We have designated our first site to be included under a trial scheme that will see certain sites receive a more relaxed grounds maintenance approach to enhance biodiversity.

The Queen’s Orchard is a piece of land at our headquarters in Clowne and has been specifically chosen due to the nature of the trees and surrounding grassland.

The site has been launched during National Tree Week and includes specially erected signs that indicate the area is part of a relaxed mowing approach and depicts the benefits to wildlife.

The Queen’s Orchard consists of a Crab Apple tree, gifted from the Queen’s Green Canopy together with an additional eight local apple tree varieties provided by us through our Bolsover Community Woodlands project with Woodland Trust funding.

The grassland around the apple trees will be managed differently, allowing it to grow long during the summer months to encourage a more diverse range of wildflowers and grasses to provide a vital source of nectar for many bees, butterflies, beetles and other insects.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Anne Clarke said, “We have to do everything we can to help improve our biodiversity and help nurture nature as best we can.

“We appreciate that some people like this approach whilst others don’t as they feel it looks untidy, that’s why we are taking a pragmatic approach to this issue and choosing areas that are not highly visible, cause issues for road users and will attract an abundance and variety of wildlife.”