention of Weeds Act.

Dog walkers are being advised by signs what to do if they feel threated by cattle.

Idyllic on Hob Moor today
Advice for dog walkers

Obstructed paths – report them if you can!

~ Steve Galloway ~ 1 Comment

It looks like the ultra hot weather is encouraging the growth of some pernicious weeds. Thistles are now obstructing some public footpaths while poor maintenance, by the York Council, has allowed hedges and Mares Tail weeds to impede snickets.

Over the weekend the Council “report it on line” system was down so 24/7 issue handing systems couldn’t be used.

In those circumstances we suggest that the problem is highlighted via an Email to local Councillors.

Some snickets are becoming over grown by hedges and weeds

The 1959 Weeds Act requires Local Authorities to take action to control pernicious weeds

This Act applies to the following injurious weeds, —

  • spear thistle (cirsium vulgare), (Savi) Ten.
  • creeping or field thistle (cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.),
  • curled dock (rumex crispus L.),
  • broad-leaved dock (rumex obtusifolius L.), and
  • ragwort (senecio jacobaea L.);

and to such additional injurious weeds as may be prescribed by the Minister by regulations.

Thistles can be a hazard for passers by

NB. If anyone has lost a tire you may find it on one of the snickets off Cornlands Road!

Blocked path problems growing in York

~ Steve Galloway ~ Leave a comment

Despite some success in getting the overgrowth cut back from the cycle path next to the Tadcaster Road slip road, problems elsewhere have continued to grow (literally).

We were pleased to learn today that at least one York Councillor is alive to the problem. He is currently following up problems near the Grimston roundabout.

The cycle path also remains blocked near the A64/A1237 interchange. This was reported to Highways Yorkshire several weeks ago.

There are similar problems in the York Council area.

It seems strange to us that the York Council should be bidding for government funding to establish more cycle lanes when existing paths are unusable because of neglect.

  • A64 near A1237 junction
  • Cycle track near vaccination centre
The A64 cycle path is still blocked by thistles and nettles near the A1237 junction. A similar problem is developing on the track which leads to the vaccination centre.

The problem seems to have arisen because routine maintenance schedules have been abandoned. While the rate of growth of problem weeds like nettles, thistles and brambles is influenced by the weather, it is reasonable to expect that at least a bi monthly inspection of paths during the summer would take place.

No performance figures are published by either the York Council or Highways England which would give a clue at how quickly they aim to clear reported blockages.

There is a similar issue with private hedges which obstruct public footpaths. In the past highways inspectors would routinely ask frontagers to clear hedges back for the public footpath. This no longer seems to happen, despite the requirements of the 1980 Highways Act.

The Highways Act requires authorities to take action to keep routes free of obstructions

In most cases removing potentially hazardous thorn branches and nettles would take only a few minutes to complete.

Perhaps Councillors need to add some pruning shears to the equipment that they take round with them when inspecting the standards of public services like highways in their wards?