Max Hislop

Member since 11 March 2021

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Max Hislop5 years ago I'm really pleased to see that Stirling Council has drafted a Pollinator Action Plan and I support the themes and actions it contains. We are in the midst of global ecological collapse which will have serious repercussions for the health and wellbeing of all humans. We must all act where we can with urgency. The council manages a significant land resource, and so it is right that that resource is effectively managed to help nature recover. Insect populations are vital to aiding nature recovery.One of the simplest ways in which the council can act it to allow pollinator friendly plants to grow to help sustain pollinators and allow them to flourish. Much of the greenspace managed by the council could be managed this way. So I'm pleased to see the following actions: Action: Complete the audit of all Council owned land to identify and map areas that do currently or have the potential to support pollinators. Action: Naturalised areas created, principally through adjusted maintenance of grass areas and use of wildflowers and trees to create habitat diversity. However, the action plan has no timetable associated with these actions or many of the actions. I would like to have an indication of when the audit will be completed and subsequently when the naturalised areas will be created.I live beside a large informal greenspace managed by the council in Torbrex (between Birch Avenue and Torbrex/Polmaise Road). It is frequently and completely gang-mowed throughout the growing season (save for an area of daffodils in the Spring). During the first lockdown in 2020 the mowing regime was significantly reduced and some areas were not mowed for months. These areas became full of wildflowers including buttercups, bugle and cuckooflower (ladysmock) which are all very valuable to pollinators and other insects. These areas also looked beautiful. However, the mowing regime has now reverted to the intense regime that previously existed, adding to council costs and increased fossil fuel use. Two other points related to the management of the greenspace: The council applies herbicide around mature trees in the greenspace and path edges which is unnecessary, ecologically harmful and an additional cost, and; The council uses leaf blowers to clear paths of mown grass which are harmful to insects, noisy and polluting (see this Independent article Leaf blowers contributing to ‘insect armageddon’ and should be avoided, German government warns | The Independent | The Independent ). So I support the reduction in the use of pesticides, but think that the use of leaf blowers should be reviewed as well.I'd be very keen to contribute to the audit of Council owned land by suggesting areas in this greenspace that could be managed sensitively for pollinators and other insects.