A Local Places for Nature project in Newport, maximising grassland biodiversity and community access through innovative management at Ty Coed, Bettws.
Key details
- Location: Ty Coed, Bettws, Newport (top 10% on the deprivation index)
- Project Type: Leave to Grow grassland management
- Area: 4.7 hectares, between estate and woodland
Approach
- Expanded Leave to Grow areas to 75 hectares citywide
- Use of new machinery (tractor, trailer, robo cutter) for efficient cut and collect
- Custom management plan: mowing desire lines/margins for access, cut and collect at season end
Community involvement
- Sites provide accessible green spaces for local communities
- Ongoing engagement and capacity building has shifted attitudes to grassland management
Outputs and impact
- Biodiversity:
- Significant increase in observed species, including Devil’s Bit Scabious, Dyer’s Greenwood, Greater Butterfly Orchid, Marbled White Butterfly
- More invertebrates and wildflowers, indicating a healthy hay meadow
- Wider Benefits:
- Inspires further action and biodiversity enhancements
- Supports ecosystem resilience, climate change mitigation, and community wellbeing
Quote
“Many of these species are indicators of a healthy grassland/hay meadow, and have proved the effectiveness of cut and collect, with the removal of nutrients allowing these species to emerge from the seed bank, despite not being visible on the site for many years.”
