PARK users in Warwick are demanding the restoration of grassland killed off for wild flower meadows.
The Friends of St Nicholas Park are set to present a 600 signature petition to Warwick District Council later this month in a bid to get them to rethink proposals to create the new meadows.
The petition was launched in October after the council used weed killer to prepare swathes of the park for the planned wild flower areas.
Friends spokesman Linda Bromley told The Observer: “We believe that these large expanses of our precious open recreational space should be preserved for the health and well-being of all park users.
“Many organisations use the whole of the park for exercise, particularly the floodlit areas – such as the Military Fitness Boot Camp, Touch Rugby and rounders enthusiasts, even dog training and Beagling About.
“The areas are popular for families to picnic and play, children to kick a ball around and dogs to run where the once-grassed areas have now turned to mud.
“How can wild flower meadows costing £13,400 be justified in these inappropriate locations when we are crying out for a picket fence around the children’s playground, a replacement trim trail, and upgrading of the skateboard park – among other priorities on our wish list?”
But district council parks spokesman, Coun David Shilton previously defended the move, and said the meadows were part of a package of improvements to the popular park.
He told The Observer: “Funds were allocated to this priority project as part of wider range of improvements including riverside walk and toilet improvements.
“Once established, the meadows will provide wild flowers for people and wildlife to enjoy including pollinators, which are in significant decline nationally,
“The meadows will grow in spring and summer and will be cut in the early autumn returning the areas to short grass.
“The meadow areas will represent only a small area in comparison to the remaining grassland.”
Other plans include footpath improvements, picnic benches and further landscaping.
The council is set to consider the matter on January 27.
