Wildflower and long grass areas

Do you need to cut wildflower areas at all?

Yes, they will be cut once a year at the end of the growing season and all the waste will be collected. This allows the plants to flower and allows time for the seeds to be shed. 

Can I suggest an area for wildflower planting and long grass?

Yes, any suggestions received this year will be considered for the 2024 season as areas need to be planned well in advance to ensure success.

Please email contact.centre@surreyheath.gov.uk (link sends e-mail) with your details, so that we can contact you if any further information is needed.

Is there any advice on how I can create my own wildflower area?

Yes, The Wildlife Trusts (external website) have some useful instructions .

Can I plant my own wildflower seeds on Surrey Heath Borough Council land?

Do not plant seeds on Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) land. Any planted areas that are not agreed in advance with SHBC will not be maintained and will continue to be cut as scheduled. The contractors are only able to maintain areas that are agreed with SHBC and subsequently mapped on our system.

Will these longer areas of grass and/or wildflowers create a fire hazard?

No. The areas are carefully risk assessed. We have liaised with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) wildfire officers to ensure we are not creating a fire hazard. SFRS are happy with our proposals and we are following their advice on inserting breaks where appropriate.

What seed mixes are you using and why?

We use appropriate native seed mix for the environment and the soil type. The seed mix includes species such as Yarrow, Kidney Vetch, Common Knapweed, Wild Carrot and Oxeye Daisy.

Can we have poppies?

If you have suggestions for particular species to be included in any particular areas please suggest them by emailing contact.centre@surreyheath.gov.uk (link sends e-mail). Unfortunately we cannot respond to each suggestion individually but all suggestions will be considered.

Can I volunteer to work in a local countryside site or for some conservation work in Surrey Heath?

Yes. You can volunteer to take part in our conservation work which happens every year.

Find out more about how to become a parks and countryside volunteer.

Are you cutting in the bird nesting season?

No. We will cut the areas at the end of the growing season and timings are subject to weather conditions.